Practice, Repeat, Habit – NS 160 Comfortable cruising at 80KM/HR

Nowadays, I am able to comfortably cruise around 80 KM/HR speed in Highway, When I purchased the bike, initially, I feared to ride at 80 km/hr speed. My body and mind was so tense at those speeds. I thought my comfortable speed is around 50km/hr.

But years of repeated riding in highway, gradually increased my comfort zone in speed. I was comfortable around 70 km/hr for a while. That time I thought 70 was the safe speed. I continued to ride at 70 km/hr in highways. Without my effort, now my comfortable cruising is around -80+ km/hr in highway. I am bored at 60 / 70 km/hr speed now.

Initially, I thought 50 km/hr speed is my limitation both physically and psychologically. But years of repeated riding improved my limitation. Now I am thinking to upgrade to 300CC or 250CC bike to cruise at 100 or 120 km/hr speed in highway. But due to safety measures, I consciously nullify my desire to upgrade higher capacity bikes, I confine myself to cruise at -80+ km/hr speed in highway. Let it be my comfortable speed. Moreover, that is the legal speed limit in highway in India as on date. Respect the law.

I do not want to push myself to cruise at 100+ km/hr speed, though I can practice, repeat, and make it a habit to become comfortable at those speeds both physically and mentally. Non-fenced or no-barrier Indian highways are not safe at such speed even though I can be comfortable and confident at those speeds.

I do not say You are safe at 80 km/hr speed and you are at risk at 100+ kn/hr speed. You can reach your destination at any speed. Accident can happen at any speed. Even at 40 km/hr, accident can happen. Even, when you are walking, some vehicle may hit you. While walking you may skid or slip. We can not say walking is risk. ( Example : https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/corporate/story/ahmedabad-parag-desai-wagh-bakri-tea-groups-executive-director-passes-away-at-49-due-to-accident-402952-2023-10-23 )

God controls life and death.

I have realized that by practice, repeat and making habit, provided God willing – we can master anything. If I sold out the NS160 when I purchased it, I would have been riding within my limitation – that is 50km/hr in highway. I continued to ride NS160 at 60 few months, then gradually my riding speed increased to 70 and now I cruise at -80+ km/hr in NS160 in highway. It took overall 2.5 years to get out of my limitation. Now I am confident, I can experience 100+ km/hr speed too comfortably provided God willing. But I do not want, and I do not have money to afford for new bike now financially.

We can acquire any skill, knowledge by practice -> repeat -> habit <- provided God willing. I learnt this out of my biking experience with Pulsar NS160.

My sub-conscious mind is re-programmed to cruise at -80+ km/hr speed comfortably both physically and mentally by “practice, repeat, habit, God willing”.

End of Highway Cruising – Weekend Sprints

I have decided not to do weekend sprints, highway cruising for the sake of riding. I will ride in highway if there is real need to ride. No more week end sprint.

I experienced how it is to be cruising at highway at 80+ km/hr speed with stability. My bike is rock solid in tail winds and cruise comfortably.

I enjoyed enough.

Now what to do with my bike – Pulsar NS160. Keep it or sell it. If i ride this bike like 100CC bike – say within 4000 rpm or within 50km/hr speed, it will give mileage around 50 to 55 km/ltr.

Can i purchase a 100CC bike and sell NS 160? Problem with 100CC bike is it will become useless if riding passion catch me again, it can not cope up. There is no guarantee that i will not get riding spirit in the future. Right now the riding spirit is subsidised. It is enough buying and selling bikes in succession.

I will keep this bike and ride it like 100CC bike for better mileage. If i have riding spirit again, then i will open the throttle.

Thank God for protecting me in my highway cruising and weekend sprints.

Can we tour on Pulsar NS160?

We can tour on any bike. We can tour on scooty or TVS 50 too. They don’t complain, but it is Not what they meant to be.

NS160 is a powerful, sporty city commuter with adraneline surge pick up and suitable for 3 to 4 hours of weekend sprints.

Tourer – Ride the bike for more than a day, cover 400+ kms per day, sleep at night, ride at day time. Ride for a week or days or more than a day.

Long ride – Ride 200 to 400 km in a day and stop. Single day event.

Sprint – Ride for 75 to 150 kms round trip and stop. This is done within 3 to 5 hours with or without breaks.

NS160 most suitable for weekend sprints with a decent highway speed, though it can be pushed for long ride and touring like any other machine, but it is not what it meant to be.

If you intend to ride NS160 for touring in highway, you can cruise between 80 to 90 km/hr all day without heating issue. In strong wind blast or cross wind, you can cruise around 70 km/hr. Till 90 km/hr speed, you can do overtakes at ease. NS160 is most suitable if your crusing speed is around 80 to 90 km/hr. If you intend to cruise above 100 or 120km/hr speed, you need higher CC bike. I guess, it is illegal to ride motorcycle above 80 km/hr in our country.

In my experience 150/160 CC bikes are not Tourer. For touring, bike needs to have more weight, power, torque, stability in cross or head winds and more comfort and less fatigue.

What type of rider are you? Tourer or Long rider or Sprinter. Most of the weekend rides are Sprint – start in the morning, finish before noon, cover 100+ kms with or without breaks.

If you are a sprinter, 150/160 CC bikes are perfect or An Electric Sport bike with 150 to 200+ km/charge range is sufficient.

I am a Sprinter in motorcycle riding, i enjoy it, i am not a Tourer or long rider, seldom i do long ride, but i prefer sprints and enjoy it.