Announcement

**sunilg** · 12-12-2011, 11:55 AM

Welcome to xBhp Arun.

Travelogue approved.

**beruoist** · 12-12-2011, 12:10 PM

Nice.The first R15 V2.0 triplog i guess

Cheers
Biru

**alankarmisra** · 12-12-2011, 12:58 PM

Biru getting nostalgic about his Dhanno? Good to see you writing Arun!

**rpmboy** · 12-12-2011, 02:48 PM

A great way to share !!! Kudos to u

**Arun Vijayan** · 12-12-2011, 04:01 PM

Originally posted by sunilg View Post

Welcome to xBhp Arun.

Travelogue approved.

Thank you sir for the approval....

**Arun Vijayan** · 12-12-2011, 10:20 PM

Prologue:

**Astro** · 12-13-2011, 05:26 PM

Gratz bro, Awesome pics. would love to ride with you

**sagar Deshmukh** · 12-24-2011, 11:50 AM

good start bro!!...ll join u soon....

**Arun Vijayan** · 12-24-2011, 09:58 PM

8th December 2011. Heads= Kashid...Tails =Lonavla...

And.......Heads it is...Mystique, we are going to Kashid tomorrow morning. Said good bye to her & slept early.

9th December 2011.

1) Registration papers, PUC & Insurance
2) Tool kit (OEM)
3) Tool kit (assorted spanners, screw driver set & Allen keys)
4) Medical Kit (assorted strips of painkillers, antibiotics, cotton gauze & stuff for dressing)
4) Camera
5) Mini-tripod
6) Extra batteries
7) Water bottle.
8) Scrap cloth

All set to ride!!!!

And at 7.45 am set out for the First Long ride with Mystique. Early mist had settled in, with the first sun rays peeping in & out of the dew. What a wonderful day to start your day!!!!. The traffic was thin with some multi axles zipping past you hurting your ego. I was still maintaining a healthy speed going all the way up to 5000 rpm.Also made a point to vary the speed from 40 to 65....and an occasional 70.Clicked a few photos in between.

Early morning mist at Shil Phata road....or is it smog...

Half empty or Half full....

To be continued.....

**Arun Vijayan** · 12-24-2011, 11:07 PM

I noticed that people were looking at me with surprise, but most importantly they were admiring my steed. Where ever I halted, people would folk around checking her out & then look at my riding gear. Maybe all these are luxury for them. While we strut around with these gears, they envy us...thinking that we are all some spoilt brats with rich daddies. Little do they realize that most of us have saved every penny & nickel earned, skipped booze parties, movies or a date with the GF, just to save for the leather gloves on the shelf. They realize only this that we are some racer types & that we have hurt their ego. And they will try everything futile to crush ours. How I wish I could tell them, our lives are as fragile as theirs but we have a stronger chance of surviving a crash with maybe as little as a crushed ego & a battered confidence. But with them it could be broken bones & spilled brains on the tarmac.

Arre bhag, racer vattoy, chal race lavuya The road from Wadkal towards Alibaug was peppered with pot holes & shoddy patch work. The effect of riding on such bad tarmac was soon evident on me. My wrists starting aching a bit. But it was bearable so I moved on .Pixellated some more near the Ispat factory.

I soon reached the Ghats near Alibaug. Took a halt at the shrine at the ghat, sipped some water, paid my respects to the deity & after some more photo session with the bike, proceeded further.

A few turns & then I reach Revdanda Bridge. I pixellate some more, obvious to the stares of a group of college boys who were busy ogling at my steed.

I pushed forward & took a right turn towards Kashid. A few more turns & saw the first view of the open sea. Stopped again for a couple of clicks.

Happy with the results & losing lot of water in the process, I pushed forward. Not before clicking these.

.

The roads were still a mess. I was disappointed. Because I had something in mind. I tread along hoping the roads would improve. And yes it did become better & soon I was cruising on smooth tarmac. Just before Kashid beach, the road curves into a left hander hairpin. This is exactly what I wanted. I slowed down, pushed the bike a little to the outer & while getting back into the inner curve leaned as much as I can. It was an awesome experience. She corners so well. I actually managed to push my butt out while doing the corner. I turned around again, & tried the same corner for maybe a dozen times. A family in a Sumo, who clicking away for their family albums, were now mute spectators, wondering what exactly I am doing. They wondered as from which planet I descended on Earth & why I was going on the same road 12 times. I was so excited that they might have heard me scream in joy. With a big smile on my face I went ahead, finally reaching my destination. Kashid Beach.

With obvious stares by the onlookers, I removed my gears& sat down at the shack. The boy who was working at the shack was so excited to see my bike. He was quickly to identify my steed, called out all his friends to have a look. He came rushing to me, with lots of questions in his mind. I was famished, but I promised him I will answer all his queries if he brings my order asap.He is quick to inform me that I can get whatever I want. That was helpful. Too lazy to ask for the menu I settle down for a plate of Egg Burji. A few more clicks on the beach.

To be continued....

**Arun Vijayan** · 12-24-2011, 11:39 PM

I come back to the shack; have a chilled bottle of cola & a smoke. I gear up to leave. The boy looks up to me with promises to meet again. I smile back as I settle the bill. I start my steed, he waves back. I wave back & watch him disappear in the RVM. I'm a traveler & it’s time for me to go back. I set forth on the same road back. I see the beauty of the vistas one last time, with a silent promise that I will be back soon. I tread along without pixeallating much, as I was on familiar paths again. On the way I met a family of four on bicycles. I waved at them & they waved back. I decided to stop. I had a chat with them. They had come from London & were travelling towards Goa. They were amazed to see my bike & to see a biker who geared up properly. I was humbled by their courage to tread the unknown path with 0 bhp machines. I gave them some pointer s for their journey ahead as I had travelled on the same road till Goa. They were in a bit of hurry as they had lot of ground to be covered. So I bid adieu to them without wasting much of their time. However in the excitement to interact with them, I forgot to capture them in pixels. That’s something I really regret.

As I pushed forward, the bad roads were giving me a hell of a time. On top of that bumper to bumper traffic after Wadkal naka.I was riding without any break so far & my wrists started to hurt now. Later after some time I saw the bypass road towards Pune.I knew there would be lesser traffic & the roads are pretty much better in shape. So took a right turn towards Khopoli .The roads are a breeze, but you have to be careful as there are villages on this stretch & you never know who decides to give you a scare, a dog, goat or a village simpleton. By now I was enjoying every bit of riding this machine. Soon I reached Khopoli & took the left turn towards Panvel. With wide roads & little traffic I was cruising along with a steady rhythm. I was of course well within the speed limits as she was still under 1000 kms. Took a small pee break in between & clicked the last pics of the ride.

In no time I had crossed Panvel, going through J.N.P.T road & towards Shilphata. Just after I took the right turn towards Dombivli, I saw the odometer. She crossed 999 kms.I quickly pixellate the moment as I know it won’t come again.

Off I went towards home. Before reaching home I paid a visit to the showroom from where I bought her, so that I can fix an appointment for the first servicing. The mechanic was aghast when I told him the bike is under 2 weeks old & already completed 1000 kms. All I did was grin. I reached home but didn’t unsaddle from her .I sat there thanking her for the ride & the experience .Then she spoke....

“So you done with me for now right “She asked.

“Yes, for now” I replied “So are you happy now”

“Pretty much” she arrogantly replied.

“This is the beginning of our journey together, you have miles to go with me & I promise to take care of you all the time” I assured.

“I'm looking forward to what you have planned for me, surprise me if you can. Because I have lots of surprises for you”, she said.

With these words she went off line as I removed the key. And so my first long ride with Mystique came to an end. I let her cool down & freshen myself. After a quick dinner, cleaned her up a little,covered her & bid her good night. She needs to rest today & wait for the next ride.

A few pointers that I noticed during the ride:

1) The bike doesn’t have good mount points for bungee cords & my bag used to come forward near my butt affecting my sitting position. Time to get a tail bag.
2) The seat does not have good cushion so for really long rides it gonna be a pain in the a**.Literally.
3) The sitting on top feeling while riding because of the upward angle of the seat puts more pressure on the wrists. I tried various positions & the best I was comfortable was to be close to tank. But it hurts your crotch after some time. So not recommended. I guess i will have to work on my forearms.
4) The 130/70 profile tyre has pretty good grip on the roads. However the bike doesn’t feel that flick able in traffic. But I can live with that.
5) The rear section is what attracts people the most. So sawing up the rear hugger is in charts for that sportier look.
6) The bike gave a pretty good mileage of 40 kmpl.Not bad.

My route for the ride was....

Overall, I'm very happy to have invested in this bike. The long wait was worth it. I feel really proud of being her rider, an owner of the finest steeds in India. And now waiting for more rides & more places to be discovered. And waiting for answers that are still unanswered. Pretty soon I will find them. So till then see you till I see you....

THE END

**Drifty** · 12-25-2011, 03:05 PM

Very good pictures there,loved reading the log.Nice choice of words!

**Arun Vijayan** · 12-25-2011, 03:38 PM

Originally posted by Drifty View Post

Very good pictures there,loved reading the log.Nice choice of words!

Thanks Drifty...Im happy you liked it....

**lonelyrider08** · 12-25-2011, 08:19 PM

Hey nice ride there Arun. Very well written and awesome pics. keep seducing your Mystigue....

Announcement

My First Long Ride with Mystique......

[Photo Feature]: My First Long Ride with Mystique......

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