ROYAL ENFIELD RIDER MANIA 2014 EICMA 2014 COLOMBIA ...

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2014

ROYAL ENFIELD RIDER MANIA 2014EICMA 2014

Royal Mavericks

Himalayan Rush

COLOMBIA LAUNCH

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2014 1

inside02 Upcoming Event

• Tour of Rajasthan 2015

04 News • EICMA 2014 • Motorcycle Live 2014 •Colombia launch

06 Marquee Event

• Rider Mania 2014

12 Rider Profile

14 Club Profile 16 International

•KX Model

18 Destinations

20 Keep Riding

K I C K S T A R T

This is the last issue of The Beat for the year 2014 and as we step into the New Year we look

at getting more and more interesting stories from the world of Royal Enfield for you. Over the past year, Royal Enfield has also grown in numbers with more than 3, 00,000 motorcycles being produced for the year 2014 and more riders taking to highways on these motorcycles, thus fuelling and enriching the leisure motorcycling culture we have pioneered.

This year, Rider Mania saw an estimated number of 4,500+ enthusiasts and riders converge to Goa from all over in larger groups than before. The story on Rider Mania is documented by one of our enthusiastic riders who rode down from New Delhi all the way to Goa to be part of this extravaganza. Royal Enfield also launched its motorcycles in the Latin American market by showing their presence at the Motorcycle Show in Colombia. The position in Europe was further consolidated by appearances at Motorcycle Live 2014 in Birmingham and EICMA, Italy.

In the International section, we have featured one of the largest Royal Enfield motorcycles ever made, the 1140 CC Model KX. This issue of The Beat also carries an account of an interesting journey one of our riders undertook on his Classic 500 in the foothills of the Himalayas. There is also a feature on the Royal Mavericks club, and an interesting story on this year’s Raid De Himalaya rally winner in the Unmodified Motorcycles Category, Amir Yardaney. We have also included rides under the Keep Riding initiative.

Wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year and great riding times in 2015. We look forward to your contributions and feedback on this issue and on the articles you have been reading. Additionally if you wish to write for The Beat please let us know. Do send us a mail with your views on [email protected].

Editorial Team The Beat

...............................................................

...............................................................

...............................................................

...............................................................

...............................................................

.............................................................

Editorial Team: Praveen P Sathaye, Sachin Chavan, Swati Mitra, Geetika Sachdev

International Contributing Editor: Gordon May

Published by: Royal Enfield, A Unit of Eicher Motors Limited Gurgaon

Do send us your feedback at [email protected]

...............................................................

Rider Mania saw an estimated 4,500+ enthusiasts and riders con-verge to Goa from all over in larger groups than before

...............................................................


U P C O M I N G R I D E

In this tour, you get to ride on winding country roads, vast sand dunes, majestic hills, and lush green woods

.....................................................................

The Tour of Rajasthan is a ride off the beaten track that promises to test your grit and

hone your riding skills on the desolate Thar Desert. In this tour, you get to ride on winding country roads, vast sand dunes, majestic hills, lush green woods, a dried salt lake bed, as well as on smooth highways. Sumptuous Rajasthani food is sure to tantalise your tastebuds on this tour, and glimpses of historic monuments at every stop is truly going to be the icing on the cake for the riders. On this tour, you would ride across long stretches covered in golden sand, which makes this a very thrilling experience. You would also get to stay at the camping site located on the sand dunes of Jamba and spend the night gazing at the magnificent starlit skies.

The star attraction of this ride is the border road of Tanot-Longewala, where the only vehicle to be passing through the battlefields of the legendary 1971 war will be yours. Also on this ride is the famous test site for India’s first underground nuclear weapon detonation, Pokhran.

ROYAL ENFIELD

Tour of Rajasthan 2015

.................................................................

To know more about the Tour of Rajasthan 2015, please email Aakash Ahuja on [email protected]

Day 1 : Scrutiny and Briefing at Jaipur Day 2 : Jaipur-Mahansar | 220 kms Day 3: Mahansar-Bikaner | 195 kms Day 4: Bikaner-Jamba | 170 kms Day 5: Jamba-Jaisalmer | 220 kms Day 6: Jaisalmer-Sam | 310 kms Day 7: Sam-Jodhpur | 300 kms Day 8: Rest day at Jodhpur Day 9: Jodhpur-Kumbhalgarh | 300 kms Day 10: Kumbhalgarh-Ajmer | 275 kms Day 11: Ajmer-Jaipur | 220 kms

ITINERARY : 22nd–4th March 2015

.................................................................


The Tour of Rajasthan 2015 will also take you through the illustrious cities of Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Ajmer. These cities not only have a rich heritage and history, but also offer magnificent forts and architectural wonders to admire. At Pali, you will get to pay homage to the famous Bullet Baba, a temple devoted to the Royal Enfield Bullet. At some of these places you would also get to stay in heritage properties giving you an experience of the royalty in Rajasthan. Through this ride you will find an elusive rider’s paradise mated with the challenge of sand crossings. Not recommended for a beginner, this ride is one where experienced ride leaders from Royal Enfield will guide and help you to manoeuvre on the rough surfaces and control your motorcycle. This is one ride

which gives you an opportunity to leave your marks on the sands of time. Women pillion riders are also a part of the ride, making the tour an enjoyable experience.


N E W S

On 04 November 2014, Milan saw the most visited Motorcycle Exhibition in the world open up and offer a platform for motorcycle giants across the world to showcase their best products and technology to the automotive world. EICMA recorded a 14.7% increase over the 2013 edition (which had already achieved an 8% increase): the public responded with great passion and interest to a trade fair that today stands for concreteness and excellence,

in addition to being the most important event in the world - the best demonstration to celebrate the 100th anniversary. 628,600 visitors crossed the gates of Fiera Milano - Rho. The six pavilions and the exterior grounds of the trade fair, extending over an area of 280,000 square metres, hosted 1,053 exhibitors from 34 Countries, 14 international competitions, 600 two-wheel riders and “artists”. Royal Enfield had created the

display stall area in line with the new brand retail identity, which was very much appreciated by all the customers and dealers, giving them the understanding about the brand’s strong presence in the motorcycle market. Besides its strong showing in terms of attendance, EICMA played a key role in terms of B2B opportunities.

Royal Enfield at EICMA 2014

Royal Enfield at Motorcycle Live 2014

Royal Enfield participated in Motorcycle Live 2014, a nine-day automotive spectacle at

Birmingham, UK. Motorcycle Live opened on Saturday, 22 November 2014 with more than 250 exhibitors and 20 live free features and shows, filling The NEC, Birmingham.

The 39 manufacturers in attendance went all out to impress with a huge variety of interactive features on their stands. Over 117,000 bike enthusiasts came to Motorcycle Live 2014 to see the 2015 models, showcased here for the first time. Some learnt how to ride bikes, watch live action and entertainment, ride on and off the road on a closed circuit, and meet racing celebrities. The event had a 10% rise in attendance this year as compared to 2013. It was, in fact, declared to be one of the best ever.


N E W S

Royal Enfield at EICMA 2014 Royal Enfield launched in Colombia

most engaging mid-size motorcycle out there since its launch in late 2013” said Mr Arun Gopal, Head, International Business at Royal Enfield while introducing the motorcycle. The Café Racers of the 1960s and Royal Enfield’s own 1965 Continental GT in particular were the main design inspiration for this motorcycle. Complementing the Continental GT is a range of ‘Burn-up Wear', well-crafted, meticulously-detailed, purpose built motorcycling clothing and accessories. This line has been crafted from Royal Enfield rider experiences, in collaboration with veterans of riding apparel. Built to the needs of the modern rider, the range includes protective riding gear and casual range of T-shirts, shoes and jackets. Along with the Continental GT,

In a post-performance era where consumers are increasingly looking for authentic, evocative and

uncomplicated motorcycles, Royal Enfield has introduced the Continental GT in Colombia – it is a motorcycle that perfects the essential elements of the most influential idea in motorcycling history – Café Racing. The Continental GT brings the core idea of the rocker sub-culture from the UK of the 1960s roaring into the 21st century with a motorcycle that is nimble, with a lot of useable power and torque. “The Continental GT is inspired by the Café Racers of the 1960s in its form and in its simplicity, and it captures the feeling of freedom, fun and responsiveness that riders were trying to achieve then and brings it into the modern context. It is possibly the

Royal Enfield also introduced their Rumbler, Classic and the Bullet models. Royal Enfield’s offering in the cruiser segment – the Rumbler, is built to the needs of the long distance rider. Royal Enfield’s Classic is a tribute to the retro look of British motorcycles in the post World War II era. Royal Enfield’s iconic motorcycle, the Bullet, is the world’s oldest motorcycle in continuous production since 1932. Concluding his remarks, Arun said, “Colombia is a strategic market for Royal Enfield given the potential of its motorcycle industry and the fabulous riding terrain. We signed up the Corbeta Group in July this year as our distributors, given their understanding of the Colombian market."


ROYAL ENFIELD Rider Mania 2014

................................................................. To know more about Rider Mania, please mail Nikhil Warrier on [email protected].

Day 1 : Ride in, Registrations and Events

Day 2 : Events

Day 3 : Events, Celebration Ride and Prize Distribution

ITINERARY : 21st – 23rd November 2014

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2014 7 ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

M A R Q U E E E V E N T

Rider Mania 2014 turned out to be the biggest confluence of motorcycles, mates and music held over a period of three days

.................................................................................................

“Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life” – Michael Palin."

I was first bitten by the RE riding bug about 15 months back, and ever since I have been riding my

Royal Enfield Thunderbird all over the country. I saw the poster of the Royal Enfield Rider Mania 2014, while I was participating in the REunion North in Manali, and I knew I had to sign up for that event as well. It was probably easier to fly to Goa, but of course, I had to ride all the way from Delhi to Goa on Jajabor, my Thunderbird 500, with Subha, my pillion for life! I embarked on the ambitious journey to Goa on 18 November 2014 with a well chalked-out route map, the Royal Enfield ride leader

Kamal Pandey, ace technician, Rinku, a fully-loaded support van, and some experienced riders who are my best buddies today – Elaine Frege, Amit Gupta, Vishwanath Bharadwaj and Amit Puri. On the first day, after riding for over 700 kms, we reached Udaipur. I tried daal baati churma for the first time and enjoyed the sinful dish with a steaming cup of tea. The next morning, we started early since we had to cover more than 750 kms to reach Vasai, our pit stop for the second day. It was only after crossing Vadodara that runway-like highways emerged, where we zipped at full throttle to reach Vasai. The last stretch was from Vasai to Goa, a 650- km ride through highways, hills, tunnels and ghats. As we rolled on to this highway, we were happy to witness many

Rajendra Prasad | Rajendra Prasad, Royal Enfield


M A R Q U E E E V E N T

It was an amazing experience to ride on the smooth roads which helped test our machine’s limits. We rode through hills, tunnels and ghats to reach our destination, Goa

......................................................................

......................................................................

Mania 2014 did appear to be the biggest confluence of motorcycles, and we were eagerly looking forward to the next three days of biking, friends and music. We met our friends at the venue, before heading to our resort at Morjim, where we shared all the fun memories of our 2,100 km-ride from Delhi, passing through seven states and numerous highways. On the first day, all the Royal Enfields on the roads of Goa were heading to Vagator, where the much-awaited event was slated to begin. Registration for the Slow Race and Figure of 8 finished in a jiffy as the gates opened with hordes of enthusiasts waiting to participate. On the second day, the most popular event was Dirt Track, where riders participated in their 350cc and 500cc categories. It was a pleasure to watch the legendary Isle of Mann TT racer, Guy Martin participate in the Dirt Track and effortlessly zip through the track. The real stars in the Dirt Track event however were the female riders, who matched the grit and enthusiasm of their

male counterparts. After the events were over, the participants enjoyed performances by Vir Das, Papon, DJ Pearl, Swarathma and other noted music maestros who kept every enthusiast in high spirits. On the last day, the best custom bikes were selected and awarded by the legendary motorcycle designer Pierre Terblanche. At Rider Mania, I was really lucky to have met fellow Royal Enfield rider Jonathan Gibson, the charismatic young man, who was travelling all the way from Sydney to London on his Bullet, and had stopped by in Goa just for this festival. The ride back was equally enjoyable, as we had charted a route covering the coastal stretch around Ratnagiri and after taking a detour from Udaipur we paid a visit to the shrine of Baba Om Bana aka Bullet Baba near Pali, followed by a visit to the Ajmer Sharif dargah.

Finally, we headed out of Ajmer on the NH-8 towards Delhi, after our grand 12-day adventure. This journey has increased my hunger for riding and adventure.

Enfield riders with their motorcycles at Panvel, the assembly point for riders from Mumbai. After a short briefing by the local Royal Enfield Marshal, we understood our route and headed towards Pune. We tried local delicacies like vada pao, poha, misal and upma at Puneri restaurant, on the highway. It was here that we were joined by Vidit Jain, who later proved to be our perfect guide as he knew all about the route as well as Goa. It was an amazing experience to ride on the smooth roads which helped test our machine’s limits, and soon we reached Nipani, where we refreshed ourselves and filled our bellies. We were advised to reach Sawantwadi before sundown, so we rode through the Amboli ghats through several potholes, and sparse traffic to reach our destination on time. Once we reached Sawantwadi, we knew Goa wasn’t a distant dream any longer, and our excitement knew no bounds the moment we saw a board announcing ‘Welcome to Goa’. We headed straight to ‘Hill Top’ in Vagator, venue of the mega event. Looking at the massive venue, Rider


K E E P R I D I N G


MUSIC. MATES. MOTORCYCLES.


Young Amir is in the Israeli army, and ever since he can remember, he has been

fascinated by anything that has an engine and wheels. His first stint with a Royal Enfield was five years ago, when he rode a 1990 Bullet 350 during his maiden visit to India. Three years back, he got himself a 1973 Bullet 350, and returned to Israel with it. Although he has ridden many bikes over the years, he is particularly fond of Royal Enfield. This passionate biker currently rides a 2009 Bullet Machismo 500 which he purchased on an impulse four years back, giving in to what he calls ‘love at first sight’. He has named the motorcycle ‘Eleanor’ from

the Hollywood blockbuster Gone in 60 Seconds. This year, he participated in the world’s highest rally raid, Raid De Himalaya. As he did not have much time or the budget to make the necessary modifications to his motorcycle, he decided to go ‘stock’ or as per the specifications of the manufacturer. In fact, his Royal Enfield is the first ever in the history of Raid De Himalaya to win the event in its stock form! Amir’s trusted friend and mechanic, Lucky Kakar, accompanied him to the event, where he spent almost a month prepping up the motorcycle. The engine was stripped for a complete check-up, and fitted with a new

cylinder and piston kit. A new wiring harness was added and the starter motor removed. Amir had a long-cherished desire to compete in motorsports, but never really got an opportunity, considering the expenses involved. He is the first Israeli and the first biker to use a completely ‘stock’ Royal Enfield to compete in this rally. This adventure proved to be one-of-a-kind for him, as he rode over some of the most testing terrains for six days, covering more than 1,600 kms, at an altitude of 6,000 m above the mean sea level in harsh weather conditions. The rigorous routine of waking up every morning at 3 am was challenging. His motorcycle has a board saying, "Pain

R I D E R P R O F I L E

Himalayan Raider - Amir Yardenay


R I D E R P R O F I L E

Is Temporary, Victory Lasts Forever!" This mantra has really always helped him to cope up with difficult situations in life. He lost four kilos in six days and fell off his motorcycle several times. On the fourth day of the Raid, he crossed Baralacha La, while it was heavily snowing; just 10 kms before Sarchu while crossing a frozen river in near-darkness Amir lost his grip, only to find himself in the icy waters with his foot stuck under the bike. A few moments later, another competitor on a Gypsy stopped by to help him. On reaching the campsite in Sarchu, he found his tent with only a couple of mattresses and no sleeping bags or blankets even in the sub-zero

temperatures which he endured and completed the rally successfully. Amir won two trophies in Raid De Himalaya 2014, one for 1st place in the Moto-Quad X-treme Group D (Indian made stock bikes) and the prestigious John Mark James trophy. This memorial trophy is given every year to the best motorcyclist who embodies the spirit of Raid De Himalaya, and is given in honour of the British rider who lost his life in an accident during the 3rd Raid in 2001. Amir is more than excited to participate in the 2015 edition of the Raid De Himalaya. He is back in Israel and is reachable on [email protected].


C L U B P R O F I L E

Royal Mavericks was founded in 2011 by Tarique Afaque, a passionate Royal Enfield rider

who has been actively involved in various motorcycling initiatives in and around Delhi. It is because of his passion for riding that he decided to form a group for the like-minded. The Club name, Royal Mavericks sums up the passion towards Royal Enfield as well as the overall culture and values of motorcycling. The Club is proud of being a friendly and inclusive group. While they have conducted rides and awareness drives for numerous causes, they also often get together to catch up over a post-dinner cups of tea, breakfast rides, and for organised tours to Ladakh and Nepal. In its early days, it was only a handful of close friends that rode together as the Royal Mavericks and shared the vision Tarique had for the group. Today, it is one of the fastest-growing Royal Enfield clubs in Delhi, going from the initial few to over two thousand. The Club did have its share of struggles, but are now on track. They have an exhaustive list of rules and

regulations, both for the rider and the bike, focussing primarily on safety and responsible riding. These rules contribute to their impeccable safety record as well as the systematic manner in which they operate. This has brought them respect from other clubs and the motorcycling community in and around Delhi.

The Club focuses not only on experienced riders; often they have members who are just picking up the art of mastering their Royal Enfields. These new entrants pick up the finer traits of riding and and motorcycle control as part of their interaction with other bikers, while on various rides with the Club.


C L U B P R O F I L E

There is also a large percentage of women riders who are part of the Club. Motorcycling culture in India is gradually growing by leaps and bounds. Without aping the west, the Royal Mavericks want to strengthen the homegrown culture and incorporate Indian aspects into their motorcycling initiatives. How does one sign up with the Royal Mavericks? The one thing that serves as a qualifier is a passion for Royal Enfield motorcycles and a flair for riding, the rest is just filling in on the various details. Contacting them on their Facebook page or simply turning up on one of their rides serves as a trigger to join them. Royal Mavericks have a few members in Dubai, United Kingdom, Australia and the United States. They even have members who are yet to buy their first Royal Enfield — their enthusiasm itself makes them part of the Club. Besides organising weekend rides for leisure and adventure, the Club has been instrumental in organising events which support significant social causes, from charity and relief rides for natural disaster victims, the homeless and

and environmental groups. A ‘Do Not Honk’ campaign run by them made it to national news. They have been closely associated with Delhi Police, Ministry of Culture and the Election Commission. One of their proudest achievements is the recent Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, where they hosted the Delhi leg of this global ride. More on the Royal Mavericks can be found on their Facebook page: www.tinyurl.com/pedbdus


Royal Enfield has had a fine tradition of building V-Twin motorcycles, besides the

iconic Single Cylinder thumpers. In 1909, their first was powered by a 297cc Motosacoche engine, but others soon emerged, featuring Enfield’s own 424cc and then 976cc motors. The final V-twin, the KX model, was manufactured between 1937 and 1939, and was used mainly for hauling sidecars and commercial boxcars. It had a bore and stroke of 85.5 x 99.25 mm and displaced a whopping 1140cc which until the early 1990s, was Britain’s largest capacity production motorcycle. One particular KX owned by Bob Mitchell of Biggin Hill is a regular sight

on the roads of London and recently won the best pre-War motorcycle prize at the South of England Real Classic Motorcycle Show. Bob is a motorcycle courier of 35 years standing, working the hectic roads of central London daily. The acquisition of his KX came as a surprise. I was riding my Norton in a vintage rally when a man approached me, and asked if I was interested in an old Royal Enfield he had. My ears pricked up when he mentioned that it was a V-twin. But I was in for a shock when I went to have a look; hardly recognisable as a pre-War motorcycle — it had been chopped and painted baby pink!”. But underneath that lurid finish, Bob recognised its potential. “Although there was substantial work required

The Big V-Twin

Gordon May is a celebrated motorcycle author, and is recognised as an undisputed authority on classic motorcycles, especially the Royal Enfield. His love affair with Royal Enfield began in 1986 when he bought a 1963 250cc Crusader Sports. His books on Royal Enfield include Made In India (2001), Made In Redditch (2003), By Miles The Best (2004), and The Legend Rides On (2005). His books have given him a deeper insight into the history and the achievements of the brand. Gordon joins us as a regular columnist for The Beat, and his articles will feature important international events and products.

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Gordon May


on it, there was no way I could afford to buy a restored one so, although a challenge, I decided to take it on.” The restoration took the best part of three years. Bob learned many new skills, including how to operate a lathe, in order to fabricate all the parts he needed. “It was frustrating sending parts off to professionals and waiting, in one case for over a year, for the work to be done - often quite badly. I began to learn how to make things myself. Every single nut and bolt on that bike was made in my shed from stainless steel,” he says proudly. Fellow KX owner, Bullet race and tuning guru, Steve Linsdell, suggested Bob fit pistons from a Bedford truck, which has an oil ring. “That cured

the problem instantly.” Another change was the removal of the twin valve lifters. “They made adjusting the tappets very awkward. It is common practice to remove them.” But doesn’t that make such a massive engine difficult to start? “Go on, Gordon, kick it over!” he immediately replies. It seems unlikely I’ll succeed without the use of a valve lifter to ease it over compression, but I give it my best shot and am instantly, and very happily, rewarded with a burst of life from the big twin, which, after a couple of twists of the throttle, settles into a cheerful burble. Bob has ridden more than 13,000 miles on the KX, including trips to Spain, Germany, Wales and Scotland.

One of the challenges of riding the bike is its clutch, which Bob describes as being the ‘suicide’ type gear changer mechanism. “The KX has a hand gear change and a foot operated clutch. There’s no chance of slipping it; it’s either fully engaged or not." Ensconced in the KX’s toolbox is a gift from some of Bob’s motorcycling mates; a small statue of the deity Ganesh. "It was probably given to me tongue-in-cheek, but as Royal Enfields are now Indian-made, I like having it.” Bob’s KX is his pride and joy: a low-maintenance, comfortable ride that looks and sounds fantastic and can still keep up with today’s traffic, proof that the V-twin design perfected over 30 years has stood the test of time.

I N T E R N A T I O N A L I N T E R N A T I O N A L


It’s a Friday evening when I put the ignition on and with a kick instead of the electric starter button,

started on a ride that was completely unplanned, with only a return date in my mind— Monday night, a typical ‘Oh, I have had enough and I am going!’ weekend trip. Thundering along NH-1, the Tan Classic 500 felt like an express freight train on the road. A de-muffled exhaust with periodic ‘over-run pops’ on de-acceleration only added to the pepped up mood. Along the way, the gentle cold breeze off the fields of Haryana and Punjab hinted towards what awaited beyond the horizon. By the time I reached the foothills of the Himalayas, I was still undecided on the route and destination.

The amount of fun that can be had with the meaty torque of the 500 is mesmerising, and if you can tuck those knees in, hug the tank and get in the flow of hugging the curves, you shall soon be reaching Bilaspur-Mandi in no time. In the spirit of the trip, I decided to reach Solang Valley, a little ahead of Old Manali on the way to Rohtang Pass. It was a beautiful ride, where I recall overtaking everything in an innocent attempt to enjoy the exhaust echo from the surrounding cliffs. Reaching the beautiful and innovative Ride-Inn at Solang, a hot meal, followed by a couple of drinks, led to passionate discussions about riding with the owner Godwin and his wife.

Beaming with energy after the hearty early morning breakfast and masala tea, I hit Rohtang Pass in full spirits for a day of rising with the horizon, to literally the top of the mountains I was looking at. The Rohtang Pass ride is like a holy pilgrimage for anyone who enjoys biking and mountains. The road width, quality and bends are just an absolute treat. Hitting this road early in the morning is always blissful. The scenery changes every 10 kms, with the terrain becoming more and more barren, the cliff faces start getting more dominant, the drops more overwhelming, and the elation in emotions at such sights transcends one into a state of higher understanding

D E S T I N A T I O N S

Jagjitnagar - The Himalayan Hamlet

Anoor Pandey


D E S T I N A T I O N S

and meaning, a narrow window into heaven every traveler seeks. Continuing on after the Pass and into a-day-old snowfall covered landscape I reached my destination ahead of Keylong, a small camping site 7 kms ahead of the main town. I took my last picture before my phone ran out of juice with no power source in sight or mind. What awaited there was the most amazing night skies of the upper Himalayas, truly unlike any sky you see anywhere in the world. After a few hours at Keylong, I started back via Rohtang Pass, Manali, Kullu, Bhuntar, all the way till Mandi went in a fast blur, and by sundown I was 30 kms away from Chandigarh. I had the feeling that I just couldn’t ride back to Delhi yet.

I decided to stop over for petrol and some thoughts to calm myself down. There at the petrol pump, between my thoughts and plans, rode in a beautiful 1981 Bullet 350 in an immaculate white finish with a sweet after-market exhaust. The person riding this beauty, a gentleman called Saurabh Rajkumar, a painter and ex-lawyer, who decided after many years, to hang up his black and white robe and add color to his life by revisiting a lifelong passion for painting and motorcycling. He made a heartening offer of taking me to his cottage in the woods near Kasauli-Solan. My weekend holiday just got extended by a day. The ride was 24 kms off route via B-roads from the main

Panchkula-Shimla highway to a small village called Jagjitnagar. I finally departed at noon after a hearty lunch near Kasauli. Travelling or riding alone is always blissful. Even though I strongly recommend it, it has to be understood that a person has to take care of himself. It’s always advised to keep at least one person informed about your whereabouts and plans throughout the ride. An open mind and good judgment always prove to be helpful.


K E E P R I D I N GK E E P R I D I N G

Jhalong has become one of the most popular destinations for adventure enthusiasts. On 21 December 2014, 15 riders from Siliguri rode to Jhalong. After reaching the destination,they spent some time with differently abled people, and this ride turned out to be a memorable one for all riders. To join more such rides from Siliguri, send a mail to Ashutosh Kumar Dubey on [email protected].

On 02 November 2014, riders from Coimbatore got together for a pre-Rider Mania ride, which commenced from the Coimbatore Brand Stores, This ride saw a turnout of 58 riders. The group rode out towards the famous Aliyar Dam, located in the foothills of the Annamalai range. Once the riders reached the resort, they had their fair share of fun and games, including Arm Wrestling, Slow Race and a host of other activities.

To join more such rides from Coimbatore, send a mail to S Maria John Bosco on [email protected].

K E E P R I D I N G

Pre-RM ride from Indore Siliguri to Jhalong ride Pre-RM ride- Coimbatore

Indore witnessed the pre-Rider Mania ride on 09 November 2014, with over 80 riders assembling at RR Automotive early in the morning. After a short briefing and scrutiny of motorcycles, the riders set out towards the Choral jungle near Mhow. On reaching their destination, the riders participated in events like Slow Race, Lemon and Spoon Race, Figure of 8 and Arm Wrestling. The ride also saw participation of women pillion riders. After a fun-filled day, the riders returned to Indore. To join more such rides from Indore, send a mail to Ashish Mishra on [email protected].

K E E P R I D I N GK E E P R I D I N GK E E P R I D I N G

Pre-RM ride from Indore


On 21 December 2014, 15 adventure enthusiasts from Chandigarh rode to Shimla, despite the biting cold. To join more such rides from Chandigarh, send a mail to Amandeep Singh on [email protected].

K E E P R I D I N G

On 20 December 2014, Soul Thumpers, a Royal Enfield biker club, rode from Saket stores in New Delhi towards the tri-state Chambal Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. To join more such rides from Delhi, send a mail to Kamal Pandey on [email protected].

On 14 December 2014, a group of riders from Delhi started out on what they call a ‘breakfast ride’. A total of 27 riders started from the Saket Brand Stores, New Delhi and rode out to Purana Qila, before assembling at India Gate. To join more such rides from Delhi, send a mail to Kamal Pandey on [email protected].

This ride was conducted on the weekend of 14-16 November 2014 under the Keep Riding initiative to promote riding culture among Royal Enfield enthusiasts. To join more such rides from Punjab, send a mail to Amandeep Singh on [email protected].

On November 02 2014, a group of 16 riders started from the Brand Stores in Saket, New Delhi for the Pre-Rider Mania ride to Jaipur. They were joined by a few more riders in Jaipur for a thrilling and fun-filled ride to Sambhar Lake. This ride was a pre-cursor to the Rider Mania 2014 event in Goa. To join more such rides from Delhi, send a mail to Kamal Pandey on [email protected].

Chandigarh-Shimla ride

Breakfast ride-Delhi

Saket to Dholpur ride

Ride to Khajjiar

Pre-RM Jaipur ride

ROYAL ENFIELD RIDER MANIA 2014 EICMA 2014 COLOMBIA ...

Documents

Transcript of ROYAL ENFIELD RIDER MANIA 2014 EICMA 2014 COLOMBIA ...