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Did a 1200km solo ride on my Honda CBR650F from Bengaluru to Goa & back

16th October 2024, 08:03 by Dev Shah

I don’t usually ride during monsoons but once monsoons are over I get an itch to ride out every weekend.

BHPian minzanurag recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Season opening ride to Goa:

Ride - Solo
Date - 28-29 Sep 2024
Destination - Benaulim, Goa
Total kilometers - ~1200kms
Route- Bengaluru - Dharwad - Ramnagar - Benaulim - Karwar - Yallapur - Hubli - Bengaluru

I got the CBR650F 2017 model in January and looking at some of the comprehensive ownership reports which include ride reports esp. Karthik, CrazyDriver and few more forum moderators and members, I was inspired to start logging all of this information as well. I started doing that with Aerox but then I became lazy. Hope to keep this one up to date.

I don’t usually ride during monsoons but once monsoons are over I get an itch to ride out every weekend. On the 28th September, I started out at 3 AM on 28th Sep with the intention of checking in at 2 PM which will give enough time for lunch. Also, I wanted to try the long route via Dharwad. I stopped for breakfast at 7:30 AM at Apoorva, Davanagere. Post that it was mainly couple of fuel stops all the way till Benaulim. The ride was pretty smooth all the way through till right after crossing Ramnagar, where portion of the road was closed (not sure about the reason but I saw a bus was stuck) and the traffic was diverted via Tenai Ghat. I witnessed some amazing picturesque roads through the forest - lush green rolling field, tree line roads, single lane well maintained road. I joined the main highway after Anmod. It started raining as I descended the ghat section and I had to put on the rain gear. Another coupe of uneventful hours later I reached outskirts of Goa and as planned, checked in about 2:30 PM

Post freshening up, went out for late lunch along with a cold “LiquiMoly”. It was bit too hot even at 3:30 PM so made retreat to the home stay and took an afternoon nap.

In the evening, went out to the beach, hung around, dipped my feet in the water and after an early dinner at 8 PM, I slept off like a log right through till 6 AM.

For the last couple of years, unlike my younger years when I visited Goa, I prefer waking up early and going for a long walk and then have breakfast on my way back. I had full English breakfast, too bad they did not have pork sausages in it. I would have loved it.

Anyway breakfast done and then I completed the cleaning and lubing the chain. At around 9:30 AM, I checked out and started the ride back to Bengaluru via Karwar - Hubli route. I just love this route and whenever I am in Goa I usually take this route back to Bengaluru. With breakfast done, I only stopped for fuel before crossing Goa and for a quick cup of tea at around 11 AM in Yallapur. Post that, I made fast progress and reached Tumkur around 5:30 PM where I was caught in a downpour and had to seek shelter at a restaurant next to the highway. After about 30 minutes the rains subsided but continued as a drizzle. I put my gear on and rode slowly till about 40 kms from home where the road was dry enough to ride normally. Finally, reached home at 8:15 PM.

Next day, checked the bike, cleaned the chain, washed the bike, lubed the chain and covered it till the next ride on weekend.

Now for few pictures, mainly of the bike. Cheers !

1. Break of dawn near near Chitradurga