let me start the bombarding
on a serious note,XBHP(as a magzine) has not only delivered what it was intended to do but also surpassed the expectations of many fellow bikers.It has not only spread(&promoted) the message of safe biking (though motorcycling has always been seen from the negative angle for ages) but has also managed to take head on challenge with other auto magazines who usually sign off with the motorcycle stuff in some 2 or 3 pages. I am not quite sure whether they(other mags) consider motorcycling as an integral part of most people's life or they consider the cage versions as the only means of "civilized" transportation.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the core team of XBHP for such an initiative, and would also like to mention that any help you require,you have the entire biking fraternity of India with you,sunilg.

Hi Sunil,

By all means, it was a mighty brave decision to leave that 8 year old "Comfort Zone" of yours, and tread on a path so less travelled. And I'm sure you won't have any reasons to regret your decision.

Yes, the initial "bumps", "obstacles" and "potholes" will have to be negotiated by you, and for a while, you may be uncertain about your destination. This is but natural when you go out to explore unexplored terrain, and vistas. But just as you spoke of that satisfaction upon having successfully reached that dream destination, the same is bound to happen here.

It's surprising how life in general can be compared to the experiences of a motorcycling enthusiast, and it's usually the difficult and daring decisions which give more satisfaction, when you look back at the end of a successful journey.

You've done an amazing job so far, and I'm sure that the road can only get better and better as the miles go by. Here's wishing you and the rest of the team all the very best.

.....Simba

I was thinking of asking you whether you are with xBhp full time in my last PM. It definitely must have been a very tough decision indeed b'coz switching career is not welcomed very well in Indian families, no matter how successful you are. one can't live his life on his own terms that often. But i am very happy that you have pass that hurdle and I know very very well that you will do good in xBhp and for xBhp.

all the best sunil G

Edit: and yes, what ever you write from now on, please make sure its in simple english. I sometimes find hard to understand the notion by OF and other writers, not that they don't write well but coz i read amateurish

PS: are you also taking care of online mediums (like FB and twitter) for xbhp?

Pulsator, I could not have said it better.
Sunil, make sure you read a lot - different authors, magazines. As Pulsator said, keep it simple and interesting. "light" is another adjective. Since motorcycling is sometimes technical, make sure you translate that into something which even a 18 year old biker could enjoy lying curled up in his bed.

While I do not follow a set formula, this is what I do before writing the things I write:

1) Structure: What goes in the beginning, then how do you get readers warmed up to your topic, and then dive right in. Then slowly start cooling down and come to the conclusion.

2) Story telling: How am I making the review interesting instead of popping in fancy english words and jargon? I drew analogies to show a few points...

3) Humor: I tried my best to infuse some humor, as do the Top gear guys everytime.

4) Pictures/illustrations: Long sections of text can get boring, so how do I add images to break it?

5) And most importantly, getting your point across with the tools I talked about. What is the message you want to put across? I think it is not a single sentence or a word or a paragraph, but the overall tone of your work should align with that.

And don't be afraid to pepper your writing with phrases or bits you liked somewhere else. Language after all, is a sum of parts!

Thanks Phanikar. When you see that your hard work is being appreciated by people who matter, it is an amazing feeling. Thank you .

Thanks doc . I am loving riding on this road less-traveled now because its this road that has given me some of the best friends and some of the best moments in my life.

Thanks Abhinai

Trust me, it is never deliberate. In fact, I don't even think i can play with big words because i always find myself short of words whenever i sit to write something.

You may find some influence of OF on my articles because he's been the guiding light for all of us whenever it comes to writing about motorcycles and many more things about life

But, the point is taken and hopefully you won't find the new articles from me difficult to read or overloaded with heavy words.

thanks bluevolt for your valuable suggestions. points well taken.

Anytime Sunilg:-)