Farhan Akhtar is perhaps best known for a film he directed about a decade ago – Dil Chahta Hai. It was his debut as a director, and he stamped a permanent mark on the industry with that cult movie. The film revolved around 3 friends and their intertwined relationships. It was a strong example of what a celluloid effort as brilliant as Dil Chahta Hai could do to a commoner like me. It was brilliant, and I loved it. I still do.

The title song of the movie shows Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Akshay Khanna driving in a Mercedes SL to Goa. Topless and lazy motoring, 3 friends, destination sand-sea-and-women – what more could one want? Ironically, we had our own little moment of this perfect setting recently, as Kapil, another colleague, and I found ourselves in a BMW 650i in Mumbai – so, that’s topless motoring, sea, and (being Bombay) women all covered!

The evening was perfectly wrapped in the brilliance of the shimmering vastness above us, and the soft luminescence of the streets made it even better. This feeling was heightened by sparse traffic and the slow speeds we were doing – soaking in the beauty of randomness, and the magnificence of the small (and sometimes hidden) charms of Mumbai. The moments of silence in the car, punctuated by the soulful music, led to a contemplative calm. It was very strange for this bustling metropolis by day, to suddenly get morphed into this calm, soothing, and uplifting amphitheatre by night. Was it the city, or was it the machine?

We had no particular destination in mind, and just kept driving. I turned the wheel wherever I felt like. Ultimately, we reached the most charming part of Mumbai – the South. I parked along the road, turned the engine off, and the gentle rumble stopped. The mood was now set by the waves crashing gently on the rocks, the dim lights of the vessels in the horizon, and the whisper of the breeze – it was brilliant.

Driving back to the guest house, the roads were completely empty and there were times when I got the opportunity to bury the pedal to the floor. The blur that Mumbai became was a testament to this car and its engine – and, strangely, not at odds with the mood we were in, simply because the BMW did it with such effortlessness. On reaching the guest house, I realised that, come the morning, we’d be back to the regular madness of city life – and I didn’t want to be a part of it. I made a call, and we decided to wake up early. A change in our schedule was made – no, we would no longer be driving and shooting in the city. We’d head to the hills – or the closest thing near Mumbai. I wanted peace and quiet, and the BMW’s to myself for as long as I could have them.

Greeted by a still-rising Sun, Kapil and I hit the road to meet our Mumbai talent, Ameya, and Jason from BMW Motorrard – who had very kindly ridden the S100RR to our new location. On reaching the venue, I parked the 650 on the side of the road and walked up to the S1000RR. In the process, I almost forgot to greet Jason – I was lusting so badly for this BMW on two wheels! I immediately fired instructions for Ameya to get behind the wheel of the 650, with Jason as the passenger. I got kitted up, and swung my leg around the S1000RR, while Kapil took to the camera car. But with my mood still not geared towards the work on hand, it wasn’t going to be a regular shoot-and-proceed sort of day.

The Sun was just getting ready to make its presence felt in full vigour. And its intentions were perfectly in sync with ours. The orange hue reflected on the tarmac was ever-so-inviting. There was a momentary look between Kapil and me, and a nod of agreement followed. So I wrung the throttle open on the RR, but not before I stopped to contemplate its 4-wheeled cousin that I’d been driving until very recently.

You see, the 650i is not your typically ostentatious car that the crore-plus league is populated with. It’s discreet, yet charming. I love the fact that BMW did the canvas top, instead of a metal folding affair – it just adds a distinct, and classy, feel to the car. The engine note is not mad all the time. It makes its presence felt, but in as subtle a way as possible when you’re just driving around in the city. But when the mood gets the better of you, and you floor it, the character changes immediately and the 650 gets transformed into a mile-munching monster in a 3-piece suit. It’s not like the hard riding Merc SL AMG – it’s quite the opposite. It’s comfortable, sufficiently agile, and a stately car that you’d like to live with everyday. The engine is almost immediate, and the entire package is dynamically brilliant. This is a luxury supercar that lets you play naughty games once in a while. Of course, as per the sheer opulence of the cabin, not to mention the supple ride quality, it is a luxury car first. But, despite that, even as a pure drivers’ car, I really did like it – a lot.

Right, back to the task at hand, i.e. the RR – the frown lines on your forehead get formed as your eyes focus hard on the snaky road ahead. I tighten my gloves, straighten my jacket and give it some revs – a soft word of advice that the RR is ready. Ameya adjusts himself in the seat of the 650i. Kapil is giving a stare of peace. I look back one more time, Ameya acknowledges. Fingers depress the clutch, the foot taps the gear lever, and the right wrist opens the throttle. The rear of the RR slides a little, as this two-wheeled jet takes off into a void of the unknown.

As I glance into the rear view mirror, Ameya has set off with his co-passenger reclining his head with eyes closed – taking in the immense satisfaction that comes with open-air motoring. Under the helmet, I have a grin plastered on my face. I slow down, and Ameya pulls up alongside me. I gesture and shoot off – we would meet at the designated point.

The S1000RR is one of the most complete superbikes I’ve ever ridden. I’ve always believed that the 2009 Yamaha R1 is one of the greatest bikes ever. But the S1000RR is just better than that. The sheer rush of power from the handlebar to the exhaust is dramatic. Some reptiles and fish are supposed to be extremely agile, but the RR could give them an educative session on agility. I must admit that the bike wasn’t prepared for my riding style, and I would have preferred to change the setup a bit – but, frankly, there just wasn’t enough time. But, even with the setup not to my taste, the RR was simply in a league above everything else I’d ridden lately. The handling is Samurai-sword-sharp, the ride is compliant, and the steering responds to your thoughts – period! We didn’t quite get to redline the motor, but even taking it to 9500 revs, you’re assured with authority from the lungs of this 999cc engine that the raw pulsating power is only going to get fiercer as you go further though the rev counter.

After taking in the best of Bavaria, on two wheels and four, we pull over once again. Needless to say, everyone is smiling. I take my jacket off and, understanding my intentions, Ameya gives me the keys to the 650i. I press the gas pedal as deep as it would go, and the sweet smell of rubber fills the air behind me. After tackling the same route in the car, I return – still smiling. But, truth be told, there’s a sense of incompleteness in comparison to the bike. The 650 simply doesn’t have the theatre of the S1000RR from behind the wheel.

The 650i is, without the shadow of a doubt, an immensely satisfying car. But it doesn’t set your heart racing – it doesn’t let you feel the blood rushing through your veins. The 6 series encourages you to witness a celebration – to be central to it. But, the S100RR – that is a celebration.

As we headed back to the madness of our daily lives, we felt inspired – we felt alive. And what more could you ask from two of Bavaria’s finest!