Finally, after years of wait I lodged myself into the high comfort Kahedo saddle of tractor on two wheels. Yes, I do want to make it sound like french for most of my emotions in my blood are full of toxication from the torque of the cow that rides like smooth butter. Forgive me for my swiss french here …let me bring myself down to earth and re-phrase my joy of riding a BMW 1200GS
I can re-collect my memories of seeing the first BMW1100GS poster in the plastic print on my wall nearly 12years ago and it stood like a wild imagination. The front double suspensions and spring rebound holding the whole frame for providing it the Centre of Mass in a well-defined manner it was simply an amazement to understand how these things work and how people ride them across the deserts loaded with such big panniers. Even till now the wild amusing of the brain keeps me clicking on how these big wheels trail those terrains – ANSWER – “Torque”
Meeting Phil, who happened to be in UK and in Cambridgeshire some 35 odd miles away from home. I had to thank him for his courtesy that he welcomed me from my long 24hours ride to Austria in 2009 allowing me to take a halt at his comfortable couch and treating me to his courteous meals.
It was a chance to take him for a ride along with me to some of the sea shores of Norfolk countryside. Weather as usual turned cloudy and grey but what better way when its two for the road – Just hit the road. Without a second thought we went on riding through the smooth flat road of Cambridgeshire into Norfolk and into the beautiful sea-side of Hunstanton.
Riding back through the Sandringham with the light spreading its super true wonderful red and blue magic over the greener pastures. It could not have got any better while cruising our way back into the night shelter. We talked endlessly of the riding gears, the years and the first time we met and how I have simply not been in touch. Forget the past and we live in present again. Riding back with a feel of little chill in the air – it was nice with our next day well planned.
How passionately, I still talk of the BMW simply shows in my way that my tongue simply slips over this BMW slippery surface. It simply is in the blood – the love for this german cow. A word that was introduced to me by Phil himself. He allowed me to take his cow for a ride while he was left to struggle with my half the engine power 600cc Fazer. I can’t express how he felt but all I want to share is how I felt on this BMW 1200GS.
At first, my brain conked up with the switches on the handlebar. “It’s just a bike” ride on – Phil shouted at me. Bloody it was in the first gear and I could not get it off the side stand even at first. 240kgs solid definitely stands out to its name. I would not want something that huge to go down or take me down with it. Taking the bike out of the first gear into the neutral and starting it with its round small twitchy button … it vibrated like … shake me inside out – Oh yes, the vibrations on 104,000kms old 1200GS nice to begin with. The best part was still that I was able to touch my feet down with enough to keep myself balanced on this high moving cow. It amazed me once it started to move. Damn, this thing moved to hundred at 3000rpm so smoothly and beat that it takes a whole body art to bank it in the corners. Well, this is a first time ride but I am enjoying my passion of BMW.
The next big thing which was a heart stopper for Phil, was that I am in the traffic and I was riding his cow in the traffic like my 600 which did not have those hanging big huge tits on either side of its body. As he says, I almost scratched few cars in the traffic .. nearly.. that he was already thinking of his insurance. But it definitely, takes courage to balance the beast in the traffic with those bulky tits .. either they will scratch off those cars or will take you down with them without u giving enough chance to notice it. I had to thank Phil for showing his trust in my ridng style which surely meant that I was not getting his bike in immediate city riding conditions.
Power, torque, comfort – it is a mix of all – ok, it’s not meant for racing on the open streets but given the torque it will nail any other road legal bike till 180MPH easy. No doubt, that BMW still sits on the top of my bike list but only if I could put on another 10-15kgs on my body and ensure that I am going to be able to move this bike on my own – it shall be mine that very day.
Phil, is a special friend whom I met on ADVrider.com and we came along since our first meeting in 2009 who supported me with his special help in the cold night helping adjusting my bike chain on a 10yr old Fazer 600 which is no more a part of my life now as the old tearing chain ensured that I let that bike go and get a newer Fazer which is very much strong and good miles muncher for now.
For those who know me – may know that 1200GS is my dream ride and those who dont know me – just know that I ride to live and I live to feel the freedom – Henceforth, the FreeBird Mani.
FreeBirD 