BULLET crazy BOYS

On public demand... translation of the article came published in Vanitha (April 15-30, 2007 edition) about "Silver bullets"...

Bullet Crazy Boys

Every Sunday, the growl of bullets is heard at Kavadiar Palace. This is a rare union/brotherhood.

Phut... Phut... Phut...
Every Sunday 6:00pm onwords this sound echoes at the Kavadiar Palace premises. They are reaching one by one. They are guys who deeply love the motor bike called Bullet, guys who have taken the bullet thump as their heart beat. They lined up their bikes under a tree and wished each other.

"Hay, when did you replace this tail light?" some are gathered around Anil's bike checking the new light.
Varghese George explains about the newly fitted silencer.
All eyes are on the bullets parked in a line. In between some pamper their own bikes with a glance, as though whispering the bikes, 'my dear, I haven't forgotten you'. All these guys belong to the bullet club called 'Silver Bullets'. "A club for a particular vehicle and get together like... May be this is the first of its kind in Kerala." says Jaygopan Gopinathan, moderator of Silver Bulelt who is a system administrator in Envest Net.

It was in 2002 October, Mr. Kannan Sivasankaran from Thiruvananthapurm, a bullet lover, created a yahoo group called 'Trivandrum Riders'. Kannan aimed to group the Bullet lovers of Trivandrum . In an amazing response, majestic bulleteers raced to the group. "What an excitement they all had! Everyone shared their bullet ride stories in the group. If someone says he wants to sell his bullet, even if it's a joke, others would scold him... how could you..."

Babu Thariq (Business Analyst in Nest), Anil Kumar K (V P Engineering), V S Subodh (CDAC), Varghese George (Software Specialist), C N Sreejith (Visual Graphic), Praveen Kumar (TATA Aig), Gopu Krishnan (Medical Student)...
Trivandrum Riders ride their way in the net.

New Idea in the Anniversary meet
Group's second anniversary, members gathered at the Kavadiar Palace. An idea came out from someone. Why doesn’t the group meet up every week? Why can’t we go for group rides on our beloved bullets?

They started observing the activities of foreign clubs and got in touch with clubs in Bangalore and Chennai through Internet. The yahoo group has been transformed into the bullet club 'silver bullets' within no time. The strength of the club now has reached 101. They have even started a website for the club
www.silver-bullets.org
The members range from 23 yrs old medical student Gopu Krishnan to 54 yrs old Canara bank employee G B Sharma.

Now all are passionate about the long rides on Sundays and other holidays. They ride like migratory birds. There will be one lead rider at front and one tail rider at the rear. Never count them with the crazy bikers who are always nuisance to the public. Silver bullets strictly adhere to the traffic rules. "No ride without helmet, no over speeding".

Will go Himalayas too
Bullet came to India 50 years ago. At the time of British the bike production was mainly for military purpose. Now, Bullets are being exported to different parts of the world only from the plant in Chennai.
What pleasure does this 350cc rough machine give you on rides?
"There are many who go to Himalayas on Bullets. Last October we rode to Goa", says Sreejith.
If possible they are ready to take the role of a savior on roads. Once after a ride, on reaching Eranakulam, the group spotted a car with no head lights. It is heading to Trivandrum with a patient in critical condition. Silver bullets took over the situation. Two bullets in front of the car and two at the rear, they escorted the patient safely till Trivandrum.

Almost every one at Silver bullets is a mechanic of their bikes. If a broken down bullet is found on road, help is guaranteed. Even there was an incident of money being offered by somebody after the repair, thinking that he is a company mechanic.

Sreejith, Subodh, praveen and all ride a lot on this vehicle with family. "Though my company offers vehicle for official trips, I use my bullet only", says Suboth. "After marriage my wife used to ride with me on Bullet. Now, even my son is as bullet crazy as I am. Some of my relatives exclaim- how come this kid became like this."

Considering the fact that there happen around 5-10 two wheeler accidents per hour in Kerala, is it safe to do long rides on two wheelers....
Bulleteers intervened and red signaled that remark.
"Here who respect drivers on road? When the rule says, overtaking has to be only with the consent of the driver at front, here the style is to honk, scare the drivers and overtake."
Silver bullets discusses and evaluates each accident happening in the city.

The talk has again been diverted to 'bullets'. Some say, it's an unacceptable thing RE has done by reducing the weight of the engine to make the bike more popular.
"Will ladies like the article if published in Vanitha", some one got a genuine doubt.

Sun is down. It's time for them to disperse. The 'fuel of friendship' all have tanked up with is enough for them to run another week.


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Seena Tony Jose
Photo: Judin Barnard