Oi Insearch - See what a hornet's nest you have stirred up? Naughty boy!
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Originally Posted by mobike008 not to forget owning a marquee brand |
Avi bro, this is a classic case of "ghar ki murgi.....". Just because it is being made available to us at a relatively affordable price point we so easily discount the brand that is KTM the world over. And I was reminded of the same very recently. I am talking to the good people at Revzilla to purchase a leather suit as I hope to start riding on the track sooner than later.
On a recent such conversation, the rep on the phone asked me what I rode (I guess he was intrigued when I told him I was calling from India, wanting to do track days with cattle all over the track, LOL). I just said - "KTM" as I was not sure if he would have even heard of the 390. The next words i heard were "Awesome" with a few "amazing"(s) thrown in for good measure. He then asked me if I rode the 690, to which I responded that I rode the 390 Duke. I was surprised to hear him say that he was eagerly awaiting its launch in the US
That!!! is the KTM brand
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Originally Posted by n_aditya Take it to the track !!! |
I agree with what you are saying, but I dont think Insearch wanted to prove anything IMO. He was just ecstatic because his machine was able to do what he never though was achieveable - keeping up with the big boys i.e. To my eyes, he is just elated that he more than just kept up and quite chuffed about it.
And the track comment my friend is more applicable to the phoren junta than is desis, no? How many of us have access to either of the 3 tracks this country has to offer? And even if you do, its a mighty expensive affair. Leathers that cost an arm and a leg, track fee that is as high as 8k for an hour on the track. Not even talking about the fuel, tyres and bike protective bits that just take the cost that much higher
Not saying that we must drag race on the street but merely pointing out that going to track to "prove a point", in our country is easier said than done
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Originally Posted by man_of_steel IMHO, riding skill should be defined along with the terms maturity and sensibility. |
Actually, there is no reason that skill and insanity cannot co-exist. I could be stark raving mad and still be very very gifted. I definitely think that the guy had big giants cohones and was taking the bike through gaps that I thought did not exist. His control on his bike was admirable
I ride 50 kms one way daily to work. When I am getting ready to ride to work, I have a frame of mind that I will be taking it easy. I know I will encounter traffic and many traffic signals too. I dont see the point of "gunning it" and even then I would at best make 5 - 10 minutes of difference to that 60 minute commute. I would be more tired, hassled and probably be spent by the time I reach work.
Also, I have read many books that tell me whatever that Pulsar guy was doing, he should not be able to do... at least safely. He saw a gap, VROOOOMMMMM. Off he went! Me? I am looking at the dumper ahead that is spilling sand all over the road and I am slowing down trying to watch out for the road surface ahead that might be slippery. I am trying to look at a driver inside the car. Is he busy on his phone, casually crossing over to my lane without a care in the world? Or maybe I have a young couple in the car ahead of me and the guy just cant keep his hands on the steering or his thing in his pants. Processing so much info on the road takes time or maybe I have a noggin thats just plain slow. I just dont feel peaceful unless I have 360 of my surrounding
The books also teach me to be smooth with my inputs. You know; brake gently and progressively (increase the contact patch), push the bars gently to countersteer where you want to go. Now the pulsar fellow - BRREEEPPPPPP -> BRAKE (an inch away from the car ahead), THROW the bike to its side -> BREEEEEEEPPPPP ............ and do all this within no more than an inch's distance from the vehicles around
That guy was fast, no doubt. I could never bring myself to do that and for that reason (i.e. he can do something I cant) I admire him. Actually, I think skill is the wrong word here. I would say he has gonads that are much bigger than mine. But the chances he took just did not feel "justified" to me in any way. The way I see it, if I were to do the same I am:
- Diminishing the chances of seeing my family in one piece
- Am spending more energy and being "hectic"
- Adding to the stereotypical irritating and uncouth Indian biker
- Spending more fuel and therefore money
On the other hand, and this will sound like a wannabe statement, I think I will do better than him in a closed environment on equally matched bikes. His body position was all wrong - He was sitting flush on the tank (almost on it actually), with his flip flops dangling from the footpegs. He will not be able to move around well on the bike, a fact that was quite apparent as I easily maneuvered around a couple of longish open curves while he was slower than what I thought he would be (a little speck really). Or maybe it was just the bikes at play here
I save my Rossi antics for the journey home. Brilliant stretches of road with sparse traffic and a few fast curves (India gate roundabouts, right up till Shanti Path)
All in all, I guess I am a wuss. Just today, I hurriedly got into an adjoining (right) lane to avoid an auto in front of me. A fabia was in that lane and had to brake a bit hard (ish) and I could see that the guy was not very happy about it. I pulled next to him and gestured an apology. He just smiled back with a "koi nahi" type nod. I was so pleased. Sheeshhhh
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Originally Posted by ebonho but equally that its not only about the machine but also the rider
And this is Imran's bike prepped the night before. Enjoy! |
Imran is bhaijaan and bhaijaan is THE man!!! An excellent rider and a good person all round