Heya friends,

I'm Surya and as you might have guessed from my username, i am a Royal Enfield fan, especially the new TBTS. I am a software engg like so many others in this forum and have been a passive listener on this thread for a long time now. For almost 3-4 months i have been reading through the threads, discussions and "wars" on this thread and have been utterly amused.

In all honesty i have to admit that the people in this forum, even after taking into consideration all the tiff's they have, hold the flag of brotherhood with utmost respect and integrity. This is one of the reason why i was instantly glued to this forum the moment i was introduced to it.

Anyway, start off about me, well i had passed my graduation last year and was recruited into a very repudiated MNC. Till college, i was never such a big fan of motorcycles or anything on 2 wheels for that matter. My father is the the armed forces and had always had a 4 wheeler. He had a bajaj chetak which he sold off when i was in class 10th. Whenever i used to ask him to teach me a motor vehicle he used to be adamant about one thing..... "If u wanna learn, learn the car. 2 wheelers are out of bounds for you." But as all humans have tenancy to crave the thing which is denied to them, well i was no different. So every day after my father left for office in the summer hoidays, i used to get the scooter out and try to ride it. It was another matter all together that i spent the first ten days just to learn how to kick start it.. .

Anyway, as days passed i finally admitted to him that i had now mastered the art of riding the CHETAK. Although he was a bit angry about me going behind him back, i knew he was surprised how i managed it all on my own. Even then i have to admit, i din't prefer riding a 2 wheeler as much as i enjoyed driving a 4 wheeler.

Now as i got into the MNC at Hyderabad after my college, things took a turn for the other side. As i had to go to the office daily, which is 17KM away and as there was no proper means of transport available, my family was contemplating on getting me a second hand car for the time being. Suddenly, by cousin brother, was getting married and on his marriage day he said to me.... "Bro, im gonna get married and not gonna use my 2 wheeler any more as my to be wife (in the next 3 hours) doesn't like me to ride... i gonna use the car anyway. I heard that you have no transport for now. I'm giving away my bike to you... you do know how to ride don't you?"

Friends, i don't know what kicked into my head, although the logical answer from me should have been.. "No brother, i have never ridden a bike before, just a bajaj chetak"..... Instead my answer was.... "YEAH Y NOT!!!! I CAN MAKE ROSSI KISS MY BEHIND!!!" And there it was, my very own bike for the first time in my life...... Bajaj PULSAR 150 UG2.

As soon as i got it, took sum basic ABC's of gear shifting from him and was off for a ride.... OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY...... For the first time in my life.... i started to get a feel of why so many bikers used to go GAGA over the whole 2 Wheeler's stuff.... maybe the chetak lacked that punch or maybe i just failed to understand it in my youth... but whatever the reason was, the pulsar gave me a rush for the first time in my life which i cannot articulate into words at this very moment. Yes it was a bit old, yes it was bit worn down, yes it had already clocked 35k on the odo and yes it was not a R-15 or a CBR, but the slight twist of throttle, and i could literally feel the front shocks expanding, rear springs contracting, wind finding ways to navigate through my hair and my body being propelled ahead with grace. Though i obviously did not understand all about biking in the first 15 minute ride, i got the gist of it. The the gist blew me away. Suddenly, the 4 wheeler in me took a back stance and i was all in for the PULSAR.

Thus from that day on began the never ending saga of discussion about bikes, knowing the various parts, various bikes and the manufacturers, forum reading..etc etc etc etc.....

Anyway, fast forward an year to the present and i can safely say that i had almost exploited all the strengths of the PULSAR and rode a lot of other bike for a brief period of time like the Fz-16, ZMR, CBR,P220,RTR etc etc... as most of my friends had it with them none of them very different in character except for the power boost. But one brand i was longing to get a ride on was the ROYAL ENFIELD and in particular the Thunderbird. Though the new model had not yet come out by then, i was still head over heels in love with the kind of styling which was done on it. Everytime i saw TB on the road, i followed it just so i could hear the sound of it and the way it navigated through the roads.

Finally, there came the new TBTS.... and by god i was blown away. People say, it is impossible to improve upon perfection (Read Styling) and sumhow, RE had managed to do so. That moment on, my sights were set on it. Though i didn't book it, i knew if i was gonna buy a bike, TBTS it was going to be. Then started the same old saga of researching on the new TBTS knowing all its pro's and con's reading all the reviews people on xbhp had written about it. Also read all the threads where people who dislike them (Read Bullet Haters) had to say about it. After months of deliberating over the issue whether to go with a 100% reliable, performance oriented, plastic friendly jap bike or to just go with my heart... i came to a conclusion to go with my heart. So i headed to the RE showroom, wanted a test ride on the TBTS-350, as it was not available on that day.... i said chuck it and booked it anyway. (First Mistake)

So i had basically booked a bike without even sitting on it. But i had no issues. I even made a username on xbhp after the bike "TBTS-350". I was damn happy with my decision, and then my friend bought a new R-15 V2. Well what can i say.?? The bike has got some character, gorgeous styling, aggressive looks and performance tuned. Though i was a tourer at heart and i know that there does not exist a universe where i can compare the R-15 to the TB, i was some what inclined towards the R-15 i moment i laid eyes on it. And then i rode it for a week. Well, the tables turned again, after about 15-20 mins of riding, it feels as though the weight of the world in on your arms as they beg you to slow down and relax for a while. No, doubt i was impressed with the performance and handling it offered but the comfort was right on the edge of a deal breaker. But that is how sports bikes are meant to be.

2 months had already passed since i had booked by TBTS-350, created the account on xbhp, continuously reading all the about it in the forums and all. Then it struck me that i had till date not ridden a TBTS-350. So to clear out the haze in my mind about the sport bike/cruiser bike i gave the dealership a call and told them i need a test ride at the earliest. The employee said, whenever your ready, you can come and get a ride. So, i made my way over on a fine Sunday morning and asked for a long test drive on the TBTS-350.

I sat on the bike and i could immediately tell the comfortable riding position and knew that no matter how many miles i crunch on it, my behind will be smiling. Started the bike and with a roar it sprang to life. Vibrations were clearly felt at idling. Put it into the first gear and took off....... As i was completing 3KM's, there was a frown on my face. . Well, let me make it clear, it was indeed the most powerful bike i had ridden till date, and the torque in the low RPM's was indeed noticeable, the stability was exemplary and at past 90Kmph, i could feel the legendary vibes everyone talks about. Taking everything into consideration, knowing that i had already booked it, i still was a bit let down. It was a beast of a machine, it was bull in every sense imaginable, it indeed outdid everything that i had ridden till date but somehow, in my own little universe, it just did not cut the bill. It did not give me that sense of pride having booked one. Suddenly, my hopes and dreams were crashing down. I could almost see myself cancelling the order. (Though i there was a long way to go before i did such a thing).

I don't know why, but as i parked the bike after almost 14-15Km of test ride (yes the sales guy was generous) and was examining the bike with a frown on my face, i guess Mr. Sreenivas (the sales guy) knew i was re-thinking and said... "Sir, would you like to test ride the TBTS-500? Have a go on it too." Well, there was nothing much to loose and i had all the time, so i said ok. He gave me the key for the 500, i knew all the differences between the 500 and the 350 having done my home work for almost 3-4 months now and knew that the 500 was a bit over priced and for about 41k less i was getting almost all the package except the EFI and the extra 7 odd BHP.

Sreenivas gave me the key to the 500 and i mounted. Felt exactly the same while sitting on it. Started it, the thump felt exactly the same. The handle bars felt the same, i was getting a feeling that there was gonna be no difference between the two. HOW WRONG I WAS!!!. The moment i let go of the clutch in the first gear, i swear on mother earth, my heart skipped a beat, there was a prominent wheel spin and the bike stalled. Hell.... what had i just experienced????

I still thought maybe i had reved it a bit too much and let go of the clutch too fast, that's why it had happened. So i started it again, engaged the first gear and let go of the clutch. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN....the 350 is a beast, the 500...... is a MAMOTH, this incredible machine from which i did not have much expectations from, had immediately transported me back to the first time i had ridden my PULSAR except this time... it was even better. OH MY GOD! The TORQUE.... THE HUMM of the engine, the intensity with which it catapulted me forward was nothing like i had felt before... even in my dad's Honda Civic. It was like nothing less than the HAND OF GOD which was behind me.... it made me smile exactly the same way i had done the first time on the pulsar, except wider. It was like giving a nicotine addict a dose of cocaine. I could not understand how mere 7Bhp could make such a huge difference. This was the experience with a pillion sitting behind. God only knows how it will be when i'm all alone. That moment on... i was sold for the 500. The R-15 was history in my mind. Even though i knew it was way over my already extended budget for the 350 and in every practical way it made no sense... but i just had to have it. It had to be the 500.

So i immediately booked the 500 in the most amazing color of course (STONE) . and am awaiting delivery and am trying to also raise the funds.

I know i went over board with my introduction but im hoping you guys will forgive me for that.

ADIOS AMIGOS!!!

PS: Most ironic thing is that im a guy who is gonna get a 500 and am stuck with the user name TBTS-350 .