Re: Houston ! We Have a Situation ! ROADBUSTER is coming in !

Wait for the rest from Sourjya

Re: Houston ! We Have a Situation ! ROADBUSTER is coming in !

Congratulations !!! and Is it there yet. I am sucker for these stories. Those last moments when you get the keys to freedom. EPIC!

Re: Houston ! We Have a Situation ! ROADBUSTER is coming in !

Where is Roadbuster, Explorer, please respond, Do you copy ??

Re: Houston ! We Have a Situation ! ROADBUSTER is coming in !

As I told before, this will be more of a practical post, nevertheless, a readable one, well hopefully.


The night before was painful. After a crazy trip around BTM of 10 kms and, finally, finding a 20rs Allen Key, I was home. I couldn't read. I couldn't game. I couldn't listen to music. I couldn't do a thing. I was like a restless bull dog waging its tongue. Somehow it was midnight, the cake cutting took place, I grew and was closer to my death than ever before, saw my excuse of a face on the mirror a few times, laden with chocolate cake, and wondered ' Me ? !! Super Bike !!! Really !! Today ! Yeah Right ! Would probably wake up without 1 or 2 lesser than limbs tomorrow morning.' Had planned a leave for the delivery day long long back so stayed awake till 3:30 AM, after finding my camera charger at 3 AM and putting the camera in charge ! Phew ! and then went to the bed. I usually sleep like a log and it takes me as much time to sleep as Kim Kardashian takes to create a controversy. This was not an ordinary night. I turned and moved and wrestled my thoughts and finally managed to get some sweet slumber.

Morning came faster than ever. Was up quicker than ever. Soon I was on to my 'morning job' with the attention of a 6 week hungry owl perched on a branch as I was ready to click on the 'RIDE NOW' button on the OLA app as soon as a cab was available. Found one and it was to reach within 5 minutes. Dressed up, packed up, camera - check, helmet - check, new jacket - check, payment receipts with crazy number of digits - check, R15 keys - not needed, keep it back, Idiot ! You're getting late ! I leave from my house and realise I had forgotten my glove !!! Darn !!

Ola Man was great. A great guy. Talked about how corrupt people were spoiling out country and how people didn't have traffic sense creating traffic clogs and how some underpasses and flyovers would solve the Bangalore traffic situation ! Asked me whether I was receiving my bike from servicing and after knowing I was getting a new one, congratulated me and asked a few things and concluded it was better to get a Innova top end diesel version than a ZX14R ! He also told he enjoyed his sunday mornings on Kolar/Bellary road looking at zooming 'colored' bikes being ridden with jacket 'packed' people and making some great noise. Great man found right there and ride was free ! (Thank you freecharge ! ) And I was at the showroom at 1030 AM sharp as I had promised a day before to the GM of Khivraj.

I always knew, Khivraj would disappoint but to what extent I wondered. I had little or no expectation from them. As I entered a dark dungeon with green monsters all around !!! Oh ! Wait ! It was the showroom ! Their lights had gone poof ! No fan either. Sun god was probably getting his Z800 and seemed happy to roast the earth a bit ! Just because I always wanted to, I told ' I have come for my Z800' to the lady and handed over the receipts. The documents were stacked in a dull brown paper bag with no sign of Kawasaki on it. One of them, with a face that looked straight out of bed, grabbed the key and rode the bike up. I waited inside, controlling my desire to punch the guy in his face, take the keys off him and ride off ! I was then told, the number would need sometime to come as the 'guy' is waiting at the RTO for another 'guy' to come in and do the honors (When will they improve the way RTO works I wonder ! )

I went out with my camera and looked at her. Roadbuster, standing in all its glory, grabbing every passer by's attention without even batting an eyelid. She looked poised and waiting to take over the roads ! Bust the Roads Roadbuster !!! Not yet though, the number was not here. Another 15 minutes and the number had arrived. A green permanent marker did the honors with some illegible digits strewn around. The RC would take another 45 days and would be posted. The receipt, a flimsy toilet paper thin with stuff printed with n ultra modern dot matrix printer, would be the RC till then ! Checked the under-seat storage and there was no first aid kit ! He grabbed one quickly, the same one that used to there on my brother's first bike; the Pulsar 180; from the KTM showroom next to it and placed it. Well Bajaj deserves a place here with what they have done to the modern Indian bike scenario.



2 bars on the fuel gauge, gleaming in the sun shine, shitty number plates on her and she waited patiently for my orders. The showroom took another picture for their 'memories'. Went into the dark showroom another time, told my thank yous, gifted them the box of ladoos and walked out with the key. One of theirs followed. 8 KM on the ODO, congratulations pouring in from the one who followed, I was ready to roll her ! Yes ! This was no more the TD bike ! This was mine ! A super bike under me ! A dream come true. A moment that puts a huge gash on the bucket list ! I turned her on and let her purr a couple of minutes and off I went ! Into the wide open tarma...Oh! Wait ! Office hours, Indiranagar traffic with little pot holes with evil faces ready to pounce on me. Made a quick navigation map in my brain about the route I need to take.


Soon I was approaching M G Road ! Some more of the lovely traffic with the sun glaring down ! From there straight to Thirumala pit stop while parking Roadbuster amongst the humans in a little space. A cup of hot coffee spilled on my palms and got myself a green and white 'Kawasaki' key ring for 60 bucks ( Same retails for 150 on ebay !) Off I went again, to double road, lal bagh, Banerghatta road. All strewn with lovely Bangalore traffic with the sun still scorching the tarmac and everything on it with utmost ease. Soon I was approaching the trusted Indian Oil fuel pump to tank her up ! I realised how easy it was to ride the thing ! Through the traffic on the hottest day in Bangalore ! Cutting through holes, grabbing attention with only the looks and not the sound, making a bus full of little Bishop Cotton guys go crazy while shouting 'Ninja' ! Its all too easy for her. Kudos to the Japs though ! Tanked her up to the brim and a bit more, thanks to the awestruck guy who was fuelling her ! Some guy came in and started taking photos. Asked him to back off while fuelling as it was too much risk. Post fuelling, called him and gave him his chance to take the photo he wanted to. I know how it feels to look at superbikes, I know how the heart wants to take a picture with it or just touch it. Checked tyre and pressure and, for the first time ever in my experience, a showroom had delivered a bike with the exact suggested tyre pressure ! Kudos to Khivraj for that one ! Questions were asked regarding cost, mileage, top speed and CC and they were duly answered with a smiling face with slight adjustment to reduce the shocks !

Soon I was back home with a couple of biriyanis to celebrate her and a digit change in my age with my mom. The Biriyani guy looked super happy with the bike too. Wish he would pack in another piece of chicken maybe :P Parked her next to my trusted Prime (The R15) and my stable looked so much beautiful. neither looked out of place. Each made the other look more menacing. One was green and mad and ready for the kill. One was blue and serene and ready to take on every little thing with the accuracy of a surgeon ! Biriyani, bath, etc in home and I was back on the road as Sun god was slowly sliding down to sleep.


I entered the little stickering shop, to the jaw dropped shock of the owner, and parked in front. Soon the superbike previlege was seen again, In return of a photo, I got my work done quicker ! All going fine when lightning struck and I started cursing lady luck and felt like someone had stabbed me with a ice cold knife. There was a nail ! In the lovely rear bridgestones ! Its head had turned and looked like it is resting deep inside. Limped her with a sad face to the 'punchure' shop. He took his pincer and pulled the nail out. A happiness, never before experienced, surged in me ! It was like I tripped against a rock and found the treasure of Tutankhamen ! The nail had broken and fallen off ! Only the head went in. No 'punchure' ! Soap water spray showed no bubbles ! Check the tyre pressure and it was a perfect 42 like the last time checked ! All was well ! Close shave but nevertheless, staying true to its name, Roadbuster had busted some road, rather some annoying stuff on the road !!!

Since I was really small, I had little or no belief in Gods and the superstitions that are associated with it ! I never found a reason why I should either !
Yet I wear 1 astrologer's ring and pray with my family and celebrate religious festivities. This is because my family wants me too and, for me, there is nothing above them. So, as long it doesn't harm me or anyone else and makes my family happy and satisfied, I would join in and enjoy. The bike had to go for 'pooja' as my mom wanted it to ! Yes it was painful to wait 1 hour, Yes I couldn't convince myself why I was wasting coconuts, lemons and flowers, Yes, nothing of what was done made any sense to me ! But everything did when I saw my mom grinning when she saw the neat chandan swastika on the fender and the little dots of sandalwood on the headlight and the meters. But, I must admit, it was painful to watch as the sandalwood marks were being carved into Roadbuster as she stayed calm and almost, told 'As You Wish Master !'


Back home with Kawaswami Z800 :P and parked. Let it cool and put the fork protectors after that and covered her to sleep for the night !


What a day it was ! The 27 kms that I clocked on the ODO in the rush hours traffic ! The almost puncture ! The everything ! Till yesterday, I wondered how many people are actually active on FB. And the notifications flooded ! Good wishes ! Warnings ! Dream come true statements ! Should have got a 4W instead ! Etc ! Etc ! Etc !

Indeed this was one of the very best days in my life ! A day that will not be forgotten ! The few hand-full days that we live and make memories. The ones that are etched in Gold in our memories ! The ones that flash in front of your eyes as you breathe for the very last time ! The ones that make a mark in the cycle of life !


Welcome Roadbuster ! Let's have fun And apologies for yet another impractical post, straight from the passionate 27 year old heart of mine !

Re: Houston ! We Have a Situation ! ROADBUSTER is coming in !

Again, very well penned down !!

Even on asking those morons said, these bikes don't come with First Aid. I didn't get one

Re: Houston ! We Have a Situation ! ROADBUSTER is coming in !

What a write-up sirji. I was grinning along every statement you made. Kudos to you and your dream.

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What is that red-light gleaming in the pic where you have shown the Odo meter reading 8. And with what petrol you filled her up. ?

Re: Houston ! We Have a Situation ! ROADBUSTER is coming in !

Thanks
One guy was reluctant. John was very nice. He immediately arranged ! It has to be given as per law if I am correct !

Thank you so much Hope urs come true fast too .

Re: Houston ! We Have a Situation ! ROADBUSTER is coming in !

Normal petrol works just fine, right?

Re: Houston ! We Have a Situation ! ROADBUSTER is coming in !

engine oil thing ! Does a check when switched on.


Filled her with what I filled up in my R15 all these days. No issues as of now. Will fill SHELL next. Then 97 ! Lets see if there is a difference.
Average mileage indicated around 14-15 in the traffic. For shorter U turns you would need a long and strong pair of legs.
There is another red light that keeps blinking to show that the immobiliser is armed. This one can be switched off. Will that tonight !

Re: Houston ! We Have a Situation ! ROADBUSTER is coming in !

I hope so. And I do hope it doesnt do any damages internally, A minor drop in power because of fuel is acceptable, but if it does damages to parts is what I am worried about. But users here says, nothing like that.

Re: Houston ! We Have a Situation ! ROADBUSTER is coming in !

Lesser octane would make it run at lower power. Unless there is filth, many pumps have high adulteration levels, there should not be any damage.
Indian Oil company pumps and Shell would be my preferred ones.

Re: Houston ! We Have a Situation ! ROADBUSTER is coming in !

Kawaswami! Swami Roadbuster
The bike looks so gorgeously intimidating!

Re: Houston ! We Have a Situation ! ROADBUSTER is coming in !

I would prefer Shell for Z800 any day any time.

Re: Houston ! We Have a Situation ! ROADBUSTER is coming in !

Yeah. It absolutely intimidates everything in front of it with its stance.

I was waiting in front of the temple for an hour to get the pooja done. Not one person passed by, young or old, man or woman who didn't take a second glance.
There was one person who walked down from his house next to the temple and had a good 15 minutes chat with me. This person was well informed, rode a Duke 390 and was looking forward to an upgrade and preferred the Z1000. At the end of our discussion, he concluded he will start to sacrifice other things in his life from yesterday and achieve the goal

I could see the guy get more and more determined as I took him through my journey and ended it, he asked for it, with the sound of the engine at 2K rpm :P He was smitten !

Roadbuster at work !

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True. Might be smarter thing to do. The showroom TD bike runs on indian oil though.
Anyways there are only handfull of trusted fuel pumps.

Re: Houston ! We Have a Situation ! ROADBUSTER is coming in !

Congrats Sourjya. Welcome to the Z club. I got to know that shell is planning to launch high octane fuel- above 95RON (V power) in coming months and that's a good news. Shell super is just normal 91RON with additives. Let's meet on this sunday and go on a ride.