Sunday morning, Aug 4th I woke up at 4:30 AM and had a big task in hand.

Rewind back to Saturday afternoon. I was having some free time, and as the saying goes in Tamil – the jobless barber will tonsure his wife if he has nothing else to do – I decided to clean my MT Helmet.

On the previous ride a bird had decided to do its job on my helmet which I had wiped with a leaf. Some of the white stuff was still left behind and it had dried.

After making the outside Chaka chak, I pried out the 3 cushions from the inside of the helmet –  and soaked them in a bucket. I have this helmet for 8 years and thats 8 years of sweat that came out. Yes I was yukked out too.

It was around 4pm now. Cloudy and no sign of sun. I squeezed as much water as possible – and left it to dry.

5pm. Still lot of dampness. I borrowed San’s hair dryer – her priced possession – a Dyson hair dryer – which comes in a jewellery box! I was admiring the Engineering of Dyson while drying the 3 cushions.

ps : If you guys want to get permission for a Ladakh trip – first get this hair dryer and bring up the subject.- might work!

It helped a bit but still there was dampness. Then night I kept the cushions on a shelf top – closer to the fan – hoping the draft will dry it completely.

Sunday morning first thing I did was to check the cushions. It had worked – they were dry!

Now this is the first time I am assembling these back. Took a good 20 minutes before I could fit them smug.

Job done, I got ready and armoured up and hit the road by 5:30 AM towards Indira Nagar Big wing.

At HAL Junction I saw another guy armoured up in a Highness. I waved at him but he just road past me. Huh – what a rude HBC guy I thought.

But he did not take left to Jeevan Bhima Nagar into Indira Nagar –  but rode straight towards CV Raman Nagar. Not a HBC guy. He would be wondering who was that crazy guy who waved at me!

This time I reached within time and the usual chit chat was going on. There were many new faces – for me – more veterans of the group had come this time.

We started around 6AM and hit old Madras Road. When we came down the KR Puram bridge we were greeted with a nice fragrance. There was almost a kilometer stretch of flower vendors on the left side of the road. One of the perks of biking – typically which we will miss cocooned in an AC car.

At 6:30 AM there was so much traffic at KR Puram and lucky none of us got lost. But after a few minutes the traffic eased and it we left the city behind.

Stopped for breakfast at Aaradhya Grand at Kolar – and had a sumptuous breakfast. Their star item was Mulbagal Dosa.

This hotel attracts lot of bikers. Here is a Who’s Who of Elite bikes on this planet. Towards the end you can see a Highness had sneaked into this Elite list! The Red one with a Sofa for pillion is the Honda Gold Wing. First time I am seeing one in Bangalore.

We then resumed our journey and entered Andhra.

“Welcome to Sunrise State” the board said. Did some R&D on your behalf. This was the term coined by Chandra Babu Naidu in Feb 2015. Technically it is Arunachal Pradesh which sees the Sun rise first.

And immediately felt my innards heating up.

Whenever your friends joke about Bangalore’s Traffic and your retort on but the weather is better – holds good. Just 2 hours away from Bangalore and here I am getting cooked inside. We can fix the traffic, but weather – it is God’s gift to us.

We took a break closer to Horsley hills – after riding for almost 2 hours.

I recorded the climb up the hill –  had my Gopro on my chest – so this is the view a kid would have got sitting on the petrol tank.  I have to yet figure a way to fix the Gopro to my helmet.

Have to say this – there is something riding a bike on a hill. Very addictive.

We road almost 150 kms one way from Bangalore just for these twisties.

It was  a rocky plateau and the view was amazing.

On the summit we had a bit of introduction and handing over badges to newbies.

The oldest rider in the group – Mr.Pratap – a core member of HBC- is turning 60 next month and retiring from a 32 year stint at Tata. He had lot of stories to tell.

The youngest rider in the group – was a Super woman – just 19, in her 1st year of College! She was riding a CB 300F – and was riding super confidently throughout. Hats off to her Dad for letting the biking gene flourish! He had presented this bike on Woman’s day.

That evening I promised Prithvi – I will get your learners license in 11th summer break – 2025, and a proper license in his 12th summer break – 2026.

One newbie in his introduction said he recently added Highness to his garage. Someone asked how many do you have. He has 8 bikes and a Hayabusa was one of them.  He complimented the group for being disciplined and riding with full gear!

Around 1pm we started back, stopped at a random Dhaba  around 2:30 PM – who was a bit overwhelmed to see 21 hungry bikers. Yet they managed to feed us all.

We pushed off around 4:30 PM and after a brief stop and bye-byes at Hoskote toll reached home around 6PM.

Mission statistics 😉

A 12 hour outing. 320 Kms. Around 1300Rs expense.

Breakfast : Rs.270
Entrance to Horsley Hills : Rs.30
Lunch : Rs. 190 ( was a hand scribbled bill – no GST! )
Petrol : Rs. 800 ( got an average of 41kmpl )

Here are the SM handles for HBC

Insta : Honda_beer_club_bengaluru

FB : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556726514899

Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@hondabeerclubbengaluru

I saw this post in the Honda Whatsapp group created by the dealer.

“Honda Beer Club” logo had gone to Umling La! I immediately asked how do I join this club.

Someone messaged me the criteria. They want to know how good a petrol head you are. My blog links helped and I was let in.

That very weekend they were going on a group ride to an old Cement factory near Bangalore.

I being an introvert did not want to do a group ride at first. But the wife had banned all solo rides ( after she spotted me opening a package I had ordered with a dog tag with my name and her phone number – this spooked her ) – I thought let me try out a group ride for once.

So I signed up for this one.

Also My bike had just run only 120 kms since the day of purchase and the first service was coming up. It is always good to run the bike as much as possible as the new engine’s rough edges will get shaved off and the minute shivvings will get removed with the first engine oil change – and the engine will be all set for the long haul.

This might be a myth – as the new engine manufacturing technologies have improved and the engine and its parts are precise to the nano meter.

The ride was on a Sunday July 14th. I booked the first service appointment on Monday July 15th – the day Teesta completes 1 month.

Saturday I dug out my riding jacket, knee guard and riding shoe and let them air out in the sun. The last ride I had was around 2 years back I guess. Evening I went and filled petrol and air.

Sunday morning the reporting time was 5:30 AM at North Bangalore Honda Big Wing. I woke up at 4:30 AM and bathed in half a bucket of cold water – I had missed filling the bucket – our Apartment Complex still rations water – and finally left home around 5:20 AM.

Later I was speaking to one Anil, another newbie like me – he came from Athibele and had to wake up at 3:30 AM and left home at 4:30 AM. I kept quiet after that and did not crib about waking up so early!

Reached the Bellary Road Big Wing around 5:56 AM. They were just getting ready to depart. I introduced myself as a newbie and they repeated the instructions for my sake. We immediately left after that around 6:05 I think. These guys are so punctual.

There were 4 key people in this group.

A leader – Rajesh.

2 Marshalls – Siva and Pratik

A Sweep – Harsha

We riders are not supposed to over take the leader. And not fall behind the sweep.

Also we riders should not unnecessarily over take our fellow riders – unless it becomes necessary.

Marshalls will keep moving up and down and regulating the flow.

First I felt odd. Even for a bump or a small pothole the rider before me will point. And I was to relay the actions – which was optional for newbies.

This was so useful. Lot many places I either missed a pot hole, or a hazard like a dog waiting to cross the road on the side – and the rider ahead of me alerted me with his actions.

The signs that were shared in the group.

Our first stop was around 7:30 AM at a breakfast place just off the highway. They had arranged a party hall and a sumptuous spread. It was too early for me so I skipped the Masala dosa and had just idly and vada.

Big mistake. The lunch stop was much later around 2:30 PM.

Post breakfast we got off the NH highway and into State highways. Lot of speed breakers.

Then we got off the highway and onto a broken road – the approach to the old Cement factory and now abandoned limestone quarry.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by honda_beer_club (@honda_beer_club_bengaluru)

We reached the limestone quarry – which is quite deep and filled with clear blue water. No algae no fish.

Here there was an impromptu session and the newbies were inducted into the club.

I got a HBC badge and a sticker for the bike from Rajesh, he was the Leader for this group ride.

He is Valerian Fernandes – founder of HBC. The Beer in HBC stands for – Bangalore Expedition Exotic Rides.

After some photo ops on the beautiful ( dead ) lake we headed over to a temple – Teertha Rameshwaram Temple. There is a natural spring here which never dries out. The teertham the priest gave was very sweet!

Interesting fact – for this ride there only Honda Highnesses. No other CB 350s or CB 300s came along.

Post temple stop – the ride was through some beautiful curving roads. I could lean the bike pretty confidently in the curves – I was following others and was learning how much I can lean.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by honda_beer_club (@honda_beer_club_bengaluru)

There were no other stops. The Bangalore Tumkur Highway would have lot of truck traffic, so a little longer road was chosen through state roads and we reached Empire restaurant for lunch – around 2:30 PM.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mr. Lone Rider (@mr._lonerider)

It started raining moderately and I did not have any cover – but it was enjoyable nevertheless.

Starting from Empire Restaurant.

We made one final pit stop for tea just after a toll and all dispersed home. Bangalore greeted me with heavy traffic but heart was so full that I did not mind.

All my misgivings on group rides were gone. The group was fantastic.  We spoke a lot about bikes and very less of work and they shared so many stories.

Also this group is not one of the racy types. We puttered around 80kmph most of the ride and occasionally hit 100kmph when the roads were fine. This was exactly my pace and not once I felt they were going fast or too slow.

The organizers also announced that there will be a ride on the first Sunday of every month. This is fantastic as I can plan for it.

The next ride is on August 4th to Horsley hills inside Andhra. I have signed up – hopefully will be able to make it.

Here are the SM handles

Insta : Honda_beer_club_bengaluru

FB : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556726514899

Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@hondabeerclubbengaluru

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.

1. 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.
   
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
   
   
   
3. 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.
   
   
   
   
   
4. 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/]
   
   
5. 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.
   
   
   
6. 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/
   
   
7. 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.

It was a Wednesday morning. Sep 7th. I took Standup from home. Then was on call with Tata AIG Insurance – I had paid for renewal but did not get policy documents. It was expiring on 10th. What if basement gets flooded and insurance is not there. They put me on hold forever and finally I get the document by email. I have an interview at 11:30 AM. Shucks, it was 11:10 already.

I take my trusty Adventure 390. Forget to wear the riding wind cheater I typically wear.

At the SAP Labs turn I spot this MG SUV coming on the wrong side. This is a usual – nothing out of the ordinary. To save petrol many do this – else they have to go a long distance to take U turn to join the road towards Hoodi. That was the direction I was going.

I had just got out of the signal and was at a nice 50/60 or more. I take a split second decision to overtake him on the right, instead of slowing and following or going to the left.

I go quite close to the right of the car.

And suddenly the car is swerving into my line. Damn – he was taking a U turn.

And it happens in a split milli second. I feel my bike hitting the driver door.

My first thought was – something was going to run me over. Thankfully nothing like that happened. The car guy stopped. And no bus/lorry was behind. My lucky day.

The bike had fallen on my left leg and I was pinned. I was shouting – Help lift the bike.

Few people came and lifted the bike. I wiggled out and just lay on the road stunned. It all happened so fast.

Someone tried to hold my shoulder to lift me up, I refused and sat up by myself.

Second thought – hope I have not got a fracture. My left hand where I put on the road while falling was hurting. My left leg was hurting like crazy at lot of places.

Now someone was trying to lift me up. Again I refused and I got up. Meanwhile someone moved the bike to the side of the road. I gingerly walked to the side and sat down.

My Apple Watch was buzzing – I saw that a count down was going on. It had picked up that I had fallen and was about to send an Emergency SOS to San.

She was minutes away from speaking in a conference in Mumbai. It would have spooked her if she had got the message.

I cancel it. Again the watch was asking – Are you sure and gave me few options – It was a wrong alarm, I fell, but I am ok etc.

I spoke with the car guy then. Took photo of his license.Got his number and gave him a missed call – and made him show the phone. Gave him Gyan at the same time. I hope nothing serious has happened – I will not bother you. But please do not ever go on the wrong side again in your life.

He was apologizing but surprisingly I was not angry – either on him or on myself. Yes I was stupid for having gone fast. And without any riding gear.

I see another car just go on the wrong side. I sigh.

The crowd around me was asking the car guy to take me to a hospital. I refuse.

I was observing my legs and hand. Yes it was hurting and burning but I felt it was fine. No Fracture.

I check the bike – it was intact. Nothing broke. Not even the rear view mirror – which typically breaks in such impacts.

I could move my left hand fingers – so knew I could ride back home. It was only 4/5 kms away. Better recuperating at home than sitting in a hospital.

I check for phone, bike key, laptop bag, water bottle. I thank all the kind souls who were there helping me out. Then I get up on the bike.

My left hand was hurting releasing the clutch. Luckily Adventure 390 has quick shifter – to change gears I need not hold the clutch – just change gears with my left leg and gear shifts. Whenever I had to slow I had to use clutch – on U turns and inside AECS Layout.

Knew my left hand was not right. Stopped at a medical shop and got Savlon, Cotton and Volini spray.

Got Home. Cleaned the cuts and bruises. Quite a few were there – mainly on the left leg – knee till ankle. Left elbow. Right elbow. Right knee. There was a deep puncture wound – and bleeding was not stopping. Put cotton and plastered it.

I stopped using my left hand. Turned on Dictation on Mac and was sending messages using it. Quite effective. Attended meetings as usual and a few escalations. Otherwise was seeing Carlsen-Niemann drama. And was reading the flood tweets.

I think I was lying on the puddle. My pant was fully drenched.

Day 2 – today

There was swelling on my left hand. I was worrying if this is a fracture. Kept putting volini, under warm water periodically. Did not give any work to the left hand.

If this does not improve by evening – decided to go see a doctor and get an X-Ray + plaster etc.

Luckily by evening I could move my fingers – grasp and hold things without pain. Could also type a bit.

Now its 10:24PM – typing fluently. Swelling is there – but I am confident left hand will be alright.

1.There are idiots on the road.

Idiots who drive on the wrong side.

Idiots like me who go fast – without any armour protection.

I typically wear a riding jacket, riding pants and boots and gloves on my long rides. A fall like this would have not scratched me even.

But I cannot wear this to office.

Resolution : Never cross 40. With Armour – perhaps 70/80 – but that’s it. I just realised that there was absolutely no time to react. I could not even hit the brake – forget counter steering to go away from the car. Nothing came to my mind. I saw the car swerve into my path and next moment I am lying on the road praying nothing should run me over.

2. Life is so fragile. So unpredictable

I was lucky yesterday. It could have turned fatal. What if I had went under the car. I had absolutely no armour protection – except for the helmet.

Riding a bike is very dangerous. I know it very well – but I have to be extra careful.

Actually I was a bit fatigued. The previous day I woke up at 4 AM – we were in Bahrain to catch a flight to Dubai, stop over there and then to Bangalore and finally got back home around 10PM.

I typically do not drink coffee till mid-day but asked Amma for coffee while attending standup. I was feeling a bit woozy.

Resolution : Never ever ride or drive if I am fatigued. It is just not worth it. Putting my life and others in danger.

That’s me with all my armour – yet to wear gloves – just before embarking on a 6 hour solo trip to Bettamugilaalam and back.This was shot just 2 weeks back by Prithvi, when I dropped him at his Saturday coaching class before I went on the ride.

To all the people who love me. I will be extra careful. I will slow down. Promise.