Royal Enfield is now among the biggest news maker in the Indian biking scene. Thunderbird defined what Cruiser is for many Indians. And now, Royal Enfield has launched Meteor 350.
The newest offering will be replacing T-bird, primarily because the name Thunderbird cannot be used in many markets. That is the reason you don’t see the beloved T-bird being sold in other countries like the Classic, 650 Twins, and the Himalayan.
What’s new on the Meteor?
Well, the Meteor is not just a rebadge but a thoroughly ground up development with new chassis and engine. Powering the Meteor is a newly developed single-cylinder engine that produces 20.2hp at 6,100rpm and 27Nm at 4,000rpm.
The new Meteor is built on a brand-new twin downtube spine chassis that is said to be stiffer than outgoing TB models. RE continues to use an engine that is air-cooled, they have incorporated an oil circuit in the 2-valve head to aid cooling.
Typically, Royal Enfield bikes are known for vibrations, the new 349 CC engine has a balancer shaft with an SOHC, two-valve head which helps in containing vibrations. The bike is available in three variants – Fireball, Stellar and Supernova priced at Rs. 1.76 lakh, Rs. 1.81 lakh and Rs. 1.90 lakh (ex-showroom) respectively.
Colors and Variants
The Royal Enfield Meteor picks up where Thunderbird X left off, with bright Yellow and Red making it to the list of colors offered as standard. Offered in multiple trims with features and pain schemes differentiation, Meteor 350 is available with a wide variety of combinations.
Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Color Choices – Fireball Yellow
Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Color Choices – Supernova Brown
Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Color Choices – Supernova Blue
Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Color Choices – Stellar Red
Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Color Choices – Stellar Blue
Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Color Choices – Stellar Black
Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Color Choices – Fireball Red
Plus, Meteor will the first bike from the RE stable to offer such an option to customize the bike before it is being delivered to the showrooms. I personally prefer the Fireball Red color.
Royal Enfield Meteor 350 – the bike, the tourer
Thunderbird was designed as a cruiser with primary purpose of touring. Meteor follows the footsteps of Thunderbird very closely. The engine is powerful enough, like previous generations, for touring rider in India.
Royal Enfield Meteor 350 – Ride though the hills
RE’s are among the most affordable and reliable machines with a super wide service network. This bodes well for a rider and RE seems to have hit the sweet spot with Meteor.
The competition
What remains to be seen is how a potential new customer is considering the latest machine from Royal Enfield against options like Honda’s H’ness CB350, Benelli Imperiale 400 and Java Forty-Two.
Of the three, it’s the Honda looks most promising and does have what it takes to challenge the RE’s bastion in the segment. However, Honda’s decision to sell the CB350 with the cheeky H’ness tag exclusively via Big Wings show rooms instead of using its wide Honda 2 Wheelers network could be its Achilles heel.
Tata Motor’s Tigor has been championing the legacy left by Indigo CS, the pioneer of sub-compact sedans. Tata launched the all new Tigor BS6 2020 edition in January earlier this year. It is a comprehensive update under the hood, and hence the price has also seen an increase.
Ever since the launch, I have been drooling over the updates and have been getting weird thoughts. One of the biggest factors for me has been the new safety features and the BS6 engine. So let me quickly skip through the usual mumbo-jumbo, and help you answer the question: Should you buy the new Tata Tigor BS6?
What could be single biggest reason to consider Tigor BS6?
Safety. The new Tigor BS6 edition has now been tested by Global NCAP and both Tigao and Tigor have scored 4 Star safety rating. Tigor is the only car tested and has a star rating for safety in its class.
This in itself is a huge leap in already existing faith that Tata Motors’ make safer cars. Getting the 5 Star rating would have been perfect, and I wish Tata focuses on getting all cars, like Altroz, will get the best in safety.
Tata Tigor BS6 has ABS with EBD as standard
Apart from the crash rating, Tigor comes with ESB and ABS as standard, along with twin Airbag for Driver and passenger.
Competition to Tigor are Maruti Suzuki Dzire and Hyundai Aura. Now both Maruti and Hyundai are well established, and manage to sell good numbers with goodwill themselves. Maruti has clearly said they wont send their cars for NCAP testing. The UK based Swift on which the Indian version of Swift and Dzire are based scored 2 star rating and Hyundai is an unknown.
The Styleback experience
Tigor was always a looker, however the heavy facelift, including new colors, have made it even better. The design now is more mature and yet has its hints of fun. Design is subjective, however. You are your best judge. I can tell you for sure, Tigor does get the attention on the road.
TATA TIGOR 2020 XZA+ Analysis and Review
What other areas does Tigor BS6 excels in as compared to competition?
Best-in-class Infotainment system
There are quite a few areas where Tigor trumps the competition. It is already well established across all of Tata Motor’s models is the Infotainment system. The Harman sourced music system set up is absolutely amazing. With Android Auto and Apple car play, this has now made the entire package so much better.
Best-in-class Ride quality and control
It is one of the areas where Tata’s has got really better than competition. As compared to light yet fun to drive Dzire, Tigor BS6 neck on neck on ride control, and a much better ride comfort.
Best-in-class Boot Space
Given its compact nature, Tigor does surprise us with its amazing 419 liter bootspace. In comparison, Dzire gets 378 liters and Aura gets 407 liters worth of bootspace. Tigor uses hydraulic struts that helps make more usable room as compared to both Aura and Dzire which use C shape hooks.
Hyundai Aura Bootspace – using C Hooks reduces usable storage space
Tata Tigor BS6 Bootspace uses Hydraulic Struts lets you use the entire storage area
Sure not all products are 100% perfect. I will update this post with more shortcomings soon. In the meanwhile, here is a link to whole set of Tata Tigor accessories that you can plan to buy for your car.
It is the first time I am writing anything remotely suggesting that I own a TATA Tigor. I did the Tata Tigor media event way back in February 2017 before the eventual launch of Tigor in the market, and that is when I fell in love with the car. When I went into the market to buy a car for myself, the decision was already made – if there is no other car that excites me then it will be the Tigor.
The all new Tigor 2020
New Tata Tigor 2020 edition
Tata launched the all new Tigor 2020 edition in January earlier this year. It is a comprehensive update under the hood, and hence the price has also seen an increase. Ever since the launch, I have been drooling over the updates and have been getting weird thoughts. One of the biggest factors for me has been the new safety features and the BS6 engine.
Tata Tigor 2020 BS6 Safety Features over Tigor 2018 BS4
The new 2020 Tata Tigor BS6 has significant upgrades over 2018 one. One of the most prominent is the safety area, where they have improved body structure and have changed the design to comply with the pedestrian safety norms that will be live in India from April 2020. A bonus is a confirmation from the Global NCAP, where the car scored 4* rating (I wish it had 5* like the Nexon and Altroz) – which is much better than its direct competition – the Maruti Suzuki Desire and Hyundai Accent.
New front look, with pedestrian safe design
Driver & Co-driver seat belt reminder (Tigor XZA 2018 has only driver seat belt reminder)
Improved crash structure (4* NCAP rating)
Rear parking sensors with Camera (I had camera and LCD unit installed after market, Tigor XZA 2018 only got sensors)
New front facia – sharp end, complying with new pedestrian safety laws in Indiai
Dual frontal airbags for safety
Dual Path Advanced Suspension system
Tata Tigor BS6 has ABS with EBD as standard
Digital & Infotainment
In the Indian market today, if there is an infotainment system to beat – it is the ones that comes along with all Tata cars. The Harman + JBL speaker system with the infotainment produces the best sound among all other cars in this sub-20 lakh price range. With the 2020 Tigor BS6, you get an upgraded 7″ infotainment system. Agreed, the touch screen may not be the best, however, is as functional as many other cars in the market.
The new Tigor also comes with:
Digital Instrument Cluster (my XZA has analogue with MID)
7â Infotainment system (my XZA 2018 did not have 7″ LCD infotainment system, it had the normal 2 din)
Voice Command Recognition (via Infotainment)
Image & video playback (via Infotainment)
Android AutoTM & Apple CarPlayTM connectivity (via Infotainment)
Call rejection with SMS feature (via Infotainment)
8 Speaker surround sound (earlier models had 6 speakers)
JBL 8 Speaker and Tweeter surround sound system – 2 more than old version
Touch Screen infotainment system – chose Android Auto or Apple Carplay
Fully digital instrument cluster
Apple CarPlay
Android Auto
Other Tigor 2020 Features
Few other noteworthy features that are added to the Tigor are the Auto fold mirrors and push start/stop button. DRLs or Daytime Running Lamps is also a welcome addition. To add a big of the zing and sportiness, Tata Motors has given Altroz’s flat-bottom, full horn spread steering wheel to Tigor as well.
In the earlier XZA version that I own, Tata Motors had ignored adding the Climate Controlled A/C system – which now has been given to the XZA+ variant. The only let down I had was when Tata Motors decided to change the interior seat fabric from Black to Grey. They could have gone with Beige color though – it would have made the car look even more premium.
Auto Fold mirrors
Push Star/Stop button
Day time running Lamps or DRLs
Flat bottom steering wheel (with improved honk press spread, same is available in Altroz)
Shark fin antenna
Climate Control A/C
Dual tone interiors (2018 Tigor XZA had black, which I prefer better than the grey in 2020 Tigor)
Drive side height adjustable seat
Push Start / Stop button – new addition over outgoing Tata Tigor model
luxurious rear seat with armrest and cupholder
Flat bottom premium steering wheel – just like in the Tata Altroz
Tigor Auto fold mirrors
New Tata Tigor 2020 Colours
I personally liked the new colours offered on the Tata Tigao 2020 model more than on the new Tigor 2020 model. Though the new Deep Red and Daytona Grey are among the best options in my view from what Tata Motors is offering though. I would have loved if Tata Motors offered the Flame Red and Victory Yellow from Tiago on Tigor as well – image how much fun it would look on the Tigor as well! Of course, looks and colour choices are subjective.
Tata Tigor 2020 Colors – Daytona Grey
Tata Tigor 2020 Colors – Pure Silver
Tata Tigor 2020 Colors – Pearlescent White
Tata Tigor 2020 Colors – Arizona Blue
Tata Tigor 2020 Colors – Deep Red
The new Bharat Stage (BS6 or BSVI) compliant Engine
One of the biggest reasons for the slew of new car launches or upgrades is due to the Bharat Stage regulations. The Ministry of Transport, Roadways and Infrastructure decided to skip BS5/BSV regulations altogether and decided to jump from BS4/BSIV to BS6/BSVI. This marks a significant step in terms of helping the environment become cleaner and government accelerated its implementation in spite of voices from the industry crying foul.
1.2 Litre Revotron Petrol Engine is a three-pot motor, which is BS6 compliant
Diesel Engine
Tata’s have decided not to upgrade the sweet 1.0L 3-cylinder Revotroq diesel engine that used to come with Tigor. It is one of the most fuel-efficient motor in its class (nearly competing with Maruti’s 1.3 based on Fiat’s MultiJet engine). So, the all new Tata Tigor 2020 variant is only available with the upgraded 1.2L Revotron Petrol engine.
Upgrading to new Tigor
I was wondering what the cost will be to upgrade my existing 2018 Tigor XZA with the new 2020 Tigor XZA+ so did a quick calculation to find out feasibility. Here it goes I bought Tigor XZA 2018 in June 2018 costed me âč7.36L (included accessories worth âč24K). The new Tigor XZA+ 2020 will cost me âč8.92L. The cost difference between old OTR and new OTR is âč1.56L
The exchange value (max) that I have (est. valuation, not physical) is âč6.20L (June 2018, XZA, 30,000 KMs 1st owner, owner single driver, excellent condition). Exchange value for my Tigor suggested by the Showroom evaluator is only âč3.2L – which is a far cry for a car that costed me âč7.36L with 30K Kms on board and 18 months of ownership.
If I get to sell my existing Tigor for anywhere around âč6.20L, I would pay âč2,72,000 more (plus interest that I paid on loan over last 18 months).
I have already completed 30K+ kms on the Odo in last 18 months, car has P2P subscribed for 2.5 more years, insurance renewed till June 2020. I will only have 45K KMS more warranty left, approximate part replacement + service costs pegged at âč30,000 for next 18 months (on the conservative side). Tyres will have to be changed in next 10K Kms, so that is additional âč20K. Net expense increase then will be around âč2L if I take about 70K off in future expenses for next 18 months including warranty costs. Interest cost was at âč80,000 till next monthâs EMI.
In summary…
If I must look at the value for âč280,000, there is a lot to get so it still makes sense, but not overwhelmingly so. It now all depends on how good a valuation I can get for my car in exchange. Since it is a facelift but new launch, the new car will not come with any exchange bonuses or discounts – however if you wait for long to exchange Tigor with Tigor, then your old car’s valuation is only going to be less.
Since it is a Tata, valuation will always be an issue, won’t get similar valuation like the tin-cars Maruti makes till the market improves. It suffers from Tataâs image of the rickety Indicaâs and cheapest car Nano. It is the rigidity with which people refuse to accept the change at Tata Motors the reason I am very vocal about them. I own a Tigor, have had issues with it and have it resolved. I am incredibly happy with the ASA now from when I had bought my car. For a company to show that much of an improvement over 18 months is huge.
What surprised me was the energy and the feel I got just standing there with my 5 year old was amazing! I can definitely get some help in naming the songs, as I have little clue what the song names are…
Maldivies Traditional Music, Song and Dance
You can check out Dhammaanu’s social media pages on YouTube and Facebook.
It is not the first time I responded with paragraphs to a WhatsApp message. The last time I did it, it was on a political situation. This time, it is political from another perspective! Game of Thrones.
I have been following Game of Thrones for a while now. I was not fan of it till Season 6 came along. Then out of curiosity, I watched the first season and I was hooked. I binged watched all six seasons to be ready for season seven and now, when the season eight is here, I have been seeing it along with many from the rest of the world every Monday mornings.
Season Eight is here
With the Episode three of the most awaited Season Eight, the Finale, is poised to be the most expensive to shoot, and the most expansive for the story. Two wars, the first for survival and the second, for the Throne. It is evident from the name of the series that the whole story is not about the Night King but that of the Iron Throne.
So when the Episode Three aired on the Long Night War at Winterfell between the Army of the Dead and Living, it was to be a feast for eyes. Alas, it was gory but well composed. It could have been better, however there are already many who are not happy with it. Some of the questions I got did not make sense, and I decided to follow up on them with my own responses.
Questions raised against GOT Episode Three of Season Eight
1) Sending your entire unarmored cavalry into the darkness
head on and losing that cavalry and your only direwolf within minutes.
Response:
Why would you want to wait for the Night King
and Army to come to you when you know they outnumber.
You have more people to save at the castle, than
out there far ahead.
You need your strongest yet to be closely
guarding. Dhothrakhi are merciless, and would have fought a great war (that we
didnt get to see).
Attack is the best defence at times when you are
yet to ascertain the exact strenght.
You know well who the Night King was after, and
that he is the real end game, not his army
2) Having two full grown dragons on your side and keeping
them on a cliff side instead of them manning the battlements of the castle on
both flanks and burning down the oncoming horde.
Response:
Bran knew the night king was coming for him, upfront. This
was the basis for the entire strategy, and hence it was important to be around
and not too far till they know where the Night King was and to kill him the
earlierst to avoid further deaths. Niether Bran nor Danny or Jon knew if Night
King will fall on Dragon Fire, though we have seen in earlier episodes he does
not get effected by fire (caracters cannot see what we see)
3) Letting the incoming horde break through your fire pit
and climb the walls and letting undead giants break in and breach entirely
while one dragon is AWOL and another sits on the wall WATCHING AND DOING
NOTHING!
Response:
With such a huge attack, the director can only show one
fight at a time in the limited time the show is screening. The dragon may be
fighting a war somewhere else. Plus, there was already a defence in place
knowing well that they are heavily outnumbered. The dragons could be looking
for the Night King because he is the end game.
4) Chasing the night king in the ice storm with both dragons
and then running away from him instead of attacking.
Response:
The Night King had spread the mist of snow making it
difficult for Jon and Danny to see or chase and fight him. Hence the natural
response by both of them to go above the clouds to see more clearly. As both
predicted, Night King does come after them, and then they chase him down. Don’t
understand what is wrong with that?
5) Letting an undead dragon besiege the castle while
Danaerys is absent entirely. And then trying to burn the Night King with dragon
fire in spite of being told it won’t work. And then landing your dragon later
to be stabbed by countless undead because you didn’t fly it away.
Response:
Danny trying to kill Night King with dragon fire was because
no one knows that if fire or dragon fire will kill the Night King as it does
the undead. No one alive in the 7 kingdoms has fought the Night King with a
dragon to date, neither did Danny attack Night King with fire before.
Even Bran, with his three-eyed skills, does not know if the
Night King can be killed using Dragon fire. Dragon fire is said to be more
intense and powerful than the normal fire. It is natural for her with her
biggest asset of a weapon to try and kill the Night King with dragon fire.
6) Taking the undead down to the crypts where, no shit
sherlock, the undead in the crypts just randomly kill everyone because why not.
Response:
The Night King did make all dead in and around Winterfell
undead – which means, yes the ones in the crypt too would become undead. Of
course, Night King wanted to have more soldiers for himself right there when he
felt he needed, and with powers bestowed to him by George R R Martin, he can
and he did.
Sometimes, you should stop questioning the story. Before you
ask, the dead in the crypt are like Egyptian Mummies from the Pyramids đ
7) Bran just sits there in a trance doing nothing and we
don’t even get a reason why the Night King was coming for him, and Theon dies
for nothing at all and Bran let’s him die in vain. Please don’t tell me the
Night King trying to erase all memory was the be all end all motive because
that’s weak and the way it was executed was weaker still.
Response:
The first part, Bran knew well why the Night
King was coming for him and if you had missed the episode two, watch it again
to know why! Bran said heâs the Night Kingâs target in Season 8, Episode 2.
“Heâll come for me,” he said. “Heâs tried before, many times
with many Three-Eyed Ravens.”
Bran isn’t Bran Stark anymore. He is the 3-eyed
Raven. Duh! He won’t kill or protect anyone. He is mere a story teller who
tells history and assumes predicting based on history to others do the right thing.
Killing the three-eyed Raven will ensure that no
living will be able to know how to defeat the White Walkers or the know the
history at all. This will also mean that the Night King’s target is to destroy
the whole world and establish endless night, as a revenge. No one knows the
Night King’s side of the story. He was also a human before the Children of the
Foresh created him as the White Walker by ploughing in the dragon stone when he
was tied to the tree.
Theon, in his capacity, the last thing he could
do to protect Bran was to kill the night king. Of course, he died stupid and
could have done something else than just ramming into the Night King. But he
knew well that it would lead to his death. He could have waited for the Night
King to come to him and then attack as well. But then, it was Arya Stark who
would get the honor. His death reflected his entire life, didn’t it?
8) Arya pulling off a stealth stab and killing the Night
King who just walked slowly and said nothing and it was just done.
Response:
So many things wrong with this question…
Arya Stark killing Night King: Season 3, Episode 6. Melisandre had told you so. Arya appears to jumps out of no-where, but one of the White Walker feels the movement of his hair against a small breeze denotes Arya’s arrival. May be a skill that she learned as Faceless (wo)men. We have seen her train around that skill in Bravos when The Waif is chaising her.
Have you ever heard the White Walkers speaking?
Arya could have disguised herself, others could have not noticed her given they were all waiting for the Night King’s next move. When Night King is around, the others have never acted anything on their own.
9) Letting so many characters die without doing anything
remotely heroic and letting them die just like that.
Response:
Here is a list of main characters that were dead in the war
and all of them did something heroic.
Beric Dondarrion, died saving Arya, was heroic
for sure. We know what Arya did, after being saved!
Eddison Tollett, died saving Sam, was heroic for
sure.
Theon Greyjoy, died saving Bran after putting up
a great fight against the undead (could have died in a better way), was heroic
for sure.
Lady Mormont died killing a gaint (she was young
child) was an extremely heroic death, nonetheless
Jorah Mormont, died saving Queen Danny in her
arms, was heroic for sure.
Melisandre killed herself by taking off the
necklace that stopped her death not before bringing fire power to Winterfell.
She could have chosen not to, but she did. Of course, Ser Davos would have
killed her anyways, but she chose to die herself, which in itself was badass.
When I wanted to buy a bike, the family told me to go for a Scooter instead. It was practical, given that few members of my family can use it if I did not. Though, at that time, I wanted to buy the Pulsar, just like every other guy in the market.
So I went in for the TVS Wego, and it held me in good stead in the last 4 years. However, long daily rides of 80+ kms were becoming a pain for me even on my Wego. I hear you say of course, do I?
I was long due an upgrade to a bike, and I often wondered which one to go for given my daily commute. So I naturally thought, why not try the Avenger from the Bajaj stable? It was powerful enough, comfortable and a good bike overall, given it had proven itself in the market. Impulse, was another bike I had eyed but Hero stopped selling it. Another bike I had considered was the all new Pulsar NS200. I also took a test ride (the Showroom sent in a mechanic as pillion which really robbed the experience). And came back, impressed.
Kerala Ride to the god’s own country
Kerala Ride to the god’s own country
Kerala Ride to the god’s own country
Kerala Ride to the god’s own country
The Limited edition Royal Enfield Himalayan looks classy in its natural surroundings.
But then, the news was floating around of the all new Royal Enfield Himalayan. You see, it would be, at launch, the only affordable adventure bike in the country. With the roads pothole ridden, I felt this was the bike I want to ride to work. A quick back to back TD with Pulsar NS200 and Himalayan was enough for me to decide.
I never rode a Royal Enfield bike before in my life, like ever. Himalayan was the first one! A quick back to back TD with Pulsar NS200 and Himalayan was enough for me to decide my future bike.
Enter Yeti, the Himalayan
I went ahead and booked the new Himalayan for Rs. 5000, with a waiting period of three months. Three efng months!
It was too long a wait, and I had to really count days. It was not easy, but I had this longing of buying myself a Himalayan that really kept me pumping. As the days passed by, I got a call that my Himalayan had arrived 15 days earlier than anticipated, and that I should be ready to receive it.
The day of the delivery was also the day when Raksha Bandhan was celebrated. Using the day off to the fullest, I called in my friend Vishnu Tantri to join me for the delivery.
It was a non-ceremonial delivery, but heck did I care about those things. I had the beast waiting for me, and I was more immersed in deciding to go for my first ride on it.
Long rides on Himalayan, the best sub two lakh tourer!
I did many long rides on my Yeti, with the longest yet at 3300+ kms in 8 days. My Mumbai to Kerala and back trip was really an eye opener. My friend and fellow Wolf at TGW accompanied me astride the Dominar. Between us, I bet I had a more comfortable tour
When we faced pothole ridden roads, it was the Himalayan that came on top. On the highway, Dominar was regularly breaching the 140kmph mark which my Himalayan did not. However, it was never my intent to be riding at those speeds.
Doing 120kmph constant is easily done on Himalayan, even with loads of luggage and a heavy rider. After the initial niggles, it has proved to be a no-nonsense bike for me.
Other bikes from the RE stable are famously used for long tours, and of course people have claimed it to be comfortable likewise. For me, it has been the Himalayan which beats the odds.
Itâs been a while since I did a long ride on my RE Himalayan, whom I named Yeti. After my longest ride ever from Mumbai to Kerala, I have only done two short rides. I joined for work again, life in general has been fighting for time. Or rather, let me say other things have taken priority. However, there always comes a time when you look back and say â what did I miss?
Rides on my Yeti, of course, is one of them. A pop notification
from Quora
about a question I had answered long ago helped in a bit more reminiscing. The
story of how and why I opted to go for my first Royal Enfield bike.
Yeti, my Royal Enfield Himalayan
Royal Enfield Himalayan
Breakfast at Pune with Nikhil, Tyjo, two Himalayans and a Dominar
Kerala Ride to the god’s own country
Kerala Ride to the god’s own country
Kerala Ride to the god’s own country
Is Royal Enfield still a legend?
I own a Royal Enfield Himalayan, never rode a Royal Enfield
before buying it. For me, the brand connect to RE is via a relatively new bike
which cannot be added to this âlegendâ tag yet. It will take the Himalayan
years to match up to the Legend tag if at all it can. However, the brandâs rise
to prominence is a story to tell. Even with the imminent launch of Jawa
motorcycles by Mahindra, Royal Enfield is here to stay and compete head on.
Over the years, I have felt and heard the amount of
improvements RE has made to their quality of products and the twins
(Interceptor and Continental GT) add to the Royal Enfield legacy. Especially
the twins, have pushed the bar and shows the direction for all other products
to follow. I hope to get the Interceptor to be part of my garage someday, soon.
Royal Enfield as a Brand and itâs legacy
RE is a brand that stands for pure pride, biking, comfort
and retro appeal, and now technological expertise after the launch of the twins.
Royal Enfieldâs legacy is unparalleled to any other manufacturer. These
attributes are hard to match in comparison to any other motorcycle brandâs
lineup.
The bike is intended for street, not the racetrack. It is a street naked and begs to ride respectfully. The motorcycle commands you to ride safe!
It is designed in a way that you can maintain it on your own. Most of the new generation owners who bought an RE want near zero maintenance which takes away the fun of owning and maintaining their own bike.
Speaking of Retro, the bike is not a replica of the 60âs bikes Enfield of UK used to make. The UCE that now powers the Bullet, Classic and Thunderbird, the 410 that powers Himalayan and 650 Twin are modern motors but tuned to give the retro feel. The manufacturing techniques have also improved, and only a few parts are handmade. Bullet still is painted by hand, though.
The retro looks also add to the vintage appeal to the motorcycle. Triumph tries to do that with Bonnie, though it never looks retro vintage in comparison to RE Bullet for example. Those looks are something that a vast majority of buyers crave.
It is easily the most customizable bike today in the market. You look at custom bike market in Asia, and RE leads the way.
It is cheaper than Triumph, Harley Davidson and any other retro bike in the market.
Royal Enfiled Himalayan Sleet Panniers – close up
Royal Enfiled Himalayan Sleet Panniers
Royal Enfiled Himalayan brand new engine guards
Royal Enfiled Himalayan brand new Bar Ends that look more premium!
Royal Enfiled Himalayan aluminium handle bar with cross brace
The Limited edition Royal Enfield Himalayan looks classy in its natural surroundings.
RE Himalayan – Ownership experience
The Thump!
If one thing Bullets are famous in India, it is the thumping
sound of its exhaust that is audible from a long, long distance and it is a
Royal Enfield legacy. It is so imbibed into the culture here and one of the
most critical aspects of its identity, that it cannot be just a bullet point
(pun unintended).
That thumping sound has a potential to get a brain orgasm of
a die-heart fan of RE. Those born after the 70âs have often heard the tone of
it, usually rode by bullies and strong muscular men in the upper social
circles. Of course, it was a luxury brand of bike in the age of Chetak and
Priya geared scooters that could never match the sound.
So why are RE bikes called the legend?
It can be called a âlegendâ because;
They are an oldest motorcycle manufacturer today alive and kicking. Have almost cornered the market and owns a huge market share.
The thump is alive in the newer generation bullet! Nothing comes close to it.
Pride of the rider, the feel of riding a Bullet isn’t something you can explain!
Easy to maintain at home, and service centers are often reliable and spread across India.
Most importantly, passion for the brand! There are many biker groups in India that are solely dedicated to RE Brand of vehicles. Other manufactures are not close to that kind of fan following.
People make the brand a legend, because they feel so connected and attached to the brand.
My answer to Quora needs to be updated, I guess. Because,
with the launch of the twins, Royal Enfield has really lifted
the technology quotient. And I need to head out for a ride. Sooner, the better.
Head over to indianomics.tv
for videos that I have made with my Yeti, the Himalayan.
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It had been two months since my last outing to Goa, and in between then and now I have already started feeling stressed out. Due to the hectic working hours and constant travel to work and back, I needed a break. For people who live on the central lined (railways) suburbs beyond Thane, Lonavala and Igatpuri are often the quick break spot. I have been struggling to decide between the expensive Lonavala (yep, demand was higher during Diwali) and scarce Igatpuri/Bhandardara belt.
The idea was to get to a place and relax with nothing to be done actually. And if it was closer to nature, it will be a bonus. I was constantly seeing the option for Herb Farm in Igatpuri for quite a while, with no rooms available for booking on online sites. I prefer Cleartrip to book hotels more often than not, unless the place isnt listed there.
Room view outside, The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
So when I was just scanning for hotels on Friday, suddenly the Herb Farm came up as available at I booked it immediately. I will be traveling with my family to the farm for a quite one-night outing the very next day. Look for the video review below, if you want to skip reading. đ
Natural Igatpuri-Bhandardara
Igatpuri has been my frequently visited place, be it for breakfast rides or office outings. And every time I had been there, I have enjoyed my time. So much so that I feel that Igatpuri as a place to travel is often not weighted in its worth. In a way, better for people like me who frequent the place.
Igatpuri is approachable via the Mumbai-Nashik highway from Mumbai, and is a hill station in itself. Surrounded by lush Western Ghats and highest peaks of Sahiyadri range, it is best visited during the monsoons. The approach can be tricky due to heavy rain the region witnesses, however it is experience that you must not miss.
Outside River and Lake View at The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
I prefer going to Igatpuri because it close, and it is not as crowded as Lonavala, the closest Hill Station to Mumbai. Be it the lush green or the golden brown mountains as the season changes, this place has always lived up to my expectations.
The Herb Farm at Igatpuri
Situated just near the highway, Herb Farm is an eco-conscious resort / hotel. If you are traveling from Mumbai, travel about 11 kms after you cross Ghoti junction (you will need to take a U-turn and travel 500 meters towards Ghoti) and the resort is on your left side. The place is visible from far, thanks to the large board. Parking space is ample for the number of rooms available – eight.
What is really likable about this place is the it offers exclusivity, closeness to the nature and yet be remarkable at their service. The service was really spot on, something that I would expect from a niche hotel provider. The one thing that may irk a lot of you is – this place is vegetarian only. Yep, you heard that right. So all those non-veg aficionados, you may want to change your taste for the weekend.
Having said that, the food is good and tasty. Overall, the look and feel of this place is a nice fusion between old-world-charm and modern amenities. The place is thoughtfully designed, and does not show any signs of overdoing.
Swimming Pool
I really liked the swimming pool though it is only approx. 5 feet at its deepest and not very big. The quality of water was something I found to be much better than similar sized hotels I have seen around Igatpuri. It is best enjoyed with the kids!
Swimming Pool in Night at The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
Swimming Pool at The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
The swimming pool is lit at night with lights and it is a nice setting if you want to spend the night time near the pool area. You can also lie down and go a star gaze.
River and surrounding
The other things that are close by to this place is a dry lake and a river. I know it sounds a bit odd, however the dry lake is something of a bummer that is played right in due to the changing climate. The river though, is accessible but way is through mud and grass. I did try going there, however decided to stop and come back as it was too slippery.
Weekend Getaway to the Herb Farm at Igatpuri
Outpost near River and Lake View at The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
Outside River and Lake View at The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
Outside View of the dry lake at The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
The hotel is situated right at the highway, so you tend to hear the typical highway noise. Truck and car tires screeching through the road day and night. Add to that, there is the Mumbai-Nashik rail route passing through right next to the highway. You need to be a deep sleeper to be sure, as the sleep quality I felt will not be that great for very light sleeping folks.
Rooms at the Herb Farm, Igatpuri
Rooms at The Herb Farm are limited to eight – yes it is a small property. However, they are tastefully designed and named after the herbs. Oregano and Cilantro are the furthest rooms and should be preferred if you are light sleeper. Other rooms are named Dill, Thyme, etc. so you get the drift.
All rooms are built on rails, and have beach sand play area beneath them. And you have hammocks for each room, if you prefer to lie down outside. You need to climb up the stairs to get to your room and greeted by the faux grass mats, couple of chairs and a tea table.
Oregano and Cilantro, Room view outside, The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
Room view outside, The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
Room view outside, The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
Room view inside, The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
Inside, you have one king size bed, and a tea-coffee maker. All rooms offer air-conditioning, and are very neat and clean. The interior design is subtle and a perfectly mixed fusion of old-world-charm with modern fixtures. French windows double up as door. You can lie down and absorb in the view that you can see from your bed. It is the best view to wake up and see in the morning, right from your bed.
One thing that I might have to put out as a warning though, is mosquitoes. Given it is located near a river and a lake, dry at that, with patches of puddles across, it is bound to be mosquito prone. It is advised that you carry a mosquito repelling creme with you.
The washroom is small, however the ceiling is made of glass giving the near open-air experience. Of course, the dried leaves and dust on top do give away the glass surface. It still is a welcome change to a typical small bathroom and experience you may well like.
Experience!
The overall experience has left a positive impact on me and my family, and it is definitely a place I will consider to stay at, again. The thing is, very rarely you find a place that is neat and modern, yet has the old-world charm blend into a perfect fusion. In my view, the Herb farm at Igatpuri does this to great effect.
PS: This is not a paid/sponsored post, as it may look like with my generous praise for this place. It is purely my heart felt thoughts after I visited this place.
On my recent trip to Colva, I enjoyed the trip unlike all of my previous visits (I go there a lot). Loved the serene and calm atmosphere around, less crowded and neater roads (compared to North Goa). Arabian sea gives you ample company and so does the sea breeze.
The video is a mix of time lapses and glimpses from my travel experience. In case you love it, don’t forget to leave a like and subscribe to Indianomics.tv
Fisher folks are the son of the sea and its at the beaches where you often see them in action. On my recent trip to Colva, I had got a chance to see how the fisher folks prepare for their next adventure, and look forward to a promising future – catching more fish.
The video is a mix of time lapses and glimpses from my travel experience. In case you love it, dont forget to leave a like.
I am going to be speaking at the upcoming blogging workshop at 91 Springboard, Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai on 27th of April, 2018. It was an impromptu session organized thanks to a lot questions being exchanged in our driving group from RTC (RoadTrippersClub). As I was answering questions along with Neeraj dada (Yayawar), someone suggested that we should meet once so that we all can learn. This was on Monday morning.
Divyakshi Gupta blogs at http://www.quirkywanderer.com/
Vishnu works with and manages the site https://scoutmytrip.com
Neeraj is the CTO of ScoutMyTrip.com and is a tech giant in his right
Hemal curates content on Indianomics and Indianomics.tv
Flash forward to the evening, we have the event creative ready and a place to meet arranged thanks to 91 Springboard. They were generous enough to help host the event, helping us to keep the session at zero cost! Nothing is better than lending a hand to spearhead learning and I wholeheartedly appreciate the 91 Springboard team at Bandra-Kurla Complex!
Agenda for Blogging Workshop
So here is the agenda for the workshop, where we have speakers like Divyakshi Gupta and Parampara, mights in their own right in travel and social media respectively. And then there is your’s truly, where I am going to talk about Content, Design and Video in the blogging world.
Agenda at The blogger on the run Blogging Workshop
How to register for this Workshop?
The workshop is being organized by Road Trippers Club and there is no fee! Yes, it is free of cost to attend. If you are interested, then login in to RoadTrippesClub.com and register yourself today. Hurry, we only have limited seats left.
The Trailer for the Great Indian Food Trip – Edition 2 is out! Take a look!
This interesting and mouthwatering road trip is being led by avid biker and travel expert Tanmay Pangam (The Angry Saint). Tanmay is riding to Indore on his Royal Enfield Himalayan bike. In Indore, he will be joined by popular travel and lifestyle blogger Neha Ramneek Kapoor (The LifeStyle Stew). Neha is curating the âIndore Food Escapadeâ. Neha and Tanmay together would set out to find out whatâs best about Indore’ food and pitting it against cities hugely popular for food like Lucknow, Delhi, Kolkata and Hyderabad.
What is The Great Indian Food Trip?
Great Indian Food Trip is an initiative by ScoutMyTrip to help find the best food in India. Last year with their hugely successful âSouth Indian Biryani Trailâ which covered Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore and Calicut. The second edition now kicks off with the ScoutMyTrip team knocking on the doors of Indore to explore and experience the culinary delights of the city.
If you are already connected to me via Social Media, than you would have seen my posts about me and my channel partnering with ScoutMyTrip for the Great Indian Food Trip (GIFT).
What is The Great Indian Food Trip?
Great Indian Food Trip is an initiative by ScoutMyTrip to help find the best food in India. Last year with their hugely successful âSouth Indian Biryani Trailâ which covered Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore and Calicut. The second edition now kicks off with the ScoutMyTrip team knocking on the doors of Indore to explore and experience the culinary delights of the city.
The Story of Poha
Kick-starting the mega campaign from Mumbai, the ScoutMyTrip team will reach Indore on 29th March 2018. The distance would be covered over two days from Mumbai considering hot weather. Also exploring the changes and variations between how simple dishes like âPohaâ (flattened rice) change between Maharashtra to Madhya Pradesh. Despite poha being one of the most popular breakfast dishes all over India, ScoutMyTrip considers the Indore variation to this simple but iconic dish very innovative. Especially when sprinkled sev on top and served with jalebi on the side. Thus, giving it a taste, a signature flavor that is considered to be uniquely Indore.
And other delicacies of Indore!
But the ScoutMyTrip team wonât stop with Poha. Tanmay together with Neha will also be indulging in two days of chaat and other street-food especially made by legendary chaatwaalas. People get in line, just to dig their fingers into a culinary bomb. Whetting the appetite further, thereâs a visit to the Sarafa bazaar. Sarafa Bazaar holds the distinction of being the only Night Food Market in India, something which even Maximum City, Mumbai cannot stake claim.
Exploring the food from the heart of Indore with The Great Indian Food Trip – Second Edition with Tanmay Pangam and Neha Kapoor
The plan in Indore is to meet numerous foodies and travelers over meetups over the three days. Indulging in dishes like âgaraduâ, âbhutte ki keesâ, non-vegetarian delights, Johnny hot dog and many more. The team would conduct food-tasting sessions, analyze ingredients and draw comparatives amongst each version.
The Great Indian Food Trip Experts
This interesting and mouthwatering road trip is being led by avid biker and travel expert Tanmay Pangam (The Angry Saint). Tanmay is riding to Indore on his Royal Enfield Himalayan bike. In Indore, he will be joined by popular travel and lifestyle blogger Neha Ramneek Kapoor (The LifeStyle Stew). Neha is curating the âIndore Food Escapadeâ. Neha and Tanmay together would set out to find out whatâs best about Indore’ food and pitting it against cities hugely popular for food like Lucknow, Delhi, Kolkata and Hyderabad.
Speaking about the idea of the Great Indian Food Trip, Deepak Ananth, CEO, ScoutMyTrip said, âThe birth of Great Indian Food Trip was a logical step. towards the fact that food is and will always be an essential component of travel exploration. With the Great Indian Food Trip, we want to take dishes from Indore to not just whole of India but the world!â added Ananth.
With the Great Indian Food Trip, we want to take dishes from Indore to not just whole of India but the world!
Deepak Anant, CEO, ScoutMyTrip
Indianomics Partnership
Indianomics is proud to parter with ScoutMyTrip for the second edition of Great Indian Food Trip. The on ground crew of Tanmay and Pooja will be sharing their experiences on camera and my channel Indianomics will be helping them put it out for all of you to see. You will be able to watch the episodes on Indianomics TravelVlogs. Be sure you are subscribed to IndianomicsTV for more updates!
