We'd asked you readers to send us your bike reviews and share your experiences.
Here, Subin Mohan from Dubai, also the first Get Ahead reader to send his 'Bike Affair', in response to our invite talks about riding the Enfield. (Share YOURS too!)
From someone who envied his neighbour's Bullet as a 7-year-old, to buying one and enjoying the ride whenever he comes to Kottayam, Kerala, Subin shares this interesting story with us.
Text and photographs: Subin Mohan, Dubai
Subin Mohan with the love of his life on a riding trip. The raised exhaust pipes gives an off road advantage and better sound.
My first sight of a Royal Enfield was at my neighbour's house in Kottayam, Kerala. I was only 7 then.
The guy who rode that monstrous machine was like a hero to me who had tamed a beast.
It was a Red Royal Enfield Deluxe and when he started the machine, the thump could be heard miles away.
It was then that my fascination for the Royal Enfield started and began dreaming of the day I would cruise the streets of Kottayam on my own Bullet.
The day I turned 18, I applied for my driving license and when in college, I begged my dad to buy me a Bullet. He agreed.
The condition was I should score good marks and secure an engineering seat on merit.
Too bad at negotiations and still in learning phase, (I did not notice that) the terms and condition mentioned a bike -- not a Bullet.
So my dad picked up on this loophole in the contract and bought me a Suzuki Samurai instead, thinking that a Bullet would be too dangerous for me to handle.
Even while riding my 100cc Samurai, I often used to ride the Royal Enfield's owned by my friends in college. Every time I ride this machine, the more I fall in love with it.
Years passed. I got out of college, went abroad for work and visited India twice every year but my dream of owning and riding a Royal Enfield still remained a dream.
My biggest concern that kept me away from owning one for long time was who will maintain my Enfield when I would be abroad. Fortunately, one of my wife's uncle pitched in to help.
He was a vehicle freak and his love for any machine on wheels inspired me to immediately buy one and keep it in safe custody with him.
So when on holidays, he ensured that my vehicle was in top condition and well maintained.
I bought my Royal Enfield 350 Standard in April 2009 and this was a proud moment for me.
Many advised me to go for the Electra and Classic models, but for me the picture in mind was the old Royal Enfield I saw at my neighbour's house.
Too bad they stopped making the Red one; so I settled for the only option that was available: Black.
The new engine is entirely different and way better than the old one in both performance and construction.
It offers better mileage and increased power at the cost of less vibration, a drawback of the older Enfields.
The only effect I did not like in the new Royal Enfield was the sound that it produced.
The new engine and emission norms regulated by the government completely destroyed its trademark thump.
The sound that was only associated with a Bullet is no more and this really hurt me. So I decided to fix it up by changing the exhaust pipe with an after-market piece that would make the sound it was once famous for.
I bought a raised exhaust pipe used for off-road application from Coimbatore and fixed it on my Enfield. The Royal Enfield of old times was back. :-)
On a riding trip. The raised exhaust pipes gives an off road advantage and better sound.
Next thing I noticed was that all the new bikes that came to the market came with wider rear tires that looked cool and mean.
Compared to that my Royal Enfield 350 Standard looked like sporting cycle tires and it was an ugly sight for such a heavy vehicle.
I decided to fix that by fitting wider tires and now this looks like one hot machine that should not be messed up with.
With my best friend and co-rider Vinod Left) on a riding trip. Wider tires gives better look and road grip.
When in India, for 90 per cent of my travel -- both far and away -- I use my Royal Enfield to fulfil my desires and with each ride my heart asks for more.
It is heartbreaking when my leave gets over and I have to say good bye to my stud till my next visit 6 months later.
My rides and my bike have inspired some of friends to change their existing vehicles to a Royal Enfield.
One of them is my best friend Vinod and with him I have formed a riding club called Rider Monks.
On our first ride we drove from Kottayam to Kumily and from there to Pazhani Hills and back.
The total distance of almost 550kms was covered in 3 days with camping at exotic locations.
We are attracting new riders to our group mainly through referrals only and for this we have started a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ridermonks).
We are also in the process of creating a website and through this we intend to promote the love of riding, touring and guidance.
We also have plans to branch out our activities for community welfares as well.
ALSO SEE
My affair with the Royal Enfield Desert Storm! Share YOURS too!
Reader Invite
Would you like to share your love story with your bike? It can be any bike; not necessarily, a bullet! :-)
If you have an equally interesting write-up to share -- just like Subin Mohan or Manas Dewan -- then mail your story to getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: My Bike Affair) along with interesting photographs and we will publish the best ones right here on Rediff.com.
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