I bet those Enfields are really feeling sluggish at 15,000 feet, the highest I've driven is about 12.000 and you really notice the loss of power. Those are some very spectacular, but scary roads, if you can call some of them roads.
The part where he fishtails and ends up pointing right over the edge reminds me of an incident last year where I was with some friends who were doing about a 300 mile off road ride, Going up a steep incline on loose rocks, this happened to one of the guys, he bailed off the bike, but the bike went over the edge. Luckily it was't as big and sheer a drop and secondly there were trees and bushes that caught the bike, it was hooked by the branches with the rear still at about the height of the trail. So while he was lying on his back recovering from his fall, the other 3 of us managed to pull his bike back on to the trail, thankfully it was only an XT250, I nearly did the same thing a bit further up the trail, when you are riding on those loose rock beds it's pretty much a lottery as to which wheel will slip and which direction you are going to lunge, there's no way to brace yourself, when you have no idea which direction you are going in next. It's also incredibly hard work for aging arms. legs and muscles in general.
I don't like heights much and the drop offs on those Indian roads would really have got to me, I've had a few incidents in my Jeep CJ on some of the trails in Moab where I've started to understand what it must be like for those who have a real phobia, A few times it's taken all my self control, coupled with the fact there's no other alternative, to overcome the fear and go for it.
When I was younger though, I think I'd have found that Indian ride very appealing. Great to see those Enfields still going in the role they were originally made for, cheap economical transport for the masses, before motorcycling became more of a sport and hobby in the more developed countries, as cheaper cars became available.
1978 KZ1000A2 Wiseco 1075 kit
1977 KZ650B1
1973 Triumph Tiger TR7V
1968 BSA Victor Special 441
2015 Triumph Thunderbird LT
1980 Suzuki SP400
Old enough to know better, still too young to care
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