Crazy as Crazy was :

The day began as usual. The plan to ride out was there on my mind but not sure about the timings. Me and my friend are both biking enthusiasts. We both got new bikes so we are always planning to hit the road at the earliest opportunity possible. For me the opportunity presents twice a week but for him its only the Sunday. Today being a Saturday I was tentative about him. I was surprised to hear from him today in the afternoon. He is doing a sales job and is always on a sales trip. Today he was on a trip here in Borivali. Now this was very convenient. The surprise was short lived when he told me that he is giving his bike for servicing and only be able to get it back in the evening. I cooked up a quick plan of getting the bike in the evening and going for the ride. When I picked him up in the evening his bike was not ready. Now we were not sure of what to do. There was still day light left so just started on my bike. Without his bike the plan to go far was off. I just thought of going on a short ride to Vasai or Virar and we hit the national highway No.8. It was about 6:30 and getting darker by the minute. By the time we reached Vasai it was already dark and the wind was chilly. I was wearing a jacket and helmet for protection. But my eyes were exposed because I had to put my visor up. My helmet has a tinted visor which was good when I am riding under the sun. But it virtually blinded me at night. When we reached Virar junction I was concerned about my friend, he neither had a jacket not a helmet. The only advantage he had was that he could close his eyes. He didn’t have to keep watching the road. Just as we crossed the junction I stopped the bike and asked him if he wished to push further. Both of us were pretty high by the ride we had so far. I still hadn’t pushed the bike above 90 km/h. after getting his affirmation I started out. Beyond the Virar junction the road opened up, less traffic and suitable condition during the day. But it was dark and chilling. I was barely able to see the road. Slowly I kept pushing my bike, now we were going over 100 km/h over taking every vehicle on the road. Immediately my eyes started watering. They were exposed to the elements, the chilly wind, the dust, the strain of seeing through the dark, partial blinding by the light from the vehicle coming from the opposite direction. All of this didn’t matter. I was going forward pushing the speed. The maximum I was able to reach in this condition was 110 km/h. no matter how much the speed, my general rule is to always stay in control of my bike and hence I just limited myself to that speed which I was able to manage. It was a very amazing to and from ride. This was the first instance for me to push the new bike and see what it is worth. The fastest I have been on a bike is 125km/h and that is a milestone I need to attain on this new bike. May be on my next trip, when I am riding alone. The handling of the bike changes considerably when riding with a pillion who is in excess of 100kg. it puts a lot of load on the bike. I have told my friend to reduce his weight or I am not taking him as a pillion on long rides. The other pillion for whom the seat is reserved is the girl who can take on the elements with me, loves adventure and will have tea with me on a road side tea stall …