[V.Max]

Gidday folks! Been a while since I penned something down here in this mighty forum. This is just a small update on my R3's touring capabilities. Made a 2 day dash from Chennai to Bangalore and back. Started on 15th Feb (Saturday) and returned home on 16th Feb(Sunday)

This post is just a route update and a vehicle performance update of my Yamaha R3. Total distance covered was 680 kms. Talk about Fuel efficiency, I did not calculate tank to tank. But I'm pretty sure its bordering 27 kmpl considering the speeds I did (explained below). Per inputs from other R3 riders, If you can maintain speeds of sub 100, it can give 30+ kmpl.

The route i took:

Started off at 4 am from Chennai. Connected to the Outer Ring Road and proceeded towards Thirumazhisai. From here its straight forward

Sriperumbudur-Kanchipuram-Ranipet-Chittoor-Bangarupalayam-Mulbagal-Hoskote-Bangalore

Barring a brekkie break at Mulbagal Srinivasa Grand, i was making great time. Feasting on Mulbagal Dosa, i proceeded to have an upbeat day at Velocity Intl Circuit. More on that some other time...



While returning I used the exact same route.

Started at 12 noon at Sendhoor cafe. Connected to Intermediate Ring road and proceeded towards Old Madras Road. From here its straight forward again

Hoskote - Kolar - Mulbagal-Bangarupalayam -Chittoor- Ranipet-Poonamallee- Outer Ring Road

Stopped for a tiffin break at Arya Bhavan, Walajapet. Came home by 630 pm. Definitely slower considering Sunday evening traffic, riding with another buddy and the tiffen break that I took. Buddy has a Himalayan 450 and was riding 2 up coming via the Krishnagiri Vellore Ranipet route. Met him right here, at the Ranipet District Collector's Office:



Interestingly, when I connected with him before starting, he was 60 kms ahead and on a different route. I caught up with him, went past him and waited him at Ranipet. Like I said, he was riding 2 up with his partner and had to exercise more caution. I'm glad i didn't make him wait despite starting an hour later and being 60+ kms behind him! We parted ways near Sriperumbudur promising to ride again together sometime soon.

The onward journey barely lasted 5 hours where I covered 300 kms including the fuel and brekkie break of 1 hour. The bike does sit at comfortable cruising speeds of 110 to 130 kmph and just eggs you to go on and on to ride at speeds that one must not mention in this forum. Basically I covered 300 kms in 4 hours of normal, sensible riding.

The roads are average in some patches until TN border, while being amazing from Chittoor to Hoskote. Brilliant I must say. Concrete road 4-way lane.

The return journey was almost eventful...Right at the TN-AP border is a railway crossing where the roads are puke worthy. Fortunately they last about less than 2 to 3 kms. I was approaching this area that is largely having only 2 lanes. However a small section had become 3 lanes with a vacant middle lane. I was behind a lorry while there were 5 cars trailing each other on the opposite side. The 3rd car in the line was a Seltos. He all of a sudden decided to use the center lane as much as I did. Both of us came almost head on. While the Seltos was performing an emergency braking with all his hazard lights going off, I facilely shifted lanes and slotted back behind the truck, no panic whatsoever. Reason? The Steed ofcourse! This R3 I mean... its quite the cat I tell you. Turns on a dime and reacts well to inputs.

Oh dont judge me on this event. It was just bound to happen as the Seltos guy probably ignored me due to the truck, while I assumed that these 5 cars were going to stick to their formation until going past me. I guess I'm living a few more days. Considering my new found love called Mulbagal Dosa, I'm not going absolutely anywhere!



Thats all for now folks, see ya!