The wait has been painful.
You dream about it all your life and then one day you realize, that you have the potential, today, to make that dream come true. When the moment is close, everything sees to stand still, you cant sleep, you cant eat and you just cant wait!
This was long time due..
I had booked my bike the day the dealership was launched in Bangalore, 8th Sep 2011. More than two weeks later, I still had no update about a true delivery date. After putting a lot of pressure on the dealers, they told me I can come and collect the bike on Saturday, all the formalities are complete except for Registration etc. I do not sleep all night and keep dreaming about all the good times to come, prepare my gear, ready the documents, charge the DSLR battery, setup the clothes and wait in anticipation for the D Day.
After laying in bed for a good sleepless 4 hours, I get sleep in the morning at 6 and I wake up hurriedly at 10 and rush to the showroom. They tell me the bike cannot be delivered today as the Registration cannot be done, the RTO closes in some time and the RTO guy has already left. I dont think I have ever been more disappointed ever in my entire life! I felt like anger seething through my veins and I just wanted to smash everything around! I made my disappointment very clear to the showroom people and gave them a piece of my mind and left. Dejected. I told them the bike better be mine on monday or it will be your behind.
The bike continues to sit there with my name on it..



I spend the weekend hunting for new gear, the new GT atleast deserves that. I get an Alpinestar TRC1, I could not decide on a helmet among the collection available so I decide to continue using my old and trusted AGV, I have DSG Gloves already, I get an Alpinestar Balaclava, I get a pair of FOX protection guards and decide not to buy riding boots as they are uncomfortable for city riding so I will stick to my unused PUMAs.
Sunday night, I cant sleep again!
With tired eyes, aching body, splitting headache, but with the excitement of a kid waiting for his first expensive toy, I head to the dealership, I have already struck a deal with my RTO contact for "fancy number" - 888
I get there and look at my beauty, checking her out like a prospective bride. She was shining bright, in all her glory, cherry red. The formalities were all completed before I got there, an effect of my fury unleashed on Saturday.
The final signatures are made, the technical guy explains the nuances to me, I ask him every possible question and clear all my doubts. Finally, the handing over ceremony starts! As luck would have it, there are a million other people in the showroom checking out the bike and I feel like a celebrity!










All things GT in my possession (Custom Made Choclotaes, Wega Helmet, Hyosung Sun Glasses, Hyosung T Shirt, Keys, Papers), I put on my gear and roll the bike off the showroom via the ramp and outside.
I cant wait to sit on it...my own GT650R!






Bangalore Hyosung-Garware-Satya Mitra Motors Team




And finally, the moment I have waited for all my life! I turn the key to the ON position, wait for the check to complete, I push the Engine On/Off switch to on, wait for the fuel pump check to complete, depress the clutch and the front brake levers and push the starter button...VROOOOOM!!!! The sweet and heavy grunt of 1.5K RPM idling V-Twin...DHUD DHUD DHUD DHUD DHUD DHUD! I just love the sound! I am sitting on my own GT! I can do whatever I want with it, anytime I want! What an ecstatic feeling!






Today, I am a proud owner of a Hyosung GT650R! Today, I made my dream come true! Today, I am the happiest man alive!





Contd...

Contd..

I take the bike for a small spin, its not as difficult as I had expected it to be. But taking a U-Turn was a humongous task!
I come back, get the Registration Number sticker-ed on the plates, get the saree guard and front number plate removed and head to a nearby temple, famous for vehicle Poojas, my wife and brother in tow in my car.
Pooja done. Few more pictures..






I start the bike again, ask my wife and bro to go back home, no rides for any of them as of now. Though I had taken a leave of absence from work, I have an important conference call in some time so I decide to go to office which is a good 30KMs away. I am very excited about my first journey on my brand new GT650. With all kinds of expectations, I start on my first sojourn with my new babe, thinking about all the things I have read about this beauty. I notice People just cannot stop looking! I get many questions on the way and an expected 5 minute stop at the SHELL Petrol Station turns into a 20 minute Q n A session.
About the bike, the position ofcourse is uncomfortable for city riding. The bad roads add to the woes, along with the humongous engine stalling and de-acceleration of the V-Twin. Gears are clunky, brakes are good but can be better and sharper, the seat could be a bit lower, the lights are average but the acceleration is good. Not mind blowing but its really good. The bike is heavy and very stable and planted so you dont feel that rush when you speed it. It goes fast but you just dont feel it. When I found an empty and safe stretch, I revved it a little all the way upto fourth gear (I have never been able to get into 5th gear in city riding) and I realize the wind is feeling a bit harsh so I glance the speedo and it says 143km/hr!!! My God!!!
I slow down immediately! The RPM read 6K. Awesome! I can only imagine what this bike can do on a good empty stretch! I was so freakin happy!
But yes the heat was killing me! Fortunately I was fully geared and stopped the bike at every opportunity I could.
I get to work, my colleagues are all waiting and the sight of GT brings out "Oooohs" and "Aaaaahs" and "Wows" from the crowd. More gather and the admiration trip continues. I came here all the way for a conference and my own boss is standing here admiring the bike asking a million questions! I stay in the parking for an hour with people calling me all the time and coming in to check the bike. Conference missed, I decide to head back home. The traffic would be much lesser now. I have a better journey, the heating is still an issue though its comparatively lower. The bike feels harsh, the tyres offer good grip but I am very careful on muddy and wet stretches. I also try a few leans at 90-100 and the bike seems to move away towards a tangent a little bit. I guess its the frame which I will have to get used to. I have done track time on an R1, a TZ250SP, a Gixxer and CBZ and the RXZ 5 Speed, have also done some leans and bends on roads so I could feel the difference. Also, under extremely harsh braking, the front tyre wobbles a little bit. The bike also feels a little rough and shaky on bad roads. The R1 felt much softer though the stance was more aggressive. I have never owned a superbike before, except for the Yamaha TZ250 SP but used to have some superbikes left with me for a couple of weeks courtesy my cousin and his friends who were racers and dealers in these bikes. Also, the bike seems to throw you off the front under harsh braking. Maybe that's expected. In any case, with all the problems, it still makes you feel like a king and you cannot be anything but proud o own it! I reach home and park it outside the gate and take another picture.



I take my wife for a quick spin on it, with protective gear and she loves the ride! She is now even more worried about me, now that she has seen what the bike can do
The next day my younger brother takes it for a spin on a nearby highway (which is under construction so is safe and empty). He comes back with a big smile and non stop blabber about how amazingly powerful the bike is and how it blew away his mind.
I have now decided that I will commute to work everyday on this baby no matter how uncomfortable it feels, no matter how all the bones in my body rattle on the bad roads and how I have a sore body when I get back home every night. That is city riding on a superbike anyway. The feel the bike gives you takes away all the pain. The never ending admirations and questions about the bike make it all worth it. The outright performance makes everything else fade away and you forget the Pros-Cons equation completely. You just enjoy the bike.




Its a beautiful beast and everything negative I have put forth is my duty to my fellow bikers and other GT owners. I love this bike and would recommend it to anybody and everybody! The bike definitely lacks refinement in build quality and engine performance. But overall its worth every penny you pay for it. Its got the looks with never ending admiration guaranteed and its got the performance! Its three days now from the delivery day and I have already crossed 300 KMs.
I can never stop singing praises of this bike and I will never stop enjoying it.

Until next time..have fun guys!

Regards,

AG

Glad to be of help... I am no pro in superbiking, just sharing what little i have to offer.

Bro, congrats on the GT! Do share the pictures of the happy moments when you can.

Thread approved and merged

Brat, thanks mate. Superbiking pro or not, you have good enough knowledge and sharing it always helps.
I have added quite a few pictures in my post, not sure if they are visible. You can also check my album on my profile page. I haven't had the time to take more fun pictures but I will do that this weekend along with a video. Will post soon.

The bike is an absolute steal for the 5.6 Lacs on road price you pay for it! I am lovin it!

Vikyk:
Bro, a roadside puncture guy cannot do a repair job a on tyre of this kind, but I understand you had no other option on the highway. There is chance he might have screwed it up even more. A bad tear on a tubeless tyre can be unrepairable unfortunately. Its always best to have them filled with Nitrogen or some other puncture resistant liquid so you can take the bike to the proper people to get the tyre repaired. Also, check out Metzler tyres online or talk to a Michelin tyre dealer in your city or in Delhi-Gurgaon region, you can search for everything online and see if they have muscled tyres so they can be imported by the dealer and sold to you.

All:
I would like to ask everybody here if there is any way to protect the bike from scratches? Teflon/Laquer/Polishes/Coatings? I have all of those things on my cars and other bikes but nothing has helped much.

Looks like dream machine

Whooa Whoaa

Looks like real bike

I wish I could have it one day

by the way I am a newbie can some one tell me how much actually its costing??

Congrats bro on your bike,its a real beauty
Do get your polishing done but most important is protecting it from major scratches when the bike falls,do fit frame sliders.

Congratulations for ur red beast.. ride safe

Great responsibility comes with great power.

Prob with GT

Had been to service center to show the problem with the tank... saw another new Red/Black GT which had the same problem of engine oil leakage which i had faced long back. Engine case gasket was cut...
Its a serious problem and Garware has to come up with solution.

Congratulations!!! She is a real beauty. The first ride impression was a good read too.

Ride safe.

Some pics of today's bike ride to Manas.Hope your'll like it

Nice pics mel..! Seems like you had a fun time

nice pics melroy...all eye candy and super powerful bikes at one place is always a treat for eyes and ears... ride safe

Cool pics bro. Keep it up and keep on posting.

Full of superbikes!!

Oh my god,
I think I saw a VFR!