Category: Featured

  • Go electric, via solar. Harvest the sun!

    Go electric, via solar. Harvest the sun!

    Elon Musk is making all the right noises, and for the right reasons. He first went electric with his Tesla, and now is building a Solar City that will harvest solar energy. A perfect brand ambassador for the title of this article, Go electric, via Solar. However, it is a sham to think humans are difficult to convince.

    Countries generate a significant chunk of their electricity from burning fossil fuels. The need is vital, given the consumption levels and lack of alternatives. But the need to burn fossil fuel was not!

    Put the space available to some good use, shall we?

    (This article is an extension of my post on  Pollution: What the hell are we breathing?)

    Why are we behind on Solar?

    Profiteering Industry causes disruptions.

    Think of it this way. You are hungry, but the store near you only wants to sell you oranges, as he has got a lot of it. He goes to the government, lobbies (possibly bribes) and convinces the government to provide benefits for selling oranges.

    Due to this, the country does not encourage apple farmers for example, and focuses on oranges, thereby ignoring farmers ability to increment apple’s growing and production techniques. Since apple production is less in numbers, they cost significantly more and are not easily accessible. To amplify this, you are also discouraged from buying apples with a lot of negative publicity around it.

    If you got the drift, well done. You can use this as a base to understand how Trump won the elections. If not, read on.

    I will use the example of cars here to make it easy for you. Companies and people who had invested heavily in fossil fuel and related businesses (car and oil producing companies primarily) pushed the government to ignore the idea of electric vehicles, so people continue to use petrol (gasoline). It would help them not make a new investment in technology for alternative fuel or electricity-powered cars, thus also ensuring their current business remain successful.

    Every major industry follows this approach to remain in business by not innovating. As usual, the herd mentality. In fact, those who challenged this de facto malpractice, are silenced in a way or another.

    Challengers grew!

    These manufactures for the sake of their profit and existence put the future of earth at risk. Today we are all used to a way of life, designed by the very people who were only profiteering.

    But keeping a sound idea suppressed for long is difficult. And likes of Elon Musk rise to the occasion. In this specific example, car manufacturers themselves sensed their future at risk and started investing in either the alternative fuel or electric cars. A small victory right there, but the cost is still prohibitive.

    Electricity costs a lot of carbons

    The cost I am talking about is not only financial but to the environment all the same. Government or private girds produce electricity from many forms. The hydro-dam, the solar, windmill, and nuclear reactor based electricity generation do not cause environmental pollution. They only have a small share in the entire production span across many countries.

    Hence it does not make any sense to use an electrically powered car when burning fossil fuels generate the electricity. We need to go Solar.

    Why solar?

    I do not think anyone asked this question – except to douse their curiosity. Of course, you need ample amount of sunlight. Of course, you need a lot of space to plan these giant solar panels. But this is the cleanest form of energy.

    Here is an excellent example of how a place consuming more than 18,000 Units a day saved all of them, thanks to Solar. Cochin Airport is world’s first and only fully solar powered airport.

    Solar energy is still costly for an average homemaker to buy, however larger institutions can afford it. Cochin Airport is a perfect example of this greater good.

    Sixth element: Electricity

    Going forward, the world’s reliance on electricity will only increment and hence, it will remain one of the most sought after ‘element’. The reason I call it so is because, we already have polluted our earth, water, and air – the three most fundamental needs for human life to exist on earth.

    I will write more about electricity as sixth element in a more detailed article.

    Innovation in Solar Energy Harvesting

    Innovation in solar has got a boost in the last decade. However, we have only seen a dramatic increase in installations in the previous two years. Climate change or not, the weather conditions have made a lot of organizations and governments take the right step into the future. I want to talk about a few of the innovations that will help the planet earth greatly.

    Thin Film Solar

    Most of us remember Solar panels as gigantic, like in the featured picture on this article. However, the innovations in this field have to lead us to thinner films that help make manufacturing and installing a solar panel cheaper, more accessible and practical. Thinner solar films can be pasted onto the roof and walls (not as much efficient) to generate electricity. Absorbing the sunlight means, less heat gets passed on to the roof at the same time, thus making the roofs cooler (and saving cooling costs). To be commercially launched, but future is already looking bright.

    Solar Windows

    Another innovation that has great potential is Solar Windows. A company by the same name has successfully created prototypes of glass that has the potential to converting sun’s energy into electricity. Solar Windows can change how the city sky scrappers draw current from the grid, powering themselves with Solar Windows placed on their building exteriors.

    Nanowires based panel

    Also called the Hairy Solar Panel, these use carbon-nanotube fabric laced with light-absorbing nanowires, which can absorb more energy from the sun. They are better than the silicon-based panels and can be more efficient in solar harvesting.

    Efficiency

    How many of you know about the efficiency of gasoline combustion? They burn at average 28% to a max of 55% efficiency in rare cases, wasting the remaining fuel in heat. Likewise, Photovoltaic cells have their limits on how much electricity they produce as well, vis-a-vis the total solar power available.

    Other Innovations in Solar energy

    Apart from improving the panel technology, other areas saw a lot of action as well. These include solar plant set up, distribution and innovative ideas on how to spread the usage of solar. Having your solor plant will help you make money in future, so what are you waiting for?

    Microinverters

    Solar panels produce power in Direct Current or DC (invented by Thomas Edison) for effortless storage. Our homes are wired to work on Alternative Current or AC (invented by Nikola Tesla). The old set up of inverters used to be inefficient and cost intensive. However, the advent of microinverters has helped make setting up a solar power plant affordable and efficient.

    The current average is 23% globally. However, efforts are on by many companies achieve much more than that.

    Improved Storage

    Batteries play a crucial role in solar-power generation. If the solar panels connect to the grid, you do not need to store the electricity. In all other cases, there is a need to save excess power that produced, so that it is available for use during night time or when limited sunlight is available.

    Batteries did not improve at the same pace as other technologies, as efforts were made to get better at converting the heat/light into energy. That is changing, and pretty fast as now, we race to store ever more power in the smallest possible package. Tesla leads in that today, offering better battery packs at less than half the cost.

    Solar Tethering

    We all have used data from our phones, connecting it via WiFi to our laptops where there is no LAN or local WiFi connectivity available. Solar tethering works somewhat in a similar fashion.

    Solar plants require an expense commitment before you can start getting returns on your investment. At times, these can be expensive for average homeowners. Hence, to those who have managed to generate more than what he can consume, the private or public city grid can buy the excess power.

    In turn, the excess energy can be purchased over by a buyer who wants to use solar but does not have money to invest in a plant. He can pay for the solar unit based on fixed price, thus making income for the harvester.

    Portable Solar Lights and Fan

    A large part of the world still has little to no access to electricity. Mini Solar plants, attached to portable lights and fans help get then access to basics during night time. These compact lamps also help charge mobile phones, run other local business tasks, etc.

    There are many such projects in Africa and Asia, which have met with tremendous success. Such small solar power plants help make life easier for the populace in remote regions.

    Water desalination and purification

    Another exciting innovation is in the area of desalination of water. A team of scientists from MIT and Jain Irrigation Systems have come up with a method to desalinate seawater, disinfecting with UV and make it available for people who lack access to drinkable water.

    As again with the previous point, electricity and water are scarce resources for many living in remote areas. Drinking clean water helps reduce water-borne diseases, but most of the villagers do not have access to them.

    Conclusion

    Harvesting Sun may still be expensive to install, and return on investment is not quick enough, but the advancing technology is making it easier and much cheaper. We can fix Solar panels in all those areas that receive maximum sunshine throughout the year for best effect. However all those areas where we do not have enough sunshine, we will need to export electricity from where we can generate.

    There are various teams of experts; some are making floating solar panels in the sea, some others are testing balloons in the air, while another group is trying to capture the non-visible light spectrum (like infra-red). Sure, there is future in it.

    I hope that we limit carbon production, lest we may face a carbon-cloud future, where solar may not help.

  • Pollution: What the hell are you breathing?

    Pollution: What the hell are you breathing?

    If you have taken a recent trip outside of India, I am sure one thing that you would resonate is how difficult is to breathe once outside of the airport anywhere in India, due to higher pollution levels. I faced a similar situation way back in 2011 after my US trip for business. It felt like I wanted to get back into the Airport instead. Last time I was worried about the climate, I ended up buying an air cooler.

    Of course, I am sure you have also read a lot about the new ban on crackers by Supreme Court of India. The court had to enforce it because of the deteriorating breathable air for the common man. Let us look at what causes the pollution, shall we?

    Air Pollution in India

    Air pollution is a severe issue in India, however, has not seen enough action across the board. Last year, it was the odd-even number plate scheme in New Delhi that clogged the news, while it was Diwali and Crackers this year.

    If it does not ring a bell, you can read about it on Wikipedia. Yes, there is a dedicated page for Air Pollution in India on the Wiki. It has been a controversial topic to be discussed, given that the United States of America also has been showing withdrawal sings from the global accord at the Climate Change Summit. Donald Trump and his policies deserve a separate blog post in itself.

    Fossil Fuel and Biomass

    I am sure you know what fossil fuels are. Exactly, the liquid stuff that powers our cars and bikes, trucks and heavy equipment. While these are a necessary expenditure that you have to make to go from a place to another before electric vehicles are popular, Fossil fuels are also used to produce electricity.

    With ever increasing vehicles on the road, and increase in numbers of cars on the way these days only accentuates the problem we have at our hand. These vehicles emit the harmful gases and particles in the air that we breathe and makes us sick, slowly but surely.

    Pollution - what are we breathing
    Pollution – what are we breathing

    Fuel Adulteration

    An extension of the above topic, in India it is hard to find a fuel station that sells the pure form of fuel. Adulterated fuel causes vehicles to emit excess pollutants in the air…

    Fuel adulteration is so rampant in India that every other car emits far more toxic fumes than it should. India recently decided to skip BSV standard and jump directly from BS4 to BS VI (BS 6) so that it can catch up to the US and European standards.

    The Pothole and Traffic story

    If you are living in Metros, then you know the traffic. And you also know, the conditions of roads in India. I am not talking about the highways though. My recent trip to Kerala makes it abundantly clear that highways are laid using much better quality of tar and rocks than their city counterparts. One word on the cause is corruption.

    The more the potholes, more the traffic. With ever increasing vehicles on the road, traffic situation just amplifies the amount of bad stuff in the air that you and I breathe.

    Factory and other pollutants

    Fumes coming out of factory has even contributed to Taj Mahal losing its sheen. Burning ‘gobar’ (cow dung) and setting fields on fire after harvest is another cause.

    With so many of the contributing factors, it is difficult or near impossible to contain the pollution. Here is a possible view into the future, where Oxygen kits will be treated the same way as drugs, and you will pay through your nose (pun intended) to breathe fresh oxygen.

    Acted ably by Jackky Bhagnani and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Carbon is a short film by Royal Stag Large Short Films should be an eye-opener!

    Pollution - what are we breathing
    Pollution – what are we breathing

    So what can we do?

    Nothing and everything! If you are lazy, you cannot do anything. If not, you can stop it. By reducing our carbon footprint, one by one. Everyone can do their bit. Here is a list of things that you can do to help save the planet.

    1. Go electric, but via Solar

    Elon Musk is making all the right noises, and for the right reasons. However, it is a sham to think humans are difficult to convince. Put the space available to some good use, shall we? Countries generate a significant chunk of their electricity from burning fossil fuels. The need is vital, given the consumption levels and lack of alternatives. But the need to burn fossil fuel was not!

    Solar Panels in rain
    Solar Panels in rain

    There is so much to speak about, hence a dedicated post for Go Electric, but via Solar

    2. If you can’t, then conserve use of electricity

    Going solar or clean electricity may not be everyone’s cup of tea. That does not mean you cannot do anything at all to help save the amount of burning carbon. The world is full of ideas; however, we often ignore the small things you can do sub-consciously.

    Efficient light bulbs

    To start with, use energy efficient light bulbs and appliances. The government has been promoting the purchase of CFL and LED (more of the later) instead of ordinary incandescent bulbs that most of the rural India still uses.

    LED bulbs and lamps help in reduction of consumption while improving the brightness at the same time. Though a tad expensive, the cost benefit over the period is excellent!

    Buy 5-star BEE rated products

    In India, the government has enforced regulations that help understand how much a product consumes, thanks to Bureau of Energy Efficiency or BEE.

    Among the mandatory product types to carry the BEE Energy Star ratings are Television, Air Conditioners, Tube Lamps, Refrigerators, and Geysers. Other’s are optional. So what should you do? Yes, buy the product that offers a 5-star rating. No less!

    I firmly believe that all electronic products should mandatory carry the BEE Energy Star ratings. And 5-star rated products should cost less, which they do not. Lack of demand for costly product leads to companies not putting much effort into making them or making as much of them. We Indian’s prefer to go for the cheapest at the time of purchase, not considering the recurring cost (both financial and environmental) that we will be paying at the end of product’s life-cycle.

    Switch off plugs when not in use

    One of the things that we are often doing today is charging our mobile phones overnight. You can try and charge it before you go to sleep, or after you have got up. While doing so, do not forget to put the switch off.

    A lot of offices work 24/5, and most of the times employees do not shut down the computer since they do not want to go through the pain of system booting up. It takes a few minutes to shut down your PC and start up the next day. But the energy it consumes in the meanwhile is a complete waste. Any equipment not in-use should be put off, including your WiFi connection.

    3. Limit crackers/fireworks, avoid if possible

    After the recently proposed ban on crackers during Diwali, we heard a massive uproar among aam aadmi, who immediately linked the ban to directly hitting their religious belief. Connecting the prohibition to religion was ridiculous; moreover, people went overboard with buying and bursting crackers just to oppose the move. Massive stupidity.

    City night explosion firework
    City night explosion firework

    Crackers cause pollution at production, transportation and execution level. Not only it releases harmful toxins into the breathable air, but it also creates massive noise pollution, causing more breath-related diseases.

    The solution is perhaps not banning crackers, but to limit it. Moreover, a government limit will only be symbolic at best. People will need to start realizing that everyone needs to control polluting the shared breathable air.

    4. Carpooling, public transportation, biking and walking.

    Carpool

    One of the new trends across cities is car-pooling. It is supposed to be cool, and trendy, which it is. However, the reason we all carpool is to save on the fuel and not to reduce pollution or traffic congestions. While in a way, this makes sense, it would make you feel better if you remind yourself about saving the environment while you do so.

    Transportation is as good as this at the best!
    Transportation is as good as this at the best!

    Public Transportation

    I am sure we both agree, in India, public transportation is not up to the mark. It does not become a prominent choice because of the state of transportation and infrastructure. That part, our government needs to do. But once it has improved significantly, would you switch? Let me know in the comment section below if you would happily pledge to change!

    Cycling and Walking

    Most of us do not live nearby our workplaces. Hence, cycling or biking and walking are not viable options. But for those who do, switching to either helps in reducing congestion, pollution and improves the health of the individual.

    India is far away from having its dedicated cycling lane. I hope it is sooner than later.

    5. Regular maintenance of all machinery

    Keep your automobile, be it a car or motorbike, well tuned and maintained. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on routine maintenance, such as changing the oil and filters, and checking tire pressure and wheel alignment. A well-maintained vehicle emits fewer toxins in the air.

    In fact, you should maintain just about any machinery you use that consumes electricity or pollutant fuel. For your own and other’s sake, at least. Avoid excessive idling of your automobile. Shut the engine at signals and do not accelerate profoundly.

    Maintenance of Vehicles is of paramount importance
    Maintenance of Vehicles is of paramount importance

    6. Advocate for emission reductions

    We are quick enough to protest the ban on crackers, but not as much when it matters to breathing polluted air. Thankfully, the government decided to skip the BSV or Bharat Stage Five level norms. It means by the year 2020, our standards at emission levels for new automobiles sold will be level with some of the European nations.

    However, what people are not much aware of is the emission/pollution norms for factories and other establishments. Here is a link to the complete set of pollution control norms provided by the Central Pollution Control Board.

    The problem? Who is following it right?

  • RE Himalayan BS4 (BSIV) FI Review – Is it good enough?

    RE Himalayan BS4 (BSIV) FI Review – Is it good enough?

    Royal Enfield Himalayan BS IV is now available to buy at your nearest show room. I am here to help you ascertain, is it worth the buy and all the hype? Welcome to Indianomics!

    Many of the regular readers here do know that I own an RE Himalayan, named Yeti and also the list of issues I have had with it. So it is natural for me to be skeptical about the new Himalayan avatar.

    Is there a quick way I can get through this article?

    Of course yes, head over to Indianomics TV YouTube channel and subscribe, like, comment and share it with your friends. You can view the video here as well if that helps!

    Along with my friend Shiv, I paid a visit to the Royal Enfield Showroom recently to test the new BS IV Version of Himalayan. BS IV or Bharat Stage IV (4 in roman numbers) is the latest emission norm adopted by India to keep a check on the pollution levels. The next stage is BS VI (BS 6) because India has decided to accelerate the emission norms to curb the ever increasing pollution levels in India. It sure is a welcome step.

    So what is new with Himalayan BS IV Avatar?

    For starters, the BS3 version that launched last year came with the carburetor; the BS IV version comes with Fuel Injection. FI, as it is often abbreviated, helps channel the fuel flow into engine much better thus producing better performance.

    Royal Enfield already uses FI system on its Classic and Thunderbird bikes, Himalayan gets it for the first time. Using FI system was the best possible approach for a motorcycle that was launched last year since this would mean the manufacturer does not have to redo the entire engine, while still conforming to the BS IV norms.

    So apart from the FI system, there are many changes under the hood but hardly noticeable (for me at least). Almost all of the components have seen an upgrade. Most of them are on my BSIII bike due to various issues that I faced, and Service Center has replaced (updated) them. Of course not the Fuel Injection.

    The company claims to have sorted the quality niggles that the first lot of Himalayans saw. One of the reasons the company delayed the launch of this BS IV avatar. Apart from these, the choke moves to handlebar on the left-hand side and the head lamp switches no longer exist thanks to the AHO norms. Read more about AHO (Always Head Lamp On).

    On the snow white (color) Himalayan that I test rode, few panels saw a color change to Black. This shift has made them more visible. However, the subtle gray that we saw earlier looked better. Visible appearance is subjective, and I am sure many will love the new black accent tones.

    Anything I wish my Yeti had from Himalayan BS IV Model?

    Of all things, I will love to have the breaks from BS IV model. The breaks are not the best but are an improvement over the previous model. So, yes I would like to upgrade to the new breaks.

    Apart from that, the FI system helps the bike in perform better overall. I am not sure if I wish for the FI system, except for the top end range – you can freely rev upwards of 6k rpm. I am also not sure if it is only the FI system that helps or is there a change in the engine as well? Well, I will wait to figure out.

    If the parts on the BS IV are of much better quality, I will hope that Royal Enfield gets them to my bike as well. For the owners of BS3 version, they felt like guinea pigs, who paid to own a product only to find out about the issues it possessed. No better way to pay forward for those suffering than to help upgrade the parts.

    This review was primarily comparing the Himalayan BS III v/s Himalayan BS IV model. Hence it omits a few prominent areas like the ride quality and suspension. The shocks on Himalayan are purpose built, and they work to perfection. They do their job brilliantly that the pathetic roads of Indian subcontinent can be a piece of cake, as you can see in the video above.

    Another noticeable change is the exhaust note and saree guard. Saree guard has been a joke with Himalayan – pathetic quality. Hope the new design provides a better finish and works well with existing BS3 Himalayans. The exhaust note, on the other hand, sounds much better. Personal choice though this one, but I like it.

    As I visited the show room, saw that Himalayan BS IV is the busiest test bike. I happened to meet Vikram, who returned from his test of the BS IV to discuss his experience and out of the blue, asked him if he could get me a review byte, and that he did.

    For me, it was important to get another perspective from a non-Himalayan rider. It is easy to get to love the bike if you own it. I felt it will be right to share with you, my dear readers and viewers, a perspective that is unbiased just because I own a Himalayan myself.

    Vikram felt the bike was much smoother than the earlier version of the motorcycle he tested. I also offered him to ride the Yeti, and he came back impressed. He wondered if BS IV was better than BS3 model I own! Of course, it is, but the margin is small. Is it worth? Of course yes.

    How much for the Himalayan BS IV Version then?

    BS IV version costs Rs. 1,98,000 on-road, Kalyan. Now the cost varies across the country, but in the city as well. That is because the dealers sometimes offer three years insurance as part of the deal instead of the standard one. So Rs. 1,91,000 as on-road is correct as well – because it includes only one-year insurance.

    Verdict: How good is Himalayan BS IV version?

    It is as good as the BSIII version, but better in many departments. Breaks, Fuel Injection, and overall better quality help a great deal in narrowing down the choices. Honestly, there are no choices to be made. If you are looking for an adventure tourer in the sub-two lacs market, look no further. Himalayan is the best option.

    Alternatively, if you are looking for more of a tourer and a faster bike, then Dominar may just fit the bill. It is not as sure footed and has the same appeal as the Himalayan, but it will do the job pretty well.

  • Indianomics is nominated for IBA2017

    Indianomics is nominated for IBA2017

    Indeed with great pleasure, I announce that Indianomics has been nominated for Indian Blogger Awards for 2017 (IBA2017). Indianomics has been associated with IndiBlogger since August 2009, as part of their network.

    Last time IBA was announced, it was in 2013 and I did not participate in the event. This time around, I did throw in my entry for multiple categories. If you are happy with Indianomics, I would request you to leave a testimonial by clicking the image below.

    IndiBlogger is India’s largest blogger network, with more than 30,000 bloggers associated. Your’s truely also is an IndiPolice, the moderator at the largest blogger forum in India at IndiForum.

    The Indian Blogger Awards 2017

  • A year with Yeti, the Himalayan – Ownership review

    A year with Yeti, the Himalayan – Ownership review

    A year has gone by, 365 days around the sun for my Royal Enfield Himalayan. Yeti, as I had named him, has been full of life in this one year. Though, it has seen more downs than ups than I would have liked, I am fond of this machine. It is piece de resistance for me.

    My last update on Himalayan was when we had crossed 3000kms. And I really did not have the right frame of mind to send another update from then till now. Today we crossed 14,000 kms and felt it was the right time to do this. The anniversary update – Royal Enfield Himalayan and me having spent a year.

    Is there a quick way for me to go through your post?

    Oh you lazy bum, go to Indianomics TV and subscribe! Let me make it easier for you, see the video for yourself here then! However, you will miss the details you can read about on the post!

    So how is Yeti doing?

    Yeti is doing fine now, but the road up till now was not an easy task. There were tons of issues, including the biggest scare I could not have imagined! Losing rear suspension when you are guzzing past vehicles on a busy highway.

    It was not only the quality of parts, but also the time he spent in the service center. Yeti also made friends with the mechanic and fellow bikes in the service center – so well you can imagine! I stopped the mighty Himalayan from creating his own facebook account. Indiaomics‘s own facebook page sufficed.

    And what were the Himalayan issues?

    I know, you are in a hurry. We all are, but hear this first. I love the bike. Period.

    The list is long, and it will make you wonder why I made the above statement. So lets get to it.

    • Engine Head replaced (three times because second change only made things worse)
    • Rear Mudguard broken all three units changed (at Ishna during the camp in February)
    • Rear mudguard broken again, changed it two weeks ago
    • Lock set changed due to faulty lock (change Tank lid as well, coz of it)
    • Now, tank lid was changed coz of fuel leak (changed lock set coz of it as well, again) after I insisted that be checked
    • Changed to new Oil Cooler suggested by SC for heating issues
    • Rear tires replaced under warranty (at Ishna during the camp)
    • Broken Center stand replaced (this was perhaps really weird, and I do not trust the new center stand yet fully to last longer)
    • T Stem changed due to rusting (after I pestered SC to take a look into it)
    • Clutch Center changed due to hard (I mean really hard) gear shift changes (at Ishna during the camp)
    • Changed to Avenger mirrors coz of poor quality RE ones at my own expense
    • Saree Guard broke got it changed
    • Saree Guard broke again after 4 months, pending to be changed
    • Clutch Cable started melting, got that one changed (rode with a melting clutch cable for 2000kms because SC did not have one in stock to replace)
    • Headlight went dim, got a new one and now is showing signs of going dim again!
    • New Headlight started to rust now in the rains
    • Exhaust nut came loose (and lost), rattled all the way to SC to get that fixed
    • Rear Break pad changed twice in 9000 kms
    • Oil changes every 3000-4000 kms in spite of RE claim of 10K Kms (got oil changed at Ishna during camp under warranty because it had turned too bad in only 1200~ kms since last oil change)
    • Exhaust started rusting, changed to a whole new unit
    • Oil leakage from Engine – fixed 4 times, finally worked after servicing at 9.4k
    • Heavy vibrations from the vehicle at 3rd, 4th and 5th above 70-80 (was fixed in the last SC visit but persisted after last service done at 9500~ kms, and finally fixed after 11k kms)
    • Rear suspension broke, got a new one installed after the bike was transported from Sakinaka service center – took the bike 10 days in service center to come out with new suspension
    • Wind shield replaced as old one had started being rickety. The problem has not gone with the new one either!
    • Switch gear changed, voluntarily from the service center
    • Tank pannier stands changed, as they were misaligned from the day I took delivery
    • Magneto changed, even though existing one was working fine – as precaution
    • Gear shift indicator sensor changed twice, now living with whatever it still shows and manages to get it wrong all the time
    • Rims and hubs on both front and rear wheel changed as paint peeled off them in a month’s ownership
    • False neutrals are still a reality, even after the best efforts from service center

    And you say you love it still?

    See, I now understand why the brand is able to lure people towards itself even though the quality that one should get and expect is not there. I rode the KTMs and Dominars of the world and trust me, I never felt as good riding as I did on the Himalayan.

    Sure it lacks power, sure it is not the fastest or burns rubber like others do. Sure, it aint a mean machine made to have fun on a race track. It does its job beautifully, only whenever it does not have issues. Even then, you have a smile on your face plastered from left to right or right to left, depending on how you read it.

    Having said that, this does not mean that Royal Enfield should continue to make products that do not meet the quality expected from a bike that costs upwards of Rs. 1 lac! They have to come around.

    So, what do you think? Let me know about your thoughts in the comments section below. 

  • TGW Independence Day Ride to South Mumbai

    TGW Independence Day Ride to South Mumbai

    ThrottleGun Wolves (TGW), the biker group that I have co-founded, had a fun breakfast ride to South Mumbai to celebrate Indian Independence day. Well, there has been many a debate if it is India’s 70th or 71st Independence day, we could care less as long as we are passionate about this country.

    Independence Day Ride

    A bunch of bikers started off from different parts of the city, and some from outside as well. The ride was planned to start at 6 am and it went according to plan. Rain did play a bit of spoil sport that day, however.

    Initially, the meeting point was decided to be at Bharatmata Cinema, however it wasn’t on the way for the lot from western line. Hence, we changed the meeting point on the fly to Heera Panna market. Once there, I saw the RX135 of Pooja Sahni Pangam, one of TGW’s co-founders and could not resist the urge to ask her for a swap.

    And swap I did – with her riding the Yeti.

    The old world charm of RX135

    I was always fascinated with how people drool over RX100 and RX135, both from Yamaha’s yesteryear stable. The 2-strokes are fun to ride, at least that is what I had heard people craving about them. They used to exist around me when I was too young to ride but no one would teach me to ride one either.

    So when Pooja’s RX135 came around, I had to ask her. And from the word go, I kept thinking how powerful the RX felt, even compared to my Yeti. It took a few minutes for me to get used to it. Once I got the grip, it took me a few seconds to gun it to 80kmph. What a delight!!

    The breakfast

    Not withstanding the initial plan of having breakfast at Kayani Restaurant, we changed it again. This time in favor of the famous kheema pav at Stadium Restaurant, a stone’s throw away from Church gate station. To find vegetarian breakfast there did seemed difficult, but the classic bun maska and chai is an all time favorite.

    So there you have it, a summary of our ride captured in this beautiful video, exclusive on Indianomics TV.

     

  • Road Ethics: How to ride your bike on roads? Part I

    Road Ethics: How to ride your bike on roads? Part I

    I have been writing about some bits here and there on the subject for road safety and road ethics. I have argued with many and some of these are obvious and basic but still do not get followed. Forget about getting a best4 quality jacket and helmet, a bare bones basic ones are rarely found. Road ethics are a matter of life and death.

    Here I will be talking about road manners and abiding by the law as Road Ethics and many points are true for car drivers as well. Well, this is a long, long post. Sit back, read, enjoy and be responsible for yourself! Do not forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel!

    1. Road Ethics: Indicators are given to be used, but not always!

    Your bike and car have turn indicators. They are to be used when you want to make a turn. But it is not limited to turns only – and that is a fact easily forgotten by many. Y (more…)

  • Ring tones of Rajasthan Tourism Ads

    Ring tones of Rajasthan Tourism Ads

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]If you have read my review about the Rajasthan Tourism advertisement, then you are here to download the Rajasthan Tourism ring tones. Do not forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, Indianomics TV.

    Ever since I first heard and watched the advertisement of Rajasthan Tourism, I fell in love with it immediately. It is perhaps one of the most captivating advertisement I have seen in a while. So smitten by it that I actually had to extract the background score and song out of these videos and add these as ring tones on both of my phones. These Rajasthan tourism ringtones are conversation starters, I must tell you! I have compiled two set of ring tones for iOS (.m4r) and other (.mp3) devices, download them from below.

    Here is a compiliation of all of the famous Rajasthan Tourism Ads.

    [/vc_column_text][vc_cta h2=”Download Rajasthan Tourism Ringtones for Android/Windows Phones for Free MP3 in ZIP”]Downloading ring tones for Android and Windows Phones is far easier than for iOS devices like iPhone. All you need to do is, download the ZIP file attached here on your Mac/PC or Mobile. Use an UNZip Utility like WinZip or 7Zip (preferred) to extract the MP3 files into a folder.

    Android Phones

    Once the files extracted, connect your phone to the Mac/PC and transfer the newly extracted ring tones into your phone. I personally would create a custom Ringtone folder for all custom ring tones, but you can decide where you need to place them. Remember, not all android phones work alike so you will need to figure out how it works for your device.

    On your PC/Mac

    1. Download the ZIP file and store it an accessible folder that you remember or you can just copy the files already.
    2. Connect your Android phone with the USB cable to your PC
    3. Open my computer and then click open the “Phone” icon.
    4. You will find a folder named “Ringtones”, go ahead and open it. If not, you can create a new folder named “Tones” or “Ringtones”.
    5. Paste the copied songs in to this folder.

    Setting ring tones on your phone

    1. Go to setting > Tones (or respective option on your phones) and you will see the list of options.
    2. Tap on the “Ringtone” and it opens a list of ring tones.
    3. If you already do not see your new tones on the list, then click on custom ringtone and navigate to the folder where you stored the MP3 files.
    4. Go to the song you want to use as your new ringtone and select / touch / tap on it.

    Then go to Settings > and select the Rajasthan Tourism Advert ring tone of your choice.

    Windows Phones

    Much like the process for Android phones, with exception of where to place your ring tones. Below are the how-to-steps for setting these tones and your ring tones.

    On your PC/Mac

    1. Download the ZIP file and store it an accessible folder that you remember or you can just copy the files already.
    2. Connect your Windows 8/10 Mobile smart phone with the USB cable to your PC
    3. Open “Windows Phone” on your computer and then click open the “Phone” icon
    4. You will find a folder named “Ringtones”, go ahead and open it.
    5. Paste the copied songs in to this folder.

    Setting ring tone on your phone

    1. Go to setting > personalization and touch select the “sounds” option.
    2. Tap on the “ringtone” and it opens a list of ring tones.
    3. If you already do not see your new tones on the list, then click on custom ringtone and navigate to the folder where you stored the MP3 files.
    4. Go to the song you want to use as your new ringtone and select / touch / tap on it.

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  • Rajasthan Tourism Adverts hit a high note

    Rajasthan Tourism Adverts hit a high note

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    The Advertisment

    Shot by Ogilvy and Mather, the advertisement itself is a piece of art. Showcasing everything that Rajasthan is famous for, and showing things that you and I never imagined existed in Rajasthan. A classic example of this is “Huansthan”, where a Chinese tourist is shown breathing (more…)

  • Why I quit The Himalayan Tribe Working Committee

    Update: After I quit the accusations were still flying around, and some well wishers and naysayers informed me a few of them. Here are my clarifications.

    1. I am accused of lying – that I never told them web server space cost Rs. 15,000. Well to be honest, I lent THT the server space that I already owned and operated and I did not buy it specifically for THT. That is why I never told them there will be any cost to bear in the first year! If people cannot understand difference between lending and buying, I cannot help!
    2. I am still accused of my intent of making money from website – this time, conversely with the thought that I would have made money from the hosting space renewal that THT will be buying in the second year onwards. Here is an excerpt from the charter that I had created, where I was supposed to be signatory as well, but which was never signed for god knows what reason.

    (more…)

  • TAMO Racemo is here and how!

    TAMO Racemo is here and how!

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Alright, I gotta admit that I am late in writing about it when the whole automotive media is already gung-ho! But that is the impact Tamo Racemo has created. Well, I will reserve my comments on the name for later in the article. But good lord, that thing is stunning![/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/2yQ3ITyuhjM” title=”Introducing TAMO”][vc_column_text]Tamo Racemo is also the first Indian car to feature in a major gaming series. When I say Indian, the manufacturer is what I meant. (more…)

  • Riding Ethics: Why should you say a no?

    This is a guest post by Ankit Desai, who wrote this piece out of his pure passion for riding ethics that people tend to ignore. This post is in part of the series of Riding Ethics and Road Safety that I am working on. Share your views in the comment below.

    This week yet again we lost a fellow biker. Anand Pawar, member of H.O.G., Pune chapter, passed away due to an accident en-route Goa. My condolences to both his family and H.O.G. Long days of riding, back-to-back long distances, and fatigue bad luck what ever.

    The truth is a good soul was laid to rest too soon leaving behind a grieving family and a few friends. The rest of the world will forget in a matter of weeks may be days.  (more…)

  • RE Service Camp with The Himalayan Tribe

    RE Service Camp with The Himalayan Tribe

    THT has been my man-Friday for anything related to my Yeti, the Himalayan. Two weeks ago, THT and Royal Enfield met up at Borivali Service Center for a training camp. Unfortunately I missed that.  During the question answer session, the discussion turned to issues everyone faces.

    Yeti about to be stripped down
    Yeti about to be stripped down

    Taking a stone from the rock solid guys who were there, RE worked out details and collaborated with THT for a service camp. The date was 5th of Feb, 2017. And I had my clock (more…)