Nahushraj Sonawane

So you have decided that the solution to your depression and problems in life is not therapy, medication, etc it is buying an expensive (not so road-friendly) motorcycle, great job.

Okay just kidding, maybe it's been your childhood dream to buy the “Dhoom” motorcycle one day. But wait for a second, there are a lot of things to consider before buying your first big bike and if you do this correctly, the motorcycle will put a smile on your face every time you swing a leg on it and if not then it's a white elephant parked in your garage. 

I have been riding (not a superbike) for a while now and I know people who bought a superbike and had fun and who did not, I am an automotive enthusiast, and what I am about to tell you will impact your buying experience in a positive manner.

5 things that we will be talking about are as follows:

• Buying It Used Or New

Buying a used bike will save you a whole lot of money upfront and there are so many options in the market as well. I would highly recommend that you take a test drive and make sure what you are getting. Do not fall for a motorcycle because you saw an ad for one on some Instagram page.

It's also a good idea to check for any rust on the body and framework. Motorcycles are something that can be dropped and there are signs to spot them. For example a repaint or after-market welding.

Make sure the tires are in good shape, if not you might have to change them so bargain about it. Also if the odometer shows a low number of kilometres but the tires are all used up, there is a pretty good chance that the previous owner was a fan of burnouts and drags.

On the other hand, superbike tires wear off fairly fast so be considerate about that.

If you want to go for a brand new motorcycle make sure to list down the options available, go for test drives and feel the motorcycle rather than comparing spec sheets.

Pro tip: If you don't mind getting a test vehicle you might end up saving some cash upfront, as brands offer them at a little less price than the actual.

A friend of mine got the Kawasaki Z900 and saved a lot in the process.

• Engine Displacement 

This is something you should give serious thought to. The size of the engine and the power it makes is critical. Ask yourself are you ready to handle a 150-horse-power beast?

In India, we do not have that many great roads where you can enjoy the full potential of a litre bike. 

These bikes are like fighter jets and if you make one mistake you might get more than just a few bruises, so treat them well and give them the respect they deserve.

Even if you consider not going for a litre bike, 800 - 900 CCs are almost the same, in my view, the sweet spot is the 600-650 CC range, these machines are nimble and offer almost the same amount of performance.

• Dimensions Of The Motorcycle

These superbikes are big and weigh almost like a tank. The dimensions are not very rider or pillion friendly. The seat height is one issue that you should seriously give a thought about, as big bikes typically have seats that are in the range of 810+ MM and you need to be tall (5.5 feet+) to maneuver these beasts easily.

Also, let's face it someone buying these in not his 20s and with a clip-on handlebar on the lower side they are not going to be comfortable to ride for long distances as your back will get sore very quickly.

On the other hand, if you go for a cruiser or modern classics like Harley Davidson Iron 883 or Kawasaki W800 respectively there won't be such an issue.

• Maintenance Cost

These big bikes will demand some exotic drinks. High octane fuel, coolant, engine oils, and whatnot.

Parts and repairs are going to be expensive as well but they are pretty reliable, of course, what if you end up crashing them?

And then there is the gear, you will have to buy some solid gear to ensure your safety and comfort on these bad boys.

Helmets that are ECE or Snell certified (don’t fall for DOT) are the best, gloves (probably gauntlet style), riding jackets with CE-rated level 2 armors, riding boots, and the list goes on make sure to keep an eye on this space I’ll drop a detail list of gear a motorcyclist should have in an upcoming article.

• Running Cost (Insurance, Fuel, Etc)

They are gas guzzlers and will have a drinking problem, which will be compounded by the fact that you would love to rev the throttle hard every time you ride it.

Insurance on these bikes is on the higher side too which increases the running cost. Also, they will need a proper parking space (possibly a shaded one) you don’t want your baby to sit in the sun all day or at the mercy of birds.

They will also need a paddock stand as most of them came without the main stand, all these small things add up to the higher running cost.

These are some of the important pointers when buying a big bike I don’t want to scare you or discourage you but this is the truth. If you think you can do these things correctly, you will enjoy owning a big bike for sure, and lastly, drive safely and follow the rules.

I have seen many Ted talks over the years but none by a 7-year-old!

Is it unusual to see kids do stuff that we believe only grown-ups can do? Perhaps yes.

The Ted talk reminded me of an incident that my father told me about after my first cousin was born. He was a cry baby and a night owl, for almost 6 months he kept his parents awake for the better part of the night.

My uncle and aunt used to come to our place for my parent’s expert advice, it was one such evening when dad told me how he had written a furious letter to a newspaper after one of its articles claimed that infant babies cried purposely to seek attention.

My father could not stand the idea that someone felt that infants who cannot do anything on their own can scheme to seek attention.

The speaker talks about development in the early years and its stages;

·        Connecting

·        Talking

·        Playing

·        Healthy home

·        Community

The first five years are the most important part of the development of the brain and so we should nurture and give as many positive emotions as we can throughout this delicate phase.

I believe this to be true because I have experienced it, I have had loving parents and family members, teachers, and society members who gave us (me and my sister) a nurturing atmosphere to grow.

Today as a species we are connected at a global level but we have our issues as well.

I believe each child should be given these things, as our speaker said “it’s our future”.

These small steps like talking, playing, and connecting with a child develop his imagination, and vocabulary, and builds trust.

Not having these things creates confusion and stress.

So, ask yourself what are the foundations upon which you want our future generation to stand?

And so, serve and return, early and often. As our little speaker says, give children a chance to try new things to explore and to be ready to face the world in a more empathetic and caring manner.

“See? peekaboo can really change the world”

- Molly Wright, Ted Talk Speaker

I brought the Studds SMG 2 motorcycle riding gloves in the month of January, and I have been using them for my short city commutes ever since.

Let me get one thing straight, these gloves are not meant for cold weather in fact they are very airy and best used during summers, which is a plus point in my book.

The following are a few pros and cons of these gloves:

Pros:

Economical

Reputed brand

Neatly designed 

Cons:

Basic material 

Size not well defined 

Can get damaged quickly

Let me elaborate, firstly the gloves are well priced and are fairly economical but some sellers have high prices listed on Flipkart so I advise not to go beyond 550-600 ₹.

I must say the gloves are well designed and the padding, logo, and stitching make them look more premium than they are.

Studds is a well-known brand and it gives me peace of mind that I am wearing something that comes from a reputed company that deals in motorcycle gear.

Then again Studds should price these gloves a bit higher and make a decent product, into a much better product. By offering better material and more colour options.

Don’t get me wrong these gloves are okay but only for short city rides not hardcore long rides at high speeds on highways.

The size of the gloves is a bit large for my hands even though I measure and selected what the size chart showed, although it might not be a deal-breaker for most of us.

Lastly, I want to add that these gloves should not be used if you had a serious accident with them or they should be retired after a year of daily usage as the material is not that great, I would put these gloves just over pro biker gloves which are dirt cheap and do not offer any significant protection. 

This is a self-help book that encourages you to get things done more quickly and in a more focused manner.

Let's take a quick look at the author:

Ed Rush is a former fighter pilot, who was trained at Top gun later he started his own business and become an author, professional speaker, etc.

The book is neatly partitioned into 3 parts:

1. A guide to launching your own 21 days miracles plan

2. 10 most common 21 days miracles and the breakdown of them

3. 10 most common 21 days miracles outlined in succinct plan you can execute now

Although I have yet to finish this book, I am going to talk about the things that I have read so far which resonate with me.

When you hear the word miracle something extraordinary comes to your mind, A complex surgery that made headlines, a miraculous rescue operation, etc.

We seldom use the word miracle in daily life, but the author wants us to do so and to accomplish even the mundane of daily work in a laser-sharp manner with a dedication nothing short of a fighter pilot.

‘consistency is for losers’- is what the author says at the very beginning.

Why does the author say so? 

This fundamental theory of this book revolves around this quote:

‘Most successful people design their lives around Strategic sprints’ - Ed Rush

What this means is that if you do a job with at most dedication even for a short amount of time you will find success in it.

I like the fact that the author narrates and breaks down his own experiences and which one can connect with and how these things can make you better as you pursue your dreams and face the challenges that come with them.

I would love to write an elaborative article for the book, as soon as I finish it and hopeful implement any insights that I learned from the book until then I hope you found this short article informative.

• Add Recommended Products 

Adding recommended products, to your website is one way to boost your conversion rate as people tend to migrate to recommended products and show interest in them. 

You can also add “Frequently Bought Together” tab which shows item which would again increase the chance of the product being sold, it also gives a personalized feel to your E-commerce website which is a good tactic to increase the conversion rate. 

• Make Sure Your Product Pages Shine 

High quality images are the key when you are operating an e-commerce business, the visual connects with the customer and gives them a sense of confidence. 

Make sure to have high quality images which can be zoomed in and if possible, add 360 images which are a delightful addition to the visuals and aesthetics. 

It's always a good idea to encourage your customers to share their images on your social media accounts which double up as a proof of happy customer base and reviews.

• Streamline Navigation 

The navigation of an E-commerce website is crucial for sales and can make or break a successful business. 

Make sure your website is clear and crisp with well-laid-out menus and logical distribution of tabs and sections. 

A case study by HubSpot found that simplifying or removing navigation elements resulted in a 16-28% increased conversion rate!

• Add a Wish List or Favorite Option

   

This is a great way for a potential customer to try out your website and come back later. 

This is also a great way to collect user data and optimize your website as per the trends. 

You can also alert customers to the price changes, seasonal offers, and discounts or prompts that can increase the conversion rate.

• Streamline the Check-Out Process 

This is the step where your customer might abandon you, and the rate for mobile and desktop are as follows: desktop: 66.1% mobile: 80.6% 

Make sure you make this process as smooth as you can and even adding a guest option can be helpful as customer avoid creating a new account etc. 

Make sure to have as many payment options as possible. 

• Add More (and Better) Social Proof 

Social tools are the most important and powerful tool for your business as it validates a good brand. 

Add reviews and testimonials to your website and have as many social media accounts which actively send out promotions and seasonal offers.