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-   -   One bike to tame them all! 'Black Panther' - My Kawasaki Versys 650. Edit: Now sold! (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/superbikes-imports/183764-one-bike-tame-them-all-black-panther-my-kawasaki-versys-650-edit-now-sold-26.html)

Finally completed 25000 kms of weekend fun, over the last weekend on a breakfast ride to Salem. clap:


Had a good amount of fun keeping up with the bigger boys! :D

Since when was staying in front called keeping up? Was a nice ride all the same.

I was chasing you down Thoppur ghats! :D

Staying ahead for the rest of the ride doesn't really matter. It's just a random preference just as the big Multi always prefers to be the sweep.

To everyone's shock - I've been riding around all these days with the stock candlelights. The reason being the atrocious pricing of every option available in the market. Could never afford, nor think of Baja, Denali and ClearWater options for 30k - 50k and beyond!

The most VFM option that I came across was the Gold Runaways at 8k odd, before this one gained popularity and the prices sky-rocketed. Needless to say, I missed the bus and repented it. :Frustrati

While casually browsing last week, I came across a brilliant (atleast on paper) VFM option. MADDOG started manufacturing lights in India, and recently launched the Scout X. While the earlier Scout (20W each), never aroused my curiosity, the spec sheet of this one certainly did!


Went down to Gear Gear Motorcycles today, had a closer look and got them installed. clap:

Forgot to mention the costs - 5750/- a pair clap:

Was able to capture some pictures late at night. All three pics taken the with same camera manual settings.


Not in the range of Baja / Clearwater and all - but more than enough and absolute VFM at only a fraction of the price.

Also got saddle stays installed. I had ordered them directly from Zana a couple of months back, and they just cancelled the order after a long wait. Thankfully came back in stock at BikenBiker.


Total cost of accessories installed till date. (Less than the lights only on most bikes) lol:

Went for a breakfast ride last weekend with Team-Bhp'ian friends - KarthikK on his Interceptor 650, shaikhmimran on his CBR 650F, ebmrajesh on his Ninja 1000, Ethanhunt 123 on his Multistrada 1260 and IronH4wk joining in his good old H4Wkmobile.

The special part about the ride - wife joined after ages. And her first breakfast ride / non-expressway ride. lol:

Had a blast of a ride though! Just two clicks towards the harder side on the rear suspension pre-load and the bike was just as good as ever - with no noticeable effect of the pillion weight during riding, except of course when braking!

She made for a great pillion too. Sitting comfortably and not shifting weight noticeably against the bike in corners. Infact, following the enthusiastic KarthikK throwing around his Interceptor 650 with aplomb - ended up scraping the footpegs royally into a corner! I was worried how she would react and if she would have got scared - but she just casually asked what was the sound, and if something fell off the bike! :D


However, towards the end of the ride, she did complain quite a bit about pain from the hamstrings! It looks to me like she might have been pulling the hamstrings unknowingly to negate the acceleration. And perhaps a more relaxed seating position (without the getting pulled back when accelerating) from a proper backrest could solve this issue.

May be finally time for that top-box!

Nice ride. What is the name of the breakfast place and where is it?

Rocky Ridge Cafe, near to Denkanikottai.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ro...2!4d77.8670838

We did the Kanakapura - Anchetty - Denkanikottai loop, had breakfast and then took Hosur highway back home. :)

Awesome! Take it easy and don't over do it till she looks forward to these rides. Would be fun if my Mrs had company on these rides so don't scare her away :)

I think hard panniers work wonders, the acceleration was a problem for my Mrs but with the panniers it's negated as she can hold on to the bike with her thighs, hamstrings,calves and boots . Also with a top box it can be used as a back rest only at a stop or pretty much like how you would stand on the pegs for that quick stretch. Otherwise for bikes like ours ,the best ergonomics on the move is a slightly leaned forward position. If she gets used to riding leant back it might cause more harm than good. Just my opinion, not backed by any scientific data.

The Givi top box model currently shortlisted -


Waiting for stocks to arrive later this week.

:D

Panniers are out of question! Way too much money and we are already fighting on the topic of where to keep all this stuff in the house. :uncontrol The cheapest option is the Shad, I believe, which still costs around 32k.

For side mounting - Saddlebags seem to be the best possible alternative. With the saddlestays in place now, will rent one and try it out! :thumbs up

Have you considered Coocase?

I have a 50L top box that comes with rear lights, remote locking, theft alarm etc. that I got way back in 2015 for about 9k, last time I checked it was available for 16.5k.

The model is called Reflex v50.



This is the remote.



Coocase is the poor mans alternative for Givi. lol:

Cheers,
A.P.

Not anymore. Was brilliant VFM when you got it for 9k. Even Avinash paid 8k IIRC for his V50 on the Versys 650. :D

Coocase used to be listed by Orion Motors, but is missing from the website now. Last I saw - it was listed for 16.5ish too. Adding a metal rack from Zana - that's 20k.

Whereas, the Givi 47L litre option (E470N from the Monolock range) is 14k + 4k for a metal Givi rack. :)

The pics from the ride are awesome! It seems like quite a bit of twisties with good roads.
Are the roads in good condition for the entire stretch? If so I was thinking of hitting the spot this weekend.

Cheers
Krishna

You could consider the treknride top case. it is some 6300. I have bought it for my bonnie and it seems to be good and well built. I have not tried on road yet, but would do so next week. so will update after my trip.

https://www.treknride.com/universal-...e/pid-93564123

Go ahead! You will love it on the 1. :thumbs up

There are a couple of area of broken patches - but the overall ride is good. Just set the map for Kanakapura - Anchetty - Denkanikottai - Rocky Ridge Cafe. For the return, you can set Bangalore directly and it should route via Attibele.

Just one point to be noted if you are following Google Maps - Google tries to get you to bypass Denkanikottai via this route. And its a horrible broken stretch afterwards, and you need to ride down a lot further to avoid that stretch and join the main road.



Go further down and take the Palacode main road instead.



Congrats. The box should serve you well Madhukar. Ramana had tested the box for well over 50,000 kms on the Versys 650.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/super...pleted-12.html

I personally prefer the looks of the SHAD SH42 for the budget though! But that's just me, and it is currently out of stock with most dealers - as there is some sort of upgraded version coming up with a higher price tag soon.