IBR Ladakh Expedition, 2014
Harley Davidson's Southern Rally, Hyderabad, 2014
G.O.D.S. Calendar Photo Shoot, 2012
RWBC on one of their many trips
The Bikerni at Khardung-La
"A motorcycle is an independent thing. You are like, 'I don't want to ride in a car with this person. I want to be independent and ride by myself. But, let's ride in a group. Let's be independent, together.'"
- Ryan Hurst, Actor
Perhaps no other quote comes close to nailing it on the head, than this one. The biking culture, though predominantly associated with America, is slowly growing in our subcontinent as well. Often it has been said that birds of a feather flock together; it is only natural for likeminded people, with a strong passion for something, to form groups. Here are a few biking groups across India who share that passion for riding motorbikes:
1. India Bull Riders
The India Bull Riders was formed in late 2007 by Sajeesh Nair. Initially christened Delhi Bull Riders, it was re-named in 2010 owing to the fact that the membership base was spilling out of Delhi/NCR boundaries. Today, it is one of the biggest Royal Enfield clubs in India with a major presence in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Udaipur, and Chennai. This group is as tough as the motorcycles that they ride.
2. Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.)
The Harley Davidson is not just a motorcycle; it is a lifestyle. "It's the spirit of riding, brotherhood, camaraderie that makes H.O.G. special," says Anoop Prakash, managing director of Harley-Davidson India. H.O.G., in its present form, was created in 1983 in the US to foster a strong relationship with the brand and to cultivate the passion for biking. It came to India in 2010, a year after Harley Davidson began its operations in the country. Within three years, H.O.G. in India had over 4,000 members in 13 chapters across the country. It is interesting how Harley's motorcycles are called Hogs. Co-incidence? Unlikely.
3. Group of Delhi Superbikers (G.O.D.S.)
G.O.D.S. was one of the earliest motorcycle groups in the country. Formed way back in 1983 by Dr. Arun Thareja, when superbikes were negligible in number, this group is over 70 members strong currently. Quality and not quantity has always been their bottom-line. As the name suggests, this group comprises of superbike (above 600cc engines) owners above 25 years of age. The group rides together every Sunday, to enjoy the pleasure of biking and to promote bonhomie and camaraderie amongst the members.
4. Rolling Wheels Bikers Club (RWBC)
It was formed in Kolkata, in 2005, with an aim to unite motorcycle lovers and touring individuals under a covered by the local media. Like the other groups, they too have a strong connection to social causes. They have earlier campaigned against rape, molestation, and gender discrimination, and interacted with the youth to raise social awareness of these issues.
5. The Bikerni
'Mud for makeup, petrol for perfume' - with that inspiring motto, The Bikerni is an all-woman biking club founded in 2011 by Urvashi Patole. Currently it has over 600 riders all across the country. It had started out with riders simply wanting to ride their bikes and explore new places but over time, their agenda has evolved. The group stands for women empowerment and freedom from social stereotypes. They also hold a Limca Book of Records for the largest all-women motorcycle expedition to Khardung-La.
Join a club if you share the same passion and opt for a motorcycle insurance policy to make your rides safer. It is a common feature amongst biking groups, the promotion of road safety norms. They are groups of individuals looking to follow their passion of riding motorcycles and exploring new places, all the while meeting new people and generating awareness on issues of social relevance.
"Because really, the only thing that makes sense is to strive for greater collective enlightenment."
-Elon Musk, Tesla Motors, CEO.