Thats Her Highness – Honda Highness CB 350 – eagerly waiting to get down the twistees.

This is where Her Highness spends most of the time – stuck in traffic  – this I shot today morning while taking Prithvi to his school to collect his TC – at the perennial bottle neck at Gunjur. We bikers always ride on the shoulder on broken terrain.

For a 5 6 person like me Highness is perfect. I can flat foot and ride confidently. Highness has 800mm seat height.

I had earlier fallen from a KTM adventure 390 – at one of these shoulders – that damn bike has 545 mm seat height. Actually I was having a pillion and being a nice person – I had brought my laptop bag to the front so the pillion can sit comfortably and it got entangled with the handlebar  – thats the reason I gave that time – but if I was not tip toeing I could have salvaged the situation.

And the clutch on Highness is super light. Perfect for Bangalore traffic. KTM’s clutch was tight and will give knuckle pain on a day of city riding.

Highness is perfect in all aspects – city, bad terrains, highway – complete all rounder.

And yet, I am tempted by so many temptresses.

BMW just released 450GS.

A beautiful bike. Twin cylinder. Highness has no vibrations I can feel – but I cannot mount my iPhone for directions – as the micro vibrations from the  single cylinder can damage the camera – the sales person warned me while giving the key.

And they are having an e-clutch in 450 GS. But has its own issues. On slopes we typically leave the clutch open to stop the bike from rolling. Not in this one. Whaat! Highness or any other typical bike wins in the clutch department here.

And the seat height is 840mm and there is a lowering option upto 820 mm I think. And the service is quite expensive. Honda I spend around 2500Rs every 6 months and need not worry about cost when replacing parts,

Naah – I cannot afford to drop 450 GS. And of course for its height I will drop it on one of the road shoulders of Bangalore .

Next is this out of portion bike – Ultraviolet F47 – an electric bike. Seat height is 820mm. Hmm.. tempting. After experiencing BE 6, I love the instant torque  one gets – imagine such  torque on a bike!

Well if I test ride this bike I can predict myself saying this – Oh this bike rides like BE 6

( When San Test rode BE 6 ,she said this rides like her Vulcan! )

Range of 300kms but YouTubers are getting less. And charging  takes some 5 hours to 80%. Wont be able to make it to Munnar in a day.

I am still waiting for the perfect bike – very quick pickup, 800mm seat height, comfortable seats, India tourer , gorgeous looks – and I can sense her Highness throwing dagger looks at me.

Mileage on Highness – 40Kmpl. And I can fill from any petrol bunk. Ethanol blend whatever the Govt comes up with. And I can ride to any corner of this country without any worries. Was reading the plight of a Kawasaki Versys guy in Teambhp – how he is not able to find enough petrol bunks in the city. Forget touring for him.

Comfort – rather – no pain in Highness – I did not have to use any extra seat cushions. The stocks seats are perfect. Have done 14hours+ a day on this. Bang to Munar, Bang to Cherrai beach. No pain whatsoever. In Comparison in KTM Adventure 390 – there will be a burning sensation in my bum after 3-4 hours of riding. The Thunderbird 500 I had before – will get pain exactly at the tail bone towards the evening and I have to keep shifting to avoid it.

Clutch – Super smooth and easy. No knuckle pains in trafficky situations

The Bud-Bud – around 60-80 kmph is the sweet spot I have found. It is music as I raise the throttle from there.

Fully manufactured in India. Part replacements are cheap.

So why am I still being tempted when I see these other bikes?

Is it the super bike envy I have? San gets a special parking space for super bikes in Nexus Mall – while I have to park my bike along with other commoners.

Or is it the twin cylinder thingy. The pickup is sluggish in Highness. But I just have to work a bit harder to shift quickly and can match a super bike. Almost.

I love the vroom vroom from twin cylinders. Few months back checked a Benelli TRK 502 – it’s not music. Its symphony.

Or is it that Her Highness never gives me any headaches – so is not on my mind all the time – allowing other temptresses to creep in?

Need to visit a bike psychiatrist.

or I just have to ride more.

Now that P’s school days are over – will wait the monsoon out, then will hit the highways with Her Highness.