A busy schedule and an injury meant the Bear was out for just one ride, but a fun one nonetheless
It was pouring heavily that day. The visibility was poor and the sky looked gloomy. I reached out for a car’s key, saw the Bear’s and took that instead. And what could have been a dull, mindless commute to the other end of the city turned out to be one of the best rides through all the broken roads, flooded roads, and slow-moving traffic.
The moment I rode out of the parking lot, the Bear felt different… in a good way. Somehow, the 216 kg kerb weight didn’t bother me. In fact, this time, it seemed too petite from the saddle and I was loving it. Maybe after hustling the Multistrada V4 Rally for many days, the Bear felt super easy.
Sure, the suspension was still firm, and the tyres still weren’t in the mood to strike up a meaningful conversation. But somehow, none of it mattered that day. The bumps didn’t bother me, and the okay-ish grip from the MRFs didn’t spook me. If anything, I trusted the Bear more than I usually do. And then there were those delicious pops and bangs from the exhaust — every time they echoed off a wall or bounced under a flyover, they egged me on. Made me want to twist the throttle just a bit more. I knew better. But the Bear was in the mood. And honestly, so was I.
Lately, with Ruman’s new morning-ride ritual, I’ve been tempted to join in. But thanks to a nagging back injury, the Bear can stay clean and dry for a few more days. I don’t think it’ll mind. I definitely do.
