Re: Me, My Blue Bird & The Highway

The oil level has to be checked when the bike is on the ground, with out center stand. If you check the level after riding for long, the oil level will be less as good quantity of oil will be in the engine compartment. Also, mixing of same type of engine oil, minerals with minerals, semi synth with semi synth and fully synthetic with fully synthetic is fine if the quantity top up is less.

Also, many a time, when people at service center top up oil, they tend to overfill or underfil. When they drain the oil, some quantity of oil will be left in the engine and new oil should be added checking the oil level frequently. I don't think service center guys will do so much of a job and they simply fill recommended amount of oil. It is always better to check the oil manually and refil if necessary right after service.

From your picture, I can notice that oil level is OK and it's not too less. Though, RE's are know for leaking oil, you got to get it checked at the service center.

re: My Motorcycle Diaries

Hello Ravi Sir,
I have been following your thread since a long time (almost a year now), not only on x-bhp but also on other sites as well. Your travel diaries have been an inspiration to many bikers and I'm no different. I dearly loved the RE Thunderbird and was dying to own 1 since a long time. I finally took the plunge, booked it and got the delivery of my RE Thunderbird 350 (christened ZEUS by me) in February 2016. Your ownership experience with the bike and your travelogue has helped me alot.
Thanks alot for the wonderful travelogue you have shared.
Happy riding.

(Attached pic of me and my Zeus)

re: My Motorcycle Diaries

Congratulations and best wishes for infinite miles with smiles with your Zeus, [MENTION=87538]pranavkhadawala[/MENTION]. You have selected a very apt name for your bird, Zeus - the god of sky and thunder and the king of the gods of Mount Olympus.

Thanks for the appreciation.

re: My Motorcycle Diaries

Hello Ravi Sir,

I feel proud that I am in a place where people like you are there who is there to inspire people like us. Every time when you mention your blue bird, I feel the love and care you have towards it. Such a wonderful feeling. All those travelogue of yours are amusing and the way you narrate, it takes us along with you every moment. A big salute to you from our fellow xBhp ians.

The mental strength which you have is what we need for all the rides.

Keep it going.

SSB

re: My Motorcycle Diaries

Thanks a lot for the appreciation and compliments, [MENTION=87293]shiv4747[/MENTION]. I strongly believe, if I take care of my bird, it will reciprocate the same to me. It applies to all, machines, animals and humans too!

Re: My Motorcycle Diaries

thread title changed on thread starter's request.

Ride Across India: GJ

Blue Bird brought me home safely and comfortably at 2:30 am today after a successful GJ ride. We had left Ginger Wakad at 1:45 pm. This section has achieved the highest average speed so far during this ride. The ride is almost over except for the last, short and sweet stretch, Bangalore->Chennai, which I will do after some days.



Here is the FIR:

* Mumbai - Pune Expressway [MPEW] and NE1 are not two wheeler-friendly. So, I rode on the regular NH 4 and 48. NH 48 is a 6 lane access road to Ahmedabad. I enjoyed riding each and every mm and minute on NH 48. One word summarises: super. Missing such an access to Chennai. I didn't know that it would be super. Had I known that, I would have ridden on this road during my GQ ride in February 2016. I had selected the Godhra route then, assuming it would be just another 4 lane road.

* While riding from Pune to Ahmedabad, I rode on the on the famous Golden Bridge, connecting Ankleshwar and Bharuch over Narmada. I entered Ankleshwar and exited through Bharuch just for this.

* The roads from Ahmedabad to Bhuj are excellent all the way. The last 63 km to Bhuj comprised two lanes. The remaining are 4 or 6 lanes, thanks to the Kandla port connectivity. The road from Bhuj to White Desert is newly tarred 2 lane road.

* Most of the GJ SH and NH from Jamnagar>Porbandar>Diu>Bhavnagar>Vadodara are back-breaking bad roads with very few signages, mostly in Gujarati. Now, I know to read Gujarati, thanks to GJ SH/NH! However, the roads inside the UT Diu are excellent.

* While riding from Vadodara to Pune, I rode on the Bharuch - Ankleshwar bypass without any problems. The new Narmada bridge is ready for inauguration by the prime minister.

* While returning to Pune, I had difficulty to stick on with NH 4 as two-wheelers are not welcome on MPEW. Here too, there are no proper signages to guide the riders. I ended up riding on MPEW from Khandala. But, there were few other riders too. When asked, I was informed that two-wheelers are allowed on MPEW from Khandala to Lonavala exit. So, I rode a few km on MPEW, took the Lonavala exit and stuck to NH 4 all the way to Pune!

Photographs and details will follow later.

Details Of Stay

Re: My Motorcycle Diaries

Well done and well presented Mr Ravi.. look forward to meeting you someday and ride together...

Re: My Motorcycle Diaries

Thanks, [MENTION=77052]ilyasbaig[/MENTION].

Sure, we will do it.

The Dirty Bird - Insects Of 4 States & 1 UT

An insect-strike on a rider could be as dangerous as a bird-strike on an aircraft. So, I use a full-face helmet with visor while riding and wash and clean the visor during every refueling. However, I have not washed my bird during the GJ ride as I have decided to get it serviced after reaching Chennai. Here are some photographs showing the mortal remains of the insects of TN/KA/MH/GJ/DD that my bird attracted so far.






















BTW, my bird has so far visited 20 states and UT, viz., TN, PY, KA, KL, AP, OD, WB, JH, BR, UP, DL, HR, RJ, GJ, MH, TS, MP, PB, HP and DD.

Ride Across India: GJ







Considering peak hour riding in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Thane, ghat roads, bad roads, etc., the fuel efficiency recorded, viz., 29.88 kmpl is a decent one.

Re: My Motorcycle Diaries

Ravi Sir, You're back and how ! Please let me know when you are in Bangalore so that I can touch your feet as riding guru ! I've been riding since last 17 Years now, have done numerous long/short trips, but always there has been a lack of courage before I start. If I could join you for few days in a ride, I will be more than happy. Seems like a great trip. Please share more pictures.

Ride Across India: GJ



Here are some photos clicked in Chennai - Ahmedabad section:





















Ahmedabad has an excellent bus rapid transit system. Click here for more details.


____________________________________________

Thank you so much, amods, for the kind words. I left my bird at Chennai and returned to Bangalore at 10:50 am by Shatabdi Express yesterday. Yes, this was a nice 5 k km ride, which I enjoyed each and every mm and minute.

Re: My Motorcycle Diaries

Hi Ravi Sir,

You are truly a Great inspiration for all the bikers . Hats of to you. Your trip and travelogues are superb and so informative , hope to meet you some day in Bangalore or Chennai.