VIJAY PARMAR
Vijay gives you the low-down on how to go about preparing for your spring ride
As the levels of the greenhouse gas rise one feels sleepy and disconnected
WHEN I PICKED UP MY DUAL-SPORT AGV helmet, sans the ISI marking, from Dubai, it arrived with a wonderful piece of technical wizardry called a ‘Chin Curtain’.
The chin curtain on a helmet is this little piece of plastic and fabric that clips into the space just ahead of the chinstrap, ostensibly to prevent dust, cold and noise from entering the helmet. It is normal to find these on road going helmets because that’s where they have the most use. Off-road helmets come sans visors but as a result are blessed with advanced airflow and do not apologise for letting in dust, cold or sound, and for these reasons normally do not carry a chin curtain. They leave the dust management to a host of goggle makers, each calling out some minor improvement every now and then to justify a major price hike!
I thought it was cool to add this aerodynamic wonder, at no additional cost, to a helmet. But apparently it isn’t a win-win situation. The helmet design, when equipped with a chin curtain, changes the airflow through the helmet to an extent where it actually serves to create an eddy that traps CO2 and increases the levels of that gas to dangerous levels inside. One would normally imagine that wind buffeting your helmet-shod head would have enough pressure to clear the insides of your ‘bone dome’ in a split second. But no. Today’s helmets are designed not just for protection but also communication and entertainment. My helmet, purely in an off-road avatar has so much wind noise that just as I cross the 100kmph mark I really can’t hear my Sena belting out the tune of the day, despite its brace of Harman Kardon speakers.
On the other hand when the same helmet is in its ‘road-going avatar’, with visor down and chin curtain in place, the music is clear even past the 120kmph mark. The only downside apart from a small visor flare that keeps catching my eye is the unseen build up of greenhouse gas inside, which is guaranteed to turn you ‘comfortably numb’!
800 ppm of the gas is the maximum safe limit in most countries, but 800 ppm of CO2 without the chin curtain, turns to over 1380 ppm with it in place. A major loss is noticed of the recognition of the speed of oncoming traffic and also the decision making capability when that recognition comes through. That split second of delayed response may make the difference between a calm avoidance and a desperate move to save oneself from collision. As the levels of the greenhouse gas rise one feels sleepy and disconnected. An extremely bad situation, but that happens so gradually that one may not realise the onset of sloth! So take the chin curtain and remove it. The music playing through the Sena may now add another welcome beat ― of your exhaust.
Spring is around the corner and motorcyclists from the mountains are finally sunning their riding gear whereas those from the heated hinterland are planning riding holidays in the cooler hills. It is time to do a system check as well as a rub down for the horse. Oil levels, tyre condition, coolant strength (almost never measured), chain slack adjustment and a host of other areas need to be scrutinised. Drain the fuel if it has been sitting around for more than a month. It will have a significant amount of condensed water in it. Replace. A complete run around the motorcycle checking for tightness on every single nut and bolt in sight, and a few out of sight ones, is a must. The only good and reliable motorcycle that never needs this check is one whose bolts have rusted into place. The old Enfield Bullet motorcycles had such a poor layer of chrome covering the bolt heads that rust found a spot to start corrosion, even on sunny days!
If touring the north of the country, you are bound to be pulled up in Chandigarh or Himachal, mainly because you look like you are having too much fun. The demands for your documents, pronounced ‘dakoomint’ is going to be the first contact you will make with the boys in blue and white! Pull out your cellphone, swipe away until the Digilocker app shows up and show him your license and RC in the digital format. Do not, repeat do not hand over the hard copy of the license or RC! If your ‘Beemer’ has the regulation 8 auxiliary lights, a prerequisite for entry into the hallowed portals of the GS Riders of Hindoostan, and you get a ticket, pay it on the spot through the card machine they all carry. Do not argue unnecessarily. If you did and an argument ensues, you will be sure to have the pleasure of a visit to the District Courts of whatever place you are in, to recover the documents. A waste of time and a waste of energy.
Also never ride standing within view of any police barrier in Himachal. You could be charged with attempted suicide by the cop on duty! He does not know how to ride a motorcycle, much less the nuances of off-road riding, but he does know that what you are doing has been properly banned in the Upanishads!
Bon voyage for your spring adventures. ⌧