Scent of a Motorcycle
I’ve been gifted with an acute olfactory sense, thanks to my mother. She can smell my beer breath from approximately a mile. Give or take a few hundred meters. With that, I end my brief, irrelevant introduction.
I never paid too much attention to the scent of my motorcycle, only till recently. I had the engine bore, along with the piston rings and certain other related mechanics, replaced. Running in the bike, opened a whole new brochure of scents, stimulating olfactory nerves never tingled before.
First, it was the aroma of residuary engine oil that had spilt over on the engine, vaporized, due to the hot engine casing, that caught my attention. Then I smelt the hot metal of my exhaust, and sometimes, that drop of petrol that had fallen on my handlebar. It dawned upon me that the redolence of each part of my motorcycle is distinct from the other. No. I did not go about sniffing my bike.
It is not just smell of the motorcycle. It’s also of the rider. After a long ride in the night, you can smell the cold, rising from your jacket, and clinging hard on you. As for your pillion, it’s advisable that you sniff your pillion, only if the pillion belongs to gender opposite to your own. Preferably, sniff gently from the side of the neck, upwards, towards the ear. You could end it with a quick nibble. Sensuous Absolut!
It is the same sensuous feeling that my motorcycle exudes. Visually, that is. The sinewy flanks, the street bike look and the paintjob. And when combined with the intoxicating smell of the cold night asleep on it, irresistible. There is no way you cannot swing a leg on it.
Now, as I head out from office into the night, for a cuppa coffee, I know the scent of my motorcycle awaits me, captivating my senses, tempting me, for a quiet ride to the coffee shop and a quick ride back home.
The scent of a woman and the scent of a motorcycle are, for a motorcyclist, parallels, in different dimensions.
Anjan “Icarus” Dev
27 March, 2008
Bugle Blast 0.2
Page update.
The Dirt, Grease, et al team for you folks. So you know who’s typing away behind the screen.
In brief:
Cerebral Zephyr, The Poet and AD.
For more of less:
Go to link for more: –> http://metalaficionado.wordpress.com/about/
Keep visiting.
Regards,
Dirt, Grease, et al Team
Previous creations by makers:
http://tomereader.wordpress.com
http://metalaficionado.wordpress.com
http://kirloskarmba.blogspot.com
Glossed to go/Made like a Gun
Never polished a gun before. Never want to either. But, yes did feel like it today. Got down and dirty, with an old pair of shorts and a bright green tee.
Tools?
An old toothbrush (thanks to my roomie), a new cloth, some tissue paper (nothing like it after the violence of washing it with a cloth), 2 full buckets, a mug, liquid soap and some motivation.
Started off with the front wheel, although I was tempted in all my enthusiasm to attack the greasy clutch exterior and engine cylinder fins. But sanity prevailed and I decided otherwise. 10 minutes into the operation (I had put aside 25 minutes for this entire task), my energy sapped as I realized that I had to brush 80 odd individual rods that support the wheel rim. Persist and prevail, said a weathered voice inside me, it said, ‘even this’ll pass’. 10 minutes later, satisfied with my effort, I went on to the part I thought would give this artist [;)] and his brush the least resistance and most satisfaction of having greased something off for real (normal dirt is for sissies). Mistaken, and mistaken in a large measure I was. The excessive grease clogged the brush bristles and took the edge out of the only weapon I possessed to clean the muck. Persist, said the voice. I decided to listen to the wise counsel again. And soon realized that the oil and grease automatically came off as I kept brushing vigorously, similar to life, you persist and you can lick problems away.
Engine done, 30 minutes hence I looked at the 80 odd rods that greeted me again. By this time I was desperate and wanted to get over with it. I was tired counting minutes, I had crossed over an hour. Kneeled and got it over with in a much lesser time and decided to finish off with the water remaining in the buckets. Splish, splosh and I emptied the contents of one bucket, only to realize that I had missed the all important silencer.
Got down again, brush in right hand and a soap mug in the left I went to work. Scrubbing it, and being happy with myself, I washed it nice. The tank and all done, I took out the all important tissues to give it the final clean look and get rid of all the fibers that stuck to the tank, tool boxes, body, et al.
When at last I got to the silencer, it suddenly hit me as I stretched my hand across the long tube as if I were polishing the barrel of a gun. I couldn’t help smiling, the slogan for this bike itself started off as “Made like a gun”. Appropriate.
Felt content washing ‘flint’ (that’s what I call it) with my own hands. Flint gets me places, makes sure I reach on time and meet people. This is all I can give in return. A little care, some polishing, so it stands proud with its peers.
Don’t let strange hands touch your machine, wash it yourself. You’ll know as I did.
CZ/MA
Logo:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycles/royal-enfield/royal-enfield-logo-300.jpg
Bugle Blast 0.1
Page updates will henceforth be named Bugle Blasts.
Bugle Blast 0.1
A few resources for the confused second hand motorcycle owner. Perplexed on what to do after you purchase a motorbike with all the legit papers? Well you have come to the right place.
Our “Second speak” page is a ready resource for all the queries you might have on owning your own second hand bike. Thanks to the Karnataka RTO, we needn’t stretch ourselves more. Bringing you the links to all the right documents and procedures on how to transfer a vehicle without greasing palms or corrupting further our state machinery.
Going to the department itself is a chore. I had to go in thrice just to understand what is required for transferring ownership. This page has the links to guide you to the process, provided you have the patience to read the stuff!
Link to Second Speak: http://metalaficionado.wordpress.com/second-speak/
Serving the community,
CZ/MA [;)]
AD
“A lawyer with a briefcase can steal more than a thousand men with guns.” – Mario Puzo
A brief introduction.
Anjan Dev.
Speed Demon.
Ride: Puny, Pulsar 180 (considering what you want to ride and what you set your eyes on bud! No Offense to the machine!)
Trip in life: To be astride a superbike, burn some tarmac on a lone highway.
Hangouts: Koshy’s, Koshy’s and sometimes maybe a Scottish Pub, Pecos.
Bio:
Friend, Biker, Partner, Lawyer, Shutterbug
USP:
Intelligence, Humor
Need I say more AD?
Breathe in deep, exhale slow………..
Welcome to the club…time to treat people to some thought.
Regards,
Cerebral Zephyr/MetAf
Image 001:
http://www.johnsonenginetechnology.com/JETIMAGES/headliner_pics/tire_smoke.jpg
Image 002:
http://www.cbxclub.com/davespage/mcy80-t1.jpg
A Slice of Heaven – Republished
This post is dedicated to Maa Zephyr. Read on.
Post Body:
Readers might accuse me of deviating from what I had initially set to do……well, so be it. This post is dedicated to Maa Zephyr. She’s a source of strength, a fountain for my parched throat and a river that washes away all my pains. Here’s to Maa Zephyr….my mum.
I am all set to depart to a new life, a brand new destination, a new job, fresh challenges, successes and disappointments. Mum prepares her cake to offset some of the pain and hardship she feels I will face in the big bad world. Welcome to the making of a mini docudrama, a drama of sweat and toil to create a cake that I relish and always cherish. It’s never vague, never a faint memory…..just a clear strong indication of a life that’s always pure, better, non judgmental and accepting despite all my failings or bad experiences.
There was a time I used to love cakes, the cream, and the taste of it. However years down the line I have developed a loathing and aversion to them because they added to the waistline with as minimum effort as gobbling them up.
However, this is a cake that breaks down the last vestiges of resistance as I gorge on it the moment it’s hot and piping from the oven. There is something in it; something that brings the aroma of home, memory of a love that is packed in the pores that hold the entire cake together.
Picture this – As you bite into its softness, you meet the little pieces of walnut and marinated dates that meet your taste buds and give a wholesome feeing of having eaten something that’s both a combination of crunchiness and softness. Why is it soft and tasty? It’s tasty and soft owing to the butter that is practically soaking the insides of the cake.
Does it stop there? No! Now it starts consuming you instead of the other way round. You can’t stop at 2 or 3 pieces…….it somehow gets the better of me all the time. Best with tea, coffee, even water…..It compliments anything that washes it down. This cake is my piece of heaven.
Watch the slideshow of the snapshots that went into its making.
Mum makes it look easy….I tried my hand at the batter tonight and I realised the trouble they go through to make us a piece of paradise…..love you mum!
Details:
First published: May 21, 2007
Blog Name: Scroll Lock
Blog URL: http://tomereader.wordpress.com
Post URL: http://tomereader.wordpress.com/2007/05/21/a-slice-of-heaven/
Home and Back
Its been 3 days and counting. Didn’t quite feel right to leave the steaming hot fish curry and promfret fry on it own. But as they all say, the world’s a cruel place. I don’t mind calling it one for the fact that I miss the fare at home too much.
So I am back in Bangalore, back to the dosa chickens, biryanis and the multitude of cuisines (not that I am complaining) that this young metropolis has to offer.
Will most more on this count.
Truly, Madly, Deeply
MA/CZ
Something more for the senses:
(Image Source: http://bhakshanam.files.wordpress.com/2006/05/curry.jpg)
(Image Source: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1424/1453208042_cdeccebc85.jpg)
Homeward Bound
It’s been a while. A trip to home. Finally some rejuvenation, some food that heals, some hands that caress the cheek and oil the hair. Yes, I am headed to the place I was born. No matter how far a man/woman goes, home never seems far. The journey has to be made. Immortalized by songs such as “Take Me Home, Country Roads” recorded by John Denver, “Homeward Bound” by Simon & Garfunkel respectively.
[Take Me Home, Country Roads --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eaaR1Ay5P0]
[Homeward Bound --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6K8wfyzAJQ]
The lust for the home soil, the familiar environs never fades away or dies out. The strings pull stronger the farther you go. There comes a time when the wanderlust must stop, the spirit decides to settle. Wonder why thoughts such as these prevail today, guess it’s cause I am homeward ou.
Signing off,
Cerebral Zephyr/Metal Aficionado
(Image Source: http://www.wildnatureimages.com/Ca%20to%20H/HIGHWAY-RAINBOW-ARCH..jpg)
Ad Pit Stop – Mumbai Focus
Stumbled across a friend’s orkut profile and saw a brief video from the Times of India (TOI) stable. I am not referring to them as the makers but obviously an ad paid for by the TOI people. Without further ado, I present the “100% Mumbai ad” which I found very endearing and heart warming. Rest all I added as I saw fit. Some award winning, some pure brilliant. Enjoy!. I don’t wish to steer this site away from our major theme of Travel, but felt I should share this world of ideas that await our exploration.
TOI Advertisement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6pRBaullcQ&feature=related
Cheers,
Cerebral Zephyr
(Moral of the Story: One thing always leads to another. So keep plodding.)
For more, kindly go to the vodpod widget sitting on this blog. Thanks for visiting. Keep coming.
Wikis:
Slideshow:
Image Urls:
A notepad on all the urls of the images in Slideshow.
Mumbai More Links:
http://ghadge.com/mumbai.html
Tea Sir?
Tea Hangouts? Ask me, prior to the advent of the “bike” I was pretty much uninitiated in terms of the concept. They dot Bangalore throughout, be it some distant corner in Vijaynagar or smack in the middle of M.G Road. Wary eyes for the red and blue lights that come to threaten their bread. Yep, you got me…am talking about the ubiquitous chaiwallahs (CW).
Had been to M.G Road’s resident CW, it’s been more than once now. This time it was a midnight jaunt taking a fraction of the time (10 minutes to be precise) for a ride from Koramangala to M.G. Road. Sitting astride my bullet with Sam Shaw as company on his own Machismo 350. Initially we decided to go upper end for an “Earl Gray” from Barista’s but then old memories beckoned and we decided otherwise.
We had passed the man while on our way to Barista, saw him coming out of his dark corner besides the petrol bunk to dispense this ancient brew to a knowing few who chose to ride at this hour. Hiding out like a brigand, brewing tea suitable for our refined palates. Fortunately or unfortunately in this new world of uber-cleanliness (most of it “make believe”) we have lost our sense of the real; the feel of the earth. The chaiwallah manages to evoke those times gone by of cracking dawn with tomes in our hands and cigarettes in the corner of the mouth. The halcyon days of engineering or higher studies……when our virgin understanding of the “real” world scared us into those last minute preparations and the sudden studiousness which was forgotten again by the end of the exams.
We had two rounds, good tea I might add. Came to 20 bucks compared to the 80 – 100 odd we would have spent in an uppity joint paying for the ambience, music, et al. Felt refreshed, felt rejuvenated for another ride on the quite, open, welcoming roads of Namma Bangalore.
Cheers,
MA
More on Tea: This column appeared in Economic Times, 17 November, 2007. Enjoy!
Tea lovers’ Dilemma in the days of Starbucks Revolution
Image 001: (Source: http://static.flickr.com/18/92467292_cbbe7357eb.jpg, Thanks)
Original Caption: N.A
All the above images are the sole property of the sources mentioned above. I have only used them to give the readers a visual perspective. Thanks again to the shutter bugs who clicked them.
Statutory Warning: Cigarette smoking is injurious to health. This article has no intention of promoting smoking in any fashion or manner, direct or indirect.
