What makes the Africa Twin unique?

All said & done, what does the Africa Twin have that no other bike has?

DCT!

Not “no gear”, “no clutch”, etc., it is Dual Clutch Transmission.
I get asked a lot about this choice. How does it feel? Isn’t it boring? Doesn’t it take the fun out of riding? 

What do I get from the DCT?

  • lightning quick gear changes, be it in auto or manual mode; the speed of change is UNMATCHED by human agility (at least mine); I get my riding thrills from acceleration, more than top speed; it is a lot safer & practical to experience this thrill more often!
  • option to go manual or auto or hybrid wrt gear changes; I love & use hybrid the most .. the popping noise when downshifting is beautiful!
  • lesser riding fatigue; a blessing for city riding and for the last 10% of long ride days (600+ kms days); I’m not getting younger & can use any help from technology! Did you know that most riding mistakes are committed when you are tired & towards the last part of your journey?
  • option to alter bike characteristics; with auto modes, I can pick a mode that suits my mood – a playful & aggressive S3 , or a relaxed S1 (never D!)
  • an intelligent bike; even when in fully manual M mode, the Africa Twin makes up for rider lapses to ensure you are never stranded with the wrong gear; I know you are already intelligent & don’t depend on a bike for it, but I WILL NOT BELIEVE you are flawless!

Decades ago, I thought auto transmission in cars is for sissies. Then I traveled the world, became wiser, and learnt that driving is not just about gear changes. The driving pleasure never diminished with lack of manual transmission. Sometimes you wait for the tech to catch up; the adventurous option is to rush forward & embrace it.

Forma Adventure Boots Review

Forma Adventure Low Boots – I’ve had these for about 5 years now & has been my primary riding boots across Tigris, Altoid & Kiara. And they continue to be my primary riding boots even now.

Here are 5 inputs for anyone planning on buying them:

1. Made of tough leather, they take some getting used to. For me, it felt odd for the first 4-5 rides. I had to change the position of my gear lever to accommodate the boots under it. But once the leather settled in, it felt like a natural second layer. Now, it feels strange riding without them. Boots are flexible, but not enough to do a Tiger’s Nest trek in Bhutan.

2. They have a Drytex waterproof layer which has worked well. It has gone through water, snow, sand – and has kept my feet safe & dry. They’ve been submerged fully multiple times too – obviously can’t keep water out beyond its height. The waterproofing continues to work even now – tested extensively in the recent monsoons. There is at least one instance when the boots took the full weight of Tigris (230 odd kgs) when I dropped it during an off roading adventure. Though I was pinned down, no discomfiture or injury.

3. The construction of the boots are comfortable & it’s never bothered me even on long riding days (>12 hrs). I opted for the low version since I wanted to use this along with knee braces. This setup has worked well for the last 3 years I’ve had the braces.

4. I have done zero upkeep of the boots except to wash off the grime & dirt once in a while. I’ve not soft handed them at all & thrown them at the deep end when required (e.g., some flat tracking too, where they took quite a beating). With a little bit effort, these will go an even longer way.

5. Watch out for the manufacturing date before you buy the product. Many a time, they are stocked by retailers too long before it is sold. And these products start deteriorating even if the product is not in active use. A few quarters might not matter; but be wary of buying if it is much older.

I have been so impressed with them, that I bought a Forma for urban use as well. They haven’t been used anywhere as much as these, but they have also lived up to expectations.

Puppy Learning

Coelho had this to say about a child. This applies to a pup as well or even better!

A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.

Paulo Coelho

When you combine the last two points with the amount of energy at their disposal, you have a dynamite in your hands. That keeps going off again & again.

For someone who loves to enjoy the calm & quiet, read a book in peace, dwells on musing… this could spell anathema.

And an opportunity to understand oneself & what goes on within. And to deal with things not going your way. And to proverbially respond rather than react. And to learn to be in awe of this other being.

Acing It In The Experience Economy

It takes 2 days to deliver the book. So Amazon lets me start reading the Kindle version immediately & avoid the wait.

Tiny steps all along the journey to ace the customer experience ?