harikeshpk

After buying the ninja in Aug 2010, my wife and daughter had taken short hops on the same when they came for a short holiday at Vellore. But there was no scope for any long rides at that point of time as the bike was in running in period and most important was that ninja does not have proper seating and handholding for the rear passenger.

So when my wife told that she is taking a couple of days off from work and will come over to Vellore on 12th Nov 2010 alone, I knew a ride was on whether I liked it or not. So better to plan on something so that I don’t get caught of guard at the last minute. Having done a 300 kms ride from Vellore to krishnagiri a week back I thought it would be normal thing to go as I was very familiar with the route and the roads are good with a few slow turns thrown in enroute. So I planned to repeat the same ride again.

Wife landed on Friday and the first thing do was to cook up some riding gear which she will wear without getting upset.

So purchased a ordinary slip on shoe , My old Army jacket ( it’s a US Army standard issue jacket ) breathable water resistant dual layer and will offer some protection and an ordinary jeans for lowers and well mother of all gear the helmet. I did not want to discomfort her with leather gloves as I will explain later as she has to hold on to me. So the gear issue sorted out on Friday we were ready to move on Saturday afternoon I hoped the weather would be okay as I would be completing the running in after 50 kms ride.

Saturday as usual did the standard pre ride check like oil , coolant, chain lube andslack etc started her and satisfied my self. Next by God .. I hate tank bags and I was having a Cramster tank bag which I was yet to use , now I iam forced to use it as I have a passenger . ( my r jays saddle bags are yet to be set up for a good fit to my satisfaction on the ninja even after some DIY and tutorial from blue volt) after some trial I put a piece of chamois leather on my tank top and stuck the tank bag which I felt some what okay. I took an hour off from work ( Saturday is half day for bankers ) came home finished lunch in double time and was set to do the pre ride set ups.

Now we had a brief chat about the ride. I will put on a belt loose on my riding pants ( Cramster ) and she will put her fingers through that and hold on as I was very keen to see that she was not missing from the mortorbike after some time. This belt holding business is because to avoid my wife to transfer as little weight as possible to my body and if she puts her hands around my waist the weight transferred would do no good to my back esp on a long ride. So some weight would come only on hard breaking / acceleration and that would be okay. Once helmets are on without any communication device we are deaf at least till we lift up the visor. So if I have to accelerate suddenly she will have something to hold on I and need not worry on that count.

I also put back my rain liner inside my Cramster jacket so that In case it rains one need not worry and it will give a better comfort during the return ride at night. So we kicked off at 2-30 pm and my wife is yet to get comfortable to climb on the ninja. And once we were out from the town on to the highway propped up the speedo to 80 (6K) and after a few Kms stopped for a orientation. Asked my wife how she is doing and she was feeling okay . Had a 5 mnute break and we were ready to go.


Back on the highway I my eyes were on the Odometer as to when my ninja will cross or reach the coveted 1600 kms. After some 45 minutes, the odo slowly rolled to 1600 and I pulled over for another break I took some pictures of the bike had some water and we were ready to roll. Here my wife complained that her fingers are paining due to my belt holding strategy and she told that she will hold my sides sort of without putting her arms around which I had to agree. I had decided that the next stop will be about 100 kms at the Ahar dhaba on the Krishnagiri to Bangalore highway where we are to have our major break on the ride and turn back to Vellore. I bluffed to my wife that we have another 50 kms or so for this place as hearing that it would be a one hundred kms away is not soothing to hear esp on her first long ride.

Now the break in period over I can be a little liberal with the RPM and not get unduly worried about RPM going up. I was definitely not going to max her out during this ride esp when your better half is sitting behind. So the RPM was pushed slowly to 7 K and she settled into a comfortable 100 kms on the speedo.

Another important thing is when you take turns your pillion has to adjust accordingly so the turn is smooth and you don’t feel any jerks. As we had done quite some rides together 10 years back on the bullet and RD 350 she knows how to keep her posture during turns and I enjoy doing the turns and doing them at a 100 kms on the ninja was quite refreshing on the few turns that the highway offered. I sould say that the ninja is beautiful in this regard I had pulled her down quite a bit ( no competition with my track and fast riding ninja colleagues as knee scrapping is another 12 inches down and I am way up) and the turns were effortless at speedo on 80 and 100 kms in all the turns.( please note clean dry no traffic roads and during the day ).

Now did some fast over takings played with a swift and then let him go ahead and did not overtake a maruthi dezire who was keen not to let me overtake him. Here on the highway the car / buses and trucks rule the road. I don’t and that’s my theory while on the bike. A hot headed car driver can during a slight twist during overtaking can throw you to one side and vanish after that cannot be ruled. So as thumb rule one should not irritate cars even though your bike is quite capable to crush most of them. This is effect doubles especially if you are having your Wife/GF sitting at the rear. Be careful. Play it cool.

I was chasing the Dezire with full concentration on the road ahead and missed on the turnaround spot to our Ahar BP Dhaba went another 5 Kms till my wife tapped me to stop and sensing that something was amiss. So pulled over and I realized that I had overshot and we went back.

Reached the dhaba for our first real beak after 155 kms ride. For ladies answering natures call is somewhat difficult if you don’t have stops with proper rest rooms. I am yet to work out a solution in case of longer rides and things are to be done on the road side. Time was 5-20 pm. Had dosas, coffee , and put some fuel into the ninja. Had some photos taken and we were ready to roll by 6-00 pm.

Had a brief stop after 75 kms at the vaniyambadi toll gate and we were off in 5 minutes. Highway Night driving on the ninja the safe speeds would be around 70-80 kms with both the standard lights on. Riding a 100 yes but with extra caution if you know the route very well, like you know all the major crossings so that you may sort of slow down there. But definitely safe speeds would be around 70 -80 kms.

We reached Vellore by 8-00 pm and 156 kms done in just under 2 hours.

The ninja felt underpowered sometimes and also I could feel the difference on my bike due to the additional passenger. Also the suspension felt a tad softer on the smooth highway but bad road bumps etc it was the same stiff as usual without a change. My wife told me it was difficult to sit if the roads were bad. The brakes, no change, good as it gets 2 riders or single rider it was great. Any odd move by the rear passenger immediately gets translated to the front so you have to tell your rear passenger to warn you before they do some wriggling etc.

After our return she was happy with the ride but slight pain on the butt. To capitalize I suggested a softer seat. So she has promised to fund for a pair of Corbin seats(both front and rear ) around 250$ each shortly.

So I hope this write up may clear some doubts about the ninja’s so called only solo rider bike tag.

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Mountain biking on impulse with my wife and our bike goes down in water

http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/2...own-water.html

my saddle sore 1600k is official - the story

http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/2...ddle-sore.html

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Aryan

Topic Approved.

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xionite

congratulations! reading thru the rest of the text.

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vkuchhal

nice writeup...

good going...

whizzkid_ram

Good writeup sir.. Come down for a G2G to chennai

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eliksir

well written. nice experience

jd666

good going, but during braking how do u guys cope? coz what i tell my gf to do is to keep her palms against the tank when i brake or during normal riding, and then again shift to my sides under acceleration.

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Garry_Menace

nice log sir

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kinshuk.arya

good write up and a nice way to get things sponsored......

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harikeshpk

thanks guys.. hope some one going with wife/GF will benefit and also contribute someting here for me too.


i had a couple of hard ones enroute,(without warning) her helmet hit mine but she told be that she had put her hand on my back as cushion. she was keeping hands on my waist firmly not around my waist(as the belt strategy failed) which would transfer the weight. the best option here will be to have 2 way communication with rider and passenger so that i can warn when i have to accelerate / brake. but this will not work on sudden braking. work out something and inform.

__________________
Mountain biking on impulse with my wife and our bike goes down in water

http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/2...own-water.html

my saddle sore 1600k is official - the story

http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/2...ddle-sore.html

my space
www.harikesh.com