It’s been a while since I posted about the bike. So here it goes, the long overdue update
BHPian deerhunter recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
The last 2 years
After the Goa trip in June 2023, I went for a full service at F motors, Kochi. The bike had run about 17000 km by then, and the stock front brake pads were almost fully worn out. F motors suggested EBC sintered pads, and I opted for it. The air filter was also changed to BMC. The final bill came to about Rs. 24500.
Anybody who has done a service at F motors will instantly recognize this location.
The stock front brake pads after almost 17000Kms.
The EBC sintered pads.
Condition of the stock filter after the Goa ride.
BMC air filter.
The final bill.
Shift to Delhi
I had to shift to Delhi in July 2023, so the bike remained unused for the next 6 months. Finally, in December 2023, got enough leaves to come home and ride the bike back to Delhi. I took the Palakkad-Salem-Hosur-Devanahalli-Hyderabad-Nagpur-Seoni-Sagar-Gwalior-Agra-Delhi route with halts at Hyderabad and Nagpur.
Somewhere near Seoni, MP.
I had a non-accidental deployment of Helite e-turtle vest during this trip, about which I posted here.
Once in Delhi, gave the bike for a routine service at Aurum Kawasaki Chattarpur. The service required no prior booking (which is impossible in Kawasaki Kochi), and the service center as such appeared to be much less busy than Kawasaki Kochi. The odo read around 20000kms, and I had done only 3000kms since the last service, but still opted for a full service including oil change, since the bike was sitting idle for 6 months.
The total came to be around Rs. 9000.
Shift to Delhi also meant a whole new set of places to ride to and explore. The first of which was Amritsar (December 2023).
I guess, this is the closest I will ever be to Pakistan.
Not a fan of the renovated entry to Jallianwala Bagh.
One of the darkest chapters of 20th century India happened here. The obelisk at Jallianwala Bagh.
The bullet holes are still preserved.
The majestic statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Also visited the border village of Pul Kanjri. This used to be thriving market town before partition, but now a secluded, sleepy village. There is a sarovar built during the Sikh Empire and an Indian Army war memorial here.
Post the Amritsar trip, at least one ride every month has become the norm.
Some where on the Delhi-Mathura highway, on the way to Vrindavan.
Prem mandir is beautiful but lacked the spiritual vibe I was expecting there.
Somewhere on the road to Sardhana which I visited in January 2024.
Sardhana has the largest church in the whole of North India.
“Begum Samru”, the ruler of Sardhana, and one of the most fascinating women in Indian history.
With the end of winter and the beginning of sunny days, more day rides were planned and executed. One such ride was to this hugely underrated place called Deeg, which has a palace complex and fort, which I did in February 2024. The place is around 180kms from Delhi, close to Bharatpur. Deeg used to serve as the capital of the Jat Kingdom and the royal descendents used to stay in the palace till the 1970s!!!
The palace complex was reasonably well maintained and was devoid of tourists, except a few locals.
“Noorjahan ka jhoola” said to have been taken as one of the spoils of war after a Delhi raid by Maharaja Suraj Mal.
A peacock spreading the tail feathers, somewhere on the road to Deeg.
The bike has been performing flawlessly all this while. The Vredestein Centauro ST has also, contrary to expectations, performed flawlessly till now.
To be contd…
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