BullAdi

“Wake up machan, its time to ride wonleee” I wonder how many would actually wake up to this on a Sunday morning. It was Dosai on the phone inviting me to a ride to Mahabs (Mahabalipuram). I had gotten back home very late last night after hanging around the beach with the guys. Dosai was there and we were discussing about the ride by RE on Sunday morning at 6 AM. I was very keen to catch up on my sleep, for tomorrow (the bloody Monday) I have to go back to work. As much as I wanted to, I had opted out of the ride. Dosai said that would be riding on Sunday but his girlfriend would be with him, hence will start late. He promised me that he would call me when he did; assuring me that it would not be before 11 am.
Little did I know that the devil would wake me out of my sweet sleep at 9.30 it self (glad that he did). He wanted me to come down to the ECR in 15 min. I tried to reason with him that I was in my night clothes and it actually takes more than that to travel from Velachery to RTO on the ECR. Hurry I did, threw some clothes on and jumped on my bike, but not before brushing my teeth (which seemed to be a waste of time to Doasi).

Raja and Dosai were waiting for me at the RTO, and we all took off almost immediately. There was very little traffic on the ECR that morning (it was almost 10 now) and very soon we were crossing the toll gate. There is nothing much to explain about the ride as it was just pure good ol’ridin. Nothing to care for, empty ECR, 350cc beast between our legs and its still Sunday – the feeling is of pure joy.
The plan was to catch up with various groups those had started out in the morning.
The RE troop who left early in the morning.
The Chennai jets on their RD’s
Bobby and the girls in the car.
And the small groups of Madbulls / Jets like us.

As usual we were ripping down the ECR with our customary headlights switched on, which the caught the attention of Bobby who was on his way back. He later told us that he and his friend (for the other girls chickened out) tried to hail us down but none of us paid attention. We had reached the sunrise point on the ECR and decided to take a small break.
It turned out to be a 40 minute break (who cares) with all of us – Dosai, Raja, Bobby and his friend (forgot her name) chatting and having good fun. Dosai called Bharani and informed him of our whereabouts who joined us in less than 30 minutes. He must have been flying most of the time on his mean machine.

It was here that we saw the troop of the RE riders on their way back to the city. Could only manage to spot Sherin and Venky (who was leading the pack) among the 20 odd bikers. We tried to hail them down with no luck - too bad we had our agenda set and were least bothered to tag back with them.
Bobby too decided to head back to the city while our destination was set to Moonrakers @ Mahabalipuram. I was craving for some well cooked prawns and the guys for a chilled beer.

I had just received my bike back from the RE, Adayar after some fine tuning and a carburetor change. My odo was at 3600 + km and I was still running it in (Gurunandan’s preaching). I had run it in to do 80 – 90 kmph on the Horsley ride. I had tried doing 100 on my last ride on the ECR and was hopelessly disappointed to find my bike struggling to touch 95 Kmph. Also the pick up in my 4th gear was disappointing. This was the reason why my baby was at the tech shop for three days. I suspected it was the carb and after all the tests were carried out they changed the carb.
I wanted to see how fast my bike would go. Finding an empty streach of road, opened the throttle gradually maxing out on each gear (MadbullRam’s advice). To my utter joy and delight the needle crossed over 100 and slowly but gradually moved on to 110, then 120 and finally it got stagnant at a little over 124kmph. This may not be the exact speed but I was rest assured that my bike crossed the 100 kmph mark. That was clearly the highlight of the day (05.06.2005).

For the first time I did not pay the toll guys at he entrance to the Mahabs – thanks to Dosai who yelled ARMY at them and they stood aside for the Bullets to get in (no one can blame tham for most of us were darning camouflage cargos). Enjoyed myself at the Moonrakers with a delicious chicken sandwich and some masala prawns. It was the usually bike banter and had a informative chat with Bharani who updated me with the history of RD350 in India. The very fact that these machines (or rather their predecessors) were first built to produce 39BHP of brute power was an interesting bit of information which not many know about.
Then Dosai disagreed upon what Bharani had to say about white chicks sun bathing at temple bay. To prove each other wrong they took us to Temple bay where Bharni’s uncle (and landlord) is on staff. After pleasantries were exchanged we were led by Bharani to the resort’s secluded private beach. Hmmmmm it was 2 in the noon and much to Bharani’s disappointment (and mine) there was not one to be seen. After a stroll in the premises took leave of our host and were back on our way to the city. Did some good speeds with me being the slowest (still not ready to push my bike yet).
We all dispersed at Tiruvanmayur and had planned to meet in the evening at the Amethyst.
Went home and hit the bed – time for some good afternoon siesta.

Guess who calls up and says “Wake up maaan, its time ride again”