Dec 11, 2007

One year ago: Motorcycle deaths...

But the minority, and these chaps invariably make the news, are just youngsters out to have some fun. Fun being 'lane-cutting,' 'Dhoom 2 stunting,' and so forth. Between the motorcycle illiterate journalists who report these sad and depressing events and the reckless and unfortunate victims of the accident itself, it is we, the serious Indian motorcyclists who are being maligned. Which parent in their right minds, would read these reports and then let their precious 18-year old out on a bike? I would, but I'm nuts. Read more...
Holy cow! Nothing has changed at all! Just yesterday I saw a TV program claiming that the MT-01 had a titanium frame, 167 bhp, by-wire throttle... followed shortly by an extensive segment on stunting on the street. And after gratuitous shots of wheelies and burnouts and short 2-second admonition saying don't do this on your new R1.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just read your linked post from 12 Dec 2006 ( exactly a year ago).

And I digress.
Rs 10000 for speeding ? Do you know how absurdly low speed limits are in India ? Sometimes we're taking corners at 90 where the signboard says 30. Same complaint by some UK riders - bikes doing 160kmh in first gear in 50km/h zones that could easily take much higher speeds.

So I know 40kmh is what most commoners consider "safe" . But why should better riders be penalised due to the lesser skilled majority for whom safe limit is a good deal lower ?

It's like telling Tendulkar should not score over 50 because the bowlers can't bat for nuts.

Its like saying Einstein shouldnt discover more theories because the average Joe will pass out reading simpler laws of physics.

After all, you do agree that "fast" is not "reckless" or "stupid" . I see more stupid riders doing 30kmh than I see stupid riders at 60kmh.

Or at least post speedlimits that are up with the vehicles sold at th time. Else we're just wasting our 125cc and higher bikes. Of course the cops never chase the errant Sumo or Fiesta , now do they ?

Anonymous said...

Happened to have a vaguely interesting conversation today, with a neighbour who claims he's a 'bike enthusiast.'

We were talking about the R1, and my neighbour said "Who'd buy an R1 for 11 lakhs? For that kind of money, I'd rather buy an Octavia!"

I thought about that for a second and it doesn't make sense. If someone would buy an Octavia rather than an R1 at 11 lakhs, would (should?) they buy an Esteem or an Ikon rather than an R1, if the bike were to cost 5 lakhs...?

If you've got to have a bike, you've GOT to have a bike and nothing else!

:-D

Anonymous said...

I'm sure such "enthusiasts" would buy a Santro even if the R1 was sold at 4 lakhs.

I can understand a married folk desiring to buy an R1 but buying a Santro or Octavia for sake of family or out of family pressure to buy a car rather than a nice bike, I can understand if someone says he wont buy an R1 for 11 lakhs because the R1 is priced artificially high here and sells for half that in the US....

Payeng said...

@ Revhard

I can understand a married folk desiring to buy an R1 but buying a Santro or Octavia for sake of family or out of family pressure to buy a car rather than a nice bike,

I can understand if someone says he wont buy an R1 for 11 lakhs because the R1 is priced artificially high here and sells for half that in the US....



Bulls eye..!!

I am soon going to be a member of the first category..

But the second that you have made is the most valid point. Come to think of it, I got both my i-pods from my friends visiting the U.S of A just because I couldn't see the justification of the high price tag in India. (what to do..? the middle class mentality is engrained in me)


But I do lust for the R1.. Maybe I'll get a brief ride on rearset's R1 someday.. I just hope that rearset wont mind it.

Anonymous said...

Rearset gonna buy R-1?

That is good news

rearset said...

@Nandu Chitnis
Of course rearset will buy an R1. That's a given.

When he will be able to afford one, on the other hand...