Hi there! This is Warren.
I've got my own list of "Things to do before you die." One of them was to own a Bullet. The other was to ride it to the highest motorable road in the world. and yeah - eat as much food along the way coz I'm a hardcore foodie as well. I enjoy an occasional beer but I try to stay away from the booze and smokes.
Travelling is what gives me a high and travelling on a Bullet is what gives me the ultimate high.
I've always been fascinated by all Royal Enfield bikes. In the past, I've spent long hours, in various showrooms, garages and on websites, trying to figure out which bike would be the best one for me. They're all great bikes. . . each with its own unique character.
There is also an element of luck involved when choosing a good bike. Some bikes might give you all the trouble in the world and others may perform well with regular, simple servicing. With a Bullet, having a good mechanic is equally important. Ya its okay if you're mechanically inclined - which I'm not.
What invariably draws most people, including myself to the Bullet is the classic look and the thump.
My first RE bike was an Electra 4S, which had an awesome thump. Riding a bike like that gives you a royal feeling. However, over a period of time, after the initial excitement died down, I started to get a bit dissappointed with its performance. (It was a used bike)
Hey Melvin, if your reading this bit, please excuse me.
Btw, Melvin is the guy from whom I bought my first Bull. He's a gem of a guy and thats one of the reasons why I bought his bike. Dealing with him was a pleasant experience and he was ever helpful.
So, coming back to the bike - I weigh over 100 kgs and if I had a pillion rider who was just as heavy, the bike would struggle, especially on inclines or while accelerating. Even while riding solo, I could not maintain a decent cruising speed and the speedo would sway wildly, if I tried to cross the 100 kmph mark, as if to say, no, no, my boy, don't even think about it. The strain on the bike would put a strain on myself as well.
So I finally got a brand new Machismo 500LB in May 2008.
Pleasantly suprised to to see that the 500 LB is capable of 80 kmph at less than half throttle and cruising at 100 kmph, is almost effortless.
The ride to Ladakh keeps getting postponed each year. Its been 3 years since i originally toyed with the idea of riding to Ladakh. That was also one of my main reasons for buying the Machismo 500. Its a more powerful bike, with plenty of torque. Excellent for climbing steep inclines.
I was all excited about riding to the Himalayas this year but my ride to Ladakh got postponed yet again.
I had my first accident on a Bullet in Feb, 2009 after feeling almost invincible, while riding the Bullet. Actually its been my first serious accident on a bike in about 10 years.
I was riding to work. Hate being late, so I was doing about 80 - 90 on the link road, ya quite common for me. All of a sudden this Toyota Innova turns in front of me, almost in slow motion but keeps going until the entire road is blocked and then stops right in the middle. BANG! I slam into the side of the car with such impact that I'm flung almost over the car. My chest and abdomen took the brunt of the impact.
I suffered a broken rib. Infact a couple of ribs had seperated from the breastbone and my chest muscles were badly damaged. The accident took place on the 14th of Feb - Valentine's day. The driver of the car was a lady. I guess she wanted me to fall head over heels in front of her.
There was this good samaritan by the name of Raj who helped me a great deal after the accident. His efforts will always be appreciated. My boss Richie has also given me full support. So a big thank you, to both of you!
I've been recuperating slowly but steadily. Still feel some discomfort at times but hope to be on my Bullet pretty soon. I've decided to name my bike, the "Mighty One". Ya, the name was pinched from the 'Motorcycle Diaries' but it does seem like an apt name for her, after what she's been through.
I hope to get back in the saddle pretty soon and ride with caution. . . though deep down, I know it won't be long before I start revving hard once again.
Just an update. I did a fantastic ride to Ajmer and back in October, 2009. A total of 2,225 kms.
All set for the big one now. . . heading for Leh on July 10th, 2010.
Hasta la vista, baby ;-)
Happy thumping!
Hey! If you've read this far - you might as well rate my number plate. Thank you!