Good Motoring
Speed control vital for safety
H. Kishie Singh

Some time ago there was a spate of accidents involving under-age children. The general consensus of opinion of the public, the police and some politicians, especially Renuka Chaudhary, was that the parents should be held responsible. A very good idea! But as with all good ideas, nothing happens. They die a quick, natural death.

The operative word here is "parents’ responsibility."

Children often but fancy toys and flaunt these to impress the aam admi.

A sad example of this was the accidental death of Ayazuddin, Azharuddin's son. The 19-year-old was gifted a Suzuki GSX R1000. The Gixxer, as this bike is affectionately referred to, is the fastest bike available in India. It had to be the fastest, otherwise it would not make a statement. Had it been the second fastest, the father and son would have lost face!

How fast is the fastest bike in India? The 1000-cc four- cylinder, four-stroke, 16-valve, DOHC, liquid-cooled Gixxer pumps out 191 bhp, 100 bhp more than the new Suzuki Swift. It accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 3.3 seconds. Top speed in the first gear is 160 kmph, which is the top speed for most cars in the market today. Overall, the top speed is 262 kmph. This is a toy any 19-year-old would love to have, and his one desire would be to see what it feels like to drive at these rocket speeds.

However, a Gixxer, or any 1000-cc plus bike, is a professional rider’s bike. You must have eight to 10 years of experience on two-wheelers before you can tame this wild beast. You must also have the experience of driving on a race track. It helps to understand how to control a bike, corner, weave and stop fast. This last being the most important.

Stopping fast is the operative word. It is easy to twist the throttle open and the bike will rocket forward at near aircraft speed. How to stop this changing bull? Depending on the road surface, the bike will behave differently. In all cases of severe braking, a two-wheeler has a tendency to skid.

What to do if the rear wheel skids? What to do if the front wheel wobbles at high speed? What to do if the bike does a "wheelie?" "Wheelie" means when the front wheel comes off the ground during fast acceleration. The bike is then charging ahead on only the rear wheel and may be at 100 kmph. No steering.

The answer to all these questions comes with experience.

In the past 30 years, I have been involved in rallying and raiding. I can say with confidence that a driver, driving in competitive conditions, different terrains and at very high speeds, is a far superior driver than the Santa-come-lately on the geri route. To begin with, he loves the car and has great respect for it. The vehicle, two-wheeler, four-wheeler or a truck, is what is going to get him to the victory podium. That is where he can show off, not on the city roads. He has to learn to speed control. The power of the engine and speed are of no use without control. Braking, cornering and controlling a skid are some of the driving skills that he has to master.

Consequently, he is a better driver on the public roads. Very important, he has to quench his thirst for speed and kicks on the track, where conditions are created for speed. He does not need to prove himself on the geri route in dad's super car. A person who has taken part in a rally is one of the safest and best examples of a good driver on public roads.

Happy motoring.