The route: Rishikesh → Devprayag (70 km) → Srinagar (105 km) → Rudraprayag (140 km) → Guptkashi (180 km) → Sonprayag (215 km).
Where the bike stops: Sonprayag. Private vehicles go no further — a shuttle jeep runs the 5 km to Gaurikund, and from there it's 16 km on foot, climbing about 1,600 m to the temple at 3,583 m. Six to eight hours up for most people. Ponies, palkis and helicopters (from Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi) are all available.
Realistic timing: three days minimum, four is better. Day 1 Rishikesh to Guptkashi or Sitapur. Day 2 trek up, overnight at Kedarnath. Day 3 down and ride out. Trying to do it in two means riding 215 km and then walking 16 km uphill on the same day, which people attempt and regret.
Which bike: Himalayan 411 or 450. The road above Guptkashi is broken in places and the ground clearance genuinely matters. The 411 is the value pick and it's what we hand most first-timers. Not a scooty — see the warning below.
Road conditions: good tarmac to Rudraprayag, then progressively rougher. Landslide-prone between Guptkashi and Sonprayag, especially after rain. Traffic is heavy in yatra season and the road is single-lane in stretches.
Permits: yes. Kedarnath is a Chardham shrine, so Uttarakhand registration is mandatory — free, done through registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in, and it produces a QR e-pass checked at checkpoints and at the temple. Do it before you leave. Daily slots are capped and fill in peak season.
Fuel and ATMs: fill at Rishikesh, Srinagar and Rudraprayag. Above Guptkashi assume nothing. ATMs are reliable to Rudraprayag and unreliable beyond — carry cash.
Where to stay: Guptkashi or Sitapur before the trek; guesthouse at Kedarnath itself. Book ahead in season.
Season: temple opens late April, closes early November. May–June and September–October. Not in monsoon — this valley is where the 2013 disaster happened and July–August is genuinely dangerous.
The honest warning: the walking is what catches people out, not the riding. If you can ride 215 km you cannot necessarily walk 16 km uphill at altitude. Train for it, or plan for a pony or helicopter and book the helicopter in advance.