[VW2010]

@Dr,

Can you check if you can source the Battalax. I am completely satisfied with the amount of grip these tyres have.

With ABS and fairly lighter and smaller KTM390 these tyres can give exceptional grip and life.

With harsh driving it has lasted almost 7000kms and i am sure i can add another 1600 kms before. But the best part is the amount of grip it has on the twistiness and confidence it gives.

I will write a separate thread about the 650 shortly where i will cover its strength and weakness and most importantly how we are gifted to have a 390 at that price point.


Pirellis definitely have longer life while the Michelin Pilots 2 and 3 have the best feeling.

(Metz wins by a long margin on Wet though for me)

[schakravarthy]

For those interested, Michelin Pilot Street 150/60-R17 is available for Rs.3937/- on Flipkart. There's also an additional 10% cashback for selected payment partners.

Seems too good an offer. A month back, I had paid 5k for the tyre, which at that time seemed to be a killer price.

[SunnyBoi]

Originally Posted by VW2010

@Dr,
Can you check if you can source the Battalax. I am completely satisfied with the amount of grip these tyres have.

I'm a big fan of Battlax tyres. I had BT39 90/80-17 front and 110/70-17 rear tyres on my NSR and had an amazing experience with them.

These pictures were taken on a track day when i was doing really good speeds. Pictures speak lot more than words

[barcalad]

They say if a biker hasn't eaten dust ever, he isn't a biker. Today, fellow owners, I guess I became a 'biker'.

Sunday morning ride. 5:10 AM. Interior Haryana. Unlit state highway. I'm fourth in the convoy. An unmarked gigantic speed-breaker appears out of nowhere. The 3 in front of me fly past it. I can't. It's a risk. Considering my physical dimensions, it can have an adverse effect on the suspension/rims. I slam the brakes. ABS kicks in.

There were two riders behind me. A R15 V2 and a RC200. The R15 was riding precariously close to me when I last saw it on the RVM, 300 metres before the speed breaker. Little did I know it would be too close.

As soon as I descend the mountain of a speed-breaker, I feel something hit me hard on my rear left. It's the R15. My bike spins, so does my head, I skid along with the bike on the concrete road. Everything seems to have come to a pause. My head feels numb. I find myself staring at the road, where there are lots of sparks and dust. I have given up on life. The end's near. I feel nothing. I hear nothing. I just see the dust which is lit up by a roadside fire.

Yes. I have crashed. For the first time in my life.

R15 hits me. RC200 hits the R15. All 3 bikes and riders on the ground. It all happened in a nanosecond.

As if volume being increased on an old car stereo, I hear my name being screamed. I see a silhouette giving me a hand. I refuse. I crawl to the side of the road. I stand up somehow. Left shoe in one hand and helmet in another, I sit down by the roadside.

My first sentence to the silhouette - "Please. Get my bike here. Take out the keys and give it to me. How bad is it damaged? Please.."

I still can't believe what has happened. My body and head is numb. I look at the dark sky above in disbelief.

I look at my jacket. It's torn. The white inside layer has turned red in my left arm area. My jeans is torn in both knees' area.

3 bikes and 3 riders bruised. The under-seat KTM first aid kit attends to my bleeding left arm and knees. Feeling stable and being able to walk without any bone pain, I muster up courage to see my bike.

Left RVM glass missing.
Left Knuckle Guard scratched and bent.
Both Number Plates bent.
Left leg guard bent.
Gear lever bent downwards.
Handle bent towards the left.
Scratch on the tank edge, just above the '0' of the '390'.
Scratch on left engine casing.

Of the two other riders who crashed with me, one is fine. The other has his leg skin separated from his body as if someone peeled off a banana. He was the one who crashed into me. The R15 is totalled. The RC200 has some fairing scratches and a bent gear lever. It'll survive.

I ride back 100kms to Delhi with Bhaskar (D390) as my escort. I just want to see my brother (at home). I feel helpless and powerless. The others attend to my other 2 co-riders. My knee has no energy to change the gear. My elbows seem to have no zeal to turn the handle. Gear lever's so bent that it can't shift to the 1st gear. Hence, the 2nd gear becomes my 1st gear. Handle bent. Not too bad. Can ride.

Just returned from the hospital. Left arm has been dressed up. Other injuries are too minor to be dressed, hence they're treated to some chemical solution and left.

My God, thank you for keeping me alive. I'm not sure when I will mentally and physically find myself competent again to hit the road again.

I would be very obliged if someone can give me an estimate as to how much should the repairs/replacements cost. I have to get her 100% fit at the earliest. Thank you for your help.

Big shoutout to my co-riders mehuel, Gautam and Bhaskar for taking care of us 3 injured and shaken souls and proving that we are brothers first and co-riders later. Shabi (RC200) realising that his injuries were negligible, joined in to give us both help and assistance.

The R15 rider has to undergo stitches/surgery and will probably be out of biking for a couple of months. The bike needs a complete overhaul. I pray to God that he gets well soon and treats this incident as a bad dream. God bless.

[Added_flavor]

Originally Posted by barcalad

They say if a biker hasn't eaten dust ever, he isn't a biker. Today, fellow owners, I guess I became a 'biker'.

Very sorry to read this, but at the same time I'm glad nothing serious happened to any of you brother. The bike can be repaired and brought back to top shape. Please stop worrying about it.

I wish you a speedy recovery, both physically and mentally. I suggest, the day you're fit enough to ride, get on the saddle and your mental recovery will happen. You will feel butterflies but I'm sure the confidence will be back soon.

Ride safe. Get well soon.

EDIT: No time to preach, but this is a lesson for all of us riding in groups to understand the perils of tailgating and follow the 2 second rule.

[ebonho]

Take care bro. Tried calling you.

With handle, around 2k to 2.5k. No biggie. But you do need better gear.

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by ebonho

The MRF Revz C1 150/60 R17 for the Duke 390 is the one I am following, and which is not yet available in the market.

This one has a different tread (extra sipes), query different rubber, and would be rated safely higher than what the Duke/RC 390s can do.

Extra sipes will help in our dusty & rainy conditions. Different rubber = Softer?

Doc, any idea of Pirelli's coming in 250R's size?

Had carried one SD from wakdewadi all the way to here in train.

Originally Posted by Added_flavor

EDIT: No time to preach, but this is a lesson for all of us riding in groups to understand the perils of tailgating and follow the 2 second rule.

I would say more than 2 seconds. At least 10 meters distance or visibility distance, but we can discuss this separately. Good thing is, barcalad will soon be riding again

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by Sheel

Extra sipes will help in our dusty & rainy conditions. Different rubber = Softer?

Doc, any idea of Pirelli's coming in 250R's size?

[i]Had carried one SD from wakdewadi all the way to here in train.

No stock in Pune Sheel.

But the set for the Duke sizes should be around 9k, same as the Michelin's.

I have decided to invest in Metzelers or the Pirelli Rossos when they come - for weekend warrior riding.

And shift to the 390 MRFs for tours.

[Sheel]

Serious OT:

But now, I want a maxi-scooter to commute and a nice bike to ride. Commuting is a pain in these dedicated bikes [despite the CBR-250R being so versatile]

[barcalad]

Originally Posted by Added_flavor

Very sorry to read this, but at the same time I'm glad nothing serious happened to any of you brother. The bike can be repaired and brought back to top shape. Please stop worrying about it.

I wish you a speedy recovery, both physically and mentally. I suggest, the day you're fit enough to ride, get on the saddle and your mental recovery will happen. You will feel butterflies but I'm sure the confidence will be back soon.

Ride safe. Get well soon.

EDIT: No time to preach, but this is a lesson for all of us riding in groups to understand the perils of tailgating and follow the 2 second rule.

Thank you, bud.

I'm actually thankful to the almighty that nothing major happened. At the time when I stopped sliding on the ground, the distance between me and the cement divider was barely an inch. Shudder to thing what would've happened otherwise.

Originally Posted by ebonho

Take care bro. Tried calling you.

With handle, around 2k to 2.5k. No biggie. But you do need better gear.

Thanks, doc. Couldn't receive it as I was deep asleep. After-effects of the multiple injections I received.

For sure. I hope I get a knee pad of my size soon. Shall buy it once I'm back on the road, even if I have to import it. Do help me with it once I'm ready.

Originally Posted by Sheel

I would say more than 2 seconds. At least 10 meters distance or visibility distance, but we can discuss this separately. Good thing is, barcalad will soon be riding again

Thanks, Sheel.

At this point of time, I am deeply ashamed of myself for having let a scratch come on my bike. Just asked my brother to go cover it and chain the wheels until I'm competent enough to take it to the SVC. That shall take some time, I guess.

Today's incident just boosted my faith in the almighty. Escaped death by a whisker.

[neil.jericho]

I was looking forward to hearing your report on the new PSD from your ride today but tuned in to read this very unfortunate development. Hope you recover quickly and get back to riding soon buddy. Looking forward to more updates from you once you are back on two wheels.


At some time or the other, each of us riders end up tumbling down. Sometimes its our fault, sometimes its that of others. The important thing is to learn from the mistakes made and avoid them in future. As Added Flavour mentioned, the bike can be repaired and brought back to road worthy condition.


Whats the status of your riding gear, buddy? Did the helmet take any damage? Looks like your jacket bore the brunt of the accident, which one were you wearing? When I had a fall, I didnt even realize I had hit my head on the road, but later on I found that the HJC had saved my skull. Got a new Nolan and ditched the HJC, fortunately my A* jacket wasnt damaged so I still use it daily.


My mental scars took longer to heal than my physical ones but eventually I got back to riding. Im sure your passion for riding will not diminish and await posts from more adventures on the D390.

Originally Posted by barcalad

There were two riders behind me. A R15 V2 and a RC200. The R15 was riding precariously close to me when I last saw it on the RVM, 300 metres before the speed breaker. Little did I know it would be too close.

From my experiences of many a group ride back in the good ol xbhp days, I have found that many riders tend to do tailgate without even realizing it. Ive seen people explain to others that they were riding too close but it was always met with a 'its fine, there was enough of a gap, why are we making such a big deal out of it?'. My solution has always been to slow down and let them overtake and then maintain a safe distance from them.

[barcalad]

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

I was looking forward to hearing your report on the new PSD from your ride today but tuned in to read this very unfortunate development...
....My solution has always been to slow down and let them overtake and then maintain a safe distance from them.

Thank you for the kind words, buddy.

Well, I reckon the PSDs have to wait for a couple of months to prove their calibre to me. Better late than never.

Here's the peculiar part. I skidded on the road for a decent distance. Horizontally, all the time. My full faced SOL MetalMan saved my head from turning into chowder, that's for sure. I got a feeling that my head is well cushioned, like resting your head on a pillow once I hit the ground. I don't know how it happened. Weirdly, it doesn't have a single scratch on it. As good as new. Supernatural stuff, this.

I was wearing a custom jacket which doubles up as a raincoat as well. It bore the majority of the brunt, as evident by my torso injuries. It had a great role to play in minimising the damage.

Absolutely, Neil. I reckon from my next ride, I would spend 10 minutes with my co-riders to fix some regulations, particularly while riding in mist and in unlit roads.

Hoping to get back on the saddle soon, god willing.

[VijayAnand1]

@barcalad, get well soon. Well, your fears would all disappear, once you gear up, and hit the road in your own peace. God speed.

Cheers!
VJ

[nitninja]

@barcalad take care my friend and wishing you a speedy recovery.What was the speed you were doing when the r15 hit you ? I would suggest you to get the lower t.stem changed as they can bend in a fall.

[mehuel]

What a day, truly horrific. As soon as I saw that mountain of a life/speed breaker, Gautam was flying over it on his RC, I was next, breaking wasnt an option, even though the outcome of going over such a bump is always quite unpredictable. I landed though. Next was Bhasker on his duke flying past me. So 3 out and 3 more to go. That is when it happened.

Even though circumstances were not in our favor, a turn, a big tractor trailer over loaded with fodder blocking our view and top it up with a gigantic speed breaker, I dont know how to describe it, but yes it was indeed avoidable. It was sheer luck that favored 3 but it very well might have been the 3 of us, or worst comes to worst all 6.

I remember having a same experience on my month old RC when it went into a ditch of a pothole, breaking both the alloys, only good thing was that my friend was atleast 5-6 trucks distance behind me and was able to break in time.

Yes, there is lot to be learned from it. Besides group riding dynamics itself. (And I am not preaching but simply begging) Please always wear riding gear. If both barca and Ankit were wearing atleast elbow and knee gaurds, forget riding jacket, things would have been a lot different. Where luck did favor them was the fact that is was chilly and they were wearing windcheaters, and it took some of the grunt but not all, need less to say knees and legs just had a pair of jeans over them.

Barca I beg you, before getting the bike fixed, please buy some good gear or else I'll end up buying cheap elbow/knee gaurd crap from some website and have them delivered to your address, a bulk order for the rest of the guys too with cash on delivery

Get well soon bud