Two Stroke Tuesdays : 2000 Yamaha RX 135 - Corporate Turned Customiser
Vijay Krishnan May 7, 2019
One of the most impressive fact about Two Stroke Motorcycles is just the sheer number of people who have been inspired to follow a whole new different path in life owing to the love for these machines. This week, we are focussed on one such individual whose career path has been defined by these machines.
Jagdish or Jag as he is known among friends, is a classic case of someone with a penchant for the unique. He is a corporate turned custom bike builder. Right from a very young age, he was all about tinkering and making something truly one's own.
"If I have something with me, it should totally be mine and should not be owned by anyone else. That is how got bit by the whole customisation bug"
As for motorcycles, and two wheelers in general, he recalls his childhood memories of riding along with his dad on his Vijay Super Scooter. He simply fell in love with that feeling of having the wind on his face, which according to him is something that any true motorcyclist can relate to.
So Jag, what do you do in life and how is the motorcycle a part of it?
I used to work for a corporate company. I recently quit after 7 years and have now made my hobby into my profession. I own a custom motorcycle garage called Passion for bikes custom (PFB Customs). Now, my day starts with motorcycles and ends with motorcycles!
"I don't have any particulars when it comes to what kind of motorcycles. Give me anything with two wheels and an engine, and I'm ready to work on it. "
Tell us about your motorcycle. Please tell us how you got it and what was the inspiration behind customising it.
My motorcycle is 2000 model Yamaha RX 135. My Dad had offered to buy me the RX 100 if I pass the tenth standard. But, after learning about the bike and knowing what it is capable of, he kind of backtracked and said he'd get me a Bajaj Boxer that I can then modify to look like the RX . But I stuck to my guns and we eventually ended up going to the Yamaha showroom and picking one up for myself.
However, within the first 6 months, I had a major accident in which the bike was totalled. I got it fixed up only for it to get stolen from right outside my place a few years later. That was the case of my first motorcycle and I never actually could move on from the RX because it was such a special bike. So, I ended up acquiring an RX 135, this time a second hand motorcycle as the RX had gone out of production by then
Later I slowly started making it unique by adding small things like unique headlights and stickers, I used to hand cut my own stickers. This was during my college days. Once I started working I changed the paint scheme made it even more unique and did some performance mods to it. After that no turning back I changed my bike color thrice. Now it's customised to look and perform like a scrambler. The RX 135 is now my daily ride and I use it to commute everywhere.
Tell us how you tricked out your RX 135
My RX has been put under the knife and I have tried to customise anything on the bike I can get my hands on! I changed the front forks to that on the Yamaha FZ. I used the pickup fork to get more suspension travel. The rear shocks were lifted from a TVS Apache.
I used the tank of a Yezdi Model B, Changed the side panels with bags, and added a Pulsar 220 swing arm. The headlights are custom made, and so are the Fenders, Seat and Tail Light, which I fashioned out of the RX's piston.
And as for grunt, the bike is running on 2mm piston with a K&N Filter and custom made expansion chamber. I finished it off with some knobby tyres so that I can take it off-road if I wished to.
As for the M80, I just stripped it off all the unnecessary weight and plonked in a passion engine for good measure. I now call it the 'Mad 80'.
Looking back on your journey, how important are motorcycles in your life?
Motorcycles have been a integral part of my life since I was very young. It all started with riding bicycles at the age of 8. Since then I have been fascinated with Two Wheels and that love for bicycles been evolved into a passion for motorcycles as I got older. Now people recognise me from my motorcycles.
How can someone get in touch with you to give their bikes the Passion For Bikes treatment?
For one, they can contact me on my phone or DM me on my Instagram. My contact number is +91 9036166951 and my Instagram handle is @jacks2910. You can also reach me via email at jags.sam@gmail.com
If you have a Two Stroke story to tell, e-mail it to us at :- vijay@tripmachinecompany.com
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