svjhonda

After quite a long time the biggies came together for a long ride.

It was decided that there would be an early morning ride to Kolaghat. We were all supposed to assemble at Science City at 07:30 in the morning. Upon reaching there, I found SerialK, Diba da & Sudipto da waiting, but no Fireblah. I was informed Fireblah's bike wasn't started and he'd requested a bail-out.

So we headed off to City Center, and upon reaching there we found a cheery, early-morning-Fireblah () next to his bike which was idling. Somehow he'd managed to push-start it. I'd never met Diba da before this, so we got acquainted with each other. Some friends were also going to accompany us in their car, so after deciding the route to be taken, and after some fuelling we pushed off. First stop was supposed to be right after the Toll Booth.

So we rode through the city and the lack of power on my bike made itself frustratingly prominent. All it would take is one blip, and they would be leaps and bounds ahead, managing time slots in traffic effortlessly, while I had to prod, shake and stir my bike's gearbox to do the same.

Nevertheless, we managed to keep together and head into Kona Expressway. This is one stretch I have never seen as a 'road'. Its more like the Giant's Causeway, and is suitable only for ATVs. The place just doesn't improve! Painstakingly we avoided bat patches, potholes, craters (capable of consuming a human ) and irregular surfacing and finally eased out onto NH6. Immediately the pace picked up. We started averaging at 80kmph.

Wherever we found space, we were at 100kmph, +-10. One thing I noticed about the Busa is how silent it runs. Its actually unbelieveable! It feels like its an electric motor. Silently whirring away to glory! A simple overtake looks so graceful and powerful! The loudest, well, needs to be contested, but on an average it would be the R1. Quite scream-happy with stock exhausts, so you very well can imagine what free-flows can do.

The Blade has been named extremely aptly. Fireblade, like a samurai's Katana. Quick, fast, absolutely lethal and silent. Next comes sister to the Blade, the 600. Awesome to look at, good proportions (I'm stick thin, and I doubt I'd be able to handle anything heavier ) and a bass-heavy exhaust. Man, the idling can make your heart palpitate...

Most of the ride went smoothly, until at one spot a line of trucks caused a small issue. The last truck was making a move to occupy the fast (RHS) lane and overtake the other trucks. The biggies managed to punch through the gap within the time slot, but by the time I arrived, it was too late, and the truck had already occupied the lane. I had to patiently wait for the truck to slowly rumble on, passing all of its other mates, (while the SBKs powered away to infinity, mind you) before finally I got to pick speeds.

I noticed:
1) No sbks in front of me for miles. And
2) No car (with friends) behind me either.

I decided to make up some time. Started riding as fast as I could go (safely, no rules broken, and no rash riding). Rode solo for a good 10-15 minutes, but no hope. So I crossed the bridge (Sarat Setu) right before Kolaghat (warning: weak bridge, ride below 20kmph) and stopped to call Fireblah. I know, stupid of me. I should have gone to Sher-e-Punjab directly. Soon the car caught up with me, and we headed to Sher-e-Punjab. As soon as I entered the parking lot, I see three dudes clicking the biggies from unimaginable angles. The smartest of them tells the others the 'big black one does 300 top speed'. It drives the others into a frenzy and they begin clicking with greater fervour.

I cheesily smile, take out my camera and click a few pics before entering the hotel. Finally, at the table conversations erupt, and as it is said, 'man is content with food and wine' (well, no wine here, but a delicious glass of lassi!). So after pet-pooja, we decided to arrange the bikes in a line outside, much to the public's appreciation (lots of staring and pointing) and click a picture.

What's 'taken a turn for the worse'? The smaller CBR had a puncture. Waited quite some time, for the puncture repairing and the re-inflating (while Diba da chatted with a few local boys, proudly answering the famous questions, kitne ka, kitna deti hain, and stuff) before the said plan was put into motion. After clicking, Fireblah came up with the novel idea of a fly-by. I left before everyone else, was to take up a position anywhere after the bridge where a straight section would allow a rapid fly-by. Did so, got into position. After 5 minutes of waiting, Sudipto da popped up in my camera's display, utterly at ease (), rolling in at 25-30kmph, and stopped behind my bike. Within seconds the three other biggies appeared and disappeared equally fast.

Sudipto da had thought the SBKs were supposed to be filmed coming from a distance and stopping. But nevertheless, atleast he got the longest exposure in the short clip.

Mostly after that we kept up good speeds, rocketed our way back. At one point, the same people who had requested Fireblah to stop once, were waiting for us again. After we parked, they greeted us extremely warmly. This time, the 'Busa was new for them, so immediately a photo session with multiple cameras and multiple angles began. What's more, they made us sit in the shade of a bus stop while two guys rushed off and got mineral water and soft drink cans for us! Great!

A thought occurred to me. Who says there's no development? Minds are developing! Even outside city limits, cut off from frequest brushes with big bikes, they were quite a well informed lot, who surf the internet and are motorcycling fans! Amazing.

After spending some time with them, we took off (as per an extremely special request of one-by-one, so they could get their own fly-by's recorded). What touched me is even after the SBK's sped off, they were still rolling their cameras to record me 'fly-by' (well, as fast as I could manage), even though a couple of them had R15's as their rides.

Caught up with the group ahead, and rode in a loosely knit pack (which is safer), and reached Kona without incident. Endured the torturous roads again, and reached the tollbooth.

Here a really embarrassing incident happened.

I was 1st in line, and was going to pay for everyone. I gave the operator a 100 rupee note, and told him twice, for '5 people'. I dunno which planet he was on, he gave me my ticket and returned some change. I hastily stuffed the money partially into the wallet, barely managed to press the clutch and push the bike ahead, so the others could move out. While I was arranging the notes, I figured the bugger had returned 95 bucks back, and I turned around to see Sudipto da (having to remove his full gloves...) pay.

I dunno really, what to say. It was really bad on my part, I'm sorry...


Pictures attached.

Video of the flyby!

Attached Thumbnails

         

         

   

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Aryan

Topic Approved.

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...in search of that perfect world - My Travel Blog :)

daredemon

Nice ride & cool pics....

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Ride Hard !!! Ride Safe!!! Enjoy every moment on your machine !!! Cheers....

Haroon

Its a nice superbiking outing you have penned esp since we dont hear too many sbk stories from the East. The bikes look gorgeous & I can imagine the attention they would have got.

Ride safe and keep the joy going.

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Growing old is compulsory - growing up is optional

A_n_i

A very well written triplog Sagar, the flyby video is cool too.
Riding with 4 superbikes on NH6 must have been one heck of an experience !

tibby

Nice ride there svj!
No clicks of the riders (in gear or not)?

I really love the way the R15 performs on the highway! That you had SBKs to catch up with, probably made you feel lack of power. But ride alone, or with Indian made bikes, & you enjoy the R15.

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My views on the YZF-R15 V2.0: http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/news/198...tml#post699240

My test-ride experience of the YZF-R15 V2.0: http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/news/198...tml#post725556

The pleasure is when your rear wheel slides, and you bring it back; and when the front wheel lifts, you take your time bringing it back.

svjhonda

Thanks man..!
True, but that is all set to change! The number of superbikes are growing quite rapidly here! Just hope its my turn after a few years.
Yeah! The flyby is atleast 20% more amazing in real life. Sort of like a sonic boom...

Where are you these days? No see, no hear?
Oops! Totally missed it! Should've clicked rides+riders... But all riders in gear. Boots, full gloves and helmet. Fireblah and SerialK in armored jackets as well. Plus we had an Altis as a safety car...


True, kept in the powerband, the R15 effortlessly outruns everything else. But yeah, with SBKs you're bound to be ->

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sayan

Cool....nice video.

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sunny9830687955

wow!! nice pics sagar and riding r15 with superbikes , it must have been very hard to keep up with them and ufff hayabusa my dream bike. If I am not wrong then the hayabusa is from barasat area ??

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mav1234

Treat to watch these SBK's together...

Nicely Penned Down SVJ...

Seems that the aam Janta (Local People) is mesmerised by seeing these Bikes..

BTW nice pHotos and Video..Thanks for this....