If the year 2016 was spent behind
the wheel of Atom (my old Maruti 800 which I still miss a lot) driving like I stole it, the year 2017 definitely was about
riding motorcycles to my heart's content; this year was all about motorcycles.
Any motorcycle aficionado would relate to that liberating feeling when they
ride their motorcycles to the fullest, having their lone time with their
beloved bike.
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The road en route to Vellingiri hills
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Humble motorcycles ranging from the
practical commuter like TVS Star City, the all round fun city commuter Gladiator
125 to my brother-in-law’s very agile and sharp FZ were my rides for this year.
The TVS Star City was my office commute as I used to ride it to Chakan for a
distance of nearly 40 kms three to four times a week for a period of nine months. And after
a really long time, at least two years I got to spend some really great time
riding my motorcycle, the SS 125. But not before a thorough service that set me
back by a hefty bill of eight grand, including the front tyre change and battery
change.
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| The greenery and empty roads did add more to the thrill of riding |
After spending so much time riding the nimble
Star City in Pune, I was looking for the kick start lever in my bike, forgetting that it
had an electric starter. Thumbing the electric starter and swinging a leg over
my ride after that big a gap felt a lot different and took some time for me to
reconnect with her. Riding the all-new FZ was a breath of fresh air and a
welcome change amidst this train of mixed feelings, though it was for a short
stint only.
Two days of driving and two days of
riding sounds fun no? After our drive to the calm and scenic hills of Anaikatti
and the majestic Athirapally falls, I took my Gladiator to Dhyanalingam,
located in the foothills of Vellingiri hills in Coimbatore. At a distance of
about 32 kms from Coimbatore and 25 km from my place near Maruthamali, the trip
can be completed in half a day. Four kilometers further down the road is the
temple of Vellingiri Aandavar, which also happens to be at the base point for
the Vellingiri trek. This trek is quite popular offers some pretty breathtaking
views at the summit, after trekking on a full moon night, to see the sun rise
at the top. It offers a surreal experience and is a must-visit for anyone who likes adventure treks.
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| Adi yogi statue, which was inaugurated by prime minister Modi |
The route to Isha yoga near Poondi
offers some pretty good corners and bends and the roads are a mix of narrow
portions and wide highway sections with greenery and forest on both sides,
making it a relaxing and enjoyable ride. The next day, it was a ride was to the
hill temple of Maruthamalai, and the nearest hill climb from my place and it offers a couple of hair-pin bends.
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| The Gladiator 125 felt at home while riding hard on corners |
The Gladiator felt like a completely
new motorcycle after the service and the new grippy MRF tyre at the front did
induce some confidence to push it around the corners and brake hard. The 125cc
single cylinder mill of the Gladiator produces 11bhp and a maximum twist of 10.4Nm
of torque. Sure those figures are adequate for city commutes, but the motorcycle
feels underpowered when it comes to the occasional highway rides. The super
smooth 5-speed gearbox is a pleasure to operate with short gear ratios and a
tall fifth that comes handy for the highway ride. The diamond tubular frame of
the Gladiator is a sorted one and lends to its sporty character. The handling
has also improved with the change in tyres and it reflected a lot while pushing
her in the corners. The CEAT rear tyre with buttons did improve wet grip a lot,
while the earlier MRF Zappers felt slippery in those conditions.
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| It looked and felt like a new motorcycle after the service |
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| Smooth tarmac with sufficient bends for some fun |
Looking back, this year turned out to be another memorable one as I even got a chance to visit the Indian Superbike Festival in Pune a few days ago, thanks to my job as a freelance auto journalist at evo India. Hoping the next year will be a year filled with time spent on motorcycle saddles and behind the wheel of many cars, as the best thrills of life are had on two wheels or four wheels! Happy New Year!
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| The mean looking BMW S 1000 RR was one of my favorite motorcycles |
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| The Ducati XDiavel |
