Vrrrrrom Vroooooooooooooooom........................
And then zipping past of the vehicles on the road was what used to be my kind of stuff when I entered my college in Dehradun. Rajpur Road was the best place to ride and stare at the Dun chicks riding their kinies and scooties. At that point of time the bike that used to appeal to me was Yamaha RX 100 and the then newly launched CBZ. Some of my seniors and batchmates used to have that and I used to use it whenever I had to run around the places. At that point of time CBZ was the only bike that I used to dream of buying one day.
I came to know about why a bullet is named as a bullet only after getting a lead of 10 minutes in 1 yamaha RX 100 and suzuki shogun the Bulllet Machismo just zipped past us at 100+ speeds simply ignoring that we were trying to rip to the max possible at 85-90 kmph.
That was my first feel of the bullet.
Later on I passed on the first year exams :D and this passing sequence continued with driving almost all kind of two wheelers - from Kinetic to yamaha to suzuki to scooters to Bullets. I rode almost everything. I still could not see the reason in going for a bullet.
I was in the third year, and for the summer training I had to go to Haridwar (BHEL) - I decided to commute on a splendor. Man, that was really pathetic! Each body part was pained at the end of the day! I tried my luck at kaliber croma the next day - only to repeat the same experience.. I thought enough of the commuting on bike - better take state run buses & I continued my bus travel for the rest of the training period.
As it would have meant, I got my first real taste of bull when my friend Kapur wanted to go to Roorkee on his bro's new Bullet Machismo A350, he called me to drive it so that folks at his home can give him the bike (I had some small small bullet experience by then). Yes, before this my seniors handed over a started bull to me... so I had never started one myself. However, I put the theory learnt in use and somehow managed to start the Machismo in the second kick.
We travelled to Roorkee, with changing rider/pillion positions and when riding at 100+ I saw that the experience was entirely different from riding yamaha/cbz @ 90/100!
I was in love, all over!! I knew I would have a bull someday..
After the college I got selected by Infosys - when working there one fine day I thought of buying a bike and third day I brought home one.. But no - It was a Hero Honda CBZ star. Some of the people who knew my craze for the bull were rather surprised but at Infy salary it was difficult for me to buy and maintain a bull, so I was happily settled with my CBZ - it gave me all I wanted - Performance, everywhere and anywhere.
I changed jobs, and got into Flextronics - by this time I had taken up touring seriously. I travelled to very many places on my CBZ perfectly happily, but as it is in my nature - I'd want more of the bullet feeling everyday and also because of the small rides being offered by my other bullet friends I started wondering on buying a bullet. As an investment it was a bad choice - I already had a capable bike, proven and tested and there was no point in going for a close to one lakh two wheeler.
But you know, that feeling, that emotion is very strong and it gets stronger with every passing day. I thought about it a lot and it occured to me that this is a thing which I have wanted to have for such a long time and now if I think about the money then I am not following my happiness. I thought that fulfilling this wish of mine would probably take over all the money stuff off my mind and calculated that spending one lakh on something so good would not be a bad choice - lets not think about the investment perspective, else I will not be happy!
So, the wait of the years was finally getting to lower limits. I was very patient during that period, never I complained. Just sometime I'd see a bull and I'd start teasing it with my CBZ - lost sometimes - got happy that the bull has the power, won sometimes - still happier that I could beat a bull with my CBZ! :D
I had my own biking group - BangaloreBikers and no bullets then. Ashu called me up one day and told that buddy I have bought a bullet, I said - well done bro!! Never a thought occurred to me that I'd also want one for me, then. Around April time I joined xbhp and I was pretty happy with that group too - never had much to say there, and more than that I preferred serious biking/travelling than discussing about wheelies and other stunts.. Anyways not much of participation there - Just got acquainted with some people who I liked biking with. Only one g2g I attended with them - found interesting chaps.
However did not check xbhp much after that - I was told about bikenomads by Rahul Verma, who I contacted for getting the details about Munnar. I landed on bikenomads group in may end, and I found out that this was the place I wanted to be in - irrespective of the bike you be a part, have that spirit of biking and mutual respect and bang - BikeNomads rocks! Just ride :).
I mentioned all these biking groups as without these I would still be happily riding my CBZ.
One day Girish dropped a mail on bikenomads for a ride to Bheemeshwari and as ready I am these days I was ready that time as well :) said a yes and joined Girish (Electra) and Jumbo (P 180) on this ride to Bheemeshwari. This was the beginning of the story, and the beginning of our friendship also. Girish came to know about my craze, and he brought out the hidden desire in me to own a bull..
I started thinking..
Hmmm... Why?
....
ummm Why NOT??!!
..
And these thoughts I used to share with Girish, and he always emphasized on the "Why not" part of it!
Then on the subsequent interactions with many other RTMC guys in the BikeNomads meet and the BN breakfast ride I had made up my mind that I was going to get a bull by Diwali time.
Meanwhile I had made up my mind for Bullet Machismo, as that was the thing I had gone crazy over in my college days - I went to Teknik motors and had a test ride of Machismo and Bullet Electra 5S. I liked Machismo, yes!
Then the salesman told me that If I wanted I could take a Thunderbird for one full day on an "experience ride" - my CBZ was due for servicing so I though that I'd take thunderbird for one day - get CBZ serviced and return the Thunderbird - Why not!!? I said yes, I would take it for a day :) Happy with myself I took it home.
Before this I had tried Ashu's TB - but this time it was owned by me for a full day - and when this sense of ownership comes then things look different. I drove it for around 100 kms in that day - returned it in the evening and still thought that I'd buy one by Diwali time (May be some festive discounts etc. I would get).
At this time my colleague Gurinder persuaded me to buy it along with him, as he was unable to suppress his desire for a bullet.. So the decision was hurried up and I got myself a personal loan to finance the bull.
Finally the wait period of years was counting in days.. The delivery date committed to me by Rajesh was Tuesday 19th sep 06, which slipped just like our project deadlines.. Nobody knows whats going to happen and when! Because of this unprecedented delay my Goa trip plans were getting affected - I was in a totally messed up state as I had planned to take my bull on Goa trip after the first trip.. I got frustrated with the delay and told Rajesh that I wanted to make this trip on a bullet and that he had screwed up my plans - Seemingly unsure of when I'd get my bull Rajesh's true biker act came into being and he landed his Thunderbird to me for the ride.
Yes, it was a fantastic ride!
I reached Goa without any hiccups - From Goa Rajesh told me that I had got my bull and he had selected it out of 6 pieces he had - the best selection made by him, Amit and Shankar bhai (The service center head). I had placed my full confidence in them and when I returned on tuesday I found that the confidence was duly justified.. It is an awesome piece!
So, registered in my name on 29th sep 06, MetalBuck finally arrives home on 3rd of Oct 2006.
Wishing myself a safe and happy journey on my MetalBuck - I promise I will take good care of you buddy :)!!
Labels: Bullet, MetalBuck, Royal Enfield
