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New Bike Specifications

Touring Guide – Part III

June 1, 2010 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment


This month’s touring guide is all about tackling different terrains and conditions smartly

Rough Terrain

While traveling for long distances one often encounters rough patches. Some like it and some don’t. However, you can make the most of it and have loads of fun by going off-road. Unlike smooth tarmac, you witness a lot of undulations while going off the road. Hence, keeping your body in the right position will help you control the bike in a better way. Always keep your eyes on the surface of the path as even a slight distraction might result in a slip. Never hold the handlebars too tight or very lose. You need to hold them just right and caress the throttle finely which will lend better steering control while going over bumps and dips. Stand on the footpegs and use your knees like a suspension while tackling gravel laden paths. Next on the agenda is braking. Never use the front brake while riding on loose surface as chances of losing control are really high. Instead, use the rear brake which will give you better control even on gravel. Off-road riding can be dangerous especially when you are not completely geared up. So always wear complete riding gear including knee pads and a back protector.

Using the rear brake on rough terain gives you superior braking control Adjusting the suspension settings for off road sections will offer a smoother ride Don’t hold the handle bars tightly. Apply just enough pressure for controlled acceleration

Hill Riding
Riding in mountainous regions with enticing corners is every biker’s desire. However, this longing should be fulfilled with caution and alertness. Hill riding usually involves negotiating blind corners and hairpins and hence it becomes essential for the biker to assess the road and watch out for oncoming traffic. While taking a corner you should always be in the correct lane and use the entire width of the lane to open up a corner which gives you a better view of the oncoming traffic (refer to illustration). You should also maintain a buffer area between you and the opposite lane to ensure extra safety in case someone from the oncoming traffic makes a mistake. Do not force yourself to ride fast after witnessing tantalizing corners. Watch out for patches covered with gravel, dirt or oil and try to avoid them as going over them while entering or exiting a corner might result in a fatal incident. Never shut the bike’s engine off while coming downhill. Instead use engine braking which will also give you superior control over the bike compared to rolling downhill with the engine off. Always remember to park the bike off the road, with the engine in first gear, incase you decide to enjoy the views around you.

Do not rest your bottom on the seat while going off road as it is bad for the back. Instead stand on the footegs for a smooth ride

Night Riding
You may need to ride during the night for a number of reasons. It can be fun as one can munch up the miles by riding swiftly through the almost empty highways. But at the same time, it can also prove to be dangerous. While riding in the dark, one needs a high level of concentration coupled with common sense. Always ride towards the left side in the correct lane, avoiding collision with any oncoming vehicle that may be in your lane. Watch out for illuminated road signs that indicate a turn, a fuel station, a railway crossing, etc. Focussing on the road can work wonders for you. Never look down or away when the headlight beam from oncoming vehicles hits your eyes. Instead, concentrate on the patch of road that is right ahead of you. This way you can exploit the oncoming vehicle’s lights and see the path better. Most highways in West and South India have a lot of high speed Volvo bus traffic which usually sticks to the right lane. It’s always wise to give them way. Incase you have stopped on the side of the road at night, always look out before taking off again. A few essential things like a well-reflected jacket, helmet, perfectly working headlamp/tail lamp and blinkers make you and your bike visible to other road users. A clear, scratch resistant, anti-glare, anti-fog visor is recommended for better visibility on the road. We strongly oppose the use of dark visors at night.

 

Filed Under: Features, Technology

Royal Bobber

June 1, 2010 by Bike India Team Leave a Comment


Oshan Kothadiya can’t take his eyes off the latest custom bike on the block built by Rajputana Customs
Photography Vijay Singh

Custom bikes are gaining popularity by the day in India. Even at the 2010 Auto Expo, what really caught my eye was the custom bobber built by Vijay Singh from Jaipur. After completing his studies in Canada, he returned to India recently to pursue his passion for custom motorcycles and built the Original Gangster using a 350cc Royal Enfield Thunderbird twin spark engine. The frame is built by him and his team at Rajputana Customs from the ground up. No compromises were made in the materials used too.

The bike oozes a classy vintage appeal. The retro looking white walled tyres are hard to find in India. The air filter cover looks like a revolver tumbler which sticks to the theme. The Rajputana Customs emblem and the neat detailing given to the footpegs add to the bike’s individuality. The frame has been built from carbon steel and the accelerator is internally built in the handlebar which gives it a
clean look. Adding to the bike’s vintage appeal is the hand shifter (Jockey shifter) which was used in Harleys in the 1940s and 50s. Since the bike is a hard tail, the rider’s seat is given a spring to cushion the ride. The Springer suspension which works on a linkage mechanism looks brilliant and has been totally hand built by Vijay. The bike rides on 21-inch front wheels and 17-inch rears. The wheel hubs for the front tyres too have been built by Vijay.

Equal attention is given to the battery box that is neatly tucked below the rider’s seat. The dual fuel tank is simple but well executed. Even the fuel tank lid does not look like it has been borrowed from some other bike and adds to its distinctive touch.Though the bike is unique it does not lose the Royal Enfield feel. A custom vintage bike like this would cost you around Rs 2.5 lakh which is not a very steep price. We would love to see more bikes from this youngster.

Filed Under: Features, Modified Bikes

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BIKE India covers the two-wheeler industry in its entirety, both from the local and the international perspective. Also delivers the most definitive verdict on machinery and performance by explaining the hows, whys, and whats on every new bike in a lucid and user-friendly manner. BIKE India is the India’s most authoritative two-wheeler publication, a magazine for people with a passion for bikes and everything to do with their history and heritage.
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