Riding High: Filipino Duo Set to Join Royal Enfield Moto Himalaya 2022

“The mountain beckons, how will we answer?” says Jimmy D.L. Barinaga, an intrepid motorcycle rider and Himalayan Adventure Team ‘Pinas 2017 member. The first Filipino riders to ride the Himalayas. Barinaga yet again heeds the call as he gears up for the Royal Enfield Moto Himalaya 2022, which to be held from September 9 to 17 in Ladakh, India. He will be joined by his long-time friend and riding buddy Butch Llige.

“I was supposed to join Jimmy on his first ride through the Himalayas back in 2017, but I was tied down by commitments at the time” shares Llige, a Television and Events Producer/Director. “The regret of being unable to join has haunted me for years. That’s why when the opportunity once more presented itself, I grabbed it without hesitation” he added.

Barinaga and Llige are this year’s official Philippine delegates to this historical event with this Moto Himalaya being the first to be organized again after 3 years due to lockdowns because of the pandemic. They will be part of a convoy of twenty motorcycle riders who will embark on an epic nine-day journey through the Himalayan Mountain range. The route will take them from Leh in Ladakh, to Khardung-la, where they will traverse the highest motorable pass in the world with an elevation of 18,380 feet above sea level.

The duo is not new to long distance adventure riding. In fact, they have already ridden through the entirety of the Philippine Archipelago in the past but they took their four-month-long preparation for Moto Himalaya seriously. “We made sure that we are ready both physically and mentally because aside from altitude sickness, another big challenge is the terrain” shares Barinaga. “As I recall, about forty percent of the whole 1,200-kilometer route is rough terrain. That’s why Butch and I also took extensive off-road riding classes as part of the preparation” he added.

Fueled by patriotism and a profound sense of adventure, Barinaga and Llige will be participating in this year’s Moto Himalaya on a personal capacity, with help from the following sponsors: Ride Manila (main sponsor), Kriega Bags, Cardo Packtalk, Nexx Helmets and Spidi Riding Apparels. You may follow their respective social media accounts for updates during the ride and they will also be putting out a post- event video of their adventure on youtube and other social media platforms.

The Royal Enfield Moto Himalaya is an annual event that is held by Royal Enfield in India between August and September. Riders are provided with Royal Enfield Himalayan adventure bikes on the duration of the trip. Aspiring participants may visit www.royalenfield.com to learn more about it.