Biker. The word alone shouts Coolness out loud. Bikers are cool. With their big flashy bikes, expensive riding gears, loud exhausts and shit. Well, At least most of the Indian people have this opinion about bikers.I see a lot of attention seeking whores, revving their engines unnecessarily when they see chicks, stunting on public roads and whatnot. Some say they are the bikers. I kinda have a different opinion though let’s start from the top.
There has been a lot of commercialization under the name of biking and bikers past few years. And that has inspired a lot of people to start riding a bike. But wait, this just does not end there. Any person buys a powerful bike and becomes a self-proclaimed biker. Most of them are bike admirers, not necessarily bikers.
Let’s talk about so called ‘Bike Rides for a Cause’ bullshit. I admit they have an honest cause behind doing this but at what cost? They gather in 100’s of numbers. And start riding without any thought. I had an opportunity to ride with KTM guys for the MOTO DAY 2015 on 21st June to Lavasa on the occasion of World Motorcycle Day. There were 50 plus riders in the convoy (for the sake of it). Group Leader was superfast like someone has lit fire under his butt. Closely followed by his other friends, riding the same way he did and others too not knowing their abilities, followed them without any thought. Riding in opposite lanes, dangerously moving on the streets. I stopped and let them go ahead. I didn’t wanna be a part of this mayhem. I could say somewhat the same about India Bike Week 2015 I attended at Vagator, Goa. But let’s not talk about it now.
This is what happening in Indian bike scene today. Huge group gatherings. Ridings and sharing the so called brotherhood without actually realizing why they started all this craziness in the first place. I myself prefer riding in small group. I believe “The less people you chill with, the less bullshit you deal with”. Riding brotherhood is not something you share with hundred plus wankers you don’t know anything about or about their riding skills. Brothers look out for each on the streets and in each other’s lives.There’s a fad of forming riding groups putting some fancy names, getting jackets and doing ‘Long Rides’ of no more that 60-70 km’s on weekend. The biking culture has become like most of the Manchester United or Valentino Rossi followers (I am not generalizing here). They are following something because that’s what other people are doing and that is accepted as SWAG by our society.
90% of the time I have ridden Solo until now. Finally met few people whom I trust with my life. When you ride in large groups it’s fun (or that’s what most people think). But when you ride with your people and it becomes a lifetime experience, more than just A to B. Biking culture has given birth to a lot of bikers and posers. I was shocked when a dude asked me about my recently acquired Duke 390. The conversation is like this:
The Dude: Bro, heard you got new D390. Congrats.
Me: Thanks bro.
The Dude: So what’s the top speed you achieve? I did 140 on my pulsar NS.
Me: umm. I donno. 100-110 maybe? As the bike is new.
The Dude: let’s race someday mahn!
The conversation ended there, there was no point. People call themselves bikers. But they don’t care about the safety of their or others. Doing stunts without helmets and blowing their wads on the streets. They will go to any level to prove they are the best bikers around town.Me: Thanks bro.
The Dude: So what’s the top speed you achieve? I did 140 on my pulsar NS.
Me: umm. I donno. 100-110 maybe? As the bike is new.
The Dude: let’s race someday mahn!
They fail to understand that biking is not something fancy or something which rock stars do. It’s just a way of life people choose to live by. Getting old while riding with their loved ones and enjoying that open road till the body finally gives up. There is no fancy stuff attached to it. I don’t understand why biking has become a huge commercial market in India to earn money and fame. Have seen few groups always doing some stunts like bitchy little girls and carrying the tag of ‘Biker’ instead of ‘Kim Kardashian’.
A biker will only ride for himself. He works like a dog, ignores the curses by his friends and family. Save the last dime to put for fuel and to fix his bike. And live life with less or no savings. Just so that he can fucking ride. I have faced jokes and humiliation everywhere. Family, Friends, Colleagues because of this habit I am possessed with. I couldn’t give a lesser damn about it. All that matters is the Road, the Bike and the Biker. Everything is just a Mirage.By: Rituraj Sambherao
