Muhammed Suhail Muneer is a name that might not ring a bell for many, but for the biking community in India, Muneer, a resident of Udipi, requires no introduction. And that’s the reason why his untimely death on January 27 had the entire community in shock. The bikers rode out in unison across the country to show solidarity and respect for Muneer on Sunday.
“Today, all clubs in India are either riding to mark their respect to one of the greatest riders of the Enfield community or are meeting up to remember him as a motivator, an inspiration and a senior rider,” says Rahool Saxena, member of the Wanderers: Bulleteers of Hyderabad biker group.
In Hyderabad, close to 100 riders came together to honour Muneer on Sunday evening. “I met him five months ago during a blood donation camp in Bidar. I used to call him ‘grizzly bear’ because he was tall and hefty, yet on a bike he was unstoppable,” says Rahool.
At the age of 40, Muneer was a professional photographer and founder of the United Riders Udipi Club. Muneer and Uthaya Kumar Selvaraj were returning from Nagpur after attending Rider Mania — where over 2,000 Royal Enfield owners from across the country had participated.
The accident took place in the evening at Chitradurga, Karnataka, when a bus collided head on with the riders. “Muneer always promoted safety, safe riding and helmet riding,” says Rahool, adding, “A man who met with an accident, slipped into coma and was able to ride again, Muneer was an inspiration for all us.
He could barely walk 300 metres without his walking stick but would ride thousands of miles when on his motorcycle saddle, Muneer was a rider brother with a pure soul and a big heart.”
Muneer was renowned for riding long distances without taking any breaks — he did a 57-hour flat ride from Udipi to North East in November 2015.
“He completed the saddle sore, 1,600 kms in 24 hours, recently and no matter how small or big the events were, he would always show up to encourage others. He also started an SOS group on WhatsApp to help riders in distress anywhere in India,” adds Rahool.
