My 2019 Kawasaki Ninja 1000: 3 year ownership update

In recent times, perhaps the most important update that I have is that I got the stock tyres changed out finally.

BHPian KarthikK recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Ownership update at 3 years / 36 months - Tyres changed to Metzeler Sportec M9RR:

In recent times, perhaps the most important update that I have for this thread is that I got the stock tyres changed out finally. In one of my previous updates I had posted that I had purchased and stashed away a pair of Metzeler Sportec M9RR tyres for future use. I wanted to avoid any risks of tyre shop jugaad while mounting / unmounting the wheels from the bike (some of them don't use front paddock stand, stories of the swingarm slipping from the paddock stand, etc).

Fellow Ninja 1000 owner ebmrajesh and I (he also changed out his tyres) both went to Rideventur service centre and got the wheels removed there. We then hand-carried the wheels and the new tyres to Madhus Tyre Centre, Wilson garden where the staff were thoroughly professional and helped complete the tyre change and the balancing in record time.

Taking Rideventur staff's help to disconnect the wheels carefully:

The Bridgestone stock tyres were removed from the alloy wheels:

Goodbye Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S20, thanks for the service:

Newer, sportier, super sticky shoes for the Ninja - Metzeler Sportec M9RR. Now wearing 190/55 on the rear instead of the stock 190/50 section:

Wheel balancing done at Madhus after changing the tyres:

The bike with new shoes installed and ready for the next season of touring:

The service centre charged me for labour for disconnecting and fitting back the wheels and for wheel balancing (they forgot I had already done it at Madhus and I also forgot to tell them). This was the cost at Rideventur for wheel fitment:

Review on the Sportec M9RR tyres: One word - Flawless! It was remarkable to experience the incredible levels of confidence and grip even cornering in extreme rain and slushy terrain on mountain roads, I have not experienced anything this sticky (my first tyre change on the Ninja). Of course, it goes without saying that the grip levels in the dry were stellar as well. I certainly enjoyed the grip levels and will value that, due to the nature of touring that my better half and I do round the year, and to places that might sometimes throw terrain challenges.

Post-Valparai inverse chicken strips shows just how much eager the bike is to lean into corners confidently with the Sportecs:

Ride to Thalanar forest (beyond Valparai, TN):

The first ride after the tyre change was in mid November and was with fellow BHPians shaikhmimran, ebmrajesh and neil.jericho to a desolate resort deep in the jungles of Thalanar, nestled in the hills of Valparai and beyond. This time my better half couldn't join due to some work commitments, so it was just us 4 BHPians, 3 from Bangalore and one from Kochi.

Unfortunately for us, the weather was so bad due to a cyclonic depression at that very time and all we got was mist, fog, clouds and a ton of rain all the way to the location and while at the location. Due to the very poor weather conditions, we couldn't step out much even for a stroll or hike around the beautiful rustic location we so eagerly chose and departed for. I leave you with some snaps and memories of the ride to complete this post.

Stopping at GRT Grand Estancia, Salem for breakfast after a rainy morning ride:

Stopping for a break at the single lane section between Avinashi and Pollachi:

The bikes at Aliyar dam reserve forest just before beginning the climb to Valparai:

The view from halfway up:

Valparai to Thalanar in extreme conditions - totally engulfed by the clouds and riding in zero visibility:

 Some views of the homestay / resort where we were staying are seen below. It was raining heavily almost 99% of the time with zero visibility all around. The location was spectacular and in the middle of the wilderness and jungle around, alas it was a pity that we weren't able to explore anything around here. BHPian neil.jericho had come there in his car because his route from Kerala had reports of flooding, etc which he didn't want to risk. He had already reached the place and after we reached there, all of us just spent the rest of the evening chatting about various things automobile-related and everything else under the sun.

The rooms were comfortable but the violent thundershowers ensured we had a sound and light show through the night, lol:

Individual shots of the three bikes in this ride - first is yours truly. The environment around is apt to convey the weather conditions for this ride:

ebmrajesh's immaculately maintained and widely travelled Ninja 1000:

shaikhmimran's famous and well travelled Honda CBR 650F:

The three bikes in the parking lot of the 'startup resort', flanked by neil.jericho's versatile Honda Jazz. This place is called Mistly plantation bungalow (No, that's not a typo for 'misty', it really does have a 'L' in between). We jokingly refer to this place as '10 steps homestay', it was so compact that anywhere to anywhere just took 10 steps at the most. Rooms to dining area, Dining area to parking lot, Parking lot to courtyard, everything was within 10 steps of each other.

We departed just before noon on the next day. Here is a departing shot from the resort, of the four of us:

One picture with our rides for the memory books - in the zero visibility region. Mystical yet so thrilling to experience Thalanar in this weather:

On the way back we chanced upon an encounter with TVS Apache RR310 guru Fury_44, who recognized us and came to catch up for a few minutes (he was touring with a TVS rider group). Thanks for taking the time out to say hello to us, Fury_44:

A picture of the biker trio making their way back down the hills in full rain and thunderstorm gear. A short yet memorable trip for the memory books:

The return ride was largely uneventful and a tankful of XP100 at Coimbatore ensured we rode quite spiritedly back to Bangalore by 8PM or thereabouts, thanks to some lively progressive house numbers belting on the Sena headset. The following day I had some free time so I took the bike for a thorough wash at my neighbourhood washing centre - Carzspa, HSR layout. Following the wash, I tanked up the bike with XP100 fuel and the bike stands ready for the next trip as we speak.

This trip clocked in almost 900 km to open the account with the new set of tyres as the Ninja enters the fourth year of ownership and many more to come:

That's all the updates I have for now. Until my next trip, ciao!

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