Dear Rohit,Dear Khagesh Sir,
Thank you once again for your words of encouragement, they mean a lot to me coming from a wise man like you.
Mad Max is actually a person having the balls to fly a microlight with a Yamdoot 350 engine (oh no, not again).
You are correct sir, new motorcycles do not need the 'classical' running in, unless they are Enfields heh heh heh.
I miss the old two stroke engines, just 3 moving parts, so statistically less prone to breakdowns. Four strokes are more complex, but nothing's more complex than human beings. Guess that's why people like you and I want to go to the mountains. Solo. Always.
Last year I was planning to buy Bajaj CT100, just like that, since it is essentially the same motorcycle as your Platina. Do you know the ex-showroom price? Just Rs. 32000. I love Bajaj auto for this. Too bad they discontinued it in the move to BS6.
So true sir, as Newton baba said, energy got to be transferred from one form to the other. Perhaps that's why all creative (=high energy) people have at least one kink. Van Gough, Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, you name it....
By the way, I don't think you're nuts at all, but I do think your, ahem, nuts are made of titanium...to attempt such a trip at that age, alone, on a unserviced Platina, with a broken helmet and a screwdriver+ tube. Did I miss anything?
Sir, have you heard of Shinji Kazama? The only man who has made it to both poles, Mt Everest, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Mt. Fuji. On a motorcycle. Yes, on a motorcycle. I think he might be your long lost twin. When asked where does he want to ride his motorcycle next, he is known to have replied "to the moon". I think he might be your long lost cousin. Did you ever go to kumbh ka mela as a child?
![]()
The Remarkable Resilience Of Shinji Kazama
This 71-year-old seems unstoppable like the physical, concentrated force that compels all of us to ride. If he could, he wants to ride a motorcycle on the moon.www.motorcyclistonline.com
How did ma'am allow you to leave on the Leh trip? And don't tell me she didn't allow and you just left ha ha.
By the way, sir, do you own any motorcycle now? Why not? And where's the Platina? Can we see a latest picture of you and/or Platina?
About hijacking your Travelogue, I would say that the pearls of wisdom in your replies to my inane posts have added even more charm to your trip.
Bye for now Sir. Take care.
Rohit
Whenever I see someone addressing me sir, some awkwardness ... was I knighted, which I bother least.
Is that you flew microlights, with Yamaha 350? It was called Pulsar, a two seater. I know engine seizure was a common phenomena, especially the rear piston. I know the tension, but that was at the takeoff only and that too till we reach the circuit height, generally 500 ft on our down wind leg. Then its all fine even if seizes also not fatal. As we are in the topic, the last landing, we make dead stick landing; switching off the engine and its a pure pleasure. Many have this wrong notion; if the engine fails its fatal. Its the wing that flies but not the engine. Nevertheless, sufficient altitude must be there to give the wing the air speed above the stall.
Owning a motorcycle? Naaa... Tell you what Rohit, when I was working with this microlights factory, after my training, I asked my boss to sell me one of the old microlights on instalment for I couldn't afford to buy one. Do you know what this wise french guy replied? He was pointing to four to five aircrafts on the factory floor, you can take any one of them and fly, why own? As long as its there at your disposal, why think of owning? So, is the Platina, its still with me. I named it "Himalayan Explorer". We both are happy. Now imagine that water crossing with a bullet with water nearly upto the seat level.. would I be able to push an inch either forward or backward? On platina itself in Mustang non existent roads I had a tough time.
No Rohit, the bike was well serviced by the local mechanic though on my both the trips. Engine oil change, chain sprocket changed, brakes, electricals, carb and airfilter cleaning and so on. On both the trips I had only to change engine oil. Well a service in Delhi on my way back at showroom. Yes, you did miss... God; I could feel the presence of God all the while.
Ah, madam allowing me: I read in many travelogues; getting permission from family itself is half trip done. No, I am blessed, she never refused. Do you know what, as I type this, I become nostalgic... at the start of the trip, I just hugged her and said ok bye, be careful. She was silent. Many days after my return she explained her silence; she thought I would never return! I am blessed that way Rohit.
Do you know Van Gough, Da Vinci, Michaelangelo... all these belong to a certain sect? ... credits to Dan Brown ... So is this Shinji Kazama.. credits my friend Rohit... Just too powerful people all those so much so that they are considered abnormal. But we do share our idiosyncrasies and you are not an exempt Rohit.
No, never to Kumbhmela. Somehow, I have taken to solo, solitude or whatever you call it. When I was trekking to Vasudhara falls, I could feel the presence of Him in every atom I was breathing, seeing and I myself is part of it. Such a nice feeling which I am sure, we miss, if its not a solo trip. No?
Picture of me and my platina? I did not notice this part in your post. Its night nine.. tomorrow I will post it Rohit.
Nice reading your posts and feel even more nicer to replies.
Take care.
Khagesh