I just read on the internet (so it must be true ;-o ) that the FNB South African Whiskey festival is giving away a Royal Enfield again......
So now what are my chances of winning it, I live in South Africa (tick), I drink whiskey (tick), I am actually wanting to buy a Royal Enfield (tick), the festival falls on my birthday (tick)...... the stars are all aligned. It must be a possiblity....
Chances are that someone not even vaguely interested in Royal Enfields will win the bike and those that are scraping every spare copper and silver coin together to buy one will lose out. How is that for positive. Okay so here is the deal...without a hook in the water you ain't going to catch a fish. So I will be there to enjoy some fine whiskey and if lady luck lays her eyes on me, maybe my dream of owning a Royal Enfiled will come to fruition without me having to donate a kidney...
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
In the beginning...
Well there is a beginning to every story. Now I do not mean to bore anyone to death. I am sure there are plenty people that will identify with my story (and maybe give me some advice).
Okay it started long ago in the garden of Eden when ol' Adam said to Eve, Babe you for me.....oops too far back. However it did lay the foundation for the dilemma I find myself in...LOL. WOMAN seriously play a part in this story. Wouldn't want it any other way but there has to be a catch... See I am sidetracked already.
I am one of those guys who loves bikes. Although I do have a healthy repsect for them and excessive speed. Okay maybe I can say that now and it probably was not always the case. I was young and restless at one time. Inspite of my love for bikes I have never owned one!!! When I was in my teens my Ol' Lady (yes I am allowed to call her that) forbid me to buy a bike, to the extent she stopped me short of handing over the cash to a buddy of mine for his Honda MBX 50. Needless to say that was the closest I ever got to purchasing a bike. What my Ol' Lady did not realise or probably did not want to admit was that even though I did not own a bike I still rode them.
My buddies Ol' Man had a Suzuki GSX 1100 which we used to ride when he was out of town, I used to ride this other guy's Yamaha RZ 125, etc, etc, etc. Probably the most fun I had on a bike in my teen years was a Suzuki B120 (I might be wrong on the make and model). This other school buddy had made this bike from two B120's. It was not fast but if I rememberit had a fair amount of torque. I remember riding it through the veld (grasslands). We had some much fun on this bike. I don't even think it was legally on the road but it was in good nick.
In later years I rode a lot less, so I would not regard myself as a seasoned motorcyclist but I can ride a bike. While I was studying I needed a car and could not afford a bike at the same time and I suppose I forgot about it for a awhile.
Years later, after I had been married for about 4 years the itch started again. I was interested in a Yamaha YZF 600 Thundercat. I thought it was a stunning bike in blue and it was not superbike status, so I thought it would be easier to pitch to the wife. At the time that I was looking around I happened to go into a BMW showroom. I looked at the 650GS and was impressed not only by the specs, the potential after sales service but also by the price. Cheaper than the YZF. So I was convinced it had to be a BMW. That weekend I was relaying the BMW salesman's pitch to my Ol' Man who seemed very interested as he was in the same boat as me, the Ol' Lady did not want to hear about bikes. My Ol' Man had been trying all my years at home to get a bike. I even remember him saying one day ( I think was 12 at the time), "Honey we going into town today, you can have anything you want..." My Mom's response was short and sharp, "you are not getting a bike".
So my Ol' Man was always keen to chat about bikes. Unbeknown to me my mom had softened her stance, as my Ol' Man was in the process of retiring and she had decided that he could buy himself a bike as a retirement gift to himself. Yup I did the whole sales pitch and my dad bought the bike a few weeks later. Unfortunately that blew my chances of getting one, as my wife turned around and said, "oh well, no need for you to get a bike, because you can ride your dad's".
Riding my dad's bike was not the same as riding my own This was my Dad's pride and joy, his retirement gift. The one he had been wanting to get for 20 years. I am sure my Dad would disagree with my perspective on it but I did not want to be the one to drop his bike. So I rode some, but it was not the same.
Several years went by, and I occasionally bought the bike magazine, drooled over the new superbikes and dreamed about owning a Harley. Always knowing it was out of reach.
In 2006 I went to India on a business trip. I spent about 3 weeks there. Now for those of you have not been to India or know little about its traffic situation, let me tell you. Plenty of traffic. It goes with out saying that there are lots bikes there. Mostly 125's. When you are walking beside the roads you hear this constant humming of traffic. One day while, stnading on the pavement alongside a main road in Bangalore, I heard a motorcycle that stood out in the buzzing traffic. There it was, a dude looking cool as hell (Bollywood style) on this red and chrome Royal Enfield. Wow is all I can say. I spent the rest of my stay searching for other examples of this bike. While in the office I searched the web for as much info as I could find on the bike, the whole Enfield history, etc. It turned out that one of our drivers owned one. He proudly showed me his bike. Needless to say I was in love with this bike.
Once back in South Africa I found a company importing them and was eager to visit their show room but alas I never made it. Probably for several reasons, mainly not to disappoint myself (as I knew the wife's view).
Well my folks retired to the coast and we visit them every year. My wife loves going on the bike with my Ol' Man. They go for a trip that takes them 4 hours sometimes. They stop for breakfast, coffee and check out the scenery. So I asked my wife how come she loves going on the bike but I cannot buy one. Does want her own bike? No she prefers to ride pillion. I ask again why is she against me buying a bike. Safety is the answer. "One day you can get one, but not now". I understand the safety aspect. South Africa is not the safest when it comes to riding a bike in traffic. The car drivers are not "bike aware". Although I have to say that there are some silly bikers as well. Both statisicts do not help my cause.
Subsquently it turns out that the company importing the Enfields was not an official agent here in SA and another company secured the agency. They set up a showroom close to where I live. So I was eager to go visit but I put it out of my mind. Then a guy I work with bought a Bullet Electra and I was edgy again but still put it out of my mind. My folks came to visit earlier this year and my Ol' Man had read an article in the newspaper about the Enfields. We decided on the Saturday that the two of us would go check out the showroom. Alas it turned out that we could not make it. Probably best....... except 2 weeks ago I gave in.... I had this urge to go to the showroom. I decided I would go on the Saturday. I checked out the Enfield website and saw they had released the new EFI motors and there it was the bike of my dreams the Bullet Classic C5. I was not sure if my local showroom would have it. The next day, all excited I visited the showroom. They had the new Bullet. I test rode the bullet and the Electra.... oh man I am in trouble now....I cannot get the bike out of my mind.... The wife was out that Saturday and asked me what I had done that day, I was supposed to be studying for an exam. "Honey, you do not want to know". Then I told her... "I suppose you want to buy a bike now.....". YES, of course!!!!!
And so begins the quest....
Okay it started long ago in the garden of Eden when ol' Adam said to Eve, Babe you for me.....oops too far back. However it did lay the foundation for the dilemma I find myself in...LOL. WOMAN seriously play a part in this story. Wouldn't want it any other way but there has to be a catch... See I am sidetracked already.
I am one of those guys who loves bikes. Although I do have a healthy repsect for them and excessive speed. Okay maybe I can say that now and it probably was not always the case. I was young and restless at one time. Inspite of my love for bikes I have never owned one!!! When I was in my teens my Ol' Lady (yes I am allowed to call her that) forbid me to buy a bike, to the extent she stopped me short of handing over the cash to a buddy of mine for his Honda MBX 50. Needless to say that was the closest I ever got to purchasing a bike. What my Ol' Lady did not realise or probably did not want to admit was that even though I did not own a bike I still rode them.
My buddies Ol' Man had a Suzuki GSX 1100 which we used to ride when he was out of town, I used to ride this other guy's Yamaha RZ 125, etc, etc, etc. Probably the most fun I had on a bike in my teen years was a Suzuki B120 (I might be wrong on the make and model). This other school buddy had made this bike from two B120's. It was not fast but if I rememberit had a fair amount of torque. I remember riding it through the veld (grasslands). We had some much fun on this bike. I don't even think it was legally on the road but it was in good nick.
In later years I rode a lot less, so I would not regard myself as a seasoned motorcyclist but I can ride a bike. While I was studying I needed a car and could not afford a bike at the same time and I suppose I forgot about it for a awhile.
Years later, after I had been married for about 4 years the itch started again. I was interested in a Yamaha YZF 600 Thundercat. I thought it was a stunning bike in blue and it was not superbike status, so I thought it would be easier to pitch to the wife. At the time that I was looking around I happened to go into a BMW showroom. I looked at the 650GS and was impressed not only by the specs, the potential after sales service but also by the price. Cheaper than the YZF. So I was convinced it had to be a BMW. That weekend I was relaying the BMW salesman's pitch to my Ol' Man who seemed very interested as he was in the same boat as me, the Ol' Lady did not want to hear about bikes. My Ol' Man had been trying all my years at home to get a bike. I even remember him saying one day ( I think was 12 at the time), "Honey we going into town today, you can have anything you want..." My Mom's response was short and sharp, "you are not getting a bike".
So my Ol' Man was always keen to chat about bikes. Unbeknown to me my mom had softened her stance, as my Ol' Man was in the process of retiring and she had decided that he could buy himself a bike as a retirement gift to himself. Yup I did the whole sales pitch and my dad bought the bike a few weeks later. Unfortunately that blew my chances of getting one, as my wife turned around and said, "oh well, no need for you to get a bike, because you can ride your dad's".
Riding my dad's bike was not the same as riding my own This was my Dad's pride and joy, his retirement gift. The one he had been wanting to get for 20 years. I am sure my Dad would disagree with my perspective on it but I did not want to be the one to drop his bike. So I rode some, but it was not the same.
Several years went by, and I occasionally bought the bike magazine, drooled over the new superbikes and dreamed about owning a Harley. Always knowing it was out of reach.
In 2006 I went to India on a business trip. I spent about 3 weeks there. Now for those of you have not been to India or know little about its traffic situation, let me tell you. Plenty of traffic. It goes with out saying that there are lots bikes there. Mostly 125's. When you are walking beside the roads you hear this constant humming of traffic. One day while, stnading on the pavement alongside a main road in Bangalore, I heard a motorcycle that stood out in the buzzing traffic. There it was, a dude looking cool as hell (Bollywood style) on this red and chrome Royal Enfield. Wow is all I can say. I spent the rest of my stay searching for other examples of this bike. While in the office I searched the web for as much info as I could find on the bike, the whole Enfield history, etc. It turned out that one of our drivers owned one. He proudly showed me his bike. Needless to say I was in love with this bike.
Once back in South Africa I found a company importing them and was eager to visit their show room but alas I never made it. Probably for several reasons, mainly not to disappoint myself (as I knew the wife's view).
Well my folks retired to the coast and we visit them every year. My wife loves going on the bike with my Ol' Man. They go for a trip that takes them 4 hours sometimes. They stop for breakfast, coffee and check out the scenery. So I asked my wife how come she loves going on the bike but I cannot buy one. Does want her own bike? No she prefers to ride pillion. I ask again why is she against me buying a bike. Safety is the answer. "One day you can get one, but not now". I understand the safety aspect. South Africa is not the safest when it comes to riding a bike in traffic. The car drivers are not "bike aware". Although I have to say that there are some silly bikers as well. Both statisicts do not help my cause.
Subsquently it turns out that the company importing the Enfields was not an official agent here in SA and another company secured the agency. They set up a showroom close to where I live. So I was eager to go visit but I put it out of my mind. Then a guy I work with bought a Bullet Electra and I was edgy again but still put it out of my mind. My folks came to visit earlier this year and my Ol' Man had read an article in the newspaper about the Enfields. We decided on the Saturday that the two of us would go check out the showroom. Alas it turned out that we could not make it. Probably best....... except 2 weeks ago I gave in.... I had this urge to go to the showroom. I decided I would go on the Saturday. I checked out the Enfield website and saw they had released the new EFI motors and there it was the bike of my dreams the Bullet Classic C5. I was not sure if my local showroom would have it. The next day, all excited I visited the showroom. They had the new Bullet. I test rode the bullet and the Electra.... oh man I am in trouble now....I cannot get the bike out of my mind.... The wife was out that Saturday and asked me what I had done that day, I was supposed to be studying for an exam. "Honey, you do not want to know". Then I told her... "I suppose you want to buy a bike now.....". YES, of course!!!!!
And so begins the quest....
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