Review with an old story. Review on Hero Honda Passion

Hi All,

WARNING: DON’T TRY TO IMITATE. THIS WAS DONE BY WELL EXPERENCED PERFORMERS

Cast – Me, Kris and his brand new Hero Honda Passion

Time – During Onam holidays of 2000/2001 (Don’t remember exact days. But the same year of release of Passion)

Location – Thrissur in Kerala

I was thinking about a sleep after having a delicious onam feast. Surprisingly Kris came to my home on his brand new passion (in lungee!). He wanted me to take with him to his home and have a nice eve at his place. We set off at 2 PM. As we reached Thrissur town and he turned towards Palakkad road saying that he wanna meet some one there. We entered NH 47 still he was cruising at a nominal speed passing Mannuthy. I smelled fishy (It was Kris, the crack). Suddenly he asked me. Shall we head to Ootty? I was shocked. MAN!I have not taken much money. No dress, and You in Lungee?!. Solutions came in from the Crack. Money is with me. I have taken a trouser in side bag. Just a ride. No need of spare dress. Do you have any more questions? I said NO. I have visited ootty several times but it was for the first time on bike. (I don’t drive during those days. The whole way he had to). So after the beginning shock, I too got thrilled. Called home, informed them, and heard a bunch from amma (as usual). We started enjoying the trip. Me 95kg+He 98kg= 193kg. Bust still Passion was doing well in NH47 (Road was good at that time). We were cruising at 60-70 kmph and some times touched 80/85 kmph. Regular stops were there for smoks & snacks. Just before crossing Kerala Border, Kris stopped and put on his trouser in NH side (Can you believe?!). Had a diversion from NH at Coimbatore Bypass and entered City. We crossed the hectic Coimbatore traffic in between 5pm to 6pm (Not an easy job to control Passion with heavy load on board in jamms). After passing Coimbatore light got shaded and headlight was on (worst part of Passion).Around 7.30 we reached Mettupalayam for a big break. There we tried to clear our doubt with some locals and Tourists. Our doubt was whether Passion can do the hairpins 193kg on board. One local replied. Sir, we used to do on Mopeds with 3 on board! Alas!. One returning tourist in a Zen said, Boyz It is too chilling even in Car. How you guys can do that on Bike that too in night? It was the question which evoked us. No jackets no Helmets, how to resist the spearing chill? Kris the crack came with solution. A full bottle of RUM, disposable glasses and pickle. We decided to have a little on the way in case of any freezing (have to drive no?). We started from there at 9 PM. Passion was really suffering during the steeps. We had coutinues rides in 1st gear and Kris was really getting mad&sad about the bike (It was a new one yaar. Don’t wanna spoil it). Soon he got fed up with bike and also our body started getting chilled. Finally it happened. We setteled on the concrete side guards of the Mettupalayam–Ootty hairpins. It was really dark and we were not able to see anything. But still I poured in peg scale. It was really hard to have and we blamed Tamilnadu Beverages for the worst quality still enjoyed 3 pegs each and had a nice time there, discussing old and new stories. After the fun we headed towards and surprisingly Passion started pulling like anything (Still a mystery). Now the party starts.

Twice we fell down in hairpins and in second, clutch lever got broken 50% in the joint. Still Kris was in confidence and he managed the Bike. At another hairpin I noticed an ootty- Mettupalayam local Bus driver was scolding us (Still we don’t know why. ha ha ha). Kris was doing zig-zag on the whole road and I was really enjoying it. On the way we had some nice food from one Dhaba, Rumaal rotti and Chicken curry (Ho I wont forget that taste). At next hairpin big fun happened. There was another road going straight from the hairpin. We did not notice the curve and headed on the straight road (realized it while coming back). Continued our journey to Ootty with out knowing that we lost our way. After some time road became narrow and we became doubtful about the way. Soon we entered in to a Military range where we so soldiers carrying AK47 and they blocked us to enquire. We realized that we are in danger zone (chance to get shot). Kris explained the entire story to them and requested to advice how to reach ootty.

They explained another way with out going back and advised us not to stop any where as it is a military controlled area. I gave them some onam special Banana Fry (amma gave me to give at Kris’s Home. ha). But they asked us to taste first. Once we had it, they accepted it happily. Again we headed as per soldier’s advice through dark jungle with a broken clutch lever (never seen a single vehicle during that stretch). But in dark Passion’s headlight is great (unless no opposing light falls).And some how we reached another main road. There we met a Mahindra Jeep and we asked the driver. He said that he is also going to ootty so follow him. In hairpins, passion was damn slow and he waited for us to reach (Thanks buddy, we don’t know him). Finally we reached. Some people were on the way waiting for tourists, one of them guided us to a hotel and we took our room. I noticed the time and it was 2 AM. God! we took 5 hours from Mettupalayam (just 2 hrs stretch). We took the bottle to finish the rest half and were shocked to see that hardly one peg left in it!. Then only we realized that all happened because of me who poured double of peg scale in dark on the way (not Tamilnadu Beverages). Again Kris the crack arranged another one by calling the room boy. Finally we crashed in to beds at 3 AM. Next morning woke up at 9 AM. Enqired about the clutch lever replacemet. But local workshop guy did not have the spare for it and he fixd it with some adjustments and adviced to change once we are back. So kris decided not to change it until back in Thrissur Wheels (Herohonda service centre) as he was so confident on his bike. We had a good hang around in ootty. As it was a bike we were able to visit some remote places(unseen&cool). We started back at 5pm. On the way we halted at conoor for refreshments (We did not see this town while going! Ha). Bike was doing well in slopes; even we were able to keep in touch with a Lancer. Soon we reached Mettupalayam and headed towards Coimbatore. Kris was getting exhausted after long drive.

Again we had a break on way and Kris had 3 more pegs to carry on (I wont dare any more). Still he managed well in Coimbatore traffic with out any troubles. Joined NH 47, opposing truck lights were really tiring. Finally we managed to follow a trailer (was doing at good speed) in a marginal distance, which blocked eye piercing lights from us). God might have decided that it was not the time for us. We reached safe at my home at 1 AM. End of a thrilling memorable but risky trip, will never forget in life. After this trip me to became a journey lover/rider. Three months later, I purchased my own Passion.Next day, Kris got serviced his Passion from Wheels and it served him another 3 more years and finally he sold it when he left to middle-east.We did this 500 km (up & down including steeps) with 9 litrs of petrol. Bike has good wide seats and nice shocks for total comfort. Good for family especially if u have a wife as pillion. A best bet in 100cc 4 stroke category. That’s all Guys, Never ever drive, drunk. Thanks .Deeps.