The Bullet & a miracle of Christmas eve..

From my early childhood I was passionate about bikes. I used to dream about riding the bike across the country. I learned everything about riding a bike before I even got on a bike. No friend or family every allowed me to get on a bike. It was when I turned 18 that I forced my father to get me a bike. That is how my biking journey began. I got the bike before even I had the license to ride it. I started learning to ride on my own bike.
My first bike was Yamaha RX 100. It was a mean machine but I loved riding it. As the time changed and the fuel price kept going higher and higher I was on a look out for the alternative to that bike. A suitable alternative I found was in the Bajaj Pulsar 180. The first model from the Bajaj stable was pure monster. It was so dam quick. My time with that bike lasted for about 6 years till one day I decided to sell it off.
It was then that I was on a look out for another bike when I decided to try out a bullet. A bullet is a biker’s fascination. As a test case I decided to get a used bullet and ride is for some time to see how it works for me. Even after planning to get one cheap I ended up paying higher than what I would have wanted for that bike. The bike looked great. While buying I knew there was some minor work to be done. But that minor work turned out to be major work when on the very same night riding out I blew the piston. It was a sad case but not to be disheartened I got the bike fixed. Honestly the ride of a bullet is just brilliant. There is no comparison with any other bike.
Before buying the bike I was warned that it can be heavy on the pocket. But since I was now earning I was not much concerned about the expenses. As the time with the bullet passed I started to realize how much attention the bike demanded. I had to take her to the mechanic ever alternate week. This compared to my earlier two bikes was just too much. I was used to visiting a mechanic alternate months. A single visit to the mechanic for the bullet would cost me an average of about Rs.2000. even with all its riding pleasure the bike was quite unpractical for my sense. With a 350 CC engine it is expected to keep on going. But as I found out, the bike got tired earlier than me. Being a regular rider habituated on riding for long hours this was annoying for me. If looks, style & riding comfort was excluded there was nothing much in the bike. The bullet was not much reliable as I would break down in the middle of the road. As one day it happened to me in the middle of the night. The bullet mechanic was now more friendly with me as my frequency of visits increased. After about 4 months of trial I finally decided to get rid. A friend of mine showed interest in the bike even after my initial warning. He was of the opinion that my riding style was not proper for that bike and that he would be fine riding it. At his own risk I handed over the bike to him. One fine day I received a call from him stating I was correct all along. The problem was with the bike itself and not with my riding style. Still the bike was with him. I told him to keep it till the time I get a good paying customer. My problem was that if I had kept the bike with me I would have rode it regularly denting my pockets further. It was a sorry case to find the taker for the bike as it became difficult. One other thing which came to my mind was that I got a used bike, so might have been trouble. If I had gotten a new bike it would have been easier on me.
During all this time while I was waiting for the bullet to be sold off the Royal enfield company announced the launch of the classic model. The review of the classic was fine and promised to be a reliable bike. I checked out the bike at the dealer and got the required details for getting one. Now I was just waiting for the old one to be sold off so that I can get a new one.
The irony of life is played once twice but not many times. Now already seven months had passed since I have decided to sell of the old bike. With no buyer I had given up on the idea that it will be sold of ever. I was left stranded without a bike. This part of my life was quite miserable. I had lost my ability to fly. I had once tried a dealer and get the valuation of the old bullet to see if I can exchange it for a new bike. The price offered by the dealer was considerably low. It would mean I have to take a loss of Rs.10000 & so I had decided against it. Now with so much time gone by I had just given up on the idea of a bike.
It was like a joke to me as I had decided to go for the new royal enfield classic bike. I had not discussed it with my friend who was holding on to the old bullet. During all this the life kept going on. I had my own plans but they never materialized. This Christmas I witnessed magic. I was out with my friend at our regular spot. We were just discussing on goings in life. Before that I had never discussed about my plans to buy a classic with him but that day I just told him. His reaction was as expected. He told me that is would be a mistake to buy that bike as it is not a practical bike. He gave me example of new classics laying at the service center. I was little annoyed with his response. I told him “if I am not buying the classic, than I do not need to wait and can go directly to the dealer and book a new bike”. He asked me “Do you want to go now”. Yes I said and we took off with the Bullet to the dealer. Even with the Rs.10000 loss I was ready this time as I had already started saving money for the classic. The Christmas magic must have hit the dealer as well, because this time around the price quoted by the dealer was near my expectation. I had break even on the old bike and now I was on my way to get a new bike.
Now I am just a week or two away from getting my wheels back and start flying. Overall this year was going to be down the drain but for this end. This was totally unexpected to me. This Christmas changed the whole year which had gone bad. As it is said “All is well if it ends well”
-Looking forward to riding the years ahead