I have always been an avid motorcycle fan. Yet, my first taste of hitting the road came thanks to my father’s first-generation Maruti 800.
It was the car I learnt driving in: one of those ‘80s model vehicles, with the large glass pane on the boot, which were shipped from Japan and assembled here. My father had to finally give it up when the engine gave out, and it broke my heart. I’ve always meant to find that model again.
By the time I was in college, I had developed a taste for motorcycles, and had my eye on getting one. I wanted to buy a Yamaha Fazer, but did not have the money, and my father suggested I buy a Splendor instead, which I did not agree to.
I did freelance work for eight months and saved up money, which impressed him to the point where he bought me the bike I wanted anyway. I still have it.
I have continued my affair with fully-fared motorcycles by getting a KTM RC390, and have now graduated to the much more powerful Kawasaki Ninja 650. Even as a kid, I always wanted a Ninja. I was never as interested in the Hayabusa, but the Ninja was a dream.
I love her and have named my mean machine ‘Nancy’. “I thought it would be hilarious for such a powerful machine to have such a sweet name.”
As told to Sooraj Rajmohan
