Yesterday, as I was reading through Sonal_neo’s brilliant review on Kinetic Nova, it brought back the nostalgia of my college days and my long-term association with Kinetic Honda. I am a die-hard fan of Kini, despite its expensive maintenance and low mileage issues. After all, loyalty and emotional bonding bhi koi cheez hoti hein..Lol. But this review is not about KH.
This review is a tribute to another fantastic (read it as all Plastic) mobike (?) Bajaj Sunny, a true classic (again read it as Plastic). Now, how did the Kinetic rider, me, end up driving a Bajaj Sunny are you asking? Its is a very long story and to cut it short I shall just say that if you have a younger brother who is to attend some dumb engineering exams but has his bike broken, then please don’t even for pity sake offer to lend your vehicle, not for a day, not for a week, as it will be conveniently confiscated and you would have to look for alternate commuting sources.
Let me go through the nitty-gritty details of this ridicule-of-an-automobile.
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If price is what you mind, then never mind... you don’t have a mind!
I have no idea whether this bike (Hahaha.. sorry, can’t help it) still exists in the market or what is its cost range etc. When the above events took place, I had just stepped out of university and joined my very first job. The firm where I worked for was precisely 3.2 km away from home and I needed a suitable means of transport, as it was not very convenient traveling by local bus or auto rickshaw. Therefore, I decided to go in for another vehicle of my own. Since I had started earning (peanuts), my pride wouldn’t let me accept my dad’s sponsorship, but at the same time, the joke-of-a-paycheque that I received every month, did not allow the luxury of going in for another Kinetic. In such a dismal situation, my enemy-of-a-cousin brought in the news that there is a certain second-hand vehicle out for sale in one of his friend’s garage and it was damn affordable at Rs.5000. Coincidentally, I had just then received a Diwali bonus cheque of exactly the same amount (Now you know that those peanuts were not even salted or flavoured). And so my brother, cousin and myself along with the garage fellow, went in for a peek and trial of this gaadi.
If Looks could kill, this one sure does... you will kill yourself laughing your guts out!
You can cut out 3 rectangular pieces of red cardboard (only in this case its plastic sheet), place one of them vertically and the other two laterally, affix 2 wheels, one handle, a headlight and a seat.. and there is your Bajaj Sunny!!! Calling this one a Scooter or Moped is like addressing a soapbox (fixed with wheels) a Fiat Uno. Had a very hard time maintaining straight face in front of its owner, a meek lady, who was shifting to Chennai and obviously in great pain to part with her prized (oh howl..) possession.
Despite my reluctance, my evil brothers brainwashed me constantly hammering in all the economic implications, good bargain deal, mileage factors, easy maintenance issue and above all my own absolute necessity for anything in 2 wheels finally made me consent and I was a proud (..lwoh ho, the reverse of above parenthesis) owner of a red magnificent (read it as majorly deficient) mockery-of-a-two-wheeler.
If it’s good, it’s too good... too good for nothing!
And so began my affair with this Sun of a B.. er.. I mean.. Bajaj Sunny. Not that everything about this machine is bad. Actually, the mileage is pretty good at 50-55 km/l (Good because my Kinetic never went up the 42 km/l mark anytime). Also for the lean mean (literally speaking that is) pathetic machine that it looks, it gives you a pretty good performance. It neither asks for frequent servicing nor is the maintenance heavy on your pocket. Most of the parts are outrightly cheaper and easily available compared to my ex-KH. The best part is, you can fiddle with it yourself and try out all the R&D stuff since there are hardly any sophisticated or complex machinery around. And then there are some auto features of this bike - horn switch, front lights and even the clutch - auto means they switch on and off automatically by themselves at times.
One particular incident I recall is, on a particular late evening, I was caught in one of those heaviest downpours of monsoon. The waterlogged circle opposite to Shopper’s stop and the adjoining roads were all overflowing and I waded across in my Sunny literally half drowned. I had all the reasons to believe that was the last of my BS, but to my utter surprise, it got me through those dire straits in one piece.. And.. as soon as I hit M.G.Road, there is a loud thump and a black looking bulky piece of metal falls off the gaadi! Still no idea whether it was engine or chassis or whatever junk, but I was a pretty site in front of Symphony, all drenched and pushing that stupid Leo mettle toy to the garage.
If you want your space, you can have it... on Mars or Pluto!
It is a very good one-person bike. Single riders can be comfortably seated and if you happen to be a particular 5’5’’ tall with long legs, you also enjoy the luxury of throwing your limbs anywhere you want to.. even if it means outside the vehicle. But I must admit, I have still managed all my drivers duty of ferrying mom, aunts, friends and relatives here and there and all over Bangalore and all quite easily (if they were quiet and not so grumpy it would have been more easy). Having said this, I should also say it manages (though not very efficiently) to carry quite a heavy load despite its scrawny built. I particularly remember an ex-colleague, who was an ALL ROUND lady in VERY GOOD health, and always loved to take a lift from me. If that poor-thing-of-a-bike managed a 50kg & 85kg + 2-3kg (latter, the weights of our bags), I guess I should not be abusing it so much after all.
If speed thrills, you better take chill pills... maximum speed 60 kmph really kills.
The absolute HATE factor of this machinery is its pick-up and speed. Pick-up in this case means literally pick it up and start walking. All the funs are in those big traffic signals and circles where your bike decides to throw up its fondest and deepest tantrums the moment the lights turn green. Also, try some uphill climbs and steep roads for simple pleasure of driving. How I loved the sadistic feel of those full throttles, and enjoyed myself at those gurgling, spitting-up noises it made as if someone were strangling and stifling it to death. Aha!! Rest assured, you will never get a speeding ticket for riding this one. The odometer shows maximum speed of 100 kmph, but I can swear by my whole ancestry and evolutionary chain that it cannot go beyond 60kmph, anytime, anywhere.
Continued in comments’ section.. Sorry!!