Page 148 - Motoring World (January 2020)

Flat-tracker for the psuedo-patriotic A chop off the old block... in red Yes, he most certainly does.

FLAT OUT AND SIDEWAYS!

The orange flag that we approve of
Our resident racer boy gets a
taste of flat-track riding atop a flat-track-prepped Street 750
developed by Rajputana Customs.
My first go on a flat track was
humbling, to say the least. My
time of 16-odd seconds around the
100-metre course was probably the
slowest of the day. But then, the
fun I had in those few seconds was
greater than I’ve ever had anytime
in Goa, sober. No kidding. The
whole no-front-brake idea on a big
Harley on loose soil sounds scary,
but it’s only when you’re actually on
the saddle and looking at a fast-
approaching corner that you truly
understand the meaning of terror.
Of course, it’s just a matter of
getting used to it with practice.
But rewiring of muscle memory to
depend on engine braking and only
the rear brake to modulate speed is
rather disturbing. Especially when
otorcycles are many things And this whole flat-track racing all your life you’ve largely depended
Mto many people. For me, business has consumed me with on the front brake to stop a
it’s a lot about thrill-seeking and its slipping-and-sliding character. motorcycle. The bug has bitten hard
making a mess born from my racing Finally, my chance came at the and there is going to be a lot of this
ambitions. After being declared as flat-track time trials organised by sliding business that I am going to
too old to go road-racing, my obvious Harley Davidson India at this year’s invest my time in and get better at.
newfound love is competing on dirt. IBW. I soon found myself perched Never too old to eat dirt, am I right?!

Too long have we waited for the KTM 390 Adv Not the Husqvarna we expected
148 MOTORING WORLD | JANUARY 2020