Well. It has been just 20 minutes since the bike changed hands.
Morning I removed the helmet box, side box ( got it when San got her side panniers for Vulcan, she wanted only one – both she said makes her look like a delivery agent ).
My last ride on Adventure 390 was from the basement parking to the outside car parking.
I had lot of dreams when I got this bike. Thought I will go all over the country.
Managed a few long rides. Bang to Coimbatore. Bang to Bheemeshwari. Multiple trips to Bettamugilaalam.
Had an insignificant fall once. The only time Krishanu sat on the bike, I was being extra nice and put the laptop bag in the front, and it slid down and got entangled in my hand and I could not turn the handle – and we both fell. After that he never got on my bike.
Had a serious fall another time – because of me riding still on jet lag. Had a microsleep moment and I found myself lying on the road. That kind of woke me up. [ https://kvrlogs.me/2022/09/08/i-fall-down/]
After that fall my drive for riding 390 reduced. My speed reduced. Earlier I would always look for any opportunity to take the bike out. But slowly unconsciously I started taking less and less of the bike.
Anyway.
I think I am just trying to justify and patting myself saying – that we were anyways drifting apart.
Noooo. I want to experience the thrill of going on 100+ with the confidence that I can come to a stop if needed ( KTM always gave me the confidence ).
I am having that teeny weeny regret of having let go of my bike. But I had to do it. Next few years I am going to be away from Homeland for extended periods of time. Don’t want such a fine machine to stay unused.
Here are the bikes I rode so far.
- Hero Honda Sleek – 1998 ( My brother-in-law handed me this – had it in final semester of college ). Many of my friends learnt riding on this bike.
- Hero Honda Splendour 1998 – 2000 ( The fill it shut it forget it bike, I think it gave 80km per liter. Seriously! ). Had this during my 2 years of my Chennai life when I worked in TCS. Lovely bike. I took it to Tirupati from Chennai. The only long ride. And many office commutes from home in Velachery to Sholinganallur. The day I wrote GRE, I had a fall on Old Mahabalipuram road. A small child suddenly darted across the road. The car in front me, a doctor’s car, hit a sudden brake. I was in dream state and before I could react I banged the car and broke the tail light. The doctor was furious. The crowd got me soda and supported me – what can the bike guy do – the girl crossed suddenly. I was in a daze for a few minutes – the helmet strap choked me during the fall. Then I rode back home with a few bruises.
- Honda Unicorn. 2006 – 2019. 150 cc. After we returned to India we were out looking for a house. Once we went to see an Apartment in Outer Ring Road and could not get an auto back – as it was so deserted. These were the pre-Ola and pre-Uber days. Had to fight to get back. Next day we went to Honda showroom in Domlur and bought a Honda Unicorn. It had lovely suspension and San loved its pillion riding. Later she learnt riding on this bike. Rode it a lot from home to work and numerous shopping expeditions to MG Road, Commercial Street, Lal Bagh, MTR, Cubbon park… San’s family, my sister’s family would visit us and there would not be space in car, and I would be on the bike with one more person pillion riding. Oh those memories.
This was the first bike Puttu rode sitting on the tank. We used to drop him in First Step – Montessori school in AECS Layout. And the trips to Narmada clinic – he sitting in between us – for vaccinations and during fever boughts.
Once we had a fall on Marathahalli bridge. San and I were lugging lot of stuff. We had got 2 floor fans for the office from Home Town in Marathahalli. This was the 1st summer in our little office in AECS layout and it was getting quite hot. I saw some dark substance on the road – oil – and saw a bike hit sudden brake and fall down. By instinct I too hit a sudden break and the bike skidded and we both fell down. Luckily nothing happened.
- Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 cc- 2014 – ( with me still ). Mid life crisis! And REs are the solution. Got a 2nd hand bike from Bangalore – it had a MH number plate and I was in Mumbai that time. Rode it from Bang to Mumbai. Later would make one more Bang to Mumbai ride. After we got back to Bangalore it got stuck in paper work transfer. I found an agent and he was to transfer the papers and get a KA number plate. The bike got transferred but KA transfer didn’t happen. He has disappeared. My bike is in Tirisangu state now. Plan is to keep it for a few more years and mod it. This one will always stay with me. Has raw power and can feel the thump while riding. The feeling is Indescribable!
But the brakes never gave confidence. So I would stay within 60-80. And touch wood – never had a fall in this one.
[https://kvrlogs.me/2014/06/05/bangalore-to-mumbai-on-a-thunderbird-500cc-part-1/] - Bajaj Avenger 220, 2018 – 2022. This was San’s first geared bike. She names her bikes – this was called FLG. ( Feels like God – the tag line of this bike ). Charu learnt bike riding on this.
- KTM Adventure 390, 2020 – 2024. This is like an SUV. Can take it anywhere. Goes really fast and stops like a full stop. Now that’s a “bike” bike!
https://kvrlogs.me/2020/12/27/bit-by-the-bike-bug-again/ - Kawasaki Vulcan. 2022 – with us still. San’s first Super bike. After lot of analysis and Over thinking – finally San got this one. Now San was over hearing me tell Prithvi I am feeling a bit sad that I am without a bike, she said “Vulcan is yours” This is love guys 🙂 She is quite possessive of hers and she is giving me license to ride Vulcan.
Till my next bike, Vulcan is going to be my Vaahaan for now.
So what am I eyeing next?
I started liking the adventure 390’s posture. Next few years I am going to live more in US. First have to get a motor cycle license there. Which will be hard in my visa status.
Triumph tiger is one I am impressed.
Honda Gold Wing – even though it’s more like a car. I am curious how this will be.
Harleys have always fascinated me.
In US I can rent bikes. Will not purchase and will get my yearly quota of riding done. One has to feed the soul.
Once I am back in India – mostly it will be an electric one. I love the idea of riding the Ultraviolette bike.
It is hard to keep KVR and a bike apart.
