Happy Birthday RE

SHE

Happy Birthday RE - CH04 H 0725....you are 3 years old now.

My own buy, my first buy, my first bike. Yes sir, she is Royal Enfield Electra 350cc. No touch wood, no nothing, she has been a darling on roads. Together we have treaded to Zanskar, Leh, Goa and many more. Have had 1 crash and 1 fall; one scratchy and one knee breaking. Still completing the equation.

Have never been a born biker, so as to speak. Being the only son among 7 kids, parents never allowed me a bike. The fascinating memories I have are of my Mama ji's RE, taking it out for a spin. What a rugged machine it was....the handle would'nt turn easy, the levers were dead hard and the damn thing just kept on going straight as a freight train. My Dad himself being a RE rider knew the machine just too well, to not have me one. Yet, I wanted it. College time went by on cars and I slid into profession. Financial independence and 2008 Leh ride on a friends RE, was all the nudge I needed. Then, 75k for me was a considerable amount, and so got my first bike financed. My friend Capt. Suresh was besides me, witnessing a benchmark of my life on the very first day of year 2009.

On MAMA ji' RE

Leh ride in mid 2009 and solo Goa ride in late 2009 - RE had a worthy owner. Innumerable accounts of owners would have one believe on RE's ride, but for me it was my ride to freedom. My first taste of blood. In retrospect, I see these events unravel many folds within me leading to future. Its a beginning I guess. With miles to go, there is no looking back as I continue completing the equation.