Solo
This was my first long distance (~1000++kms) road trip - and I wanted it to be on a bullet! Me and my friend planned it together - to cover the Golden triangle - Delhi -Agra -Jaipur in less than 5 days. Our expectation out of this trip was the biking experience, and to visit just the couple of places these places were famous for. We had many setbacks even before we started - my friend had to back off due to an accident just days before our planned start - and Delhi’s climate was just being a bitch! Anyways I decided to go ahead and with the support from Stonehead bikes, I was able to complete the trip and enjoyed almost whole of it. The worst part was first day - when my bike broke down and I was stranded for 3 hrs, then I had to travel late night in freezing cold to reach Agra. But when I look back at it now, I feel it was an experience I am going to remember a long time, and makes me confident. Nevertheless it was fun - I went around looking for mechanics and a place to get water - finally Stonehead folks arrived with a spare bike - even though it was an off day for them.
About the ride - whether you are a bullet fan or you own one - you don’t get to feel what a bullet really is until you go on a long distance trip on one. All along the way - on highways and small roads, day or night - that thump gives you confidence to push ahead fearless. The yamuna expressway is one of the best highways I ever drove on. Impeccable roads, and but for the facilities dotting the stretch from Delhi to Agra, I would have died of hypothermia that day! Everytime I got down at a dhaba to warm myself and have coffee, I met people with an amused look on their face - one time a man made it clear saying “hats off to you for travelling at this time in this weather”! That was the best feeling ever :D
Even in this weather, my bullet never gave up on me. The last few kilometers of to Agra, I was literally shivering on the handlebars- just hanging on. The visibility was so bad I had to duck under the clouds of fog to see the road. My ankles were frozen stiff in the biting cold winds, and would hurt every time I had to shift gear. The bike never flinched even once, and I was able to average 60 to 70 kmph even then. I dont think I could have done that on a normal street bike, unless it was as heavy and powerful as a bullet.The spare bike I got did’nt have electric start. Every morning I would get a nice warmup turning on the cold engine - it had to be kickstarted and idled for about 15 minutes. But once this was done it had no other concerns.
About the ride - whether you are a bullet fan or you own one - you don’t get to feel what a bullet really is until you go on a long distance trip on one. All along the way - on highways and small roads, day or night - that thump gives you confidence to push ahead fearless. The yamuna expressway is one of the best highways I ever drove on. Impeccable roads, and but for the facilities dotting the stretch from Delhi to Agra, I would have died of hypothermia that day! Everytime I got down at a dhaba to warm myself and have coffee, I met people with an amused look on their face - one time a man made it clear saying “hats off to you for travelling at this time in this weather”! That was the best feeling ever :D
Even in this weather, my bullet never gave up on me. The last few kilometers of to Agra, I was literally shivering on the handlebars- just hanging on. The visibility was so bad I had to duck under the clouds of fog to see the road. My ankles were frozen stiff in the biting cold winds, and would hurt every time I had to shift gear. The bike never flinched even once, and I was able to average 60 to 70 kmph even then. I dont think I could have done that on a normal street bike, unless it was as heavy and powerful as a bullet.The spare bike I got did’nt have electric start. Every morning I would get a nice warmup turning on the cold engine - it had to be kickstarted and idled for about 15 minutes. But once this was done it had no other concerns.
"Sorry bro, this place (this part of the blog :P) is only for the hapless romantics, from India whose affair with this seemingly good for nothing bike from the past can only be understood by them and the bike!. " I WILL WRITE ABOUT THIS UNDER BIKES - SOON!
I know you are left confused that in the first para I describe how the Bullet Machismo broke down on the highway, stranding me in the middle of nowhere and yet, here I am praising the same bike. When it comes to bullets, ordinary logic and reasoning has no place. Sorry bro, this place (this part of the blog :P) is only for the hapless romantics, from India whose affair with this seemingly good for nothing bike from the past can only be understood by them and the bike!.
I found it bit difficult to navigate the labrynth of roads in Delhi - I got lost a couple of times. People where very helpful all along - so were the traffic police, then I had GPS and google maps! The only time I got ticketed was when entering Rajasthan - bikes are not allowed to enter the tunnels, and I was in a hurrry to reach Amer fort before sunset. As soon as I got to the other end of the tunnell, two policemen stopped me. They were in a jolly mood and were intrigued by my luggage aand the GoPro strapped to my chest. After checking my license they said I had to pay a fine, which was around 500INR. After bargaining and whining a while, they took me inside the traffic check post room, mades ure the camera was switched off and took 200 rupees. I closed he deal without thinking much. The roads get very scenic as you near Rajasthan, since they are cut through rocks and small mountains on either side and the people in their traditional dresses, stone work masons by the side of the road and the like. Four days - 3 cities- Awesome feeling! :D You can checkout my review of the places I visited on tripadvisor! Watch the video of my trip below! :)
I found it bit difficult to navigate the labrynth of roads in Delhi - I got lost a couple of times. People where very helpful all along - so were the traffic police, then I had GPS and google maps! The only time I got ticketed was when entering Rajasthan - bikes are not allowed to enter the tunnels, and I was in a hurrry to reach Amer fort before sunset. As soon as I got to the other end of the tunnell, two policemen stopped me. They were in a jolly mood and were intrigued by my luggage aand the GoPro strapped to my chest. After checking my license they said I had to pay a fine, which was around 500INR. After bargaining and whining a while, they took me inside the traffic check post room, mades ure the camera was switched off and took 200 rupees. I closed he deal without thinking much. The roads get very scenic as you near Rajasthan, since they are cut through rocks and small mountains on either side and the people in their traditional dresses, stone work masons by the side of the road and the like. Four days - 3 cities- Awesome feeling! :D You can checkout my review of the places I visited on tripadvisor! Watch the video of my trip below! :)
Meanwhile help yourselves with my ultimate noob level video editing skills and the pile of photos I took on the trip. I learned a lot on this one, especially there is no use generating GBs of video of your arms, handlebar and the road by running your Gopro all the time! I also was new to weebly at this point so I am constantly editing this post.