Bangalore Ride Report (July 10th, 2016)_Return Journey of 600kms
Well, the night before was one crazy one with a bunch (10-15) people getting together and painting the town red and we got up leisurely at around 9:30am and ordered for breakfast in the room and just lazed around in the room and headed out at 1:00pm
We waited for another friend to join us (Rohit's friend and his wife) who had come to Bangalore a day before us and was joining us for the return ride in his Safari Storme. We headed out finally around 2:00pm and stopped little after Devenhalli for lunch and after a relaxing lunch we started our journey back from that point at 3:30pm.
And, this time the crosswinds were there and blasting us from "Left Side" but, it was not that bad and I was able to keep up a steady 120+kmph but, it was not a comfortable ride as the situation was certainly abnormally windy
We kept a fast pace through most of the return ride with my wife as pillion right from beginning and she was enjoying every bit of the ride except that I had to tell her to not lean on me as added weight would slow me down.
Any tips on how a pillion should sit during long rides so that both the rider as well as pillion is comfortable in these long journeys?
We had decided when we left Bangalore at 3:30pm that we will stop next at 5:30pm for tea and trust me it was one awesome non-stop 2 hours ride where we covered some serious kms during this period. We then re-grouped around 6:00pm just after a toll-gate as that was easy to slow down and wait for the cars as bikes needn't pay toll
At this point, since i was leading most of the time just before reaching the toll (about 5-10kms), I overtook a jeep (Jonga, if you know this is popular in MH and KA) at a good speed and it was loaded to brim with young fellas and was waiting after the toll booth for our convoy to regroup. We all had regrouped and having tea from a road-side vendor when this Jonga came and parked little ahead of us and the whole bunch came out (6-7 guys)
They seem to be completely smitten and mesmerized with the Versys and all wanted to sit on it and pose for pictures (which I allowed) and asking naive questions related to its Price, FE and where we coming from etc. Rajesh cooked up a story that we took delivery of this bike in London and I was riding from London to India via.Nepal.
They completely believed it and just gaped at this incredulous story and asked how many days it took us ( I replied 25 days..Hehe!) continuously shaking hands and congratulating us etc. Many pictures later they reluctantly left and headed towards their destination (Bellary)
My wife's chrome helmet was a snug fit and she preferred not to remove during our pit-stops and was walking around with helmet on. So, everyone named her "THE STIG" and she did look like that from a distance in that chrome helmet...LOL!
We started from here at 7:00pm and Hyderabad was around 250kms away and our next point to meet was at Hyderabad Airport just outside ORR so luggage can be shifted etc.
This stretch was my favorite for the entire ride, it had become dark and we never met the convoy after this point as I kept a blistering pace and reached the Hyderabad airport point at 9:15pm and after reaching that point called the car folks and got to know they are still some 30-35kms behind.
I decided to head home and wait for Rajesh to arrive home directly
Return ride was certainly more enjoyable than the onward journey as the crosswinds did play spoilsport to some extent but, after Kurnool there was absolutely no crosswinds and this is where the Versys came into being and left everyone behind
LED's Feedback
The LED's performed nicely and even thought it was a 4-lane divided road all through I was very cognizant of the fact that it is bright and was using them judiciously and I would use the high-beam when not much traffic is there and would keep dipping when I want to overtake them
It was an amazing thing that with low-beam on and If I give a pass the cars would automatically move to left and overtaking them was a breeze. It was like a thunder coming on and off when the pass switch is used.
Thanks to them I kept a brisk pace through this night ride which was nearly 250kms with a pillion and was certainly the most fun part of the ride (for me). Though i tell myself that I should not ride at night but, i seem to enjoy riding the motorcycle at night more than day (Experienced from both my recent long rides of Mahabaleshwar & Bangalore). It is really thrilling but, at same time brings in lot of danger
We reached home which was 35kms away at 9:52 pm (Yes, I took a picture). 5:45 Hours to cover about 575 kms with couple of stops by just keeping a brisk pace and not overworking and stressing the Versys out
Unbelievable Comfort of Versys
Below is just a example of how comfortable is the Versys for long rides.
An individual's physical strength and mindset is also important but, I'm far from fit as you can see and if I can do such long rides (thanks mainly to the motorcycle). Many of you more fitter folks can do it with much more ease
Hyderabad to Bangalore : We covered 600kms and didn't sleep and partied till 4:00am that night
Bangalore to Hyderabad: Reached home at ~ 10:00pm and after a shower, I was so fresh that If you ask me to ride again to Bangalore, I would have taken up on that offer without blinking an eye as I was all charged up and super fresh
It's a different story that my wife was crashed and took a whole day to recover (as she was not at all used to sitting for such long distances)..LOL!
Well, it was a fun trip and hope you enjoyed reading through our
"Good times with the Dark Knight" Your's truly !!! Lunch while returning to Hyderabad One of the stop after toll-break Attachment 1528740 This where the London-Nepal-India story was cooked up This is what the trip meter had to tell me when i reached home