Ever since I saw that bright red example in the nearby showroom up for grabs, I kept telling myself, ‘ok, next work off, for sure I’ve got to take a spin.’ But I kept delaying it due to other commitments and basically ill management of time. But man the wait was worth it!
If one line could sum her up, it would be this, “I wanted to bring her home to my mom, sporting one of the happiest grins I’ve had in a while.”
But that wouldn’t do justice to someone wanting to marry her. So I shall write about the flaws later.
Sudhir, the nice chap at the Goregaon outlet was warm and welcoming. Just like I’d like the rep to be, who can sense at the onset that I don’t have the dough. A short chat later about how we were supposed to get the T’Bird500 but went for the 390 and then it was time. Guess he knew I had only one thing locked in my crosshairs, eh?
Skimpily dressed in that hot, confident color, fashionable (to my taste at least), with just the right amount of curves and yet slim, I knew I was in for a treat. :)
From the word go, I could feel this was no regular Bullet. She had an eager demeanour and was willing to thrill my senses with her personality.
That riding posture made me feel instantly cool. The rather tiny single seat meant she kept her food in check and knew her cardio routines. I was all the more happy for it. My own diminutive frame of 5’6.5 inches, a waistline that would give some women a complex and rather non-existent derriere made it a perfect match. Exactly like I sometimes prefer it. Just me and the bike.
She sure has a sprinter’s soul. No Flying Sikh mind you, but decently quick. It’s that desire to be young at heart that made me appreciate her more. Forever it holds true that the soul is greater than the body and she had oodles of that too.
Of course she turned heads aplenty. Be it Innova owners, regular scooter folk or even the rickshaw drivers. I don’t know for sure if it was the GT alone or the silly smile plastered over my face in the color matched open-face lid. Not to mention I kept talking to her and to myself. What an ego boost! Doesn’t every man like it at some point that people envy his girl? And since she was all mine, I could protect her too from the ubiquitous perv.
For someone who loves speed more than the sedate cruise, she kept me smiling all through out. Didn’t get much time to test the tires and suspension, but they came across as pretty capable for our dry roads at least. Pirellis & Paioli after all! Stiff enough for her raison d’etre. The brakes though were a revelation. Precise with a decent amount of feedback from the steel braided hose in the front and the rear with a fair ability to communicate, I could push the limits sooner than I’d expected. Better the original Brembo than the cheaper Bybre eh?
Handling was neutral. She’d follow my lead like we were doing the waltz. And that’s saying something since I have two left feet. Did I mention I was still smiling? Kind and gentle in her feedback, she made me feel so comfortable that I didn’t care if I was dressed appropriately or not. I just wanted to spend all day with her. The hug she gave me back from that posture of sitting in the bike rather than on it. So awesome! If this century old DNA is known for its charms and character, then this one also has a youthful spring in her step and just the right amount of weight to handle when she’s sleeping, so I can tuck her into bed and watch that face slumber in peace. Definitely my kinda girl! Now I get what I once read, that Mr. Lal(CEO) planned for a Bullet for every taste and wallet. I’ve ridden other Enfields, but this one was different indeed.
Waiting for the signal to turn green, the matching helmet and tank kept drawing attention. I kept smiling and taking in her little auditory expressions and mechanical gestures. After the U-turn, I promptly stopped to click her picture, with my physiological tremors acting up again. The phone shaking as it always does in my hands when I have a spurt of adrenaline in my blood. I couldn’t care any less though. Passers-by staring, as though we were having a moment of love at first sight. Damn! I just realised, I regret not having a stranger click a pic of me with her.
My way back, I knew I was going to miss her soon, but that was at the back of my head. At the very forefront, all I could think about was how happy she made me. I kept praising her, already reminiscing at every drop of speed about how well she runs for her weight. (Yes, she still is heavier than most bikes in this price bracket.) Despite being a push rod engine, the odd bad habit of cracking open the throttle was met with an enabling nature. Which made me love her more the next time I decided to do the twist. I was gentle then onwards. The soundtrack of course was blissful with a few notes that I felt were off. But then nobody’s perfect. The loud (to the rider) drop of revs when I slowed down and the cracking sound when I picked up was music alright. Single cylindered Brits I tell you.
I approached the showroom from the last U-turn with her, which by the way, was very reassuring despite the clip on handlebars and steep steering head. I sprinted once more with her and then she cemented my smile with something you don’t normally expect on the first date. Like that first kiss, we did a little number with the rear brakes kicking in for a mild confident slide. Nothing overtly passionate but so subtly awesome! Where you are left wanting more. But you then hold back because you have to part ways. Respect sets in. You wouldn’t want to overdo that slide right?
Needless to say I was smiling all the way back until I reached home in the next suburb, laughing even, with people in the buses wondering if I was sane or not. I admired a couple guys on the way back on their Classic 350s, wanting to share my happiness with them. Ironically the traffic kept me from stopping. I kept riding. My trusty Karizma, now feeling a tad too meek.
Oh the flaws I hear u say? The internet is filled with that info, so do your homework. And if you really want to marry her, I’d suggest you at least go on a date with her to decide.
P.S.: I had written a hundred and sixty-one words of genuine nit picking. I chose to delete them. Wouldn’t you do the same when you first fall in love?
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| Love at first ride! |
