With just five minutes remaining for tuition, Kusumitha U hopped on her Suzuki Access determined to cover five kilometre to make it on time. This proved to be her most momentous ride on her 125cc bike. This was when she was in II PUC. More than a year later, the second year mechanical engineering student from Dr Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Bangalore, considers her bike as a companion. “Access was intended for my father and cater to the needs of the entire household. But I got it eventually. What I like about it is that it is very powerful, even for a gearless bike,” she says. Kusumitha took a short trip to Kunti Hills near Mandya with friends, about 120kms from Bangalore. “I was on the highway when my engine overheated and had to pullover. My friends were already 40kms ahead of me, and it was a different experience to get the bike fixed,” she adds.
— bharath@newindianexpress.com