RIDE ON 1ST MAY, 2008.
Destination: Lavasa.
Route: Mumbai – Lonavala – Pune – Lavasa – Pune – Lonavala – Mumbai.
Distance Covered: 390 kms approx.
Ride with Yezdi club, Mumbai & Pune.
Destination: Lavasa.
Route: Mumbai – Lonavala – Pune – Lavasa – Pune – Lonavala – Mumbai.
Distance Covered: 390 kms approx.
Ride with Yezdi club, Mumbai & Pune.
Pre- Ride discussions:
The plans for the ride was discussed online & finalized. We just went on for more than 2 weeks deciding the location for the ride and finally zeroed in on Lavasa. It was decided that we people meet up at Datta Vadapav, Panvel Naka 7:30 am.
28th April, 2008:
With help from Abhijeet and my mechie, replaced both the old Rims and spoke with new ones and got the bike services. Total expenses for the rims, spokes and servicing – Rs. 1500/-.
30th April 2008:
Got the bike from my mechie in the evening and along with Abhi went for a ride on the Palm Beach road, where we both ripped our bikes to reach 110 kmph. Its not that I ride my bike at such high speeds always. We just did this to check out weather the bike can still sustain the long distance that it is going to cover the next day and also to get a feel of the bike which I have not been riding for the last few months. The bike was doing fine and my confidence to go for the ride grew sky high.
1st May, 2008. Day of the ride:
Abhijeet rode down to my house at 6.50 am. I had few last minute checkup to be done on my bike, accumulating all the spares and picking up my helmet from a friend who had taken it a couple of days back. We left from my place by 7.00 am and started off on the Uran highway. While on the Uran Highway Toll Plaza, due to 3-4 bumpy and abnormal speed breakers my bikes headlight fastening screw & the head light fell off, but lucky me it didn’t break due to the wiring. Abhijeet had a brilliant idea of fixed it up with a Nylon thread we found on the road side, & we were off towards our meeting point at Panvel Naka. We reached there by 7.30 am and found Kenni waiting. As our lousy guys follow the SYT (Standard Yezdi Time) we had lots of time to have some delicious Poha and chai at Datta Snacks which was crowded even
at 7.30 in the morning.
The plans for the ride was discussed online & finalized. We just went on for more than 2 weeks deciding the location for the ride and finally zeroed in on Lavasa. It was decided that we people meet up at Datta Vadapav, Panvel Naka 7:30 am.
28th April, 2008:
With help from Abhijeet and my mechie, replaced both the old Rims and spoke with new ones and got the bike services. Total expenses for the rims, spokes and servicing – Rs. 1500/-.
30th April 2008:
Got the bike from my mechie in the evening and along with Abhi went for a ride on the Palm Beach road, where we both ripped our bikes to reach 110 kmph. Its not that I ride my bike at such high speeds always. We just did this to check out weather the bike can still sustain the long distance that it is going to cover the next day and also to get a feel of the bike which I have not been riding for the last few months. The bike was doing fine and my confidence to go for the ride grew sky high.
1st May, 2008. Day of the ride:
Abhijeet rode down to my house at 6.50 am. I had few last minute checkup to be done on my bike, accumulating all the spares and picking up my helmet from a friend who had taken it a couple of days back. We left from my place by 7.00 am and started off on the Uran highway. While on the Uran Highway Toll Plaza, due to 3-4 bumpy and abnormal speed breakers my bikes headlight fastening screw & the head light fell off, but lucky me it didn’t break due to the wiring. Abhijeet had a brilliant idea of fixed it up with a Nylon thread we found on the road side, & we were off towards our meeting point at Panvel Naka. We reached there by 7.30 am and found Kenni waiting. As our lousy guys follow the SYT (Standard Yezdi Time) we had lots of time to have some delicious Poha and chai at Datta Snacks which was crowded even
at 7.30 in the morning.
After making a few calls, we found that one of the other bikes had a puncture & they would reach late. Jude was taking out his bike from his garage after a gap of 3 months and was busy cleaning the carburetor on the day. Gaurav had some problems with his RK which he and Jude rectified. Hiren, Ajit, and Benny also made it by 8.00 am. D-Man and his wife reached at 8.00 on his Jawa 350. Happy on his 175 and a friend on his on the Bullet 350 went on the wrong route and were the last to reach at around 8.30 am. Finally all bikes take off leaving loads of white smoke at 9:30 am & took off to the open road towards Pune Highway.
I have been riding on the Mumbai – Pune route for almost 5 years on all my bikes (The D- 250 Classic, Roadking as well as my Hero Honda Splendor). I Post – Graduated from Pune and it was routine for me to ride down to Mumbai every Friday evening and return back on Monday mornings. So, the roads were quite familiar to me. Abhijeet was doing his 1st ride on the Mumbai – Pune Highway and was riding quite fine. I just over took his bike at a turn and suddenly I started hearing loud noise of firing from my right silencer. I came to know of the reason when we halted on the Lonavala Ghats. Abhijeet came to me and told that the muffler rocketed out of the right silencer and missed hitting Abhi. As I was unaware of the incident, I could not stop and pick it up.
We reached Lonavala, where Rajesh and KT were waiting for us. We left for Pune after a small break waiting for all the riders to reach. We caught up with Abhilash at Chandni Chawk, Pune. KT took the lead to Lavasa. At one point Benny, Gaurav and myself as always started ripping the bike leaving all the other bikers behind. We lost track of a left turn and kept going for almost 20 – 25kms on the wrong route. After waiting for almost half an hour at a junction for the other to come we asked a passer - by we came to knew that we were on the wrong route and had to return.
It was a beautiful and scenic route to Lavasa through steep Ghats and we were ripping the bikes at high speeds to catch up with the others. At some turns, I could even hear the scratching sounds of the centre stand rubbing the roads creating sparks. I was happy that my 25 year old bike was running absolutely fine even after ripping and cruising at 90 – 100kms constantly.
At Lavasa, as we reached, the rest of the others were ready to leave as we could not get reservations for food at the restaurant there. So, we decided to head back to Pune and on the way find a good place to eat as it was already 2.30 in the afternoon.
AT 3:30pm we got ourselves cooled down with some refreshing & then Lunch, at a good restaurant. The food was really good, but we had to wait for much longer time than expected to get our hands on the food. After eating, chatting, photography, etc for over an hour we left for Pune. Few of the bikes were running low on fuel, so we halted for refueling at a bunk. I did not fill petrol as I could hear the noise of petrol from the tank on shaking the bike. It had at least 5 liters more to go.
After filling up, we all left for Pune and by 6.30 pm we reached the Pune - Mumbai highway where the Pune boys signed off and we left foe Mumbai. I was planning to cover as much distance as possible before the sunlight fades, as the headlights of my bike are only for the onward coming vehicles to identify that there is some vehicle coming their way. But, I had to wait for Jude as I committed earlier in the day to find him an ATM. By the time we could find an ATM and him withdrawing cash, it was already dark. Then we had 2 glasses each of some much needed Mango juice and proceeded ahead towards a petrol bunk where Jude had to fill up. I still did not fill petrol, coz I felt that my bike would further go till Lonavala without hitting reserve. But to my luck, it hit reserve just 2 kms ahead of the petrol bunk where Jude filled up. Then started my hunt for a petrol bunk, as my bike does not run for more than 26 kms in reserve. Finally after riding for almost 20 kms, I finally found one where I filled in 10 liters and then there was no turning back.
Jude and Ajit were following me and we all were ripping at more than 90 kmph till Tiger Valley, Lonavala. Just stopped there to stretch our muscles, but there was no sign of Ajit who was just behind us till we entered Lonavala. We waited for almost half an hour but there was no sign of him at all. Thinking that he passed us on the way, we left from there and rode non stop till Datta Vadapav, Panvel Naka. We reached there by 9.30 pm. We had a bottle of beer each there and headed home through the Uran Highway. I waved him good bye at Palm Beach Road junction and reached home by 11:00pm. It was a very tiring day but was happy that I could complete the ride without any issue on my 25 year old machine.
It was real fun riding with all the guys and I am looking forward for such wonderful rides in the future.
Vivan Satheesan.
