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It was 2nd August 06, my 2nd day in the United States, I am walking back from a friends apt and I see this black Ninja ZXR 636 parked in the lot. I stop dead in my tracks and stay transfixed for a while and then gather the courage to take a closer look. The shear aggressiveness of its styling sent this awesome feeling down my spine. So there she was….my first love….or so I thought……
I have been in Arizona for almost 3 years now, doing my masters and eventually graduating and thankfully finding a job. For those of you, who arnt too familiar with the 50 US states……Arizona is one of the few states whose weather allows riding year round. Sure it gets freakin hot during summers, max of about 47-48 C, but it’s good enough to ride. And so, it’s heaven for bikers and wannabes like me. I am not ashamed of calling myself a wannabe, because I am probably the least experienced biker out there. I have never owned a bike, oh wait…I did have a kinetic Honda…err…scooter to be more precise, which my parents dint let me ride until I secretly started riding it when I was in 12th grade. My first time on a motorcycle was in 3rd year engineering, when my best bud decided to teach me a new way of life (Thanks Deepp). See what I mean…..novice…bole toh…me….But I always wanted to own a superbike…..ie Wannabe……also me…..
Living in Arizona was a blessing and a curse at the same time. I got to see every bike in action, rather than up on someone’s wall. I fought hard in refraining myself from buying scale models of bikes or posters to keep myself sane. I would never take a picture of a bike, or go sit on it to just get a feel of it. The hardest part was when one of my best buddies got his Ninja 250 home and offered to let me ride it. I refused whereas all my buddies took it for a spin and were drooling all over it. I just couldn’t get myself to do it. I always wanted my own ride….always….
Then came along the GSXR days…my roommate was a diehard Gixxer fan and we happened to check out an 06 GSXR600 parked in the lot……it looked way too awesome in person…..and so….the Ninja was replaced by the Gixxer on my laptop screen. 07 and 08 were radical years for superbikes, Kawasaki dropped the 636 and released the ZX6R and Suzuki totally screwed up the legendary Gixxer styling and MotoGp muffler design in 08. The CBRs were always great bikes but Honda dint do much to update the already superior CBRs. As for Yamaha, the super sexy R6 was totally revamped. One look at the 08 special edition cadmium yellow with flames color scheme, and my heart was set on it. I swore to buy it someday……
So here I am, on Jan 9th 2009, 2 and a half years after that fateful day the Ninja stole my heart…….I am proud owner of the 08 Yamaha R6. I just feel blessed, cause there were very few yellow ones left in the states. (2 in my opinion) They were all sold out since the new 09s started arriving in show rooms. Went through a month of agony, negotiating with dealers, shopping for insurance etc. Buying a bike in the states can be a crazy experience with the dealers trying to rip you off. But at last I have her. And oh boy….is she crazy or what……it’s a million times crazier than I expected her to be. Begs to be opened up…..I have yet to break in to her…..have to keep the revs below 9000 rpm for the 1st 1000 miles. Have put about 400 by now and it has been amazing. Took her out on the freeway the other day, and before I knew it, she was doing 85mph in 4th at 8000 rpm……there is so much more power to play with, that it scares me even to imagine what she is capable of. Sometimes I wake up thinking this whole R6 thing was a dream. The whole of the 1st week was like that. I would look at my helmet and gear and be like…”phew…I do own an R6”…..
To add to that, is the whole biker pride thing in the US. Every time a biker crosses you, he/she waves at you. Sort of a victory sign held down near your knees, or a nod of mutual respect. It is just such an incredible feeling…like you are part of something different…like a cult. Doesn’t matter what you are riding, be it a crotch-rocket, or a chopper, a cruiser…..the mutual respect remains. It just adds to that amazing feeling you get after a ride. People think riding is about trying to be cool, or getting girls…..it is so not. One of my buddies always says this…”4 wheels move the body…..but two wheels move the soul”, and he is so right. The sense of freedom on a bike is un-matched and everyone needs to experience it at least once in their life time to understand what makes us wanna hop on and head out. So here’s to all you bikers out there….
” We grab life by the bars…cause there aint no better way ”
Peace out
P.S. Thanks Prashant (saaki) for introducing me to xbhp.
I have been in Arizona for almost 3 years now, doing my masters and eventually graduating and thankfully finding a job. For those of you, who arnt too familiar with the 50 US states……Arizona is one of the few states whose weather allows riding year round. Sure it gets freakin hot during summers, max of about 47-48 C, but it’s good enough to ride. And so, it’s heaven for bikers and wannabes like me. I am not ashamed of calling myself a wannabe, because I am probably the least experienced biker out there. I have never owned a bike, oh wait…I did have a kinetic Honda…err…scooter to be more precise, which my parents dint let me ride until I secretly started riding it when I was in 12th grade. My first time on a motorcycle was in 3rd year engineering, when my best bud decided to teach me a new way of life (Thanks Deepp). See what I mean…..novice…bole toh…me….But I always wanted to own a superbike…..ie Wannabe……also me…..
Living in Arizona was a blessing and a curse at the same time. I got to see every bike in action, rather than up on someone’s wall. I fought hard in refraining myself from buying scale models of bikes or posters to keep myself sane. I would never take a picture of a bike, or go sit on it to just get a feel of it. The hardest part was when one of my best buddies got his Ninja 250 home and offered to let me ride it. I refused whereas all my buddies took it for a spin and were drooling all over it. I just couldn’t get myself to do it. I always wanted my own ride….always….
Then came along the GSXR days…my roommate was a diehard Gixxer fan and we happened to check out an 06 GSXR600 parked in the lot……it looked way too awesome in person…..and so….the Ninja was replaced by the Gixxer on my laptop screen. 07 and 08 were radical years for superbikes, Kawasaki dropped the 636 and released the ZX6R and Suzuki totally screwed up the legendary Gixxer styling and MotoGp muffler design in 08. The CBRs were always great bikes but Honda dint do much to update the already superior CBRs. As for Yamaha, the super sexy R6 was totally revamped. One look at the 08 special edition cadmium yellow with flames color scheme, and my heart was set on it. I swore to buy it someday……
So here I am, on Jan 9th 2009, 2 and a half years after that fateful day the Ninja stole my heart…….I am proud owner of the 08 Yamaha R6. I just feel blessed, cause there were very few yellow ones left in the states. (2 in my opinion) They were all sold out since the new 09s started arriving in show rooms. Went through a month of agony, negotiating with dealers, shopping for insurance etc. Buying a bike in the states can be a crazy experience with the dealers trying to rip you off. But at last I have her. And oh boy….is she crazy or what……it’s a million times crazier than I expected her to be. Begs to be opened up…..I have yet to break in to her…..have to keep the revs below 9000 rpm for the 1st 1000 miles. Have put about 400 by now and it has been amazing. Took her out on the freeway the other day, and before I knew it, she was doing 85mph in 4th at 8000 rpm……there is so much more power to play with, that it scares me even to imagine what she is capable of. Sometimes I wake up thinking this whole R6 thing was a dream. The whole of the 1st week was like that. I would look at my helmet and gear and be like…”phew…I do own an R6”…..
To add to that, is the whole biker pride thing in the US. Every time a biker crosses you, he/she waves at you. Sort of a victory sign held down near your knees, or a nod of mutual respect. It is just such an incredible feeling…like you are part of something different…like a cult. Doesn’t matter what you are riding, be it a crotch-rocket, or a chopper, a cruiser…..the mutual respect remains. It just adds to that amazing feeling you get after a ride. People think riding is about trying to be cool, or getting girls…..it is so not. One of my buddies always says this…”4 wheels move the body…..but two wheels move the soul”, and he is so right. The sense of freedom on a bike is un-matched and everyone needs to experience it at least once in their life time to understand what makes us wanna hop on and head out. So here’s to all you bikers out there….
” We grab life by the bars…cause there aint no better way ”
Peace out
P.S. Thanks Prashant (saaki) for introducing me to xbhp.
And your feelings of owning the R6 has been very well penned down, I can very well feel the excitement sitting miles apart! Congratulations mate, you sure have earned it. 
She looks amazing man and i am sure she is hell lot of fun. Would love to see some more pics maybe with you on her, trip logs and yes looks like your first post... Welcome to the brotherhood and enjoy thy stay mate.
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