Introduction

Completed 14,000 km on my bike sometime last week. 14,000 is just a number. I am going to stick to that till it is going to be 15,000, because 15,000 kms is going to be one humongous feat for me. However, what makes 14,000 itself a great number is that the whole of it has been on the busy Bangalore roads. Not the drive-aways on a fresh morning breeze breaking the shackles of the city life nor on highways blazing at 100kmph. No, Not even those steep curvy bends of Western Ghats. In fact, the most of it has been on the busy bumpy Mysore Road, Goripalya, KR Market, JC Road, Moodalapalya etc.

The Test Ride

It was after much thought and consideration that on a September afternoon of 2011, I went and booked ‘the Bullet’. The salesperson at the showroom offered me a test ride. I did not want one. On the contrary I asked If I could just sit, pull it out of its stand and put the main stand of the bike once. He gleefully agreed and I gleefully tested. With my enormous 5.6 ft  frame (with heeled shoes), I just wanted to check if I could manage the basics of a bike ride, that is reaching the ground with my legs sitting on it.  Also, if I could manage to put the center stand. It was a pleasant surprise, I could. I booked. The sales man asked if I was sure that I did not want a test ride. My test ride was done. I could put the center stand.

FAQueries

14,000 is just a number, yes,  but not those innumerous queries I have got on the traffic signals, parking lots and while riding too. Though the most common question was and is - ‘Mileage Eshtu’ (what’s the mileage), questions ranged from ‘Esht bithu’? (How much did it cost), Enidhe Marketnalli (What’s the market rate), “Ondhu Nalvathu kodutha???(Will it give at least 40). I used to answer patiently initially. After sometime I started having fun answering the questions. For Mileage related queries I used to reply  “75” … and after a pause “2 literge” with a smile. For “Eshtu Bithu”, “Innoo bidhilla saar hosa gaadi” and for Enidhe marketnalli , “Market alli alla saar  Lalbagh Road nalli thagonde” types J

The Fall(s)

It has been a good 14,000 plus Kms so far. Though I have not gone to any of the nearby ‘Water falls’ trip so far, I have had two minor falls from the bike. During the first, I could not get up myself as I had hurt my shoulder badly. On the second, I could not lift the bike myself  because of the bad shoulder from the first one. The first fall was not my mistake.  A hurrying Tata Sumo carrying some BPO employees just gave  me touch from behind (it’s front) and I fell. There were Good Samaritans who came to help, but seeing the bike and its weight just stepped aside. A traffic Police came and asked If I was ‘ok’ and I lied that I was ok. He said “ok” and left. The second fall was nobody’s mistake, I just fell. I still don’t know the reason. The man who came and helped me get up, asked me why I fell since there was no vehicle in front or behind and I was not speeding  too. The question was as if I had committed a traffic violation as there was no reason to fall. The helper at the doctor’s clinic who cleaned the cut on my leg asked the same question “ Milege eshtu”.

The Experience

The experience so far has been great. A few scratches here and there. The 2 falls mentioned above and lot of queries. One incident I would want to share before signing off. After buying a water melon from a road side vendor, I paid and was waiting for the change. He asked me what? I said “Change”. Bang came the reply with a wicked smile, “Bullet itkondu change kelthiralla saar”( You own a bullet and ask for change). I did not get the connection. I was supposed to get back 5 rupees. I left thinking…. 5 is just a number.