| | Yes, I finally have my scooter! After waiting for three years and dealing with countless auto-drivers & bus trips, I have my own transportation! I have actually had it for a couple weeks, but my internet crashed just before I got it so I haven't been able to upload pictures. And if there are not pics, then what's the point of blogging?
I bought the scooter from a dealership in Faridabad, a city just South of Delhi, as a friend of a friend was working there and could get me a small discount. The friend picked me up in Delhi & we headed off to Faridabad -- a trip of about 45 minutes. This is the longest I've ever been on a motorcycle in one ride, and I felt a lot like when we used to ride the horses all afternoon!
The showroom was decorated for a Hindu holiday (I'm not sure which one); Hindus aren't supposed to buy anything new over this holiday -- which made the dealership very happy to see me!
It was a long debate with myself whether I should buy a motorcycle itself
 The Suzuki motorcycles on display
or a scooter (gearless, with a "step-over"). In this case, a Suzuki Access 125.
The Suzuki Accesses on display
I admit, one of the reasons I chose the Access was because it has a slightly bigger engine (125 cc compared to 109) than the other most popular scooter, and it has a better shock system -- believe me, am I grateful for the better shocks after driving on Indian roads! It was as close to a "real" bike as I could get without getting a motorcycle.
I didn't have a bank account yet, so the transaction was in cash. Let me tell ya', handing over cash is a lot harder than writing a check! I took a pic as I don't know when I'll ever have that many rupees in hand at one time again.
 A lot of rupee notes! Boy, were these hard to let go of!
Then we signed the papers (ok, hours after arriving, then having tea, helmet shopping, checking out the bike, having tea again, waiting for everything to be put into the computer, waiting for the power to come back on, waiting for everything to be put into the computer again, having more tea) and everything was finished! The money was handed over, and the bike was 100% mine! The paperwork included full coverage insurance -- for a whopping $25 a year!
 Signing the paperwork. ... I totally should have gotten a picture of myself signing! *sigh* That's what I get for being the photographer... no pics of me!
"You'll be covered if the bike is lost or stolen," my dealer explained. I pictured the parking lots outside the train station/major venues with hundreds and hundreds of motorcycles packed in together, so close I have no idea how anyone who is parked in the middle ever gets out again. Yep, I could see the bike getting lost! 
Then, I got to go back and get my bike!
 My bike, with 2 km clocked on the odometer & when it still had the plastic covers.
I chose red, of course.
It was a while before I actually drove in Delhi. A group of us went back to the city, and I got to drive through the back roads, but the guys took over when we hit city traffic (& traffic laws). I would have to practice on campus for a couple weeks before I was ready to brave the roads.
And yes, I have a helmet! I also have a jacket and am looking for riding gloves, so that I can have all of the "proper gear."
Any regrets about getting a scooter rather than a motorcycle? Nope! I miss driving with gears, but I'm glad to have one less thing to worry about while figuring out Delhi traffic. And, even better, the scooter has a "boot" (trunk) under the seat large enough for my helmet or groceries. So, unlike those poor guys on motorcycles, I don't have to balance my shopping in front of me or carry it around in a backpack. :) Even better, I can tuck my helmet away & not carry it with me in the shopping mall/movie theatre/restaurant. Yay for da' boot!
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| | Posted 10/24/2009 9:26 PM - 10 Views - 2 eProps - 1 Comment
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