While gallons of beer was guzzled and super bikes revved; it was the huge numbers from Bengaluru that created a buzz at the India Bike Week’16 in Goa— In addition to a slew of swanky bikes that were unveiled, the biker extravaganza saw a volley of over 12,000 biking enthusiasts vroom their way to the venue on their mean machines. We caught up with a few, who gave us high points of the festival and how it’s quite becoming a hub for enthusiasts in the city…
“There were about a good 50-60 percent of people from Bengaluru. And the number speaks for itself; as we, as a community, place marathons, cycling and biking above all,” says Candida Lewis, a former financial analyst from the city.
“I rode a Harley Davidson on my way, and sped around in a Thunderbird 350 at the carnival. It was indeed a culmination of like-minded people who came together for one thing— for the love for speed and bikes,” she says.
While the festival until now had seen a Harley Davidson dominion of sorts, a slew of smart bikes made its way into carnival— some of them being the TRK 502 and Benlli Tornado 302, Triumph, new Street Twin T120 and Thruxton R, Harley-Davidson’s new 1200 Custom and Ducati- Panigale 959. “As someone who’s always been into bikes and mean machines; I’ve been a regular at the festival for over the last four years. While it’s always been a Harley Davidson dominion of sorts, this time around, I spotted a slew of Ducatis, Triumphs alongside a host of Indian Motorcycles like the Indian Chief, Dark Horse, Vintage, Scout and the like,” says Vivek Aiyyapa, another city-based biker enthusiast.
Vinay, an ardent bike lover from the city opines, “It was refreshing to see so many Bengalureans at the event, which is touted as the Mecca for passionate motorcyclists. The fact that the numbers have grown from a mere 60 people to an impressive 600 plus members from the city alone speaks volumes about how such carnivals are becoming a hub for folks from Bengaluru.”
Vouching by the trend, he opines how such events offer a sense of liberation from the stereotypical way of living. “Bikes are available from '3 lakhs to '40 lakhs. So people from varied backgrounds, preferences and interests gather at such fests. It’s a great way to nurture your interests and network with like-minded people at the same time.”
The India Bike Week was a revelation of the thriving bike and motor racing culture, and the city testifies to that. Talking about the same, Suparna Thakkar, one of the core members of the organising committee, implies,” While this time the theme centered around the great migration, as we had biking clubs from across the country. While we haven’t decided about what’s next, we’re looking at focusing on brotherhood, because the intent is to get people together and bond over their love for bikes,” she adds.
