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Udayakiran · 11-21-2009, 10:54 PM

I learnt riding a bike 3 months back and I'm 22 (23 in 2 months).

I learnt riding on a RE Machismo.
I'd previously obtained a license 2 years back without even knowing how to ride a bike. That was the first self-powered vehicle i'd ever ridden/driven.
I inherited my brother's Machismo 4 months back when he left for Malaysia. The bike was in Hyderabad. My friend brought it from the rail station to my home. I also asked him to fill it with 4 litres of petrol. After that, the gentle giant sat idly in my house for a couple of weeks. I used to look at it sadly, because i couldn't ride. Then 3 weeks later, i started pepping myself up that i can ride it.
Finally after a week, i picked up enough courage to 'unstand' it. I crept downstairs at 1 am (so that there is no traffic), unstanded it, and then tried to start it. I'm 5' 7" and slim. And i didnt even know how to kick start a bike. The Machismo happily refused to start and all my efforts were futile. Finally i gave up. I couldn't even put it back on the centre stand, because i found it too heavy. I just put it on the side stand and wobbled back into my home.

The next night (at 1 am), i managed to start it after some effort. I even managed to ride it till the gate.

But it turned off as soon as i reached the gate. I didnt have enough courage to go ahead either.

I pushed it back to its place and went inside again.
On the third night, I managed to get it out of the gate and running. I rode for 1 kilometre and came back home, successfully. I was so excited, it took me an hour to fall asleep. This 1 am ritual would continue for the next 2 weeks. The peace and tranquility of the night would suddenly be disturbed by the roar of the waking giant.
By the end of the 2nd week, i felt the bike was running out of petrol. So i went to the nearest petrol bunk 3 kms away at 10 pm. That was my first biking graduation - riding in light traffic. 2 days later rode 14 kms in moderate traffic, at 9 pm. The next week, i was riding in daytime in moderate traffic. I joined in a job a few days later and now i ride everyday in heavy bumper to bumper traffic. Now, for the past 1 month, i'm practicing to ride properly. I've managed to undo most of my bad riding habits i got due to learning without a guide.

At times I ride in the middle of the night, and have even ridden it at 120 Kmph (measured using GPS, not the speedo). Sadly, no tours yet.
I even learnt to drive my car the same way. Bought a car, then learnt on it. I guess that makes me a 'Self made man'.

11-21-2009, 10:54 PM	#291 (permalink)
Udayakiran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 86	I learnt riding a bike 3 months back and I'm 22 (23 in 2 months). I learnt riding on a RE Machismo. I'd previously obtained a license 2 years back without even knowing how to ride a bike. That was the first self-powered vehicle i'd ever ridden/driven. I inherited my brother's Machismo 4 months back when he left for Malaysia. The bike was in Hyderabad. My friend brought it from the rail station to my home. I also asked him to fill it with 4 litres of petrol. After that, the gentle giant sat idly in my house for a couple of weeks. I used to look at it sadly, because i couldn't ride. Then 3 weeks later, i started pepping myself up that i can ride it. Finally after a week, i picked up enough courage to 'unstand' it. I crept downstairs at 1 am (so that there is no traffic), unstanded it, and then tried to start it. I'm 5' 7" and slim. And i didnt even know how to kick start a bike. The Machismo happily refused to start and all my efforts were futile. Finally i gave up. I couldn't even put it back on the centre stand, because i found it too heavy. I just put it on the side stand and wobbled back into my home. The next night (at 1 am), i managed to start it after some effort. I even managed to ride it till the gate. But it turned off as soon as i reached the gate. I didnt have enough courage to go ahead either. I pushed it back to its place and went inside again. On the third night, I managed to get it out of the gate and running. I rode for 1 kilometre and came back home, successfully. I was so excited, it took me an hour to fall asleep. This 1 am ritual would continue for the next 2 weeks. The peace and tranquility of the night would suddenly be disturbed by the roar of the waking giant. By the end of the 2nd week, i felt the bike was running out of petrol. So i went to the nearest petrol bunk 3 kms away at 10 pm. That was my first biking graduation - riding in light traffic. 2 days later rode 14 kms in moderate traffic, at 9 pm. The next week, i was riding in daytime in moderate traffic. I joined in a job a few days later and now i ride everyday in heavy bumper to bumper traffic. Now, for the past 1 month, i'm practicing to ride properly. I've managed to undo most of my bad riding habits i got due to learning without a guide. At times I ride in the middle of the night, and have even ridden it at 120 Kmph (measured using GPS, not the speedo). Sadly, no tours yet. I even learnt to drive my car the same way. Bought a car, then learnt on it. I guess that makes me a 'Self made man'.