Here are some photos clicked on the Ahmedabad -> Bhuj -> White Desert -> Bhuj section:

After a filling buffet breakfast at the attached restaurant, Sankalp, I left Hotel Oasis, Bhuj at 9 am on 24 Feb 2017, had a cold sweet lassi at Honest near Jamnagar for lunch and reached Hotel Lords Eco Inn, Porbandar at 4 pm. After a shower and tea, rode to Kirti Mandir and the beach. Had an early sumptuous dinner and retired to bed for a well-deserved sleep.

[VW2010]

Great pictures and great updates. Your feedback on the bike and its performance over time is so similar to this feedback.

https://youtu.be/0zStMN6Zrdw

Thought of sharing it. This is a great video which talks about the best of the bike and the worst of it and i see a similar review here.

Sorry for sharing it here. But been following this thread for so long that i felt the review was almost like yours.

25 Feb 2017. Saturday. On this day, my destination was Diu, just 211 km from my hotel at Porbandar. This was the shortest section I rode to reach a destination on any day, not only in this ride, but also all the 3 mega rides put together. Usually, Bangalore <-> Chennai used to be the shortest section, but Porbandar -> Diu has beaten that record!



I got up late, ate a late, delicious and excellent buffet breakfast, slept again, got ready and left the hotel at 12 noon only. I wish to mention here that I ate the best breakfast at Lords Eco Inn, Porbandar in this ride. I skipped my usual lunch, cold sweet lassi on this day and rode to Diu.

En route, I stopped at Madhavpur Beach to click some photos. After reaching my place of stay at Diu, I dumped the luggage in the room and rode to Diu Fort and Nagoa Beach.


























































__________________________________

Originally Posted by The Great

3 Mega rides surely does prove the bike's might

Yes, absolutely. Thanks for the compliments and appreciation, The Great.

Originally Posted by VW2010

Great pictures and great updates.

Thanks for the appreciation and nice words, VW2010.

Sorry for sharing it here.

You don't have to be as the review will be useful for the other potential buyers to take a decision after knowing the pros and cons.

Here are some more pics clicked at Diu.









































After clicking photos at the boat jetty, I walked to Apaar Garden Restaurant on the opposite side of the road, ate a good meal of roti with kaju curry, costing ₹ 271, returned to the guest house and called it a day.

26 Feb 2017. Sunday.

I started my ride from Diu to Ginger, Vadodara at 6:10 am in biting cold. Unlike the past 3 departures, I was riding without having breakfast. After few hours, heat replaced the cold, accompanied by bad roads. All along, I was looking for some Honest or Sankalp restaurants, but in vain.



Blue Bird overtook me and got its fuel first well before me at Reliance Petro pump at Nari on the Bhavnagar bypass at 10 am. After getting tankful, I went to the bathroom. I had some biscuits and nuts. Later, while chatting with the pump attendants, I asked them, if there were any Honest or Sankalp restaurants nearby on the way to Vadodara. But, they replied in negative. But, one attendant suggested Anchor with exact location for food, and thanks to him, I had good food there. I reached Ginger Vadodara at 2:30 pm and took rest.



27 Feb 2017. Monday.

On this day too, I left Ginger Vadodara without having breakfast. Later, I breakfasted at the very first Honest restaurant on NH. As usual, had sweet lassi for lunch and evening tiffin at Vithal Kamat, Manor on the LHS of NH. Got caught in a big traffic jam at Ghodbunder junction, crossed Thane and other suburbs and reached Ginger Wakad at 8:45 pm.



28 Feb 2017. Tuesday.

By the time I left Ginger Wakad, it was 1:45 pm. My bird got tankful at Reliance, Satara, and I, at Sai Food Court, ~30 km before Kolhapur. Reached home, sweet home at Bangalore at 2:30 am on the next day.











8 Mar 2017. Wednesday.

Left home at 4:20 am; rode in rain from Hosur to Krishnagiri with varying intensities; breakfasted at A2B and reached Chennai Royapettah home at 11 am.





Thanks a lot for the compliments, appreciation and pressing the 'thanks' button!

Ride report concluded.

1. Bangalore>Mysore>Gopalaswamy Hill & Back

2. Bangalore>Chitradurga Fort>Vani Vilasa Sagara Dam>Bangalore

3. Chennai>Kanniyakumari>Chennai Within 25 Hours

4. Chennai>Aliyar/Sholayar Dams>Charpa/Athirapilly Falls>Chennai Within 28 Hours

5. Chennai>Kodaikanal>Chennai [1,140 km] Within 24 Hours!

6. Chennai>MetturDam>Ooty>Chennai In 24 Hours

7. Chennai>Gandikota>Belum Caves>Chennai Within 23 Hours

8. Golden Quadrilateral

9. Chennai>Dalhousie>Chennai

10. GJ/DD

Blue Bird got its tenth service done at Sri Velavan Motors, Thousand Lights, Chennai, yesterday and today.





B Bird had been running with the stock OE clutch cable and the spark plugs for 32 k km. So, I requested for replacement of both. In the last ninth service at 26 k km, the throttle cable was replaced on my request. I noticed oil leakage on the engine and the crankcase [both on RHS] after returning from my GJ ride. So, I asked the service adviser to check thoroughly and replace the gaskets, if necessary. Since it was 6 k km after the last service, I asked for the replacement of engine oil and the filters. SA advised me in vain to go in for their package for 30 k km, which included replacement of many small and sundry items [like brake fluid reservoir kit, oil-level window, etc.], totally costing ₹ 5,500 and also the chain and the sprocket. I said, no to all these.

Today, I received a call from the friendly neighbourhood tyre dealer, Lal Enterprises, Chennai about the arrival of the tyre for my bird; took my bird in the evening and got the new tyre fitted. I am hopeful that the new tyre would serve me as well as its predecessor.

[LionHeart124]

Dear Ravi Sir, You are an inspiration to all. I know you would have heard this umpteen number of times before this. My decision to buy TB 500 was hugely influenced by your posts.

I have a few questions and I need your help

1. Have you installed a saddle bag stay on the right-hand side? If not; doesn't the saddle bag interfere with the wheel while riding. (I was informed by the personnel at Cramster Bangalore to install a saddle bag stay before I purchase the saddle bag).
   
2. Have you made any modifications to the handle bars or seat? I ask this because of your incredible cross-country rides.
   
3. Has the thought of switching to alloy wheels crossed your mind? Do you see any pitfalls in doing so? I ask this because I'm inclined to make this switch only for aesthetic (look & feel) purposes.

Your advice will help me make some wise decisions (like the one to purchase TB500).

Wish you a zillion more miles on your bluebird.

Regards,
Lionheart

Originally Posted by LionHeart124

Have you installed a saddle bag stay on the right-hand side? If not; doesn't the saddle bag interfere with the wheel while riding.

I wanted to buy and instal Via Terra saddlebag stay, but it is always out of stock. So, I use the saddle bag without the stay rod. The saddlebag does not touch the wheel, but it is precariously close to the wheel, when fully loaded. Perhaps, while doing left-hand corners, it may even touch, but so far, I have not seen any visible marks or damages on the bag. If the stay rod is available, please get one for safety.

Have you made any modifications to the handle bars or seat?

No. I am fully comfortable with the stock ones. So, I don't want to experiment.

Has the thought of switching to alloy wheels crossed your mind?

I am yet to come across a success story of alloy wheel with the stock tubeless tyre. So, I have not yet tried the alloys. I don't want to have anything other than the stock tyre in the rear as the chain is just a few mm away from the tyre. Any other tyre/rim may touch the chain.

Wish you a zillion more miles on your bluebird.

Thanks a lot for the compliments, wishes and appreciation, LionHeart124.

[Ry_der]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

Today, I received a call from the friendly neighbourhood tyre dealer, Lal Enterprises, Chennai about the arrival of the tyre for my bird; took my bird in the evening and got the new tyre fitted. I am hopeful that the new tyre would serve me as well as its predecessor.

Attachment 1626533

Attachment 1626534

Hi sir.First of all congratulations for the new set of shoes for your bull. I have a query regarding the tyre selection.

Is there any specific reason for not opting the MRF ZAPPER Q tyre?

Actually I am also in search for a better rear tyre(In terms of grip) for my TBTS. As of now I have zeroed down on ZAPPER Q. I have read that it has a softer compound. All new Classics are comming with those.

So what made you select ZAPPER C over ZAPPER Q?

Originally Posted by Ry_der

So what made you select ZAPPER C over ZAPPER Q?

I too saw the new Classics with Zapper Q rear tyre at the authorized service centre, when I had gone there to drop and pick up my bird. Even, I liked the tread pattern. But, when I checked in the MRF website, the manufacturer recommended Zapper Q for Classic 350 only. For Thunderbird 350/500, Bullet 500 new and Classic 500, the official recommendation is Zapper C only for the rear. Secondly, I don't have any complaints against the stock OE Zapper C as it served me for more than 32 k km with just one puncture. So, I selected Zapper C over Zapper Q.

[jacs]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

Today, I received a call from the friendly neighbourhood tyre dealer, Lal Enterprises, Chennai about the arrival of the tyre for my bird; took my bird in the evening and got the new tyre fitted. I am hopeful that the new tyre would serve me as well as its predecessor.

Wow! 30K+ KMs on stock Zapper? That is incredible. Few queries as I am in market for a newer tyre.

• Is the long life predominantly due to highway use or good roads?
• How was the braking performance after 50% life?
• How was the wet braking performance?
• Did you happen to off-road during tours?

Mine is just 11K KMs and feel an urge for replacement already with less than 50% life left. I have concerns in the above areas and seriously looking for other options but 120/80 18 Tube type looks not available in Kerala market other than for Zapper.

Originally Posted by jacs

Wow! 30K+ KMs on stock Zapper? That is incredible.

Yes. Truth is stranger than fiction!

Is the long life predominantly due to highway use or good roads?

Maybe. I just now calculated the distance I rode on the highways vis-à-vis intra city. Out of total distance of 32,094 km, the highway-riding constituted 26,479 km [82.5%].

How was the braking performance after 50% life?

No complaints.

How was the wet braking performance?

Again, no complaints.

Did you happen to off-road during tours?

Some of the stretches in Adilabad - Hinganghat, Jhansi - Gwalior, Pathankot - Dalhousie, etc. qualify for full-fledged off-roads, which my bird rode without any issues. My bird did off-roading to beat a km-long traffic jam near Hyundai plant during the recent Chennai - Bangalore ride. Similarly, I did off-roading in the midnight on the Varanasi bypass as both the carriageways, service roads on both the sides were occupied by countless lorries.

I have concerns in the above areas

My only concern was future punctures as the tyre became bald, resulting in the replacement.