The Royal Enfield South Pole expedition lasted a total of 28 days
Royal Enfield has completed its South Pole expedition on 2 Himalayan adventure motorcycles. The company says this achievement is a tribute to its commitment to pure motorcycling.
Named the “90° South” expedition, the endeavour saw 2 riders – Santhosh Vijay Kumar and Dean Coxson – reach the South Pole on 16th December, 2021, after riding for 15 days.
Having initially arrived at Novo in Antarctica from Cape Town, the Royal Enfield South Pole expedition team took 4 days for acclimatization, loading supplies, checking equipment and the 2 modified Himalayans.
Over the next 9 days, the team travelled 3200 km toward the Ross Ice Shelf, the designated starting point for the riders. But, due to an unexpected blizzard, the riders started from 87 degree South, instead of 86 South.
Royal Enfield says that its riders faced extreme climatic conditions, high wind speeds, and road-blocks before completing the quest on 16th December, by travelling 400 km.
The 2 Himalayans which were able to achieve the feat were, as mentioned above, modified to be able to navigate snow and ice and to ably function under extreme conditions in Antarctica.
Royal Enfield claims that the motorcycles were ridden on a compacted snow track to the South Pole to limit emissions and adds that it is ensuring to leave no waste and footprint behind, except for wheel tracks.
The team will fly out to Punta Arenas, Chile from the Union Glacier in the western part of Antarctica before returning home.
