I signed up for this never really expecting anything out of
it and thought it to be just another ride to a Destination.
Morning start at 4.45 am, was so anxious to be on time that
could not sleep, my daughter had to literally shout at me and ask me to sleep
so I am well rested to enjoy the ride the next day, but no such thing, It was
like a School boy waking up to a New toy or a gift, met Sagar on his TBTS and
Bhargav, on his RE-500 same school boyish enthusiasm at the start point before
anyone else could come in
It seems Vipul and Catherene were late then they usually are
so I thought gaya, paisa panee main, it some Bike ride we will just go ride
around drink some beers and will come back,
Very specific instructions were received on Group riding and
was ready for it and had not done it in a while (almost never) so was really
excited to know about it and practice it, however it did not seem to fall into
place as the enthusiasm was too much to handle,
Finally met Vipul and Catherene, on their new TBTS and was
really overwhelmed by their simplicity and
approach, soon to be joined by Vikram and Eva on their Cast Iron Bull,
Vishal and Niyati on their TBTS, Ravish on his Pulsar 180, Bhavesh on his
Harley Davidson,Sportster
We as a group clicked so well that we were long lost friends
brought together after many years, each one unique and full of fun,
The Harley story begins as the poor Bhavesh had to stop at
every 80-100 Kms. to fill up the petrol tank on his Sportster which had only a
8-10 Litre tank, can you imagine a 1100cc Harley with only 8 Liters of a fuel
tank (funny, how the Americans think), rest were all full of comments for the Harley,
but as soon as it fires up, every one shuts up just mesmerized by the Twin
exhaust note reverberating through the dark morning,
Vikram’s bull nice and blue with a cast Iron Engine with a
lovely note on the exhaust was another one reverberating in the dark morning,
Bhragav’s 500 also giving out an exciting thump all throughout we start of
towards Abu. Rest all the TBTS’s and the Pulsar 180 and my FZ-S with their
muted exhaust notes drowned in the big reverberating exhaust notes, is it a Ego
trip making so much noise or is it that school boy fascination with sound,
don’t know but My FZ-S quietly followed as if overlooking the juvenile banter
from the other farty boys.
1st Pit Stop,
Palanpur, again the Harley was a huge crowd puller and one lady almost
wanted to accompany as pillion on the Harley but noticing that no passenger
seat exists backed off, could not imagine her childlike adulation of the bike
and its charm, she was almost willing to give up everything including her
family and kids to take a ride to freedom, she also commented to her husband
that we should stay close to this group at Mt. Abu so she would be able to
enjoy her carnal dreams of riding to freedom on the Harley
One person also came over and inquired on the price in his
own way, with mouth filled with Tobacco, he gestured to Bhavesh, how much and
as soon as he raised both his hands indicating a price of 10 Lacs, he was left
with no reaction but to spit out the putrid tobacco he was chewing and gaping
at it and inquiring if it was available in Ahmadabad, he was so smitten with it
that maybe he never had the money in his pocket was tempted to give up
everything for this ride,
Another pit stop at Abu road (Harley had to be tanked up),
we chilled out till the Harley went to town and filled up her belly ready to
take on the uphill to Abu,
Uphill of almost 20 + Kms. is absolutely amazing feeling
with all riding in unison and they conquered the sharp curves and hairpins like
poetry in motion, remembered a movie seen a long time ago where two riders are
riding in formation caught in slow motion and their slow movements on the bikes
attacking mountain roads together was still
fresh in my memory and felt the same while going through the curves,
The FZ-S in all true sense of its tag line “Lord of the Streets”
was quite at ease on the uphill, going smoothly through the uphill curves
hugging the tarmac with superb control and without a grunt or a sound that it
was being put under such a tortuous road, where the Bulls were grunting their
way uphill, FZ-S was smoothly sailing along the curves, tight bends, hairpins,
with its wide tires like a finely tuned machine (without the excessive grunt,
thump or roar), very quietly dignified and the Lord,
Enter Mr. Abu and head straight to Mowgli Van (Den) a lovely
place with just 3 Cottages sitting amidst
the hills surrounding it, the climb to the Mowgli Van was almost 70
Degree gradient and the Blue Bull almost seized its piston and had to finally
rid of the pillion and climb up with its one and only Vikram,
Time to unwind after a good ride, few beers, introductions,
great conversations, experiences and in general joking around, some rest and
then the Hike
Vipul and Cathrene have identified some lovely trails
to hike, good locations, clean, lots of
Birds, Insects and good exercise,
Way back we get delayed to take off from Abu, now the
Downhill, the RE 500, with the FZ-S, riding 1st and 2nd
with a lovely feel of the Tight left and right turns being gobbled up quickly,
but no too long while you are really disturbed by all the traffic coming up Mt.
Abu and going down, with Car drivers egos badly bruised with our overtakes and
we take their abuse by the constant honking trying to chase us.
It was more of a subdued ride, but had a few sections where
everyone opened up their throttle and enjoyed the freedom of the ride,
As evening approached nearing Siddhpur, a flying bee decides
to take a good bite of my 3rd finger and ohhh that was painful,
Bhargav helps with taking off the Sting still
stuck in the finger, the pain is not yet evident as it is all in the
wind,
Pit Stop at Sidhpur hotel for a good Chai, Lemon juice and
some Hot Chocolate Brownie’s (in the middle of nowhere, hot chocolate brownies
in a roadside hotel in Gujarat), things have moved up a notch in the type of
food being served on the Highways and it was evident that all of us dug in
after we saw the actual thing,
Leave Siddhpur and around Mehsana the drizzle starts so
everyone quickly stops and changes into rain gear and we are good to go,
however the rain plays truant and only makes the road a bit moist in some
patches and disappears, The Yamaha FZ-S, does not even feel a bit of tiredness,
however it does leave you with a saddle sore due to its very hard cushioned seat (I
thought first), after a few days got the suspension softened by one notch and
feeling much better now
We all are now are riding to finish the ride as 2 days and
500 Kms. plus the hikes have now taken their toll, conversations are polite and
hushed, unlike the first day and we all gather up Near Nirma University for a
final rain check and sign off, The Yamaha FZ-S still in very good Spirit, I
sprint off home
It is a memorable moments we cherish after the ride and are
again ready for the next one to come along,
I, still question,
what is it with Motorcycles and riding that seems to add more Life to your
years, maybe the next ride, will unravel some good answers, so bye for now,
till the next one
