Name: Ringo Piston
age: 40
Profession: Marketing head- Automobile
Motorcycle Club: G.O.D.S
City: Delhi
"Few people know that if there is one reason why India has had such an explosion in the superbike scene, that reason is Ringo Piston. He has been riding for the last 20 years and it took more than just convincing to get Yamaha to bring in the famed R1 to India. He worked closely with the early riders in India and gave evidence that India was indeed ready for the big bore bikes.The results of his endeavours are for everyone to see. Got a question on superbikes in India, you may not get a better answer than from Ringo"
What the manual says about the bike
Displacement : 998.00 ccm (60.90 cubic inches)
Engine type : In-line four, four-stroke
Compression : 12.7:1
Bore x stroke : 78.0 x 52.2 mm (3.1 x 2.1 inches)
Valves per cylinder : 4
Fuel system : Injection. Fuel Injection with YCC-T and YCC-I
Fuel control : DOHC
Ignition: TCI : Transistor Controlled Ignition
Cooling system : Liquid
Gearbox : 6-speed
Fuel consumption : 7.12 litres/100 km (14.0 km/l or 33.04 mpg)
Front suspension : 43mm inverted fork
Front suspension travel : 119 mm (4.7 inches)
Rear suspension : Single shock w/piggyback reservoir
Rear suspension travel : 102 mm (4.0 inches)
Front tyre dimensions : 120/70-ZR17
Rear tyre dimensions : 190/55-ZR17
Front brakes : Double disc
Front brakes diameter : 310 mm (12.2 inches)
Rear brakes : Single disc
Rear brakes diameter : 220 mm (8.7 inches)
Weight incl. oil, gas, etc: 205.9 kg
Seat height : 833 mm (32.8 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting.
Overall height : 1,130 mm (44.5 inches)
Overall length : 2,060 mm (81.1 inches)
Overall width : 714 mm (28.1 inches)
Wheelbase : 1,415 mm (55.7 inches)
Fuel capacity : 18.16 litres (4.80 gallons)
Color options : Raven, Team Yamaha Blue/White, Pearl White
What Ringo Piston says about it..
1. When was the first time you ever “threw a leg over the saddle”?
Ans- On a bike I rode with my uncle on his Triumph Speed Twin in 1970’s , may be I was just 6 or 7 years old. But First time I started riding was in 1982 on a Royal Enfield Bullet of 1967 vintage.
2. Describe your experience.
Ans- Wind in the hair / Freedom / Independence / intoxication / freedom of the soul / Passion / life changing / goose bumps / rebellious.
3. When would you say you got “hooked” on to biking and why?
Ans- Got hooked in late 1970’s as a young boy in Europe. May be because it is a freedom machine, it is very mechanical, speed, design and the styling , mystic and aura associated with biking, association of biking with the rocker lifestyle. The leathers, customization, the cool and the drool factor associated with bikes.
4. What was your first bike?
Ans- Was the Royal Enfield 1967 model.
5. Was it your choice or just what you could afford?
Ans- That was the coolest available at that time.
6. What bike(s) do you ride now?
Ans- HD Night Rod / HD Ultra Classic / HD Street Glide , Yamaha R1.
7. Was it love at first sight or a product of long term research?
Ans- I've always been very closely attached to bikes. I began my career with Royal Enfield, then worked with Honda/Yamaha and now with Harley-Davidson. Hence its hard to fall in love at first sight as one gets habituated to look at a bike from a purely objective perspective. though there are many times my heart just falls for the bike. thats the real biker in me trying to come out. As far as the R1 is concerned the decision was made from the time I was part of the team that worked on the R1. So it has to be real long time research.
8. How many bikes have you gone through till the present one?
Ans- 9 bikes.( Bullet / Rx-100 / RD-350 /05 R6 / 06 R6 / TDM-900 / XJR-1300 / 05 R1/ 2010 R1 )
9. What modifications have you made to your stock bike?
Ans- Exhaust / Air filter / Carbon parts/ Engine treatment / Graphics.
10. Have these modifications helped/improved ride and handling of your bike?
Ans- Yes performance is improved and gives the moto gp feeling. It also makes my bike look unique and that gives me a pride of ownership.
11. How long have you had the bike for and how many kilometers have you clocked.
Ans- The R1 since Oct 2010 and done 2000 km’s
12. How often do you ride – daily, fortnightly, monthly or just occasionally?
Ans- Once a week what ever happens
13. What do you like most about your bike
Ans- Moto GP Pedigree / Heritage / Technology , design / styling / Performance / I was associated with its development.
14. What don’t you like about your bike?
Ans- Since I worked on building this bike I can never not like anything about it :)
15. What has been your most memorable ride till date?
Ans- having been associated with Yamaha and Harley-Davidson I've been fortunate to have ridden on some of the best tracks/roads.Sturgis in 2010 riding a CVO , Venus lines ( Japan ) on Yamaha bikes. ( R1 / TDM/ V Max / XJR. )in 2007, riding the 2006 M1 on the Sugo race circuit in 2007 , riding on CBR 954 at nurburgring circuit in Germany in 2004.
16. What’s the maximum three digit figure you’ve seen on your speedo?
Ans- 311 km/h on a race spec R1 at sugo race circuit in Japan.
17. Who maintains your bike – cleaning, servicing, etc?
Ans- I've been around Big bikes for a while now and I usually do all the work by myself
18. Have you faced any problems with your bike(s)?
Ans- Chain cam noise , but solved it after changing to fully synthetic oil.
19. What fuel/oil do you use and why?
Ans- 97 octane , oil is fully synthetic – 15w-50
20. Tell us about your riding gear (helmet, gloves and suits/jackets/pants and other protective gear)?
Ans- Yamaha jacket / TS Taichi pants / Alpinestar gloves / Hydo jacket /Shoe helmets.
21. Is your riding gear effective?
Ans- very very effective
22. Are you looking at changing your bike any time soon?
Ans- Well being with H-D comes with the benefit of riding any of their 14 bikes any time I wish. While the R1 is very different from then H-D. Hence all the bikes dont really make me want change over to another bike just yet. But to be honest the 796 monster would have been a great city ride to have.:)
23. If yes, what bike would you consider and why?
Ans- The monster maybe..
24. What’s does your ideal weekend look like?
Ans- Ride on a race circuit or a ride on a HD bike on open roads, mountain rides on HD bike. Since the Center of Gravity is really low on H-D they are a joy on twisty roads.
25. What tips do you have for aspiring riders looking to pick up a super sports bike?
Ans- Ride safe the bike can kill you , don’t show off, 100 to 0 is more important that 0 to 100.
Follow rules, public road is not a race circuit. Learn to ride on smaller bikes first.
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