Re: The day i brought "Mystique" home

Massive update! a few trips around in India, a cross country tour to Bhutan and 24,000 Kms later, she still rides like new.

6 Riders, 3 Kwakers, 3 Katooms, 7500 Kms of unknown land, !! Teasers are attached. #LostinBhutan














For further Info, follow us on LOST IN BHUTAN: 6 BIKERS, 20 DAYS, 7500 KMS OF INSANITY! - L.O.S.T.

This thread will now be timely updated.

Re: The day i brought "Mystique" home

She Completes 2 years.!!

It was exactly back in 2013 March, the 28th day of the month, when i had got her home. Its been a wonderful journey since then, and my life changed. A big thanks to [MENTION=31671]Sachinnair[/MENTION], who had guided me for this one. Little did i know, for once I would be baptized into touring on two wheels, that too by a person who was just an acquaintance over the telephone.

Fast forward a year later, I accompanied him to the Nagpur G2G last year, and another 9 months later, it was time for my first cross country tour with him. All this, was done with "Mystique', the lady who made me meet my better half too.

2 Sets of tyres later and 25.5k on the oddo, she still sails like new, just the way I had got her down exactly two years ago, no complaints whatsoever.





Many more miles to go yet, this is just the beginning of the journey.

When your other half wants a thrill ride...

It was a late evening, 14th, a Saturday of March. As we both gazed into each others eyes, we knew what we wanted to convey. It was just one more week left for our official confirmation. After all the long talks and "getting the parents to agree" discussions, it was going to be official. There was a silent happiness in the air. It was time to celebrate, but how?
And a thought crossed my mind, "why not ride on the next immediate day". This, once shared with her, turned into reality. The route chosen was the simplest of it all Mumbai - Igatpuri and back. Being a maiden ride for her, I had to take it slow. I knew it would not be an easy task, so was it not difficult either.
Soon 21st of March came, the ceremony began and finished. It was time to celebrate. But at the back of our minds, we were anxious to celebrate it the next day with a a thrill ride. And then... it was the morning of 22nd, we prepped up, although a little late on schedule, and approached the bike. It was 5:45 am, and I could see nervousness kicking in on her face. As we climbed on to the two wheeled machine, Mr. Sherman arrived with my spare helmet.
With all the things in place, it was time to leave. So I took the lead and started rolling the bike slowly on the main road, and then, onto the highway. As we headed towards the meetup point, a friend had been waiting for long. With a small meet, we headed ahead to the meetup point, and picked up another friend ahead with another rolling stop, and there they were, the amazing line up. Bikes from 390's to busas, all parked in their glory waiting for us.





The group then at once started rolling. Me being the slowest of them all, had to see and hear everyone whizzing past me. I was riding too consciously, not to scare her. Once past the Thane traffic, we, finally started flying. Speeds were still in double digits, and thats when I got a small tap on my shoulder from her. She wanted to convey something, which was one of the biggest surprise to me. We were at 95 odd kmph and i hear "why are we going so slow, everyones gone ahead", and never did i have such a huge grin on my face, ever. And thats when, I started to wind the throttle, the tacho needle soaring skywards, and the speedo reading started breaching the triple digit limits. It was not long till me and Mystique were in the happy zone - 130kmph. Soon, everyone started appearing in the horizon, and then, slowly I started to gain on them, and not long till I passed a few of them.




I soon found myself at the base of Kasara Ghats, the road, which crosses over to Igatpuri through the mountains of Kasara. A road, defamed for amazing curves with oil-spills and insane truck traffic. Lucky for me, I didnt encounter either of it. The group started to Disperse slowly and steadily. It was my time to head ahead. Those of my buddies who know me, also know that when it comes to corners, i completely lose it. Its like I get high, into another dimension, a parallel universe, and in those moments, its just me and the road. And she was about to experience it, for the first time in her life, what it means to lean. Swooping right hander was the first and then left, and then right again, and it continued for another 15 minutes as which ascended into the ghats. It was then again, i received a slight tap, again!! and all I could hear was "I love this" and a big thumbs up in front of my helmet from her. Well, what can I say, it was an indication to show her what we two wheeled maniacs can do. And so I did what I could at that moment, Lean more!!!
Not long before we reached the breakfast point - Hotel Greenland. where my buddies awaited out arrival.



Soon once the breakfast over, the heat started to rise and it was time to wind up and return home. The group assembled and started to disperse. It was time to ride back home..



It was 11:45am and we reached home safely, and all I could see was the excitement on her face while narrating the experience to my parents...