[ananthkamath]

Got all my riding gear (helmet and gloves) in the mail over the past week. I spent the entire weekend doing a course in motorcycle safety and got my license endorsed so now I can legally ride a motorcycle on public roads.

My Bandit 600 was just sitting there waiting to be ridden so I couldnt resist it. The weather was perfect and so was my temperament. As I put on my helmet I couldnt help but think that this was what the motorcyclist in me was waiting for all his life: to swing a leg on a big capacity multi like this one.

Letting it warm up a little bit I was a little nervous and a lot excited at the same time. The closest I've been to riding a powerful bike is an RD350 (which was pretty mad if you ask me) and I was a little apprehensive. As I pulled out of the driveway I noticed that the engine is pretty docile and the clutch is extremely smooth, actuating force being somewhat comparable to the bikes I am used to.

I go through the gears short-shifting every time at 3000 rpm so as to not go over the speed limit on local roads. The first thing I notice is how closely spaced the gearbox is. Engine note barely changes as I go up the box till I am in sixth at 45 mph. The torque is good even at this speed in top gear and unlike what I have heard about bigger bikes in general.

I get to the nearest B-road I can find and start cruising. The previous owner changed the rear sprocket to one with 2 extra teeth so its a little buzzy. My first 75 miles (I did that in a single day, yesterday) are spent babying the bike and getting to understand the behavior. There's an annoying buzz from the semi-fairing right around 4000 rpm and there's not much I can do about that.

Today was an excellent day as well, so i took the bike out today for a ride to nearby Ann Arbor. I spent time pottering about downtown as well because I wanted to get a feel of how easy or tough it is to handle it in traffic. Not that tough, I'd say.

On the way back, I took the back road instead of the freeway. That way I could enjoy the good weather, the bike and the country road instead of zipping like mad on the freeway. So I was there by myself riding 55 in a 55 zone when this chick in a mitsubishi eclipse passes me at around 65. My mind thinks "the time has come" and so I keep back for a while at 55 until she & I are about an 8th of a mile apart. I hook it down three gears and GUN IT. The revs rise 3000, 4000, 5000. Then it happens. The buzz from the fairing stops and the engine comes on the cam. Its just one mad rush to 9500 rpm and a clutchless shift through fifth. The eclipse chick is now going backwards at a rapid rate and I am doing in the neighborhood of 115 mph (in a 55 mph zone, I could go to jail for that!!!). My heartbeat is through the roof and the wind pressure is just too much, but the bike stays on course as if its on rails. I pass her like she's standing still and its a MOST exhilarating feeling! WOW!

Then reality catches up and I decelerate to a sane speed. And enjoy the rest of the ride, reminiscing about the few personal records I set today: first trip past 140 km/h; first trip past 110 km/h on two wheels; first trip past 7500 rpm on a 4-cylinder engine; first trip past 15 mph over the speed limit; first time almost pissed in my pants during a motorcycle ride. Now thats something!!!

I am sitting here planning a straight-through end can, an oversize jet kit and modifications to the gearing and the airbox right now. Stock just isnt good enough!

[manson]

Great writeup pal, seems you're making good use of your motorcycle.
Must be a lot safer to do some high speeds there besides the speed gun fears.

manson.

[ananthkamath]

Originally Posted by manson

Great writeup pal, seems you're making good use of your motorcycle.
Must be a lot safer to do some high speeds there besides the speed gun fears.

manson.

yeah the back roads are particularly free of cops but if you get caught you're in rather than just poorer. the roads are definitely safer and there's plenty of space to achieve good speeds without worrying about anything getting in the way.

[vabs78]

greate going man.. you sure are living your life...


BTW, how much did you pay for your ride? I am also planning to get my hands on some motorcycle, want to get a Monstar 600 (640??) or something similar. and how much for the motorcycle riding course?

[ananthkamath]

paid 3 grand for the bike and 25 bucks for the course. if you do the course (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) your license test is waived.

[Steeroid]

Congrats on your list of firsts, even if you do sound a bit like Sachin Tendulkar's PR Agent. Entirely understandable, though.

It takes a bit of effort to rein in your adrenaline rush when you're on a big capacity bike. The buzz it too much!

[Rtech]

Welcome to the dark side luke.

What made you pick the Bandit over the dozen's of choices available in the market there?

[ananthkamath]

thanks steeroid and rtech.

the reason for choosing the bandit 600 is because i wanted something that i can ride almost everyday for my 15-mile commute to and from school without straining my wrists and shoulders (normal riding position rather than the one on sportbikes).

the other reason is this particular bike was in mint condition and although the miles were somewhat above average (13000 mi) everything was in perfect condition and it was never dropped. Most sportbikes have been dropped atleast once and are driven extremely hard as you might be aware. tough to find a good GSX-R or CBR.

[nosfreak]

The Bandit is good bike for the riding position...one thing is this ur first time u driving a 600?

[ananthkamath]

yes it is. my first time riding anything above 350 cc.

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by ananthkamath

thanks steeroid and rtech.

the reason for choosing the bandit 600 is because i wanted something that i can ride almost everyday for my 15-mile commute to and from school without straining my wrists and shoulders (normal riding position rather than the one on sportbikes).

the other reason is this particular bike was in mint condition and although the miles were somewhat above average (13000 mi) everything was in perfect condition and it was never dropped. Most sportbikes have been dropped atleast once and are driven extremely hard as you might be aware. tough to find a good GSX-R or CBR.

Sensible decision.

Now stop talking - go on and Band It Like Kamath.

[black12rr]

Nice write up ananth , i have heard very strict speed limits over there , take care and ride safe .update us when the pipe and jet comes over .

[highwayblaze]

Hey yow mannn nice ride you got there. veryyy nice!
JUST 25$ for the course dude thats cheap. Dam it its 75$ here in Indianapolis. Dude buy a camera mount from ebay for less than 30$. Its worth it! I've got one and it fits perfect on my gas tank cap. Mounts a handycam really well. Have fun ride safe and keep your eyes open for those morons who jump lights and change lanes without looking over your shoulder. Especially those 1973 F-150 types , who everytime they see a bike turn into a race car driver.
Have fun and ride safe!!

[ananthkamath]

thanks man. i m planning to get a proper helmet cam or one of those small cameras you mount on the gas tank. if you know any cheap sources let me know.

yeah i know what you're talking about, the wannabe racecar drivers. will be careful.

update: planning to junk the stock airbox (looks very restrictive) & get a set of UNI pods. will need to buy a jet kit but maybe i ll buy the jets separately and do it myself.

[graphreak]

Hi everyone,
New here, in fact, just signed-up as I found this forum pretty interesting
for news on the 'Indi' hot-wheels scene.

I had a suggestion for Ananth- if I may.
If you haven't looked at the Suzuki SV650/SV650S yet, perhaps you'd like
to research the bike before you begin spending big-bucks on your Bandit?
2007 Suzuki SV650S ABS - Sport Rider Magazine
Engine: 645cc 90° V-twin 6-speed, Power is about 72.5BHP, 169KGs
Pre-2002 models are carburetted & 2003 on they come with FI.
Believe me that bike can be real fun and also, you'll find plenty
of after-market parts/mods for it to last one for a while.
A whole lot of used bikes should be available in the market too.

Hope the info may be useful.

~Graph