My first real accident - and i'm absolutely fine, never felt better.

Well, it was just another day returning home from Capgemini on the ever crowded streets of Bangalore(which are a challenge every day and i love it). I have faced very few incidents since i bought the beast, sure there were a few close shaves but i was in total control each time. Sadly though luck runs out on you!

A narrow road, potholes, people walking around oblivious to the fact that vehicles ply on the same strip of asphalt (or the lack of it) they tread on, children playing, drains left open, you get the picture. Basically a whole lot of things i can blame for this mishap. But no, i blame myself.

It was not that i was mad max when this happened. I was chugging along at a princely 15kmph. The setting, the piece of road connecting Adugodi to Hosur Road, i have taken it a million times, and it has surprised me each time, should have seen it coming.

Now this bloke in front, don't know why, was riding like the weight of the world was on his shoulder. Now accelerating, now braking for no reason, i don't blame him either. Maybe the weight of the world was indeed on his shoulder. Maybe his pillion, i'm guessing his wife, was nagging him. I make the fateful decision, i had a potent weapon, the R&D of the TVS Racing Team under me, let me use it. Let me overtake him and leave him to his thoughts. Alas, it was not to be. I overtook him alright, and with ease and precision. But never expected the guy coming in the opposite direction to target fixate (look up "target fixation" online, you'll know what i'm talking about, and i bet you have done it too, unknowingly maybe).

A brush of my right rear view mirror (RVM) with his left one was enough to unsettle my rock hard concentration. Maybe this sharpened my concentration further, coz' the next thing i did was brake hard to avoid kids standing around in front, the golden rule(never brake so hard that you lock your wheels) was forgotten.

It was all over in 3 seconds maybe. I heard the screech of the wheels, next thing i know, my beloved Apache is on its right side, engine still whirring(love that grunt it makes). I get on my feet like nothing happened and raise an accusing finger but soon realize "shit happens" and get on with it. I first use the Kill Switch to disarm the machine, someone helps me to pick up the bike (thank god its lighter than most other bikes in its class), get on it, move it to the side, start inspecting the damages. A knowledgeable crowd gathers and disperses in no time. Someone hands me over a piece of metal coated with black rubber.

I soon realize the damage, it was a broken rear right pillion foot peg. I felt gutted. "Shit just Happened", i thought to myself. Put it in my jacket pocket. Hmmm, what's next?? Some scratches on the front fairing, nothing noticeable. The right crash guard had indeed taken the brunt of the crash along with the broken foot peg. But the most hurting of all the damage was a dent in the petrol tank on the left side, yes, on the left side, i wonder how it happened, coz' the bike fell on it's right. It must have been my left boot hitting it when i went down. And yes, the RVM was loose, that i knew could be fixed.

Back on my bike, foot peg in my pocket, i was raring to go. No functional damage to the bike, it responded to the ignition like always, I am so damn sure TVS have a winner on their hands. And yes, i had on a helmet all along, a jacket that i don't ride without these days, denim that certainly helped my cause, no physical damage to me. Geared for the ride i suppose. I do feel bad for the bike though, just 5 months old. I'm sure it will wear these damages as scars in a battle. And i can proudly say i too had an accident now.

The rest of the ride home was fast and i feel the safest when i'm fast, maybe it's because there is no one next to you or in front of you and the only vehicle you can see is in your RVM. I know my friends say I'll only learn when I've had a bad experience, that i must drive slowly. But i still tell them it's not about fast or slow, it's about control, which I believe i am endowed with. Which is why this particular incident wasn't serious. It's about being in your comfort zone, you like it slow, you go slow, you like it fast, you're probably better off going fast. The bike is fine, i am fine and the both of us are looking forward to eating up many more miles ahead, starting this Sunday, hopefully with a splendid bike trip. BRING IT ON.......................