[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Summers are supposed to be hot and humid. Bikers are supposed to sit at home, chilling with cold drinks and snacks - waiting for saner times to ride. Atleast thats what some (Sales of 500+ cc bikes fall in 2017-18. Why?) people think about the big capacity motorcycling community in general.

Bangalore decided to screw the summer weather expectations last Thursday (and Friday) when it rained like crazy and even hailstorms were reported. The temperatures dropped overnight and we (myself along with BHPian ebmrajesh) decided to screw the typical biker expectations with a summer ride, in search of even more rains and thunderstorms. To the nilgiris. Ooty was the final destination chosen - with a maximum temperature forecast of just 19 degrees and a thunderstorm forecast to go along with it.

Sadly, it never rained during our ride. But still we had a nice and enjoyable on day ride. Started by morning 5am from home and returned home back by around 10:30pm. A total of around 17.5 hours and a distance of around 626 kms.

Some pictures from the ride -

Rains last Friday. The reason we started talking about a ride the next day -


Odo reading at the start -


Stuck somewhere between Nanjanagud and Gundlupet waiting for ministerial convoy to pass -


Ooty was cool as expected. Though we didnt get the rain we were searching for!


A nicely restored old classic parked in front of Hotel Clifftop international, Ooty. Our lunch stop.


Good place and fairly decent food -


My food order for lunch. White rice with stew, Chinese style preperation.


One more view of Ooty -


The CCD at Gundlupet provided some much needed relief from the heat -


626 kms for the day. A day well spent -


Final odo reading -


Average FE for the ride, incase anyone is interested -


And it rained in Bangalore on Sunday too. Just that the rain gods stopped it for a day on Saturday.


More importantly, pics of the bikes -


Versys did well once again and I just don't have a single negative to mention. It is at its best during such longer rides and long distance touring becomes extremely fast (average speeds, distance between breaks etc and not top speed) and comfortable with the Versys -


But the Ninja 1000 is a true case of 'Beauty and the beast'. Boy it sings and sings well! Speaking of which, someone did come up and ask why it has four silencers.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

With almost 2k kms done in March, the bike needed a good wash and chain cleaning. Got the same done at Torq92 -

Meanwhile, also thought I should update the index of all places visited with the bike so far -

- Bangalore - Trivandrum - Bangalore. ~ 1600 kms
- Vaishali Maddur breakfast ride. ~ 150 kms.
- Markonahalli Dam. ~ 200 kms.

- Dandiganahalli Dam. ~ 200 kms.
- Davangere breakfast ride. ~ 550 kms.
- Chikmagalur. ~ 530 kms.

- VBR ride to Gauribidanur. ~ 200 kms.
- Krishnagiri Dam. . ~ 220 kms.
- Vani Vilas Sagar Dam. ~ 400kms.

- Bangalore - Hassan - Sakleshpur - Bisle and back to Bangalore. ~550kms.
- Bangalore - Preeti Canteen, Birur (breakfast) - Bhadra Dam, Koppalli (Kavyasala) - Balehonnur - Chikmagalur - Bangalore. ~750 kms.

- Yelagiri. ~ 320 kms.
- VBR ride to Dandiganahalli Dam.
- Team Bhp Ride to Kodachadri.. ~920 kms.

- Anchetty loop bikers circuit. . ~ 250 kms.
- Shettihalli Church. ~ 420 kms.
- Shoolagiri Breakfast Ride (Team Bhp group)

- Shettihalli Church (VBR anniversary ride). ~ 420 kms.
- Rameshwaram & Dhanushkodi (The Road - A Petrolhead group ride log - Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi). ~ 1300 kms. Overnighter.
- Ooty. 620 kms.

[KK_HakunaMatata]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

With a

Meanwhile, also thought I should update the index of all places visited with the bike so far -

Nice to see your bike munching miles . I am grounded for the last two months, hope to get back to riding by end of this month.

By the way, how can you miss a ~900+ km ride

KK

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by KK_HakunaMatata

Nice to see your bike munching miles . I am grounded for the last two months, hope to get back to riding by end of this month.

You did finish things off in style for the season with a saddlesore, didnt you? So thats even.

Originally Posted by KK_HakunaMatata

By the way, how can you miss a ~900+ km ride

KK

Our Kodachadri ride? Thats already added. Can't miss it.

Certainly one of the most memorable rides I had, the other main ones being Trivandrum ride and Bisle ride - both of these being in heavy rains.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

To the nilgiris. Ooty was the final destination chosen

Some screengrabs that I found interesting. Apologies for the poor quality as these are screenshots from the video, rather than photographs taken from the action cam.

Entering Bandipur Tiger Reserve -


Roads were good for the most part, but there are about a hundred speed breakers inside the national park.


Only real sized animal we could shoot was the deer. Saw one odd man out Sambar as well.


Despite a hundred warning boards around the park asking people not to stop their vehicles, people still risk it for a couple of pics and selfies -


The sheep was on a suicidal mood -


Wolf in a wolf's clothing. Doubt if its road legal, but surely had unparalleled road presence -


Lots of vehicles were parked around Bandipur. Safari vehicles were crowded. Holiday effect -


Exiting Bandipur -


Into Mudumalai tiger reserve, located within the 'territory of tamilnad' -


Start of the 36 hairpin bends towards Ooty -


Rajesh having fun -


I have some fun too, but wish the camera angles were pointing somewhere else other than to the ground -


More horsepower in Ooty -


How to make a big, tall motorcycle like the Versys 650 disappear? Just follow a Ninja 1000.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Got in touch with Dhiraj (BHPian dkaile) for the Ali Express 12V cigarette lighter socket he is using with custom fabricated wiring so that it is a replica of the Kawasaki stock 12v socket sold for an eye watering 14k price tag!

This should be arriving soon once it's ready, all thanks to him. Any other interested Versys owners can follow the conversation for details here - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/superb...ml#post4380368

However, there was a concern that the Kawasaki manual mentions a maximum of 3.3A only for the accessories sockets. And the Michelin portable compressor that i plan to use in emergencies is rated at a maximum of 7.5A. Interestingly - Ive seen members use 40W *2 aux lights off the sockets which should be drawing much more than 3A though I haven't cross checked that info.

Anyways, ordered this from Ali Express as a backup plan for a direct battery connection -

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

My stock of 3M chain cleaner and lube was getting over, and after a recent experience with Motul Chain lube - was planning to order the same instead of 3M. Luckily Amazon was running this combo offer from yesterday night.

Quickly placed an order -



Thats Motul Combo of C2 Chain Lube (400 ml) and C1 Chain Clean (400 ml) for 495/-


https://www.amazon.in/dp/B01ESPB3PI/..._BDzXAbZWKN2V7

[Full_Minchingu]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

My stock of 3M chain cleaner and lube was getting over, and after a recent experience with Motul Chain lube - was planning to order the same instead of 3M. Luckily Amazon was running this combo offer from yesterday night.

Thanks a ton for the heads up. If I remember this offer was on couple of months back but I missed ordering it, it got vanished in a day, I had to go to 3M, But now as soon as I saw your post I quickly ordered it. I hope the change from one brand to another does not cause any problem to the chain? I ride RE Desert Storm

Same brand 150ml costs Rs. 395/- and 400ml at 495/- is a deal breaker.

Thanks,
-Badri

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

My stock of 3M chain cleaner and lube was getting over, and after a recent experience with Motul Chain lube - was planning to order the same instead of 3M. Luckily Amazon was running this combo offer from yesterday night.

Last time this offer came up around 1-1.5 month ago, I picked up 4 pairs of these and now my home looks like I am a stockist for Motul

Every-time I open my cupboard it reminds me that I'm not doing justice to them and need to ride more

[Haroon]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

However, there was a concern that the Kawasaki manual mentions a maximum of 3.3A only for the accessories sockets. And the Michelin portable compressor that i plan to use in emergencies is rated at a maximum of 7.5A. Interestingly - Ive seen members use 40W *2 aux lights off the sockets which should be drawing much more than 3A though I haven't cross checked that info.

If the manual says, it will be true as most stock power sockets on bikes from the factory can handle almost the same Amps 3.3 to 5. In such situation an accessory drawing more current can blow your fuse or on some European bikes the Canbus will shut down the complete bike since there is no fuse in the Canbus system.

Ideally, when adding aftermarket electrical accessories like Aux lights, horns, alarms, power outlet etc, its best to draw the power directly from the battery positive terminal (with a a relay) and use the parking light as the Trigger source (so the park light will only trigger the supply but the load will be drawn directly from battery). The main advantage of this is when you switch off the ignition, the power to the accessory is also cut off as the parking light also goes off, whereas when directly taken from battery, if you forget to switch off your aux light or leave something plugged into your power socket, that will eat the battery the whole night and next morning your battery is kaput!

People that are technically a little more proficient or willing to spend some more chips for everything to be neat, tidy and less jumbled wires you can also go in for a Power Distribution Block. There are different kinds. Two of them explained here below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57uymladHAI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8aKE5H9k-A

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by Full_Minchingu

But now as soon as I saw your post I quickly ordered it. I hope the change from one brand to another does not cause any problem to the chain? I ride RE Desert Storm

Glad the post helped.

It should not cause any issues. But anyways clean the chain thoroughly before applying the new lube. In my short experience - Motul felt stickier and longer lasting than the 3M lube. 3M lube gets thrown around the wheel well area quite a lot too.

Originally Posted by mobike008

Last time this offer came up around 1-1.5 month ago, I picked up 4 pairs of these and now my home looks like I am a stockist for Motul

It was perfect timing for me and picked it up. Resisted the temptation of ordering a second set. Haha.

Originally Posted by Haroon

If the manual says, it will be true as most stock power sockets on bikes from the factory can handle almost the same Amps 3.3 to 5. In such situation an accessory drawing more current can blow your fuse or on some European bikes the Canbus will shut down the complete bike since there is no fuse in the Canbus system.

Yes the manual clearly specifies it. I guess I'm better off carrying the alligator clips to connect directly to battery whenever I need to use the compressor.

Will use the 12V port for mobile charging instead. Thank you.

Originally Posted by Haroon

Ideally, when adding aftermarket electrical accessories like Aux lights, horns, alarms, power outlet etc, its best to draw the power directly from the battery positive terminal (with a a relay) and use the parking light as the Trigger source (so the park light will only trigger the supply but the load will be drawn directly from battery). The main advantage of this is when you switch off the ignition, the power to the accessory is also cut off as the parking light also goes off, whereas when directly taken from battery, if you forget to switch off your aux light or leave something plugged into your power socket, that will eat the battery the whole night and next morning your battery is kaput!

Thank you. You're absolutely right as always.

Why I thought to use the stock wiring is because there are four unused ports already on the bike which can be tapped. But anyways not going to work with the 7.5A compressor. Since the requirement is only for emergencies - can manage with a direct line to the battery (with the alligator - cigarette lighter socket clips mentioned above?)

Once I eventually purchase the auxillary lights - will decide between the stock 3.3A connection and the direct line (as you mentioned above) based on the current drawn.

Thank you once again.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Kawasaki Bangalore (Rideventur) has been taking a lot of initiatives towards customer satisfaction recently. One major event happened yesterday, where all Kawasaki owners were called to a common venue to share their thoughts with the owners community.

Sadly, I could not attend the event due to work commitments. Sharing some pics here for the benefit of any Bangalore based (prospective) Kawasaki customers.

The Versys gang at the venue. Participation was less mainly due to this being a festival weekend.

Also, hearty congratulations to Manohar Joshi from Bangalore who became the second Versys owner to complete 50k kms within this short period of around 1.5 years.





Next event by Kawasaki Bangalore is an offroad training event.

[Red Liner]

Third Versys 650 Owner to complete the 50k milestone.

First was Chetan Manu last year.

Next was Hemant last month.

Third is Manohar, just this month.

Less time on TBHP + Whatsapp = more time on the road.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Ah! Cool. Yes. Forgot Chetan, who was actually the first.

Originally Posted by Red Liner

Less time on TBHP + Whatsapp = more time on the road.

Thats silly. . Just kidding. No relation with any of this - Or MJ wouldn't have been the most active member of the groups, let alone the admin who also spends a lot of time offline for the whatsapp group.

Riding time depends on various other factors too like finances, family dependencies, office pressure etc. Not everyone can ride every weekend and even some weekdays like some of these stalwarts do - neither do they need to feel the pressure to imitate them!

Like the saying goes - "Ride your own ride".

What it means in the motorcycle context is that you have to make your own decisions; go at your own pace; know your boundaries of what’s safe; know your environment, your bike, your skills; and don’t let peer pressure drive your decisions.

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by Red Liner

First was Chetan Manu last year.

I'm curious to know where he stands right now. He is a silent performer

Originally Posted by Red Liner

Less time on TBHP + Whatsapp = more time on the road.

Technically all this happens at work so should not really effect the time on road