Hello buddies,thanks to xbhp team for letting me in.
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Hello bikers,Tushar rana(Dharamshala,H.P) owning cbz classic and karizma R
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[Photo Feature]: Hello guys please help and shed some info regarding my cbz classic carb issues
Hello friends,i own a cbz classic 2001 model,the bikes emits black smoke on 1/4 throttle ,cleaned carb many a times,the pilot mixture screw has no effect on the idle when tuning it,it is turned all the way in,do i need a lean pilot jet,the stock jet is #35 and main jet is #102 on my bike,i see plug fouling,block piston assembly changed,tappets adjusted to oem specs,please help.
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KTM 250 ABS Launched?
I clicked on the KTM ad in XBHP website and was redirected to ktm.bajajauto.com. In that website, the specifications for KTM 250 CC included Drive by wire, LED head lamp and Dual channel ABS. But KTM hasn't announced anything. Anyone has any info on this piece? Attaching the screenshot for reference.
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Steelbird SBA-1 HF: Helmet with built in headset to attend calls while riding.
Steelbird Hi-Tech India has launched SBA-1 HF to add music to your rides. This model is designed especially for the ones who find it difficult to attend calls or who wish to listen music during riding. Designed after two years of rigorous research and development SBA-1 HF is battery less, and provides high-quality sound along with powerful performance. This Helmet connects to phone with an AUX and is compatible with all phones.
The SBA-1 Hands Free is made for city rides comprises of many exciting features such as noise cancellation through single directional microphone, easy access to Google assistant and dedicated button for call connect and disconnect. The speakers in the helmet do not a have noise cancellation feature, so the rider is aware of the sounds around, like horn, ambulance siren etc. Apart from being technology friendly, the newly launched helmet is supported with waterproof mechanism with IP5 water resistant hands free parts.
Its main feature is that the rider can easily attend calls just by clicking a button. The microphone in the helmet is single actuator microphone, so only the voice of the rider will be transmitted, not the voice of the traffic etc. SBA-1 HF Helmet comprises with latest technology, machinery and new moulds. With the best technology equipped speakers, the helmet manages sound in such a way that the rider is able to coordinate well with the sounds. It also makes the rider well aware of happenings around while riding. The simultaneous management helps the rider to ride with safety and entertainment.
Innovative ventilation system is also equipped with an air intake in the chin guard, an air intake in the frontal & top area and two rear extractors recycling air inside the helmet. For the comfort of the rider, the SBA-1 HF has Polycarbonate Anti Scratch Coated Visor Quick Release Visor mechanism Kit. It is available in 3 colors Red, Black and white and sizes ranging from 58cm to 60cm.
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The Steelbird SBA-1 HF Helmet is available at all Steelbird outlets and at their website at a price of INR 2589/-.
The SBA-1 Hands Free is made for city rides comprises of many exciting features such as noise cancellation through single directional microphone, easy access to Google assistant and dedicated button for call connect and disconnect. The speakers in the helmet do not a have noise cancellation feature, so the rider is aware of the sounds around, like horn, ambulance siren etc. Apart from being technology friendly, the newly launched helmet is supported with waterproof mechanism with IP5 water resistant hands free parts.
Its main feature is that the rider can easily attend calls just by clicking a button. The microphone in the helmet is single actuator microphone, so only the voice of the rider will be transmitted, not the voice of the traffic etc. SBA-1 HF Helmet comprises with latest technology, machinery and new moulds. With the best technology equipped speakers, the helmet manages sound in such a way that the rider is able to coordinate well with the sounds. It also makes the rider well aware of happenings around while riding. The simultaneous management helps the rider to ride with safety and entertainment.
Innovative ventilation system is also equipped with an air intake in the chin guard, an air intake in the frontal & top area and two rear extractors recycling air inside the helmet. For the comfort of the rider, the SBA-1 HF has Polycarbonate Anti Scratch Coated Visor Quick Release Visor mechanism Kit. It is available in 3 colors Red, Black and white and sizes ranging from 58cm to 60cm.



The Steelbird SBA-1 HF Helmet is available at all Steelbird outlets and at their website at a price of INR 2589/-.
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Hi From Colombia! :)
Hello everybody!
I am Wilmar, from Colombia. Nice to meet all of you. Love this forum because I find everything I need about motorcycles and hope I can help with everything you need
Thanks, and if i can help or contribute with something I will be very happy to do it.
P.S. sorry for my English, in my country Spanish is the only native language
I am Wilmar, from Colombia. Nice to meet all of you. Love this forum because I find everything I need about motorcycles and hope I can help with everything you need
Thanks, and if i can help or contribute with something I will be very happy to do it.
P.S. sorry for my English, in my country Spanish is the only native language
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Yamaha Rx 135 2003 Purchase Invoice copy required.......Please Help
Hello Friends
Please Help
I brought my Yamaha Rx 135 2003 4 speed from Bangalore to Andhra along with NOC. I am facing problem in registering RX 135 2003 on my name as the RTO is asking for original purchase of Invoice for tax calculation. As the vehicle is old and second buy I cannot get the invoice. On inquiry with RTO officials they ascertained that any invoice for the same for the same model for the same year or later year will work. Therefore I request the fellow xBhpians to help me in this regard by sending copy of purchase invoice of Yamaha Rx 135 4 speed 2003 issued preferably in the state of Karnataka or Andhra or any other state.
Thank You in Advance
Yours
Jaden
Please Help
I brought my Yamaha Rx 135 2003 4 speed from Bangalore to Andhra along with NOC. I am facing problem in registering RX 135 2003 on my name as the RTO is asking for original purchase of Invoice for tax calculation. As the vehicle is old and second buy I cannot get the invoice. On inquiry with RTO officials they ascertained that any invoice for the same for the same model for the same year or later year will work. Therefore I request the fellow xBhpians to help me in this regard by sending copy of purchase invoice of Yamaha Rx 135 4 speed 2003 issued preferably in the state of Karnataka or Andhra or any other state.
Thank You in Advance
Yours
Jaden
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Low cost Painting for your motorcycle/car in Rs. 200
How to self paint car/bike for beginners. Basic guide. Does not involve double coating, applying clear/lacquer etc. Based on own experience. It may not be perfect but usable any day.
1. Buy an aerosol spray worth Rs. 150 and sandpaper of 2 grades min, 100 grit and 500 grit. It will cost approx Rs. 30.
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2. Remove the part which you have to paint.
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3. Sand the area using coarse sand paper first (100 grit), clear all the debris and now use fine sand paper to remove the scratches caused by the coarse one (500 grit)
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3. If you cant remove the part, still no issues. But make sure to give extra care when sanding edges of the part where there is a high chance that you may scratch the part next to the part to be painted
4. Cover all nearby areas where paint need not be covered using newspaper and cello tape. Also make sure that you wash the area once and dry it fully.
5. Point the aerosol can 10-15cms apart the part and start painting in a linear pattern. Dont hold the can for long at a specific point or it may lead to paint bleeding.
6. Allow it to dry for at least 4 hours on a sunny day.
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7. Fit back the part, enjoy
Nb: I have painted handrails and taillamp plastic housing of my gixxer in the similar way.
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No part was removed while doing painting. Looks wonderful. Today had done it in my car's rvms. Part was removed before painting. Check attached pics to see the steps followed.
1. Buy an aerosol spray worth Rs. 150 and sandpaper of 2 grades min, 100 grit and 500 grit. It will cost approx Rs. 30.

2. Remove the part which you have to paint.

3. Sand the area using coarse sand paper first (100 grit), clear all the debris and now use fine sand paper to remove the scratches caused by the coarse one (500 grit)

3. If you cant remove the part, still no issues. But make sure to give extra care when sanding edges of the part where there is a high chance that you may scratch the part next to the part to be painted
4. Cover all nearby areas where paint need not be covered using newspaper and cello tape. Also make sure that you wash the area once and dry it fully.
5. Point the aerosol can 10-15cms apart the part and start painting in a linear pattern. Dont hold the can for long at a specific point or it may lead to paint bleeding.
6. Allow it to dry for at least 4 hours on a sunny day.

7. Fit back the part, enjoy
Nb: I have painted handrails and taillamp plastic housing of my gixxer in the similar way.

No part was removed while doing painting. Looks wonderful. Today had done it in my car's rvms. Part was removed before painting. Check attached pics to see the steps followed.
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Rear wheel wobble after new tyres replacement
Hello good evening guys, recently I had both the tyres changed. Now the rear wheel wobbles at low speed, especially when riding with a pillion.
What could be the cause?
What could be the cause?
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Suzuki Gixxer petrol tank vacuum problem
I have been facing this issue since the time I got the lock of my bike changed . Guess they changed the complete cap.
After some distance of riding, the bike engine starts dying. Looks as if it is not getting the fuel. If I accelerate, it dies instantly. After stopping, if I try to start the bike it won't start. When I open the cap, there is a vacuum sound and then the bike can be turned ON instantly. I have been told that my model being an old one (2015) have been fitted with a cap of new model which does not have a breather hole and in turn the air passes through the cap (which apparently works for short distances only).
Any one facing similar issues and any solutions to this problem?
After some distance of riding, the bike engine starts dying. Looks as if it is not getting the fuel. If I accelerate, it dies instantly. After stopping, if I try to start the bike it won't start. When I open the cap, there is a vacuum sound and then the bike can be turned ON instantly. I have been told that my model being an old one (2015) have been fitted with a cap of new model which does not have a breather hole and in turn the air passes through the cap (which apparently works for short distances only).
Any one facing similar issues and any solutions to this problem?
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Bike for touring under 1.5 lac
Hi,
I am a fairly new rider and have done around 10K kms, combined. Out of them, 70% were done on a 2017 Pulsar 150 and 30% on a Hero Splendour.
I am looking for a bike under Rs. 1.5L(on-road). Primary usage will be on highways for rides of around 400-500 km and at speeds of 80-100.
Monthly running would be around 1000km till June 2020 because after that I will hopefully get into a college in another state where it would not be feasible to take the bike with me. In this period, the bike would be running only 30-40km per month and that too by my father.
My height is 5.7" and weight around 75kgs.
As the fuel costs would be undertaken by my father so I don't want to burn a hole in his pocket. Hence, a mileage of 40+ would be highly appreciated.
I would also like to tell you that I like to do basic maintenance and service myself so a highly complex bike like the Duke 125 is a strict no. Please recommend me a frugal and refined bike.
I have 2-3 bikes in my mind:
1. RTR 2004V
2. FZ25
3. PULSAR 220F
4. GIXXER SF fi
Please feel free to recommend other options.
I am a fairly new rider and have done around 10K kms, combined. Out of them, 70% were done on a 2017 Pulsar 150 and 30% on a Hero Splendour.
I am looking for a bike under Rs. 1.5L(on-road). Primary usage will be on highways for rides of around 400-500 km and at speeds of 80-100.
Monthly running would be around 1000km till June 2020 because after that I will hopefully get into a college in another state where it would not be feasible to take the bike with me. In this period, the bike would be running only 30-40km per month and that too by my father.
My height is 5.7" and weight around 75kgs.
As the fuel costs would be undertaken by my father so I don't want to burn a hole in his pocket. Hence, a mileage of 40+ would be highly appreciated.
I would also like to tell you that I like to do basic maintenance and service myself so a highly complex bike like the Duke 125 is a strict no. Please recommend me a frugal and refined bike.
I have 2-3 bikes in my mind:
1. RTR 2004V
2. FZ25
3. PULSAR 220F
4. GIXXER SF fi
Please feel free to recommend other options.
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My Modified Victor GL 110
Hey guys, Pranav here from Coimbatore. My first thread here on xBhp and didn't know where to post it, Mods please move it to the relevant section.
Its going to be about my TVS Victor GL modified to be a mini sports tourer.
Its got a more aggressive riding position thanks to the FZ handlebar and Apache footpegs. Done sprocketing for taller ratios, now cruises at 80 kmph around 5.5k rpm. Longer swingarm, Gabriel Gas Shocks. MAG Alloy wheels, Front and Rear disc brakes. An oil cooler using R15 radiator.
Need all your help to improve the performance aspects of the bike.
I will share the pics below.
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Everything from the rear of the RTR 180 is a direct fit to the Victor's chassis. Mounting the footrests do need some welding and cutting done to the side doors.
New parts needed : RTR 180 Rear wheel & piston-caliper assy, Victor Edge/Fiero sprocket hub & half axle, Victor Edge sprocket set, RTR Shock Absorbers, RTR180 old Footrest brackets, Gearshift lever assy and Brake lever assy, RTR180 Swingarm,centre axle &rear axle.
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The overall width of the front fork legs and wheel is the same for the RTR and Victor. So thats also a direct fit.
New parts needed : RTR 180 Front wheel & piston-caliper assy, RTR Forklegs LH&RH, Wheel axle, Brake lever & piston assy, Clutch lever coz the RTR comes with plated levers, RTR speedo pinion assy for those who need it.
Victor T-Stem is compatible with this setup, so no mods there.
If everything were to be sourced from a used spares market, parts alone would cost around 11k. Or if you could get your hands on an RTR180 thats cheaper than individual parts, that works too.
Its a work in progress so any/all suggestions are welcome. Please let me know what you guys think.
Its going to be about my TVS Victor GL modified to be a mini sports tourer.
Its got a more aggressive riding position thanks to the FZ handlebar and Apache footpegs. Done sprocketing for taller ratios, now cruises at 80 kmph around 5.5k rpm. Longer swingarm, Gabriel Gas Shocks. MAG Alloy wheels, Front and Rear disc brakes. An oil cooler using R15 radiator.
Need all your help to improve the performance aspects of the bike.
I will share the pics below.


Everything from the rear of the RTR 180 is a direct fit to the Victor's chassis. Mounting the footrests do need some welding and cutting done to the side doors.
New parts needed : RTR 180 Rear wheel & piston-caliper assy, Victor Edge/Fiero sprocket hub & half axle, Victor Edge sprocket set, RTR Shock Absorbers, RTR180 old Footrest brackets, Gearshift lever assy and Brake lever assy, RTR180 Swingarm,centre axle &rear axle.

The overall width of the front fork legs and wheel is the same for the RTR and Victor. So thats also a direct fit.
New parts needed : RTR 180 Front wheel & piston-caliper assy, RTR Forklegs LH&RH, Wheel axle, Brake lever & piston assy, Clutch lever coz the RTR comes with plated levers, RTR speedo pinion assy for those who need it.
Victor T-Stem is compatible with this setup, so no mods there.
If everything were to be sourced from a used spares market, parts alone would cost around 11k. Or if you could get your hands on an RTR180 thats cheaper than individual parts, that works too.
Its a work in progress so any/all suggestions are welcome. Please let me know what you guys think.
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A car trip to Aleppe from Bangalore
Prologue:
I am normally a rider when I am not taking my family with me, Its time to post a travelogue of our recent car trip.
Itâs all started when Varun who is my team mate informed us the date of Sajoâs (Our Rider friend) and Teena's wedding which was on a weekend. Same day we started planning for the trip, it was decided that we will be driving to Alappuzha. A week later Palani gave an idea if we start on 15th Nov 18 itself which was a Thursday, we will get more time to spend at the beautiful location and attend the Wedding on Sat and return on Sunday. The plan is set.
Day 1:
All three riders ready for a long drive to Alappuzha which is about 620 KMs from Bangalore. Reached office early and stared our trip from office by 3 PM, we have decided to take a small break after Attibelle toll and ride non-stop till Salem.
Filled diesel for my âBrownieâ âFiat Punto Emotionâ at Shell Bellandur and set the trip meter to â0â. Took a small tea break at Attibelle.
As I know the route very well and we wanted to reach our destination ASAP I took the driving duties from Palani. Since we all are very excited we maintained a very good speed, we crossed salem in 3 hours and no signs of tiredness. Decided to stretch as much as possible within no time we reached Avinashi. Took a tea break and resumed driving and again stopped for dinner after Coimbatore.
Bangalore to Coimbatore â 5 hours :O
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After a relaxed dinner of Roti, Chittinadu Chicken curry and Yummy Yummy Pallipalayam Chicken we resumed our driving towards Palakkad. The roads are at excellent condition till Palakkad, from Palakkad to Thrissur the roads are in bad condition courtesy 2018 floods and road extension and Trucks.
After Thrissur good roads appeared again but with near City traffic till we reach Alappuzha. It was 1.40 AM and it took us 10 hrs 40 min when we reached our homestay and slept quickly.
Day 2: Sajoâs Wedding
Woke up little late in the morning, had breakfast and inquired about the boat ride with the care taker of Sanjos Homestay. He did the arrangements talking to some known contacts after which we reached the pickup point for boat which costed us 500 INR per hour. As we (except Varun) were exploring main lands of Kerala for the first time, it was really a unique experience. Few points which I would like to highlight here.
Pictures below will speak the rest.
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Reached our room by 5 and decided against visiting the Beach due to rains. We then planned to visit Sajoâs home which is about 30 min drive.
At Sajo's Home:
From Left: Varun, Sajo's classmate, Hafeez, Man of the moment Sajo
, Palani, Myself and Haneesh
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Reached our room by 11 and slept by 12 only to wake up with the news of Hartal (Strike) due to arrest of BJP member during Sabarimala protest. We got freshened up and got ready for Sajoâs wedding which was at âChampakulam Churchâ.
This church was just next to back waters and has a historical significance and the oldest church in Kerala constructed on 426 AD. There are some beautiful paintings drawn with natural colors (like fruitâs and leaveâs extracts). During wedding we met few other friends of Sajo from Bangalore, who are also staying at SanJos.
The marriage ceremony was simple but beautiful.
Backwaters again and Alappuzha Beach:
After wedding we decided to visit the beach. Beaches are always close to heart and one of the best place to talk to your inner mind. Had tea and some snacks at the beach and went to room and decided to have dinner at âPuttum Kattanumâ. This hotel I must say is one of the best to have Kerala food and tea at Alappuzha, donât expect ambience though. Slept early as we need to drive back to Bangalore the next day.
Champakulam Church:
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Backwaters again:
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Day 3:
Woke up by 7, checked out from homestay after having black tea by 8AM.
Stay:
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Palani took the driving duties today Had Yummy breakfast at âIndian Coffee houseâ somewhere between Alappuzha and Ernakulam (Cochin).
When we crossed Ernakulam, the NH roads were blocked by BJP in 2 different places in the same stretch wasting nearly an house of our time. After this point it was a non-stop drive till Thiruppur. By 3 PM we had our lunch and started quickly, and the next break was at Krishnagiri after the toll where we had tea and resumed driving, I took the driving duties from Palani this time. Dropped Varun at Marathahalli and we reached home by 9PM.
Fuel Expense: 5500
Toll: 1440
Other Expense (Excluding stay): 7600 ( For Food, Boat ride and other small expenses)
Things we tried at Aleppe: Boat Ride, Food at Thodi Shop, Food at Puttum Kattanum, Aleppe Beach
Until Next Travelogue this is Accidental Rider signing off... Keep traveling and Be Happy
I am normally a rider when I am not taking my family with me, Its time to post a travelogue of our recent car trip.
Itâs all started when Varun who is my team mate informed us the date of Sajoâs (Our Rider friend) and Teena's wedding which was on a weekend. Same day we started planning for the trip, it was decided that we will be driving to Alappuzha. A week later Palani gave an idea if we start on 15th Nov 18 itself which was a Thursday, we will get more time to spend at the beautiful location and attend the Wedding on Sat and return on Sunday. The plan is set.
Day 1:
All three riders ready for a long drive to Alappuzha which is about 620 KMs from Bangalore. Reached office early and stared our trip from office by 3 PM, we have decided to take a small break after Attibelle toll and ride non-stop till Salem.
Filled diesel for my âBrownieâ âFiat Punto Emotionâ at Shell Bellandur and set the trip meter to â0â. Took a small tea break at Attibelle.
As I know the route very well and we wanted to reach our destination ASAP I took the driving duties from Palani. Since we all are very excited we maintained a very good speed, we crossed salem in 3 hours and no signs of tiredness. Decided to stretch as much as possible within no time we reached Avinashi. Took a tea break and resumed driving and again stopped for dinner after Coimbatore.
Bangalore to Coimbatore â 5 hours :O
After a relaxed dinner of Roti, Chittinadu Chicken curry and Yummy Yummy Pallipalayam Chicken we resumed our driving towards Palakkad. The roads are at excellent condition till Palakkad, from Palakkad to Thrissur the roads are in bad condition courtesy 2018 floods and road extension and Trucks.
After Thrissur good roads appeared again but with near City traffic till we reach Alappuzha. It was 1.40 AM and it took us 10 hrs 40 min when we reached our homestay and slept quickly.
Day 2: Sajoâs Wedding
Woke up little late in the morning, had breakfast and inquired about the boat ride with the care taker of Sanjos Homestay. He did the arrangements talking to some known contacts after which we reached the pickup point for boat which costed us 500 INR per hour. As we (except Varun) were exploring main lands of Kerala for the first time, it was really a unique experience. Few points which I would like to highlight here.
- It is truly Godâs own county with nature's beauty at its best form
- Excellent hospitality by the people who all we met during our travel
- Boat travel in back waters of Allepey was an experience that will always be closeer to heart
- Toodi shop food, unmatchable (If with family, you can order it to boat and enjoy the food since some may feel the ambience is not right for family)
- Please try sweet Toodi (Madurai Kallu) which is non-alcoholic. It will not create any issue and taste is something you will remember for a long time
- Personal suggestion â You can take boat ride for 5-6 hours in the day time but not for night stay. Because the boat will be halted in shore whole night which might not be interesting.
Pictures below will speak the rest.
Reached our room by 5 and decided against visiting the Beach due to rains. We then planned to visit Sajoâs home which is about 30 min drive.
- House was beautiful just in front of back waters. We walked over a foot bridge to reach his house
- It was Christian marriage. So, the customs where new for us but it was enjoyable
- All women, mostly in Kerala traditional saree and men in silk dhoti & long shirt. It was looking nice to see people following the traditions and culture which was beautiful
- We met lot of Sajoâs friends who gave us good company. Specially, I added Aneesh and Hafiz into my friends list from Kerala, such nice chaps they areâ¦
- Most important one to highlight- Sajo is a Christian who is getting married and two of his close friends (Aneesh is Hindu and Hafiz is Muslim) who stood in front with Sajo for all the support needed, marriage related arrangements and work. This is called true friendship which should be saluted and real meaning of secular India
At Sajo's Home:
From Left: Varun, Sajo's classmate, Hafeez, Man of the moment Sajo

Reached our room by 11 and slept by 12 only to wake up with the news of Hartal (Strike) due to arrest of BJP member during Sabarimala protest. We got freshened up and got ready for Sajoâs wedding which was at âChampakulam Churchâ.
This church was just next to back waters and has a historical significance and the oldest church in Kerala constructed on 426 AD. There are some beautiful paintings drawn with natural colors (like fruitâs and leaveâs extracts). During wedding we met few other friends of Sajo from Bangalore, who are also staying at SanJos.
The marriage ceremony was simple but beautiful.
Backwaters again and Alappuzha Beach:
After wedding we decided to visit the beach. Beaches are always close to heart and one of the best place to talk to your inner mind. Had tea and some snacks at the beach and went to room and decided to have dinner at âPuttum Kattanumâ. This hotel I must say is one of the best to have Kerala food and tea at Alappuzha, donât expect ambience though. Slept early as we need to drive back to Bangalore the next day.
Champakulam Church:
Backwaters again:
Day 3:
Woke up by 7, checked out from homestay after having black tea by 8AM.
Stay:
Palani took the driving duties today Had Yummy breakfast at âIndian Coffee houseâ somewhere between Alappuzha and Ernakulam (Cochin).
When we crossed Ernakulam, the NH roads were blocked by BJP in 2 different places in the same stretch wasting nearly an house of our time. After this point it was a non-stop drive till Thiruppur. By 3 PM we had our lunch and started quickly, and the next break was at Krishnagiri after the toll where we had tea and resumed driving, I took the driving duties from Palani this time. Dropped Varun at Marathahalli and we reached home by 9PM.
Fuel Expense: 5500
Toll: 1440
Other Expense (Excluding stay): 7600 ( For Food, Boat ride and other small expenses)
Things we tried at Aleppe: Boat Ride, Food at Thodi Shop, Food at Puttum Kattanum, Aleppe Beach
Until Next Travelogue this is Accidental Rider signing off... Keep traveling and Be Happy
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Bullet 350 - Difficulty in climbing slopes
Hi, I was recently handed over my grandfather's bullet 350 CI engine (1996 make). The engine had a seizure some years back and was lying idle for few more years for some reason before my father finally decided to get it repaired. It was given to the RE authorised service centre and I was told that re-boring has been done. After which the bike was sent over to me in Goa where I have been riding the bike for the past 8 months and noticed several issues out of which the power loss is the major one. The engine tries to climb uphill with great difficulty even while riding solo. With 1st gear and gradual opening of the throttle I can feel the stress on the engine. If I further open the throttle then I hear a tak tak metallic noise. With a pillion the difficulty is even more.
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I m currently restoring the bike to its original condition (paint/Chrome/Buffing and some repair work like new brakes/ vibration/ leakages from the cylinder head. There is also a hissing sound which i m assuming to be air leakage. My mechanic has told me that the leakage issues will be solved as he is replacing all the old gaskets. As for as the power loss issue he has recommended to replace the existing 3 plate clutch assy to 4 plate clutch kit. He also mentioned that the present piston block has 5 rings where a 3 ring was more than enough. Kindly guide me if changing the clutch plate kit will solve the power loss issue and what are the other points i need to get checked like valve/carb setting.
Thanks in advance.



I m currently restoring the bike to its original condition (paint/Chrome/Buffing and some repair work like new brakes/ vibration/ leakages from the cylinder head. There is also a hissing sound which i m assuming to be air leakage. My mechanic has told me that the leakage issues will be solved as he is replacing all the old gaskets. As for as the power loss issue he has recommended to replace the existing 3 plate clutch assy to 4 plate clutch kit. He also mentioned that the present piston block has 5 rings where a 3 ring was more than enough. Kindly guide me if changing the clutch plate kit will solve the power loss issue and what are the other points i need to get checked like valve/carb setting.
Thanks in advance.
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CB300R confirmed for India?
According to a multiple media houses Honda seem to have confirmed the CB300R for India with a prize of under 2.5 lakhs.
Powering the bike is a 286cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, four-valve, DOHC motor that is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. In the United Kingdom, this motorcycle makes 31.4hp and 27.5Nm of torque. While the specifications of the India-spec bike havenât been revealed as yet.
Suspension duties are handled by 41mm USD fork and a preload-adjustable monoshock. Braking at the front is taken care of by a 296mm disc and a four-pot caliper, while the rear uses a 220mm disc with a single-pot caliper.
What are your thoughts on this?
https://www.autocarindia.com/bike-ne...50-lakh-411149
https://www.rushlane.com/honda-cb300...-12293655.html
https://auto.economictimes.indiatime...-open/67542481
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Powering the bike is a 286cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, four-valve, DOHC motor that is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. In the United Kingdom, this motorcycle makes 31.4hp and 27.5Nm of torque. While the specifications of the India-spec bike havenât been revealed as yet.
Suspension duties are handled by 41mm USD fork and a preload-adjustable monoshock. Braking at the front is taken care of by a 296mm disc and a four-pot caliper, while the rear uses a 220mm disc with a single-pot caliper.
What are your thoughts on this?
https://www.autocarindia.com/bike-ne...50-lakh-411149
https://www.rushlane.com/honda-cb300...-12293655.html
https://auto.economictimes.indiatime...-open/67542481

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Year end Bike ride to Wayanad - 23rd to 26th Dec 2018
Hurray!!! Year end has come along with lean days at office and it time to travel
Just like every December our kid has decided to spend her long vacation at our native with pets and itâs time for us to ride our White Rhino (Himalayan BS4) to some of its native location
. After some discussions the destination was fixed as âWayanadâ. We wanted this ride to be relaxed one and we booked the hotel at âKalpettaâ which is the center of Wayand district and its easy to travel to all places from here.
Day 0: Packed all our items in our saddle bags and in a back pack
Gadgets we carried :
Off to bed by 11, with the excitement keeping our adrenaline level high sleep is nowhere near, finally by 12 we were asleep.
Day 1: Bangalore â Kalpetta â Banasura Sagar dam
Woke up at 4.15 with great difficulty, by 6.30 AM we were on the road. It was a non-stop ride until 30KM before Mysore, had breakfast and resumed riding.
Took few Tender coconut breaks and the final break was at Muthanga reserved forest before we reach Kalpetta by 2.30 PM.
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Had Lunch, took some rest and started to Banasura Sagar dam by 3.30 which about 20KMs. The entrance was heavily crowded due to seasonal inflow of tourists, not being able to get the tickets for jeep ride we decided to walk and surprisingly it is much easier that our last visit in 2015 as there is a shortcut to the location now.
Spent a good amount of time and when we were about to return it has started raining. Unfortunately being winter and in hill station the weather was pretty hot and it get pleasant only in the evening. Had dinner early and slept early.
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Day 2: Karapuzha Dam and Soochipara Waterfalls
Had breakfast after getting ready and started our ride to Karapuzha dam and Soochipara waterfalls with a spare dress.
Reached Karapuzha dam in 45 minutes from Kalpetta, Google map has directed us to the place where the excess water is coming out of the dam. We were denied entry from here by the security and asked us to go back to the entrance which we missed to notice.
Neatly maintained place with beautiful gardens and surroundings. The washrooms are maintained like a 5 star hotel, great place for kids too.
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After spending more than an hour we resumed our ride towards the falls which is about 1.5 hours from the dam. The roads are in excellent condition, we had Lunch in between and reached Soochipara falls by 3 PM. You need to trek down for a kilometer to reach the place and this is not suitable for people with knee problems.
While coming back we are able to see a Zip Line and asked my wife to try it out. She enjoyed it a lot though she was bit scared initially, they charged 250Rs per head. Reached our hotel early, had dinner and crashed for sleep.
Getting Ready for Zip line ride:
Day 3: Kuruvadweep Island, Thirunelli temple and Tholpetty reserved forest
Started our day late as there was a strike called on in Kerala, less traffic on the roads. It was difficult to find a hotel for breakfast. Visited a Jain temple near Kalpetta town.
Important Point to note:
Kuruvadweep : only 400 persons allowed per day and though the ticket for island is open till 12PM, 400 tickets will be sold off within an hour on most of the days. Make sure you ne there before 7 and be in queue. We couldnât reach on time, hence satisfied ourselves with a bamboo boat ride.
Tholpetty: Here they allow only 20 Jeeps in the morning and 10 in the evening, only 7 people allowed per Jeep. Here too you need to be there early to enjoy safari. We missed to get tickets here too⦠Disappointed
The route from KuruvaDweep toward Thirunelli and Tholpetty is a complete reserved forest area. If you want to enjoy the curves with good roads and seldom traffic this is the pace for you in Wayand. Rest all places are crowded at all the time.
Pics:
Kuruvadweep:
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Thirunelli temple:
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Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary:
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After the great disappointment we headed back to the room and crashed to sleep waking up to the most difficult day of a trip â Detour â¹
Day 4: Kalpetta â Bangalore
Checked out by 8 from the hotel and came out of the town by 9 after having breakfast. The ride was mostly uneventful until we reached Bandipur reserved forest area. We could see some vehicles stopped at some distance, when the distance was closing in we could see a herd of 10 elephants with one Elephant Calf was standing just by the road side. After waiting for some time all the vehicles have started moving and we took a cover of a bus and crossed them. Reached home by 6.30 PM to end the trip of 2018.
Hotel We stayed:
Surprise on the way back:
Her dream yet come true:
End of the ride pic:
Will share my channel videos here once it is ready.
PS: Reserved forest area are meant for wild animals, lets us stay away from littering. I could see few people inside cars just throwing away water bottles and other papers into the forest area. Let us make this world a better place to live for future generations.
Ride Hard !!! Ride Safe !!! Keep travelling and Happy New Year 2019 !!!
Just like every December our kid has decided to spend her long vacation at our native with pets and itâs time for us to ride our White Rhino (Himalayan BS4) to some of its native location

Day 0: Packed all our items in our saddle bags and in a back pack
Gadgets we carried :
- 2 Mobile phones for Photos
- Selfie stick
- ThiEye T5e Action camera mounted in Helmet for my Youtube channel videos
Off to bed by 11, with the excitement keeping our adrenaline level high sleep is nowhere near, finally by 12 we were asleep.
Day 1: Bangalore â Kalpetta â Banasura Sagar dam
Woke up at 4.15 with great difficulty, by 6.30 AM we were on the road. It was a non-stop ride until 30KM before Mysore, had breakfast and resumed riding.
Took few Tender coconut breaks and the final break was at Muthanga reserved forest before we reach Kalpetta by 2.30 PM.
Had Lunch, took some rest and started to Banasura Sagar dam by 3.30 which about 20KMs. The entrance was heavily crowded due to seasonal inflow of tourists, not being able to get the tickets for jeep ride we decided to walk and surprisingly it is much easier that our last visit in 2015 as there is a shortcut to the location now.
Spent a good amount of time and when we were about to return it has started raining. Unfortunately being winter and in hill station the weather was pretty hot and it get pleasant only in the evening. Had dinner early and slept early.
Day 2: Karapuzha Dam and Soochipara Waterfalls
Had breakfast after getting ready and started our ride to Karapuzha dam and Soochipara waterfalls with a spare dress.
Reached Karapuzha dam in 45 minutes from Kalpetta, Google map has directed us to the place where the excess water is coming out of the dam. We were denied entry from here by the security and asked us to go back to the entrance which we missed to notice.
Neatly maintained place with beautiful gardens and surroundings. The washrooms are maintained like a 5 star hotel, great place for kids too.
After spending more than an hour we resumed our ride towards the falls which is about 1.5 hours from the dam. The roads are in excellent condition, we had Lunch in between and reached Soochipara falls by 3 PM. You need to trek down for a kilometer to reach the place and this is not suitable for people with knee problems.
While coming back we are able to see a Zip Line and asked my wife to try it out. She enjoyed it a lot though she was bit scared initially, they charged 250Rs per head. Reached our hotel early, had dinner and crashed for sleep.
Getting Ready for Zip line ride:
Day 3: Kuruvadweep Island, Thirunelli temple and Tholpetty reserved forest
Started our day late as there was a strike called on in Kerala, less traffic on the roads. It was difficult to find a hotel for breakfast. Visited a Jain temple near Kalpetta town.
Important Point to note:
Kuruvadweep : only 400 persons allowed per day and though the ticket for island is open till 12PM, 400 tickets will be sold off within an hour on most of the days. Make sure you ne there before 7 and be in queue. We couldnât reach on time, hence satisfied ourselves with a bamboo boat ride.
Tholpetty: Here they allow only 20 Jeeps in the morning and 10 in the evening, only 7 people allowed per Jeep. Here too you need to be there early to enjoy safari. We missed to get tickets here too⦠Disappointed
The route from KuruvaDweep toward Thirunelli and Tholpetty is a complete reserved forest area. If you want to enjoy the curves with good roads and seldom traffic this is the pace for you in Wayand. Rest all places are crowded at all the time.
Pics:
Kuruvadweep:
Thirunelli temple:
Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary:
After the great disappointment we headed back to the room and crashed to sleep waking up to the most difficult day of a trip â Detour â¹
Day 4: Kalpetta â Bangalore
Checked out by 8 from the hotel and came out of the town by 9 after having breakfast. The ride was mostly uneventful until we reached Bandipur reserved forest area. We could see some vehicles stopped at some distance, when the distance was closing in we could see a herd of 10 elephants with one Elephant Calf was standing just by the road side. After waiting for some time all the vehicles have started moving and we took a cover of a bus and crossed them. Reached home by 6.30 PM to end the trip of 2018.
Hotel We stayed:
Surprise on the way back:
Her dream yet come true:
End of the ride pic:
Will share my channel videos here once it is ready.
PS: Reserved forest area are meant for wild animals, lets us stay away from littering. I could see few people inside cars just throwing away water bottles and other papers into the forest area. Let us make this world a better place to live for future generations.
Ride Hard !!! Ride Safe !!! Keep travelling and Happy New Year 2019 !!!
↧
R15 V2 top speed problem
My bike doesn't go over 115-120km. I used to get 135-140km. All seems okay but in 5th and 6th gear, RPM doesn't go over 9000. If I pull the clutch, then it goes over 9000. My rpm doesn't want to go over 9000 from 5th gear, and speed increases very slightly. And my throttle also reacts slightly late. Bike performance decreases rapidly when riding with pillion.
Can someone please tell me what is the problem with my bike?
BTW my weight increased from 65 kg to 80kg. I always used Mobil 1(10w40) engine oil. And I maintained tyre pressure 35-45.
Can someone please tell me what is the problem with my bike?
BTW my weight increased from 65 kg to 80kg. I always used Mobil 1(10w40) engine oil. And I maintained tyre pressure 35-45.
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Two years Ownership Experience of Aprilia RSV4 APRC
History and Background:
Before starting with the experience of ownership of my bike I would like to share some history of how I arrived here. I also always had a dream of owning a superbike. I wanted to have that experience of hitting high speeds on a superbike. I always kept on watching videos on YouTube of bikes hitting 300 kmph. Also used to surf net on which are the latest superbikes in the market. But like most of you all I also belong to a middle class background/salaried person. So owning a superbike was always a distant dream or far from reality. My craze for superbikes had started way back in 2008 when I had started working at my first job. In my college days I owned Pulsar 150. When I started this job I bought Pulsar 220 with my own money. It had crazy acceleration but it did not have the smoothness as well as the looks of superbike. So in 2011 I sold off P220 and bought Yamaha R15 with a thought that even if it did not have a powerful engine (1000 cc) at least it looked and felt like a proper superbike like R1. I was really happy with the reliability and smoothness of Yamaha engine. Also what a superb balance (Chassis) the bike had. I always wondered if Yamaha R15 was such a brilliant bike what would be the real R1 like?
That time I was interested between CBR 1000RR and Yamaha R1 as these were the only bikes available that time. Slowly with the launch of ZX10R in India my inclination moved towards it as it was the most tech laden bike with a good price tag as compared to its Japanese competitors. I couldn't even think of the European counterparts due to the high price tags. I can clearly remember that from 2013 to 2015 I had been to Kawasaki showroom multiple times to see ZX10R under pretext of taking quotation or showing the bike to my sister/Friends/Girlfriend etc. when really I just wanted to droll on the bike. From that time, it had become my dream bike.
But in 2015 I got married and I knew this dream had come to an end as no wife would entertain such a stupid dream. Also the prices of the superbikes had reach sky high. So I completely took this thought out of my mind and behaved like a good husband :P. Then in year 2016 my friend bought a used 2010 CBR 1000RR. I saw that bike and then a spark was re-ignited in my mind. But I kept it to myself. Then one day I was surfing through Facebook and I came across on add featuring used 2011 R1 for 11.5L. I thought to myself that I could afford used bikes at this price point. This was the first time I spoke to my wife regarding this. My wife took it lightly as she thought I will forget this over time. But day by day I started becoming more serious. I went to see that R1. The dealer was very rude. The first question he asked me was do I have that much money. I told him I have half the amount and remaining I would take loan to which he replied he wants all the money in cash. That was the first shock to me. Being salaried person I never kept cash with myself leave alone such high amount. Also later on from friends I came to know that the R1 which was on sale was used on track and my friends advised me to not think of it. So I dropped that idea. Then I discussed with my wife and I decided to save some money overtime and buy brand new ZX10R which was around 22L on road that time. She agreed (again taking it lightly thinking I will forget this over time). Then one fine day I was in a family get together and I started discussing my plan on buying ZX10R. Then one of my wife's cousin suggested me that his friend has a very low mileage 2013 Aprilia RSV4 and he told me instead of spending such a high amount on ZX10R to go for this bike. I saw the pictures of this bike on his phone and seriously that was one of the most beautiful bikes I had ever seen. Couple of days later with my wife and cousin I went to see the bike. The bike in flesh was even more beautiful as compared to pictures. I instantly decided to myself that this is the bike I want to buy. The owner even gave me a test ride. Frankly speaking I dint like the roughness and the sound of V4 (as we are used to the smoothness and sound of inline 4s) but still I wanted to buy it. Then after going home when I told my parents and my wife that I am going to buy that bike a big fight started. They were completely opposed to the idea of me buying such an expensive bike as well as I had a history of riding my bike (R15) at dangerously high speeds. This fight continued for weeks but I was adamant on my decision. Finally, my wife gave in even she explained my parents that it was my dream and finally they too agreed halfheartedly. Even she helped me financially in achieving my dream. She has definitely played a major role in completing my dream and I am thankful to her from bottom of my heart for that.
One thing I want to tell you guys. People who deal in used superbikes be it owners/dealers they always want part or full amount in cash. But to my luck PM announced demonetization and the owner of the bike has no choice but to accept the entire payment online. I had taken personal loan as I did not have such a high amount in my bank. Finally, the deal went through and I bought my first superbike on 1st Jan 2017. I could not sleep even a minute the night before. I was so excited. The dream which I had for 9 years was finally going to be true. I went for the delivery took all the papers of the bike. Then the owners walked me through the different functions of the bike. This bike let me tell you is totally tech laden with features like 8 level traction control, 3 levels of launch control, 3 levels of wheelie control, 3 levels of ABS, 3 power modes and quickshifter. All these things were too much for a layman like me. But still I gathered what I could and the moment came. I sat on the MY superbike and started it. What a feeling it was. I took my bike home. I was totally an attention magnet on road. Everyone was looking at my bike. I felt like a superstar. This is how the ownership started.
Ownership experience:
I knew that I was going to ride a powerful superbike so I needed good protection as well. So the first thing I did was to go and buy a good helmet, good riding jacket with protectors, good riding pants, gloved and shoes. Then came the day of first highway ride. I was bit scared so I kept the bike on the lowest power mode. Before this my top speed on two wheels was 143 kmph on my P220. I saw an empty stretch on road and just pulled the throttle completely. The bike instantly hit more than 200 kmph and my entire body had cramps literally. I had to stop my bike get down and stretch myself. I had goosebumps over my body. I never had felt such a high acceleration in my life. I drank some water and then again started riding it. Every time I would accelerate my heart pumped. Riding a V4 superbike is really an great experience and this I am telling you because when I rode my friends CBR 1000RR I did not get the same thrill or the fun. Itâs a great bike all around but Aprilia is an Aprilia. I was so happy at my decision. Also I stared liking the roar of the V4 and now I don't at all enjoy the sound of inline 4s. Itâs too boring.
Now going to such high speeds has become a routine for me. Top speed I have hit is 267 kmph as I did not have the road to go any further. But yes every time I hit it I know the risks involved in it. So unless I get a complete empty patch I never try these heroics. Also I want to give you real time experience of riding a superbike on Indian road conditions. Superbikes are designed for the race track and they are meant to be ridden there. The suspension of these bikes are very hard, the seat is very hard, riding position is extremely committed and the engine is a burning furnace. Itâs all fun till the time you have open stretches of road and you are opening the throttle, but once you encounter traffic situation or bad roads it just becomes unbearable. You are seated with legs completely bent backwards with your weight completely on your shoulders and wrists. The engine is constantly generating heat around 100' C and on top of that bike weighs around 200 kg. Imagine with all these conditions you have to make your way out of the heavy traffic. It just becomes a nightmare. When I go out for highway rides I like the early mornings. The weather is cool and also the roads are open with less traffic. Itâs the most ideal time to take out the bikes. But past 11 am while returning home I just feel when I am going to reach home, remove my gear and relax on by bed. I want to tell you guys riding a superbike is not so easy in terms of ergonomics. You need to be in an excellent healthy condition. I have seen my obese friends buying superbikes and then selling it off as they could not enjoy it due to such demanding riding position.
Wallet Burner:
Now comes another interesting part of running expenses of a 1000 cc superbike. Every time I go out for ride I have to fuel my bike with Rs 1000 to 1400 depending on the fuel rate that time. Also the bike on highways gives an average of 13 to 14 KM/L. In city its around 8 to 10 KM/L.
The first thing after buying my superbike which I changed was the rear Tyre and it costed my around Rs 17500. The front Tyre is around Rs 10000 depending on the brand. The tyres last for around 2 years or depending on how much and how fast you ride.
Then comes the brake pads. Original Brembo brake pads cost you around 12K for front and 8k for rear. If you go for EBC then the front ones will cost you around 7k and read 4.5k. God forbid if you damage you front discs then it will set you back by 50K and rear one my 25K.
Now the normal service cost of the bike is Rs 8000.
But when I bought this bike I came to know that all bikes need valve clearance check done. Every bike has certain intervals at which this is required. Lower CC India bikes sold have very high intervals like 75K Kms to 1L Km so we never know this. But super bikes have this at a less interval from 20K km to 30K Km and RSV4 needs this at 20K KM. Mine was at 16K km and I decided to get this done. Total bill given to me was 59K which brought tears in my eyes :(.
Also battery needs to be replaced every 3 to 4 years which will cost around 12K.
Lastly chain and chain sprocket cost is around 50K.
European bikes are quite costly to maintain as compared to Japanese ones. In all over these 2 years I have spent around 1L on just the maintenance. So the person planning to buy used or new superbike should keep all these things in mind. On a rough scale should take aside 10% of the bikes cost for the maintenance for first two years.
Accessories:
Till the time you are new to superbike world you only think buying the bike is the final thing. But you are wrong. After you buy the bike you come to know there are million different modifications you can do to your bike. Naming few are full exhaust system/slip on, frame sliders, spools, tall wind screen, remapped ECU, carbon fiber parts etc. Sometimes these are so costly that it can cost you more than the bikeâs cost itself. There is no limit of how much you can modify your bike.
Final Verdict:
Superbike is like a sexy girlfriend who is very attractive but very high on maintenance. Also she is very demanding and sometimes mean. But who doesn't want a sexy girlfriend. I totally enjoy riding my superbike and look forward to every ride.
Note: I am not able to upload pictures. I will try it once I login from home.
Before starting with the experience of ownership of my bike I would like to share some history of how I arrived here. I also always had a dream of owning a superbike. I wanted to have that experience of hitting high speeds on a superbike. I always kept on watching videos on YouTube of bikes hitting 300 kmph. Also used to surf net on which are the latest superbikes in the market. But like most of you all I also belong to a middle class background/salaried person. So owning a superbike was always a distant dream or far from reality. My craze for superbikes had started way back in 2008 when I had started working at my first job. In my college days I owned Pulsar 150. When I started this job I bought Pulsar 220 with my own money. It had crazy acceleration but it did not have the smoothness as well as the looks of superbike. So in 2011 I sold off P220 and bought Yamaha R15 with a thought that even if it did not have a powerful engine (1000 cc) at least it looked and felt like a proper superbike like R1. I was really happy with the reliability and smoothness of Yamaha engine. Also what a superb balance (Chassis) the bike had. I always wondered if Yamaha R15 was such a brilliant bike what would be the real R1 like?
That time I was interested between CBR 1000RR and Yamaha R1 as these were the only bikes available that time. Slowly with the launch of ZX10R in India my inclination moved towards it as it was the most tech laden bike with a good price tag as compared to its Japanese competitors. I couldn't even think of the European counterparts due to the high price tags. I can clearly remember that from 2013 to 2015 I had been to Kawasaki showroom multiple times to see ZX10R under pretext of taking quotation or showing the bike to my sister/Friends/Girlfriend etc. when really I just wanted to droll on the bike. From that time, it had become my dream bike.
But in 2015 I got married and I knew this dream had come to an end as no wife would entertain such a stupid dream. Also the prices of the superbikes had reach sky high. So I completely took this thought out of my mind and behaved like a good husband :P. Then in year 2016 my friend bought a used 2010 CBR 1000RR. I saw that bike and then a spark was re-ignited in my mind. But I kept it to myself. Then one day I was surfing through Facebook and I came across on add featuring used 2011 R1 for 11.5L. I thought to myself that I could afford used bikes at this price point. This was the first time I spoke to my wife regarding this. My wife took it lightly as she thought I will forget this over time. But day by day I started becoming more serious. I went to see that R1. The dealer was very rude. The first question he asked me was do I have that much money. I told him I have half the amount and remaining I would take loan to which he replied he wants all the money in cash. That was the first shock to me. Being salaried person I never kept cash with myself leave alone such high amount. Also later on from friends I came to know that the R1 which was on sale was used on track and my friends advised me to not think of it. So I dropped that idea. Then I discussed with my wife and I decided to save some money overtime and buy brand new ZX10R which was around 22L on road that time. She agreed (again taking it lightly thinking I will forget this over time). Then one fine day I was in a family get together and I started discussing my plan on buying ZX10R. Then one of my wife's cousin suggested me that his friend has a very low mileage 2013 Aprilia RSV4 and he told me instead of spending such a high amount on ZX10R to go for this bike. I saw the pictures of this bike on his phone and seriously that was one of the most beautiful bikes I had ever seen. Couple of days later with my wife and cousin I went to see the bike. The bike in flesh was even more beautiful as compared to pictures. I instantly decided to myself that this is the bike I want to buy. The owner even gave me a test ride. Frankly speaking I dint like the roughness and the sound of V4 (as we are used to the smoothness and sound of inline 4s) but still I wanted to buy it. Then after going home when I told my parents and my wife that I am going to buy that bike a big fight started. They were completely opposed to the idea of me buying such an expensive bike as well as I had a history of riding my bike (R15) at dangerously high speeds. This fight continued for weeks but I was adamant on my decision. Finally, my wife gave in even she explained my parents that it was my dream and finally they too agreed halfheartedly. Even she helped me financially in achieving my dream. She has definitely played a major role in completing my dream and I am thankful to her from bottom of my heart for that.
One thing I want to tell you guys. People who deal in used superbikes be it owners/dealers they always want part or full amount in cash. But to my luck PM announced demonetization and the owner of the bike has no choice but to accept the entire payment online. I had taken personal loan as I did not have such a high amount in my bank. Finally, the deal went through and I bought my first superbike on 1st Jan 2017. I could not sleep even a minute the night before. I was so excited. The dream which I had for 9 years was finally going to be true. I went for the delivery took all the papers of the bike. Then the owners walked me through the different functions of the bike. This bike let me tell you is totally tech laden with features like 8 level traction control, 3 levels of launch control, 3 levels of wheelie control, 3 levels of ABS, 3 power modes and quickshifter. All these things were too much for a layman like me. But still I gathered what I could and the moment came. I sat on the MY superbike and started it. What a feeling it was. I took my bike home. I was totally an attention magnet on road. Everyone was looking at my bike. I felt like a superstar. This is how the ownership started.
Ownership experience:
I knew that I was going to ride a powerful superbike so I needed good protection as well. So the first thing I did was to go and buy a good helmet, good riding jacket with protectors, good riding pants, gloved and shoes. Then came the day of first highway ride. I was bit scared so I kept the bike on the lowest power mode. Before this my top speed on two wheels was 143 kmph on my P220. I saw an empty stretch on road and just pulled the throttle completely. The bike instantly hit more than 200 kmph and my entire body had cramps literally. I had to stop my bike get down and stretch myself. I had goosebumps over my body. I never had felt such a high acceleration in my life. I drank some water and then again started riding it. Every time I would accelerate my heart pumped. Riding a V4 superbike is really an great experience and this I am telling you because when I rode my friends CBR 1000RR I did not get the same thrill or the fun. Itâs a great bike all around but Aprilia is an Aprilia. I was so happy at my decision. Also I stared liking the roar of the V4 and now I don't at all enjoy the sound of inline 4s. Itâs too boring.
Now going to such high speeds has become a routine for me. Top speed I have hit is 267 kmph as I did not have the road to go any further. But yes every time I hit it I know the risks involved in it. So unless I get a complete empty patch I never try these heroics. Also I want to give you real time experience of riding a superbike on Indian road conditions. Superbikes are designed for the race track and they are meant to be ridden there. The suspension of these bikes are very hard, the seat is very hard, riding position is extremely committed and the engine is a burning furnace. Itâs all fun till the time you have open stretches of road and you are opening the throttle, but once you encounter traffic situation or bad roads it just becomes unbearable. You are seated with legs completely bent backwards with your weight completely on your shoulders and wrists. The engine is constantly generating heat around 100' C and on top of that bike weighs around 200 kg. Imagine with all these conditions you have to make your way out of the heavy traffic. It just becomes a nightmare. When I go out for highway rides I like the early mornings. The weather is cool and also the roads are open with less traffic. Itâs the most ideal time to take out the bikes. But past 11 am while returning home I just feel when I am going to reach home, remove my gear and relax on by bed. I want to tell you guys riding a superbike is not so easy in terms of ergonomics. You need to be in an excellent healthy condition. I have seen my obese friends buying superbikes and then selling it off as they could not enjoy it due to such demanding riding position.
Wallet Burner:
Now comes another interesting part of running expenses of a 1000 cc superbike. Every time I go out for ride I have to fuel my bike with Rs 1000 to 1400 depending on the fuel rate that time. Also the bike on highways gives an average of 13 to 14 KM/L. In city its around 8 to 10 KM/L.
The first thing after buying my superbike which I changed was the rear Tyre and it costed my around Rs 17500. The front Tyre is around Rs 10000 depending on the brand. The tyres last for around 2 years or depending on how much and how fast you ride.
Then comes the brake pads. Original Brembo brake pads cost you around 12K for front and 8k for rear. If you go for EBC then the front ones will cost you around 7k and read 4.5k. God forbid if you damage you front discs then it will set you back by 50K and rear one my 25K.
Now the normal service cost of the bike is Rs 8000.
But when I bought this bike I came to know that all bikes need valve clearance check done. Every bike has certain intervals at which this is required. Lower CC India bikes sold have very high intervals like 75K Kms to 1L Km so we never know this. But super bikes have this at a less interval from 20K km to 30K Km and RSV4 needs this at 20K KM. Mine was at 16K km and I decided to get this done. Total bill given to me was 59K which brought tears in my eyes :(.
Also battery needs to be replaced every 3 to 4 years which will cost around 12K.
Lastly chain and chain sprocket cost is around 50K.
European bikes are quite costly to maintain as compared to Japanese ones. In all over these 2 years I have spent around 1L on just the maintenance. So the person planning to buy used or new superbike should keep all these things in mind. On a rough scale should take aside 10% of the bikes cost for the maintenance for first two years.
Accessories:
Till the time you are new to superbike world you only think buying the bike is the final thing. But you are wrong. After you buy the bike you come to know there are million different modifications you can do to your bike. Naming few are full exhaust system/slip on, frame sliders, spools, tall wind screen, remapped ECU, carbon fiber parts etc. Sometimes these are so costly that it can cost you more than the bikeâs cost itself. There is no limit of how much you can modify your bike.
Final Verdict:
Superbike is like a sexy girlfriend who is very attractive but very high on maintenance. Also she is very demanding and sometimes mean. But who doesn't want a sexy girlfriend. I totally enjoy riding my superbike and look forward to every ride.
Note: I am not able to upload pictures. I will try it once I login from home.
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Throttle issue in Gixxer SF
I cleaned my UNI air filter yesterday. This is the model to be precise:
https://www.amazon.in/MSX-MOTOSPORT-...inhydr18418-21
So after cleaning it, I installed it back. But when I accelerate fully, I feel there is a loss of power. Like if I fully accelerate, the noise increases, then the noise and power decreases suddenly, and then it's increased again. I then removed the air filter, put the bike in Neutral and accelerated again without the air filter, the issue was still there.
What could be the issue? The air filter is completely dry, so there is no issue with the filter.
https://www.amazon.in/MSX-MOTOSPORT-...inhydr18418-21
So after cleaning it, I installed it back. But when I accelerate fully, I feel there is a loss of power. Like if I fully accelerate, the noise increases, then the noise and power decreases suddenly, and then it's increased again. I then removed the air filter, put the bike in Neutral and accelerated again without the air filter, the issue was still there.
What could be the issue? The air filter is completely dry, so there is no issue with the filter.
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Need advice/directions for a Sikkim ride.
Hello Tourers,
I am a half-rookie rider who got his Dominor 400 delivered 2 weeks ago. In these two weeks, I have done Bangalore-Chennai to-fro (was really fun :D).
Now I am planning to visit Sikkim by this Summer, maybe April last week or May 1st week. I do not want to rent a bike there as I want to take mine and ride through.
So here I am looking for some advice on -
- What is the best way to transport my Bike from here Bengaluru and where to transport it, a good entry point to start my ride?
- What are all the places to cover in Sikkim?
- I am thinking of taking 8 days off, will that suffice?
- Or should I look at a different destination in the NE region rather than Sikkim (I love Cherrapunji for its wet weather, but I heard that there is nothing much apart from that, maybe I'm wrong)?
- I am not looking for luxurious stay/travel, what would be the budget to cover Sikkim.
Looking forward to hearing from avid tourers :D
Thanks :)
I am a half-rookie rider who got his Dominor 400 delivered 2 weeks ago. In these two weeks, I have done Bangalore-Chennai to-fro (was really fun :D).
Now I am planning to visit Sikkim by this Summer, maybe April last week or May 1st week. I do not want to rent a bike there as I want to take mine and ride through.
So here I am looking for some advice on -
- What is the best way to transport my Bike from here Bengaluru and where to transport it, a good entry point to start my ride?
- What are all the places to cover in Sikkim?
- I am thinking of taking 8 days off, will that suffice?
- Or should I look at a different destination in the NE region rather than Sikkim (I love Cherrapunji for its wet weather, but I heard that there is nothing much apart from that, maybe I'm wrong)?
- I am not looking for luxurious stay/travel, what would be the budget to cover Sikkim.
Looking forward to hearing from avid tourers :D
Thanks :)
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Shoei IT-HT: A Smart Helmet with a Head-Up Display
Renowned Helmet maker Shoei, has unveiled a new smart helmet at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2019, it boasts of a Head-Up Display (HUD) with Bluetooth connectivity. The new helmet is called IT-HT. Shoei has made this helmet in collaboration with the electronics manufacturer from Japan called NS West.
We have heard about quite a few of these innovative rider aids like the one that came from Arc, to be coupled with their motorcycle Vector. But the IT-HT is the first of it kinds offering from Shoei. Even though it is still in a concept form, the HUD of this helmet shows information like speed, route information etc. The ultimate aim for this technology is to keep the riderâs attention on the road as the rider wonât have to move their eyes away from the road. Other things though might require a Bluetooth enabled smartphone connection.
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The HUD might very well be a screen on the visor which will display the information. Other possibilities like the satellite navigation, text message alert or incoming call alert might need the help of a smartphone connection via Bluetooth like we mentioned above. All of these though are speculations to some extent as there arenât too many details available on what features might the IT-HT en up with when it is out in the open. And thus, nothing much can be said about the price or its availability. But considering the fact that a reputed brand like Shoei jumping into the smart helmet category, we believe that it might make it to the real world by the end of this year. Though the heft of the price is also going to be considerable.
We have heard about quite a few of these innovative rider aids like the one that came from Arc, to be coupled with their motorcycle Vector. But the IT-HT is the first of it kinds offering from Shoei. Even though it is still in a concept form, the HUD of this helmet shows information like speed, route information etc. The ultimate aim for this technology is to keep the riderâs attention on the road as the rider wonât have to move their eyes away from the road. Other things though might require a Bluetooth enabled smartphone connection.

The HUD might very well be a screen on the visor which will display the information. Other possibilities like the satellite navigation, text message alert or incoming call alert might need the help of a smartphone connection via Bluetooth like we mentioned above. All of these though are speculations to some extent as there arenât too many details available on what features might the IT-HT en up with when it is out in the open. And thus, nothing much can be said about the price or its availability. But considering the fact that a reputed brand like Shoei jumping into the smart helmet category, we believe that it might make it to the real world by the end of this year. Though the heft of the price is also going to be considerable.
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