DSK Benelli, Benelli’s Pune dealership, registered the sale of the 100th motorcycle recently. To celebrate the occasion they invited us to ride with Benelli bike-owners to Khandala and back. We couldn’t be happier [Read more…]
Back to School
‘The students’ imagination, energy and absence of production concerns is a refreshing change for those of us under constant cost and deadline pressure,’ says design guru Glynn Kerr who conducted a master-class recently for the students of the Pune-based ISD-DSK College [Read more…]
CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY – A ride for a cause
On 15th August, 2015 we celebrated our country’s 69th Independence Day, paying respect to the Indian Army, who have always played an important role in raising our nations future and pride. [Read more…]
Preserving a Legacy
The two-stroke era produced some memorable motorcycles. Among them one name has left an enduring imprint in the minds of most Indian bikers: the Jawa, which later morphed into the Yezdi. [Read more…]
The Stunt Princess Rises
The motorcycle stunt scene in India may be in the shadows for most part, but it has always been very active. There are a few responsible riders, who, with regular practice, deliver quite a performance when called upon. We speak to India’s youngest bike stunt girl, [Read more…]
Why We Ride
I’ve had an endless number of people ask me this question time and time again: ‘Why do you ride?’ My reaction to this question is always promptly answered with a big grin on my face followed by the words ‘Because it’s so much fun’ and there’s no better feeling in the world.
So you can imagine how overjoyed I was when I happened to come across a documentary film titled ‘Why We Ride’. It’s a story about who we are, as bikers. Individuals tied together across the world by the one longing to discover and explore the world on two wheels. Getting away from the four walls of our offices, the routine of mundane life and chores and to just go out there and ride while sharing those moments together with biker friends. It’s a story about the journey, not the destination. We haven’t seen the movie yet but will hopefully get a copy of the DVD soon, meanwhile, the trailer is more than enough to get you drooling over the release of the film and will get you geared up to ride. From a kid’s dream come true, to a retiree’s return to freedom, from a family riding together on the sand dunes, to hundreds of choppers carving through the canyons – the film talks about the passion of the riders and the soul of their machines. That feeling when your senses heighten as the world rushes in, your heart beating to the pulse of the engine, that moment of pure freedom. The film is independently financed and no sponsorships were allowed to ensure the creative integrity of the documentary and so that there wouldn’t be any favouritism given to any one group.
For more info on the film:
https://www.facebook.com/WWR.WhyWeRide
http://www.twitter.com/Why_We_Ride
http://instagram.com/WhyWeRide
Story: Rommel Albuquerque
India Superbike Festival 2013
The 2013 edition of the Indian Superbike Festival took place at Amanora in Pune. We bring you the highlights.
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- A Honda Valkyrie Rune with Suzuki Hayabusas for company
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- Suzuki B-King, BMW K1300R and a Honda FIreblade strike a pose
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- Honda VFR 1200, Yamaha FZ1 and a Suzuki Gixxer gleaming in the afternoon sun
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- A sparkling new Ninja ZX-14R holds its own next to the Honda GoldWing 1800.
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- An assortment for the ages: Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Custom, Honda CB1000R and a customised Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14
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- Parked away from the crowd, this CBR and 848 EVO looked like long lost buddies
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- KTM grabbed a lot of attention with this: the 350 SX-F, and the RC8 and Duke twins
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- Harley-Davidson Super Glide Custom finds a peaceful spot
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- Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Custom complete with even more chrome, an immaculate paint job and Vance & Hines exhaust pipes
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- BMW Motorrad had quite a few offerings in the open
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- BMW S 1000RR
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- BMW R 1200 GS
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- The Aprilia stall was a full house…
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- …as was that of their cousin Moto Guzzi
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- Moto Guzzi California 1400 and its smaller sibling
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- This Suzuki SV decided to show up after dark
Images: Jim Gorde
Harley-Davidson Chennai HOG Ride
Chennai recently woke up to the sound of 300 Harley-Davidson motorcycles roaring through the city. H.O.G. chapters across India from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Indore and Kochi came together with their families making this a big milestone for Harley-Davidson in India as it was the biggest zonal ride ever. The posse made their way through the streets of Chennai to Mahabalipuram in celebration of the 2nd Southern H.O.G. Ride. The three day event, organized featured live music, stalls having the latest Harley-Davidson merchandise on display, a tattoo parlour and a “Swap Shop” where riders could exchange motorcycle accessories and install them on the spot.
“The Southern H.O.G Ride has always been one of my favourite regional rides. I attended the first Southern H.O.G Ride in 2012 which was nothing short of fantastic. This year’s edition has been equally fabulous if not more. These three days passed in a flash, as I made new friends, shared my riding stories and will now be riding back home with a whole new set of brothers” Bala Chandrasekharan, Director, Coromandel H.O.G, Chapter, Chennai. Coromandel Chapter is the host chapter for the Second Southern H.O.G. Ride. As the men at Harley-Davidson say, ‘You’re not just buying a bike but an entry into a culture and lifestyle that the brand offers’.
Story: Rommel Albuquerque
Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride comes to India
The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is a global event where bikers from 110 different cities hit their local cities’ streets simultaneously on old-school rides wearing formal clothing. For the first time ever, an Indian city in the form of New Delhi was also part of the event, and it was hosted by a bunch of Royal Enfield enthusiasts, both men and women, who go by the moniker Royal Mavericks.
The ride took place on the 29th of September across the globe, which included the New Delhi leg, in which 72 bikers took to the streets on their Royal Enfield. Tarique Afaque, Founder, Royal Mavericks, was quite proud at how the event turned out, he said, “It gives us immense pleasure and honour to conduct the DGR first time ever in India. It is very exciting to see the riders come out in huge numbers and participate in this momentous occasion. Royal Mavericks takes immense pride in being associated with ‘Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride’ (DGR) for a special cause in the Capital for the first time in India and we are looking forward for such rides in future too.”
Following a highly successful inaugural run in 2012 which was held across 64 cities, the Ride has built on its original premise of riders celebrating their bikes’ vintage lineages and inspirations, and paying tribute to biking culture of the yesteryears by dressing up in strictly formal, vintage-style clothing for the event, by incorporating the task of raising awareness and funds for a charity to its list of aspirations along with the aforementioned celebrations and the joy of riding. This year, the issue the ride aimed at raising awareness for was Prostate Cancer, with the proceeds from the Indian leg of the ride going to the The Prostate Cancer Foundation, Australia.
Story: Harket Suchde
Harley-Davidson’s Independence Day celebrations
India’s streets were rife with independence day celebrations as the country completed its 66th year as a free nation. Harley-Davidson’s owner groups from across the country got in on the act as well, adding to the festivities with their own unique twist. Members of the Harley Owner’s Groups (HOG) from Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and Chennai all participated by taking to the roads in their respective towns as a collective, with many of them even taking the opportunity to contribute to various causes while they were at it.
The highlights from this countrywide ride included Chandigarh’s ‘Himalayan’ chapter of the HOG, who rode down to the iconic location of India’s Wagah Border in tribute to the country’s soldiers protecting our national boundaries, ultimately spending the day with them. Chennai’s ‘Coromandel’ chapter took the benevolent approach to celebrating Independence Day by undertaking a fund raising effort through their travels. They raised money for and spent time at a school for the underprivileged. Kerala’s ‘Spice Coast’ chapter also marked the occasion by contributing to a noble cause, they visited the residents of an old age home in Karuna. The HOG from Ahmedabad, ‘Nine Bridges’. meanwhile celebrated the memory of Mahatma Gandhi by traveling to the city of his birth – Porbandar, and also indulged in some philanthropy by making donations at an old age home.
The various owner’s groups responded magnificently to the call of contributing to the countries 67th Independence day festivities, filling the streets across India with the tell-tale roars of their Harleys.
Story: Harket Suchde
