[bf1983]

Congrats on a brilliant bike. Since you are from Bangalore you guys actually have good roads where you can use these machines properly.

And no dreams definitely don't have an expiry date. I once met an old gentleman when I stopped at a roadside dhaba. He was riding a Triumph Tiger from Mumbai to Kerala for a solo trip down South at the ripe age of 58. I assumed he was a seasoned rider and so asked him how long he has been riding for. I was shocked when he told me its been just 2 years. He had retired from his job 2 years back and decided to take up riding just for fun. He loved it so much he bought the Tiger a year back and now has plans to take it to different parts of India in future.

Wish you lots of happy miles on this beautiful machine and hopefully you manage to get some track days done on this bike as it's really designed for the track. Cheers !

[Rachit.K.Dogra]

Originally Posted by wolfy

WHEN DO DREAMS EXPIRE?

Dreams.

An interesting topic. All of us dream when we sleep, well, I guess most of us do. And some of us dream when we are most wide awake, defining what we think and do every moment of our days.

Perfect Title to a beautiful story!!
Wishing you many safe and happy miles with the Miss.Isle!!

One of the earliest litre class which I got an opportunity to experience for some decent KMs was the 10R. Although initially in my head, I was not a 10R fan, but my time with the bike changed my perception so much.

I am short guy and 10R has the lowest seat height which immediately helps your confidence. Its low, long and soft which makes it stable and planted on our bad roads. I absolutely loved the rider triangle and felt it was made for me.

I totally agree with you on the power deliver. I can happily cruise when you want to and of course fly when you want to too.

Congratulations once again on you dream!!

CHEERS!!

Rachit

[wolfy]

"What Mods have you done Bob?"

"Bone Stock!! I haven't found the bottom of this PPower Well yet to dig further da!"

Well, not entirely true. I have done very few mods.

• Evotech Performance Radiator Guard
• Shogun Racing Sliders, Spools and Bar ends
• EaziGrip Tank Grips
• MRA WindScreen
• A ticking odometer

Picture below is in front of the very gate that I used to walk by as a little school boy to see the Green SBK back in the day. Pic below is also Miss.Isle with all her mods. Look hard to find em all!



Ahem, excuse the blown out colours on the pic. I think all that green confused my phone camera.

"Ok, So you bought a track bike and didn't track it. Did not Mod it, What DID you do with it?"

"I rode it as much as life allowed me to. And then this Virus came along and.. ok let's not go down that road. Short story, I toured on it, Took off on early morning runs, late night runs, sat and oggled at it.. Also, found my new favorite colour because of it. "



"You toured? On a SBK? Why?"

Because...


I am not too sure if i can explain this very well. I will try though. I bought this bike because the itch didn't go away for decades. Yes, I will track this track bike but I will tour on any bike I own. What's better than spending hours on your favourite set of wheels on roads and places like these?







"Nope, I don't get it Bob, there are better ..."

"It's ok if you don't get it da.. It is A ok!"

[wolfy]

Originally Posted by Rachit.K.Dogra

Perfect Title to a beautiful story!!
Wishing you many safe and happy miles with the Miss.Isle!!

One of the earliest litre class which I got an opportunity to experience for some decent KMs was the 10R. Although initially in my head, I was not a 10R fan, but my time with the bike changed my perception so much.

I am short guy and 10R has the lowest seat height which immediately helps your confidence. Its low, long and soft which makes it stable and planted on our bad roads. I absolutely loved the rider triangle and felt it was made for me.

I totally agree with you on the power deliver. I can happily cruise when you want to and of course fly when you want to too.

Congratulations once again on you dream!!

CHEERS!!

Rachit

Cheers Rachit! I think these bikes are all Yummy. If Money wasn't a thing, i'd have one of each in all the colours plus 1. Very few things come close to the overall experience of a SBK. Brand/make/model year irrespective. For my level of riding on our roads and our limited tracks here in India, any of these bikes are overkill out of the crate. Your beautiful new R1 I am sure is testament to that.

Originally Posted by bf1983

Congrats on a brilliant bike. Since you are from Bangalore you guys actually have good roads where you can use these machines properly.

And no dreams definitely don't have an expiry date. I once met an old gentleman when I stopped at a roadside dhaba. He was riding a Triumph Tiger from Mumbai to Kerala for a solo trip down South at the ripe age of 58. I assumed he was a seasoned rider and so asked him how long he has been riding for. I was shocked when he told me its been just 2 years. He had retired from his job 2 years back and decided to take up riding just for fun. He loved it so much he bought the Tiger a year back and now has plans to take it to different parts of India in future.

Wish you lots of happy miles on this beautiful machine and hopefully you manage to get some track days done on this bike as it's really designed for the track. Cheers !

Thank you so much!! That is a lovely story. I am glad he got to experience 2 wheels in his life even at that age! Track days will happen, it is part of that dream!

[krishsreedharan]

Congratulations Wolfy, on Miss.Isle! Its never too late to follow your passion.

I finally got my first bike after 34 years of argument with my father - when I was 48. It was a Kawasaki Z900 - I christened it "Bumblebee". And incidentally, I am taking delivery of a Versys 1000 this evening ... and I have already named it "Roadrunner".

One good thing that's happened to me after I got Bumblebee is that I started paying attention to my fitness. I have dropped from 106kgs to 84kgs ... and its done wonder to my ability to ride better and longer.

Wishing you miles and miles of joy and happiness on Miss.Isle.

Will give you a shout when I am in Bangalore next.

Cheers!
Krish

[wolfy]

Originally Posted by krishsreedharan

I finally got my first bike after 34 years of argument with my father - when I was 48. It was a Kawasaki Z900 - I christened it "Bumblebee". And incidentally, I am taking delivery of a Versys 1000 this evening ... and I have already named it "Roadrunner".

Cheers!
Krish

Hey Krish!
I am sure that is a good story! How did he finally come around after that many years?

All the best for your Versys! Thats a beauty! Wishing you unlimited happy and safe miles!

[krishsreedharan]

Originally Posted by wolfy

Hey Krish!
I am sure that is a good story! How did he finally come around after that many years?

Oh yes. I just sat him down and told him that I am buying the bike. Not like he had much of option other than to tell me to go ahead if "that makes me happy"

Originally Posted by wolfy

All the best for your Versys! Thats a beauty! Wishing you unlimited happy and safe miles!

Thanks much

[SnS_12]

Congratulations on the Kwacker and for fulfilling your childhood dream.

It is commendable how people managed to import, ride and maintain these beauties in the 80's, 90's and even early 2000. Imagine, just arranging for a tyre or a battery in those days without internet or google would have been some task.

Thanks to watching GP races in the 90's I always dreamt of owning a 500 cc two stroke when I grow up only to realize that getting one and be able to ride one in India is never going to happen... But still dream of owning a RG 500 Gamma or a TZ and while we are still at dreaming even a NSR

Happy riding!!!

[wolfy]

Originally Posted by SnS_12

Thanks to watching GP races in the 90's I always dreamt of owning a 500 cc two stroke when I grow up only to realize that getting one and be able to ride one in India is never going to happen... But still dream of owning a RG 500 Gamma or a TZ and while we are still at dreaming even a NSR

Happy riding!!!

There are some (2?) TZ250s and a Fresh RD500 engine that I have seen in Chennai. Beauties. Rode one of the TZs. I do not think i even hit the powerband. LOL. What a screamer..

I think the 2 stroke scene of these exotics is alive in the UK and Japan. Some Beautiful examples on the interwebs..

[SnS_12]

Originally Posted by wolfy

There are some (2?) TZ250s and a Fresh RD500 engine that I have seen in Chennai. Beauties. Rode one of the TZs. I do not think i even hit the powerband. LOL. What a screamer..

Quite a rare bunch and you're lucky to ride one. But, believe a member out here has one TZR250 and a 250 gamma in Chennai. That RD 500 V4 will command a premium considering how rare it is India. Have never ridden a TZ yet only the RZ series, but with close to 50 bhp and that light weight it will just go braap when it hits the powerband though. However the YPVS does help quite a bit in the lower end and redlining these rockets is what I enjoy the most.

Originally Posted by wolfy

I think the 2 stroke scene of these exotics is alive in the UK and Japan. Some Beautiful examples on the interwebs..

Also, the US.I follow a company on Instagram who have a phenomenal collection which just keeps growing with bikes coming in from Japan, South Africa etc.. Some Indians have bought from them and have had it shipped to India but believe all are four strokes as I don't think you can import 2 stroke anymore even used ones.

[no_fear]

@wolfy,

Many congrats on your baby. I hope you got more miles under your belt after lockdown.

For your lower back pain, the best pain relief is more riding. The more you ride, the longer the body tolerates the pain, until you forget it exists... lol

With regard to parents observation on motorbikes, its the same.

My mom told me why do you keep buying red color bikes - don't they make in other colors?

My dad - stop wasting money on this. Put your money in FD. He thinks fixed deposits is the only way.

Thankfully the home minister post is vacant, so I don't have to answer there.

Happy riding.

[narula123]

Congrats bud. Its a beautiful machine and will serve you well! I would recommend investing in a set of engine case covers for those oops moments if they ever occur. Also, think about going +2 on the rear sprocket and upgrading the front MC to an RCS17 or RCS19 for more effect.

[wolfy]

Life happens.

My last update on this thread was nearly 2 years ago.

2 years, gone like a blip. Will use this post as a photo album of the years and miles gone by. I hope you do not mind a photo heavy post. Filtering out loads of pics to comply with the 30 images a post restriction, will try and capture the emotions of owning one of the best motorcycles I have ever owned, so far.

Irresponsible as I am, a few motorcycles have passed through my garage over the years. In the past 2 years, 2 iconic motorcycles found new homes and another icon found me...



One of the last pics of my beautiful beautiful little Ninja.



My partner for 16 glorious years, my beloved RD350 with New Love, my 2014 Triumph Speed Triple. If I do manage to find another sleepless night, I shall open a dedicated thread for the Speedy! For a year or so, this was the garage. The year of the dreaded 2nd Covid 19 wave.

But this post is of the 10R. The places we went and the things we did.

The pandemic years were largely spent warming her up in the garage and solo runs during early mornings or late nights.



These rides meant so much back then. It was an escape from the madness, the frustration of being stuck at home, of not being able to meet extended families and friends, of losing dear ones, not being able to say goodbye. An escape from endless working hours and household chores.



Many times, I wondered how people got through life without motorcycles. Many times feeling grateful of the fire breathing therapist under me.

Slowly solo rides evolved to rides with close friends. Occasional tours to beautiful places. Every km covered was a reminder of the times we have and the times we lost.



Strangely, during these times, we discovered some wonderful places just a few 100 kms from home. These places were always there, we just weren't looking.





Longer multi day rides were few and far in between. When it did happen, we went to places like these.





We rode through green estates...



To secluded reservoirs.







We tried reaching for the clouds in high mountains







by riding through lonely, twisty, mystical forests and valleys.



Always, with the fire of the sun in our eyes!



Miss.Isle needed a break too. Nothing more than the regular scheduled visit to the service center.

As the world opened, we met our friends again. Making every excuse to ride.



Weekend morning breakfast runs



to hot and humid beach side resorts.



Making memories and making up for lost time.



The garage siblings found a way to spend time together on the road too. A change in scenery is never a bad idea!



We hung out with the wrong kind of friends..



Friends who always looked for trouble!

We then asked the question, What was our purpose? and so we went, looking for answers.



We were back on the track after years of staying away. Clearly needing practice!



And so we did. With the best coaches in the world, but even the best coaches can only do so much.



A long way to go, but a lot to look forward to.



Oh we did some mods too. To breathe better and (un)tidy the tail. And then we toured again.



To the coast of Maharashtra! Clearly, I had learnt nothing about choosing the right tool for the job!



Cheers!