I first sat on a Bullet 350 STD when I was 6 years old. My maternal unle bought it from Calcutta and drove it down to Behrampore in Murshidabad(WB), to his house. The trip took 5 Hours(god knows what’s the distance) did not know at that time. I sat on the tank the entire trip.
When I turned 18 I wanted a bike, but with a saving of 35000.00, it was not possible to buy a bullet. My parents were scared of bikes so bought my self a K.Honda scooter.(I still have it). Turned 21 and bought my first Bullet 350 CC. The bike was a 1982 model. Learnt riding a Bullet on my own Bullet. The gears were on the wrong side and the ignition was on paneer box on the right hand side.
I have quite a number of friends who had a number of bikes like the Yamaha Rx100, Suzuki Shogun, Hero Honda CC100, I rode these bikes and found the Bullet much more comfortable, steady and respectable. Baring the intials pickup of the two strokes I was at the lead during Mumbai Pune or Goa trips.
My girlfriend of the time(now my wife) had Cleary stated that you either ride a bullet or don’t ride a bike.
With my 6ft frame and over 85 Kg’s I understand her concern. I once got my self photographed on all the above mentioned bikes and my bike. Somehow the bullet suits my personality more than that of other bikes.(Maybe because of my size) The Yahama looked like a moped:(
I met with an accident while riding my Bullet. I was hit by a truck(TATA 207) from the behind and was dragged 100 meters. I always drive with a helmet and jacket. My jacket caught fire and I had a bad bruise on my back. My leg was trapped between the engine and the road. I survived with out any broken bones. The bike was damaged with the rear end nearly flattened. The important thing is I survived and walked away from the accident badly shaken. Imagine if I was on a bike with a plastic and aluminum rear. I would have been birdfeed.
I sold the bike and bought a new bike in July 03. It gives me an average of 35Km to a liter. Maintenance is around Rs.150.00 per month+ fuel. This is reasonable. Parts like brakes have to be replaced quarterly and the clutch plate after 3500 Km’s. With my kind of driving that’s every year.
The technical specs of the bullet are also better when compared to similar bikes.
BULLET
Air Cooled
4 Stroke
Single Cylinder
70 mm x 90 mm
346 cc
12 V - 40/45 W
4 Speed Right foot gear shift
18 bhp @ 5625 rpm
2.74 kg-m @ 2875 rpm
Kick Start
I also drive a car, my Kinetic and a Karizma but still the Bullet is my jaan. With its unique path-phat sound which wakes up the neighbors when I return in the middle of the night after a stint at the local watering hole.
The police wala respects me( I think he thinks that I am from the Force).
So all in all. yeh Bullet meri Jaan….