Just have one question, within 10 mins of getting stuck in traffic, why did the temp gauge went to full and started blinking, know its a 650 but still...

WARNING!! huge post...

WARNING!! huge post...

May 19th 2004:
This is one of the most memorable day of my life. After more than 3 years of hardcore wait and dreams.. I got myself a Pulsar 150 Dts-i.. I am very new to geared bike that time.. and have never driven a bike that is big as Pulsar until I got the bike delivered to me. The bike was out of the showroom and the keys were hand-overed to me..

"Sat on my bike felt it so big.. Haven't driven anything so big ever before. I also said no to a testdrive that was offered to me before. Wanted to drive my bike as the first one. Fired the engine, and I was bit scared now on, how I am gonna leave the clutch and start my ride on something so big and heavy for me(at that time), having no experience about it's throttle response."

The bike started moving.. I felt so confident, the fears vanished.. and felt like i am re-born.. My Pulsar has served me since then, like nothing better.. Until today I love it and admire it each and every time I ride it..

June 30th 2011:
It has been 7 years since me and my Pulsar.. Now it is time for someone new to join our family.. Yes. The GT650R.. A dream of around 7 long years to own a superbike around 600cc class.. And there it is, the one that gives me everything that I was waiting for..

Booked the bike on June 1st 2011 as first in TamilNadu, with a waiting period of 30 days. The promise was kept by the Garware dealer here in chennai. The bike arrived in chennai on 25th June 2011. It was in the truck for 2 days.. then got un-loaded on 27th June(Monday).. Got a call from the showroom dealer that he is waiting for me to come to unpack it.. Rushed to the showroom and saw my bike.. Looked like a beast in a cage..

Opened the cover and was so happy to see the color red-black combo.. it looked refreshing and exciting than the black one on display.. was very happy with my choice.. The dealer(Mr. Prakash) promised me to give the bike in a couple of days after registration.. and the wait started.. even though the commitment was 2 days, I thot in my mind it is going to be a 3 days wait..

It is 2 days (Wednesday) now, and the registration did not happen yet due to some procedure delay just like I thot.. Knew that it is not gonna happen on this day.

Got up next day morning(Thursday and the D-Day), I was so confident that I am gonna have the bike today. Was waiting till till noon for a call from the dealer.. but did not.. called him up, and understood that there is something that is getting them delayed more.. I made up my mind that I am not going to wait anymore.. decided to pick up the bike without registration and informed the dealer. He told me he'll keep the bike ready by 5:30 PM.. and the registration can happen next day morning.

Came back home afternoon.. had good lunch, and was preparing my new Jacket, Gloves, Helmet and boots.. Asked my close friend to pick me up from home.. He came at 4 PM.. Started from home with all excitment..

On the way realized that, Everyone on the road was starring at me.. Whoa.. the bike has such road presence.. Oh wait.. where is the bike.. Havent even taken it yet!! Then what are they looking at!!! Oh its me!! Not that I am a superstar in Chennai.. Its cuz I was wearing all that gears in a hot summer and sitting as a pillion Most of them would have surely thot i am gonna take out my gun and shoot someone now..

Reached the showroom at 6 PM, and saw the red/black beauty.. It was a outstanding bike.. Ofcourse it was standing outside the showroom.. But the color itself was out-standing and making it an eye-catcher(atleast for my eyes)..

The showroom guys were giving test rides(on the display bike) for the people who were waiting there for it(one of them were pulsar_flame from xbhp, who came on his Green Ninja 250R.. glad to meet you..).. Took some snaps of the bike.. Sat on the bike and tried to push it.. Damn it was so heavy. A technician from the showroom came, and explained me about the bike. He made me sit as a pillion and went for a short spin.. also gave me few points..

I was waiting to sign some papers, which eventually took a lot of time.. it was 7:15 PM when everything was done and am about to start from the showroom. All of them in the showroom were so kind and friendly.. Got the welcome kit sent from Garware motors(A WEGA helmet, a GT650R T-shirt, a leather key chain, Hyosung cap and also a sunglass which is yet to arrive).

Packed all in my bag, and went out to take the bike..

"Sat on my bike felt it so big.. Haven't driven anything so big ever before. I also said no to a testdrive that was offered to me before. Wanted to drive my bike as the first one. Fired the engine, and I was bit scared now on, how I am gonna leave the clutch and start my ride on something so big and heavy for me, having no experience about it's throttle response." The very same feeling that I had when picking up my Pulsar 7 years back.

The showroom friends, did some pooja with me sitting on my bike. decorated my bike with flowers and lighted a camphor in front of bike. Finishing all formalities, and saying goodbye to all of them. Decided to move.

Need to cross thru 23 kms thru the heart of the city to reach my home.. at peak time traffic.. So there I start..

Slowly released the clutch, while the engine was roaring beneath even with mild throttle.. was very excited, The road ahead had many vehicles moving. Was wondering how the pick up is going to be.. But the bike behaved so wel, and the power was not so un-controllable. With very light throttle, bike started moving well, drove very slowly and within 500 mts, it inspired so much of confidence in me. I couldn't feel the weight at all and the bike was in total control.. I was really amazed on how well it was listening to me in such quick time.

The throttle response was fantastic, not so much in the first gear. but second gear on, it was terrific and the sound backing it up.. It was moving fast with ease, that too within 4.5 rpm.. It had so much of usable power(lower and mid range)

Wondering, What a head-turner this bike is.. The handling of the bike was great, that too in city.. I felt it very flickable driving in city.. could not feel its weight anywhere.. Within 2 kms of driving.. I was able to find gaps on raods like I do in my pulsar, just the mirror stands out. But guess what, the mirrors can be folded as in Pulsar220 I liked that!

In some places where I felt there is some gap for me to move freely, I am still driving slow, but checked the speedo and saw it showing 100 kmph!! What!! The bike touched 100 kmph easily within traffic and that too without any fuzz.. Not even a big roar from the exhaust..

And now i am in total control of the bike.. All fears gone, I felt more confident and safe driving this bike than the one's I have driven before.. The brakes were good!! or bad!! or no.. what! sorry, I could not even realize how the break felt!! It was like stopping when I wanted it to.. There was no stress or a feeling that I had put break.. I was impressed with it.. May be cuz its new.. Or that is how dual discs are..

There are more than few times where I thot to myself, wait am i smiling?? Oh yes I am.. but for what! For so many things.. things like.. with mild throttle when standing at a signal, hearing the exhaust.. and I couldnt control the smile hearing the roar.. Enjoyable!

The traffic was getting higher and higher, and at a point I couldnt push my bike more than 10 kmph for around 10 continous mins.. I was holdng the clutch all the while.. And now I started feeling the heat.. My legs..
The temp gauge was full and blinking.. I was thinking what to do.. middle of the road!! And god sake, the signal went red.. I switched off the bike imm. It took 2 mins for it to clear. And I switched it on when it's green, and saw the cooling was normal.. Drove home with many bikers chasing me to have a glance of the bike. Entered home.. Around 30 kms of fun..

Next day is the registration of the bike. Will have to go in the morning..

Ok now the summary on how the entire thing was:
The experience was only for around 30kms.. but it was thru the city at peak hour.. But trust me, it was real fun. And this is what is very important for me.. This is what I do everyday.. cuz I do not go for touring every weekend.. And I enjoyed it thoroughly..
The heat got onto me.. But it was not something un-managable. For what the bike has in it, the heat is fine to take..

I am so glad I went for it.. when N650R is here.. N650 is never my choice of a bike.. and if someone is trying to compare them on which to buy, then I feel they need to mature more to realize what sort of bike they want.. both are different bikes for different purpose.. and I am happy I got what I wanted..
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