Motoverse is the easiest way of understanding Royal Enfield’s diversity.
Story: Joshua Varghese
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
Royal Enfield are no longer a motorcycle manufacturer; they are an ecosystem because making world-class motorcycles is only one of the many things they do. Despite having experienced almost everything from them, I had never attended their biggest annual party. This was my first time there and it changed my perception about motorcycle festivals.
For an introvert who enjoys riding a motorcycle and not much else, such festivals usually offer very little but Motoverse surprised me with its diversity. Spread over most of the Vagator Hill Top in Goa, it felt like three days in another universe. One side had everything for the thrill-seekers. They could compete for prizes by racing across multiple dirt-tracks, slow it down and thread their way through obstacle courses or just fool around with child-like (in a positive way) motorcycle games. The American flat-track star, Johnny Lewis, and the latest Guerrilla-based race machines only added to the thrill. When the sun set on all the fun, all one had to do was get a beer and settle down in front of a huge stage where popular artistes performed one after another well into the night. In the middle of all this, there was also a “Well of Death” that flung some of us back into the 1990s on a tidal wave of nostalgia.
If all that was like surfing on some big swells, then the comparatively sedate arena across the road, called “Motoville”, would be akin to walking on the seashore. It had a notably chill vibe about it. There were dedicated displays featuring the current product lines and upcoming models, stalls for accessories and riding gear, more food and drink, custom motorcycle displays, and even news from Royal Enfield’s social missions. Of course, it was more than an exhibition or carnival because there were also cosy corners and small stages where experts shared their knowledge or travellers told their tales and the introverts were usually found there; in small gatherings, listening in rapt attention.
At the end of my time at Motoverse, it was not the scale and grandeur of the festival that impressed me; it was the community that Royal Enfield have created. Motoverse was a three-day getaway for motorcyclists and easily the most inclusive festival I have been to yet. One could be an introvert, extrovert, adrenaline junkie, party animal or a girl/lady group and Motoverse had something for everyone. Furthermore, all of these people, diverse as they were, existed in the same space creating their own memories without spoiling anything for the other person. Following a lacklustre experience at some other festivals, what I appreciated most was that this one did not have any boisterous excuses for motorcyclists whose only joy is bouncing their engines off the rev-limiter.
For the full experience, I would recommend that you ride to Motoverse and back. After all, motorcycling is as much about the ride as it is about the destination.
Also Read: Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350 Review
