This bike has been a sort of life changer for me. I love it like anything and without taking much of time, I admit that it has become more of my soulmate. Last 125 days have gone like a second, and I see this 10,000 Kms digit in the meter. Here is a small glimpse of this short journey of this small milestone.
How it started?
It started with a small trip to Nijagal Betta (70Kms) which further leaded to consecutive 16 weekend road trips to following places (Rest of them were completed with gao of one weekend)
Nijagal betta, Hasarghetta Farms, Maddur, ShivaSamundara, Kudremukh, Coorg, Yelagiri Hills, Nandi Hills, Bheemeshwari, Muthati Forests, Bandipur, Avalabetta, Hogenakkal Falls, Mysore Chamundi Hills, Madurai, Rameshwaram, Kanyakumari, Ooty, Coonoor, Lepakshi, and a bunch of rides to Airport and Raasta Cafe.
About the bike?
Well, without a question, bike is a beast. Loved every bit of it. But even the beasts have problems, and hence I will be writing a bit about the problems too.
Weight?
Its really really heavy and will not recommend the same if you are skinny or cannot withhold much of weight. While sitting on the bike, dragging it back always make me wish if the bike could have a reverse gear. Also when it starts falling down to one side, you will have to leave everything else and put all your force in balancing the same.
But well, weight is what gives this bike a very strong grip on the road.
Design?
Its long. Bulky. Cult. Seating position, handle position, position of pilion rider, etc. are very well in place and do not create any sort of problem as such (in comparison to other sport bikes where pilion seats are painful to pilion as well as rider).
Handle position is in a great position, but riding for more than 500 kms in a day makes me a bit uncomfortable at left shoulder. (Why left only, not sure.) I still feel Duke has better handle position, but seats in Duke sucks big time.
Handling?
Well most of folks have a perception that handling should be difficult on such a bike. No. Its not. Its definitely not as good as duke, but its still quite good. Only thing is, because of massive weight, I do not perform cornering on it. Having said that, cornering is completely possible. Just that I don't do that since I believe this is more of a cruiser bike and not a racing one.
Stability?
Because of good weight and nice balancing, stability is really great. I once faced a critical situation where in I saw one car on other side of divider turning to its right without any indicator/dipper etc. I was at 80 kmph and applied both of the breaks to get in 20 kmph within 2-3 seconds, without causing any slip. It keeps sticked to ground. However since the rear tyre is not much wide, I do not take chances in uneven roads. May be I will get this one upgraded to a more wide tyre soon.
PickUp?
This is something I can always brag about. Its awesome and gives me enormous confidence while I am overtaking any vehicle. Talk to it, and it will roar back. Even at 5000 rpm and speed of 100 at 5th gear, it feels like lot of power is still left within. KTM 390 is the only bike my group which has beaten my bike like anything (It actually nailed it).
Comfort?
With such a wide cushioned seat for rider and smooth cushioned seat for pilion, nothing to say about the seating position. But riding for more than 800 kms in a day gets me pain in the ass (which looks legit since 800 kms is good amount of distance in a day).
Performance?
Haven't felt much in this respect too. Only once it happened when I had a bulky friend as pilion and I was riding on Ooty Hairpins. By the time I crossed 28th hairpin, I felt as if the pickup is not coming and there is some problem with engine. But fortunately it was just a result of over-pampering of the bike and bike was completely fine next day when I rode the same on hills.
Problems faced?
- Its too much heavy. I am not skinny, but I still feel it uncomfortable while dragging it back.
- Most of the time I hear chain "kitch kitch" sound when not oiled for more than 500 kms.
- Visibility of the projector headlight is not great. Especially when riding on roads without proper lightings. I have got extra lights on my crash guard which I use on only on highways without proper lights.
- While riding with knee guards with metal parts, bike can get scratches on fuel tank.
I have got all the four services done (500, 3000, 6000 and 9000 kms). Regular servicing fee. Two times it was below 700 INR and other two times below 1500.
Apart from that one of my key turned into bad shape and hence key-set was changed.
If you haven't got bored and are still with me, here are a few of the pics I have managed to get while tripping:
