Mik

For the umpteenth time i pored over a travelogue and sighed. It had been almost 6 months since i had ridden on the bike for anything more than a parantha in murthal or a burger in manesar.
Me and my T20(Pulsar 220 named after the tank T72 and bought on the same day India won the T20 WC) hadn't been on the best of terms. Last year, after a lovers tiff in the rain when it stalled and i kicked it -- things were edgy. Our new baby (Zen Estilo - christened -- Baby Innova/Badi Nano) was hogging more of the attention and moolah. For a guy who claims to be a motorcyclist, the car had done 9k km and the bike only 8k km since Aug'10.

The Lady in Red
My slowly disintegrating relic of a bike had turned into a manic depressive. It kept stalling and leaking, leaking and stalling. Then, in december last year, the lady in red - CBR250R came into my life and walked into my heart. Things went from bad to worse. The wiring harness had gone kaput and the part was not available in any of the probikings. A nightmarish stall on the highway and i was through with the relic. It was over.
I booked the CBR.
We were heading towards a divorce and all that was left was getting the new lady in my garage. I had decided to put up the T20 on sale but wanted to make a few repairs so that the new owner won't have to face the same issues that i did. One fine day, the spare part arrived and my T20 - a sad case for a bike -- went through the transplant.
A few days later, i collected it and was surprised to see that the bike wasn't doing too badly. Now, dilemma set in.

To bye or not to buy
After reading the sugar coated reviews of the CBR, got a lot of negative feedback from people i trust. Checked out the bike and then rode it for a few kilometers. Wasn't impressed enough. Cancelled the booking. Then, saw Praful's list of things to change/overhaul in the 220. Gave some of it a shot.
Finally, after 16k worth of replacements/repairs and a rear tyre change - my T20 was looking beautiful. It was the rekindling of our romance.

Where to ??
Two weeks back, took the car to ludhiana when it was raining like crazy. As the sky turned dark and rain pelted down on the windscreen, i was listening to Riders of the storm. Good song, wrong vehicle. I changed the track.
Come last week, we decided that my all new T20 deserved to finish its second running in (cylinder block changed) in the hills again. This was also going to be a prep ride for our Leh trip in August.
"Where to" said wifey - i needed slush/rain and less traffic. Uttarakhand -- as far as possible on a two day ride -- maybe ranikhet or Kausani.

25th Saturday:
At 4:15 am, all dressed up, we were off. The Michelin sirac was going to undergo its first test. It started drizzling just out of delhi and i was not too happy with the tyre.
From Gurgaon- Moradabad Bypass - Kashipur -(Wrongturn-should have taken the ram nagar turn) to Kaladhungi was ok.



Nearly caused a traffic jam in Kashipur, what with all those locals gawking at us.



At kaladhungi, stopped for some bhutta.
The drizzle turned into an absolute downpour and a village lady was kind enough to offer us shelter. We stayed there for two hours - discussing stuff with Deepa and her gang. Felt nice that total strangers were willing to help.







Our companions there


Mobile kraanti...




As it was almost 1pm,decided to halt at Nainital only.
Some shots on the way





A ride upto Nainital and we were greeted with thousands and thousands of tourists who had come over. Damn summer holidays.
This could possibly not be our scene.So we rode ahead.
Had an omlette and maggi break just on the outskirts of the town - delightful. Small mercies for the fully drenched couple.
We are used to stares when people see us in all our riding gear. However there was this one Innova party (the bhaiya bhaabhi, saas sasur and bacchhe party) who almost gheraoed us. I spoke loud enough so that they could hear -- Log Nainital dekhne aaye hai yaa hamey.. and zoomed off.
Went down to Sat tal and got a room in KMVN guest house there by the lake. This place has all its tourist trappings but when it gets dark -- all the innovas vanish and you can finally get some peace.

The KMVN at Sat tal.




SBKs



Woke upto a cloudy morning. A stroll by the lake was in order. A bit of that and then it started raining again. Beautiful :-)







The path by the lake


Interesting patterns on water when it was raining





A sumptuous breakfast later, we geared up and headed back. The Kathgodam route is downright boring. Have been to Nainital and beyond atleast seven times in the last couple of years but the kaladhungi route always brings a smile to my face. Not so here. Horn blaring taveras, killer indicas and jaywalking villagers adorn this route.

Some random shots along the way

Wifey trying her hand at photography


Umm.. ok.. i guess people have a right to stare at us :-P


This seemed new. Havn't noticed it previously.
Infact, as i saw this commercialized temple, i wondered about a business opportunity. Find out which God is missing along the way and make a temple in his name. Market it as the place to seek blessings before you go up and there.. you have a profitable enterprize along with some punya as spare change

Stopped at the Gajraula McD for a hopefully quickie lunch. Not to be, it was filled with lots of baccha party and overweight uncles asking for the free toy.. sigh... Damn summer holidays!
Noticed that we had tipped over the 1k running in mark. Smiley smiley, i decided to twist the throttle and ripped all the way to Gurgaon.

Parked the bike and took off the saddle bags. In the damp basement, my bike was radiating heat and i was blissfully soaking it in. Felt like giving it a kiss. Good idea, wrong timing. Wifey was struggling with the bags. Maybe next time.
The affair is still young.

SKSy_Biker

Trip log approved

kurtrules

Good good! How's the road till Nainital?

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" I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not" - Kurt Cobain

Mik

Thanks Sksy_biker

Roads are decent. Till moradabad bypass you get a 4 laner (20km of bad roads in between)
After that take the bazpur road. Bumpy but ok. Kaladungi road to Nainital is nice.
The nainital-almora road is in a terrible shape due to landslides last year.

Abhishek B

Smallish but nice ride... and I loved the title. I hope your new CBR doesn't let your love fade off for this old affair.

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LIFE IS SHORT !!! GO HARD

Mik

Thanks !!
I cancelled the booking for the CBR. Eyes set on the N650R next year
Went through your log. Its a pleasure when your better half also shares the same passion as you.

Praful

Bherry Bherry Bootiphul hai ji! Lovely pics there, and I get a mention Thank god & glad that you have decided not make a small jump to the C250

Btw, have you purchased the Sirac anytime recently?

The Sirac's post 2010 aren't half as good as the older Sirac's

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Mik

Thanks.. half of the list is yet to be ticked off. Will be doing so in a few weeks.
Yup, the C250 seemed like a compromise. Not a very noticeable gain in performance and the niggling quality issues on a 1.5 lakh bike were unacceptable to me.
Yes, the Sirac was purchased a week back only. Havn't really warmed to it as of now. For one, i have had a few nasty bumps on the rear rim over potholes. Not very good in the rain too. Will persist with it as of now.

Praful

The newer Siracs aren't that great in wet and off-road. Just today I've shot a long mail to Michelin India!

Sensible decision regarding the C250!

And again, lovely Fogyyyyyyyy pics

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ridermax

Nice ride and some lovely pics there buddy! Was great reading your log.

Wish both of you many more rides to come.

Take Care & Ride Safe!