T o u r o f Ra n n o f K u t c h

n e ws

may June 2012

keep riding

bullet bose

www.royalenfield.com

Royal Enfield

Tour of
Bhutan 2012
marketing newsletter

kick start
Dear Friends,

arlier this year we celebrated the ONE RIDE day on the 1st of April, 2012. This day
is celebrated on the 1st Sunday of April and is one when Royal Enfield motorcycles
all over the world get out on the roads and the whole environment is abuzz with the
combined sound of the thump. The simple reason being this day is the one when most of
the countries in which we are present, the weather is conducive for a ride. A little earlier
and Europe is frozen, a little late and India gets the unbearable summer. This year we also
had a dedicated website for
ONE RIDE which formed
the platform for all Royal
Enfield enthusiasts to
share their experiences and
photographs around the
ONE RIDE. You would find
the various images collated
by us from all over world on
the occasion of ONE RIDE
further in this issue.
The month of June
witnesses riders from
all over India riding out
towards Ladakh, the land
of the passes, as the name
translates directly into. This
is often called the riding
season and this is the time
when we also set forth on the
Himalayan Odyssey, an epic
ride to Ladakh from Delhi.
This year a total of 67 riders
were flagged off from India
Gate amidst much fanfare on
the 9th edition of the Royal Enfield Himalayan Odyssey, and would cover a good distance
of 2500-odd km before they roll back into Delhi. Daily updates from the riders as well as
video clippings and photos were instantly shared directly while on the ride on to our social
media platforms which helped other enthusiasts and their friends and families keep abreast
of their adventure.

Tour of rann of KuTch

n e ws

Keep riding

may June 2012

bulleT bose

www.royalenfield.com

Another event which we are introducing this year as part of our effort to bring all the
Royal Enfield enthusiasts together for celebrations is the REUNION. For years Royal
Enfield enthusiasts and riders have been bonding over rides, meeting like-minded people,
and getting together to celebrate the Thump that binds at the Royal Enfield Rider Mania
annual fest in Goa. With the Royal Enfield REUNION we now take this celebration to the
different parts of the country having one REUNION in each direction; North, South,
East and West to be specific. At the REUNION, the enthusiasts and riders from that region
and the surrounding states can ride together and meet like-minded enthusiasts from
around, bond over the celebrations and other motorcycle events around their Royal Enfield
motorcycles and spend a relaxed yet adventurous fun-filled weekends with friends.
So heres looking forward to meeting up with you at REUNION SOUTH at Ooty and
being a part of the celebrations of this annual get together of all Royal Enfield aficionados.
Till then... Ride Safe and dont forget to put a helmet on while riding.

royal enfield

Tour of
Bhutan 2012
marketing newsletter

cover photograph by

harsh man rai

Shaji koshy
Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Royal Enfield

If you would like to contribute to The BEAT email us at ppsathaye@royalenfield.com editorial team Shaji Koshy, Sachin Chavan, Praveen P Sathaye

upcoming rides

Royal Enfield REunion South

Royal Enfield organises
various Rides and Events
for Royal Enfield owners
throughout the year. These are
adventure-filled fun and leisure
activities and rides taking place
at exotic localesopportunities
for brotherly banter, road
talks and biking binge. At
the REUNION, enthusiasts
and riders would be riding
together and meet like-minded
enthusiasts from around, bond
over the celebrations and other
motorcycle events around their
Royal Enfield motorcycles and
spend a relaxed yet fun weekend
with friends. There shall be a
raft of events for the enthusiast
at REUNION from competitive
events to information sessions
as well.
For the REUNION South we
are inviting the riders to ride in
from all over and converge to
Ooty where this extravaganza
will be hosted at the Sterling
Resorts. Spread across 17th,
18th and 19th August 2012, the
action packed weekend would
have:

ust,
17-19 Aug
2012

1. Music and EntertainmentBands and DJs

2. Info-matory Sessions around
motorcycling

3. Custom bikes on display

4. Events and games with
prizes to be won

5. Stalls showcasing
motorcycle gear and
accessories

6. Merchandise and
collectibles on sale

Schedule
17-19 August, Ooty.
For more details on the Royal
Enfield REUNION please
check http://www.royalenfield.
com/reunion/ or send email to
asaxena3@royalenfield.com

upcoming rides

Royal Enfield Tour of NH17 2012

ake a scenic tour

winding around
the legendary NH
17, often dubbed as
the West Coast Road having
inspired a couple of Bollywood
blockbusters on the lines of
Bombay to Goa.
While the main theme
is on riding through places
around the scenic MumbaiGoa Highway, the highlight
is to romance the western
monsoons walking through
clouds at one moment in the
Western Ghats or strolling on
virgin beaches watching the
waves create magic, gorging
on strawberries to sipping a
piping hot coffee while the rain
vents its fury outside. Each and
every moment of this ride is
one which will certainly give
you your moments of discovery
where the sheer bliss of riding
to remote places and riding in
challenging weather on your
Royal Enfield will make it seem
like an experience of a lifetime.
This year, a short ride through
the scenic valley of flowers is an
added bonus.
Riding in the rains has
always been a romantic, lively
and exciting experience for
4

many and Royal Enfield would

provides service and medical
back-up to provide confidence
not just to the participants but
also to their friends and family.
The Tour of NH 17 has expert
and experienced pilots to guide
the group in various areas of
bike riding and coping with the
weather and terrain.
For more details on the
Tour of NH 17 please email
tourofnh17@royalenfield.com
or call on 044 42230244 and
speak to us.

The
i t i n e r a ry
a u g 1 1 1 7, 2 0 1 2

mumbai harihareshwar
tapola ganapatipule
gaganbawda malvan
dandeli vagator

upcoming rides

Royal Enfield Tour of Nepal 2012

epal has a special

place in the hearts
of adventure junkies
and its no longer
restricted to just climbing Mt
Everest. It is a great country to
ride your Royal Enfield in and
its as simple as crossing the
border. The 2nd edition of the
Tour of Nepal will take 30 riders
across the borders to experience
an awesome motorcycling
adventure!
This is your opportunity to
capture the roseate dawn glow
on snow-capped Himalayas
and abundant wildlife in the
the sanctuaries besides the

hustle-bustle of
the culturally rich
Kathmandu. Over this
10-day ride across the scenic
mountains forming the famous
Annapurna ranges you will
see the worlds deepest gorge.
You will also glimpse wildlife
in the Chitwan and Bardiya
sanctuaries and ford a few
shallow rivers. A visit to the
birthplace of the Buddha and
the Pokhara lake would be some
of things you would cherish.
These experiences along with
the sentiment of oneness with
their Royal Enfield motorcycles
on such an arduous ride shall

stay with the riders

for years to come. If you
are looking for something
more materialistic then
Kathmandu is a great place to
shop in during the rest day.
Starting from Lucknow
we shall cross over into
Nepal at Dhangadhi and
after 10 adventurous days
of riding in the Himalayan
region return back into India
through the same place. The
weather would be cold in the
mountains as winter is round
the corner so come prepared.
The weather and terrain being
slightly demanding this ride is

recommended for riders with

intermediate to expert riding
skills.
For more details on the
Tour of Nepal please email
tourofnepal@royalenfield.com
or call on 044 - 42230244

The
i t i n e r a ry

S e p t 2 9 1 0 o c t, 2 0 1 2
lucknow dhangadhi bardiya pokhara
jomsom kathmandu
chitwan bhairahawa
lucknow

news

The Odyssey Rides Again

The Royal Enfield Himalayan
Odyssey, the ultimate
motorcycling adventure in
India, was flagged off on
23 June, 2012 by Dr Venki
Padmanabhan, CEO , Royal
Enfield, from India Gate, New
Delhi. The 16-day adventure
had 67 riders from India
and abroad riding 2,700 km
from Delhi to Ladakh and
back on their Royal Enfields.
Addressing the group of Royal
Enfield enthusiasts present,
Dr Padmanabhan said, We
are honoured that this band
of riders have elected to come
with us, on our motorcycles,
on this epic bucket list ride,
not just honoured but deeply
touched. The motorcyclists
would be back in Delhi on

Sunday, July 8, 2012 and

shall be welcomed by an
extravaganza to celebrate their
accomplishment.

The Fuel Economy Challenge

BVM Moto, the official Royal Enfield dealer for Gloucestershire
in the West of England, organised a fuel economy challenge
on Saturday 14th April, 2012. Open to all petrol Royal Enfield
motorcycles in two classes (one for bikes with EFI and the other
for carburettors), competitors rode from BVMs showroom in
the market town of Stroud to the Watsonian Squire factory near
Stratford-on-Avon, on the other side of the Cotswold hills. The
route was far from ideal for achieving good economy, with many
steep climbs. However the organisers wanted a real life result to
compare with the published economy figures of nearly 80mpg.
The winner recorded 96.93 miles per gallon. Refuelling of the
motorcycles was overseen by Mr V Vikram from Royal Enfield
who had travelled from Chennai for this event and was delighted
at the figures obtained.

Royal enfield uk dealers

annual conference
The Royal Enfield dealers in the UK got together to enjoy a 120mile ride around the Malvern Hills in glorious spring sunshine
as part of the companys annual conference in March 2012. Their
trip included a visit to Redditch, where Royal Enfield motorcycles
were produced from 1901-1967. They also stopped for lunch at
the recently-opened Royal Enfield pub in the towns old cinema,
where you get attractive discounts if you come astride a Royal
Enfield motorcycle. The day was rounded off with an informal
dinner at which awards were presented to the best-performing
dealerships.
6

dealer news

Royal Enfields Newest dealers

With each passing month, Royal Enfield is continuously expanding its network across India as well as the world. Addition of new dealers and workshops/service stations are all part of our endeavour to reach out to customers and enthusiasts and address their requirements.
Following new dealers were inaugurated in the last months of March, April and May.

PCS Automobiles
5 Nai Sarak, Habba Kadal, Srinagar,
Jammu & Kashmir 190001
Phone: 0194-2472781; 9419006415
Email: pcs.automobiles@gmail.com

C Sector, Naharlagun
Arunachal Pradesh 791119
Phone: 9402297058
Email: buchoroyalenfield@rediffmail.
com

Vallabh Vidhyanagar
Anand,
Gujarat 388 120
Phone :9898484500
Email: royalridentity@gmail.com

Manzil Motors Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Puneet Gaur
9/A IDC Sector 16, Gurgaon
Haryana 122001
Phone: 0124-4231683, 4231684,
9560711988
Email: puneet.gaur@manzilmotors.
com

LAWMA Enfield
B/13, Pu Lawma Dawr
Sikulpuikawn, Mission Veng, Aizwal
Mizoram 796005
Phone: 0389-2334731, 9436143671
Email: lawma_enfield@rediffmail.
com

Rimik Motors Pvt Ltd,

New High Court Road,
Sharda Vihar, City Centre, Gwalior
Madhya Pradesh 474 003
Phone: 9425735616
Email: prateek_mehta@ymail.com

Goswami Automobiles
73 Chow Mandi, Roorkee
Uttarakhand 247667
Phone: 9897238608 ,
Email: goswamiautomobiles11@
gmail.com
Sachdeva Enterprises
Shakambari Road, Near Balaji Mandir, Saharanpur
Uttar Pradesh 247001
Phone: 9897881919,
Email: upsham.sachdeva.sachdeva@
gmail.com
Bucho Royal Enfield
Mr Kipa Babu

Achhar Singh Royal

C/O, Jorhat Pharma Distributors
Achhar Singh Complex, Jorhat
Assam 785001
Phone: 9435738596
Email: achharsingh_royal@yahoo.
com
Merins Royal Enfield
Pynthorumkhrah, Polo Hills,
Shillong
Meghalaya 793001
Phone: 9863067586
Email: arfatswer@email.com
Royal Ridentity Pvt Ltd,
7, Sigma Prime, Near Sardar Patel
Statue

Dinesh Motors
Plot No.11
Beside Wadgaon Police Chowki
Bapat Nagar, Nagpur Road
Chandrapur
Maharashtra 442401
Phone: 07172-260555, 9822050565
Email: dineshmotors.re@rediffmail.
com
Jay Motors
Opp. Baramati Dudh Sangh
Nira Road ,Kasba
Baramati
Maharashtra 413102
Phone: 02112 221055, 9922880888
Email: jaymotors11@gmail.com
Synergy Auto Inc.
Beside Hotel Peninsula

Andheri-Ghatkopar Link Road

Saki Naka
Mumbai 400072
Phone: 022 28590070 / 71,
8286610000
Email: synergyenfield@gmail.com
Raghu Ram Auto Care
Garodia Heights, Near Sheni Mandir,
Garikhana Chowk
Harmu Road, Ranchi
Jharkhand 834001
Phone: 0651-6571607, 9905110006
Email: raghuramautocare@gmail.
com
Unique Motors
S-9,City Centre
Sector 4
Bokaro Steel City, Bokaro
Jharkhand 827004
Phone: 0654-2233304, 8102916565
Email: uniquemotorsbokaro@gmail.
com
Leelasons Auto
Dhansar
Jharia Road
Dhanbad
Jharkhand 828106
Phone: 7631050369/ 9504103172
Email: leelasonsauto@gmail.com

one ride

ONE
RIDE
2012
The first Sunday of April is celebrated
worldwide as the ONE RIDE day
where Royal Enfield owners all over
the world are encouraged to take their
motorcycles out and ride. This year
the ONE RIDE took place on the 1st
of April and was celebrated across
the world. This celebration is in line
with Royal Enfields philosophy of
promoting the adventure and leisure
riding under its keep riding initiative.
Although each rider could have
his or her own individual One Ride
Royal Enfield encouraged them to
either start the ride from any of their
Brand Stores/Dealership/Distributor
or Service stations or end at them for
an easy count. Special ONE RIDE
commemorative stickers and cloth
patches were distributed amongst
the riders who proudly adorned
their bikes, helmets and jackets with
these memorabilia. This was a ride
for camaraderie and unity where the
roads came alive with the distinct
thump of Royal Enfield machines. The
event became big with the support of
all riders and enthusiasts who came
forward and joined in the celebrations.
Even if the riders were not able to
join any of the ONE RIDE celebrations
they still take out their beloved Royal
Enfield on this day and show the
chrome and the polished tank some
sunlight and ride.
Perhaps one of the largest
celebrations of the ONE RIDE was in
Mumbai-Pune where the riders rode
out in 2 groups; one to Manori while
one group rode to Lonavla to meet up
with the riders coming in from Pune.
The riders assembled at the Big Wheels
Cafe and then rode up to the legendary
slopes of hell to test their off-road skills.
Various clubs also joined up for this
8

ride and it served as a great occasion

for the Royal Enfield brotherhood to
bind and celebrate. The riders from
Ludhiana rode out to the RDB Fort
near the Gurudwara Manzi Sahib.
Delhi was the other city in India which
saw a huge turnout of riders who
rode out to Neemrana from various
parts of the NCR region. The Awadh
spirited riders from Lucknow rode out
to the Nawabganj bird sanctuary for
this occasion and turned up in strong
numbers. The Riders in Chandigarh
rode up into the mountains in a huge
group for this day. Royal riders from
Kolhapur rode up to the Panhala

fort for the One Ride celebrations.

Darjeeling Enfielders also had their
ONE RIDE in Siliguri and Darjeeling.
This event was also celebrated all over
the world with close to 5000 Royal
Enfield riders being part of it. Special
stickers were issued to commemorate
this event and were distributed all
across.
There was a special micro-site
created for this event accessible on
www.oneride.in where enthusiasts
could enter details of their individual
One Ride celebrations and rides as well
as upload pictures through a Facebook
connect.

racing Legend

Bullet Bose
the grand prix years
This is the 2nd part of the article on the motorcycling racing legend G Subhash Chandra Bose continued from
the previous edition of The Beat.

he dawn of the seventies was a period Rider in 1985, 1988, 1989 and 1993, and was also awarded
when the Bullet was becoming more and Indias Best Rider award in 1990 and the Ugadhi Puraskar in
more popular on the tracks and the man 1993.
who should be acknowledged for this
Although he had started riding other motorcycles including
popularity was Bhasker Rao, popularly the tiny but potent TVS moped, at heart he always longed to
referred to Bullet Bhaskie whose faired race on the Bullet. Its not strange that despite having some of
racing machine was doing great laps at the real fast monstrous fast Japanese machines on the track,
the Sholavaram circuit. It was at the same time when Bose also Bose ran one of his last Bullet races in 1993, a year before
followed through with ever increasing expertise on the Bullet. he moved on from motorcycle racing to car racing. During
In 1974 with experience gained from 4-lap and 6-lap races, his racing years, he garnered over 350 victories. He holds
Bullet Bose was slowly graduating into a different league the record of winning six times on the trot and getting two
altogether. His first Grand Prix win was
Mico Rolling Trophies. At one time, the
in 1973 and he repeated his success in
advertisement for the Madras Motor
1974 along with winning a drag race
Sports Club carried his photo as part of
in between. Unfortunately in 1975 his
its campaigns.
Bullet developed a snag and did not
Then, he switched to car racing and
produce the desired results but 1976
showed a special interest in rallying.
saw him back with a vengeance and
He gave up competitive motor sports
grab pole position on his Bullet 350.
in 2000, not because he woke up to the
The following years he also started
fact that he was not getting any younger.
rallying on the Bullet 350, starting off
He had always played by the rules of the
with the Gabriel Rally in 1978 and dirt
game, and this quality endeared him to
track races in the same year. The racing
all the big wigs at the Madras Motor
surface changed but the indomitable
Sports Club and they considered his
spirit reigned as ever. He also took
transition from racer to racing official
part in the Sudarshan Rally the same
extremely beneficial for the sport.
year bagging fourth on his trustworthy
His racing career with the Bullet
Bullet. One of these rallies he had to
has witnessed phenomenal success and
cover a distance of close to 3500 km in
over the years and he relives his golden
just a little over 36 hours of riding. He
moments through a register that is
remembers that after riding nonstop Multiple winner of the Chief Ministers Trophy for pasted with photos and press reports.
through the unforgiving terrain, slush Best Rider in 1985, 1988, 1989 and 1993
Apart from the trophies, the only thing
and dirt he as well as the motorcycle
concrete that has emerged from his
was hardly recognizable at the end of the rally.
glorious past is a 1960 Bullet. This was perhaps the reason
From 1980 onwards he was backed extensively by UCAL, a why in 1990, the Car & Bike International magazine listed
memorable year for him as he won the Rolling Trophy for that Bose as the No 1 racer of the year, amongst an illustrious list
year by winning the requisite 3 consecutive Grand Prix races. of other stalwarts.
In the GP races he bagged a total of 7 trophies year upon year
Perhaps his last year of riding the Bullet 350 was at the
taking the chequered flag with grace and pace.
36th National races in 1993. After which the legendary No 5
Speed with precision had always been the forte of Bose as sticker was then carried forward by his son Siddharth Kishore
was proven by the fact that right from 1979, he actually won the who besides having inherited his motorcycle has also inherited
special award for the fastest lap time continuously for almost the racing genes. But does that mean that he is out of racing
all races, irrespective of the final result of the race. Thus he and out of sync with the Bullet 350? Definitely not! The Bullet
proved that when focussed he was actually the Fastest Indian. 350 is one such machine which shall always be close to his
He also went on to bag the Chief Ministers trophy for Best heart and shall hold a memorable position in his mind forever.
10

Bullet Bose and Bullet Bhaskie share a joke at the Sholavaram racetrack

The legendary No. 5 in track action

Bose on his Bullet
350 starts the
South India Rally

Bose's Royal Enfield with a miniscule fairing for improved aerodynamics

After 3500 km in rains

at the Coimbatore
Scissors Action Rally
11

ride story

Royal Enfield
Tour of Bhutan
2012
Text by: Aakash ahuja
Photographs by: harsh man rai

12

13

ride story

ll the riders for the Royal

Enfield Tour of Bhutan
assembled at Siliguri;
completed the riding
gear scrutiny and bike
inspection and prepared for D-Day.
They started off with a flag-off ceremony
where the Darjeeling Enfielders, riders
from the local Royal Enfield club, came
down to see them off. The riders took
the long, but more picturesque way up
to Darjeeling via Mirik and used the rest
of the day to go around for sightseeing
and shopping. The next day they rode
down the twisty roads through the tea
gardens of Darjeeling and made their
way to Yoksum in Sikkim. The initial
route from Darjeeling to Pelling was
quite challenging, with ultra-steep
downhill turns and then the unending
off-roading that followed. The riders
then rode to the small town of Rumtek
from where one could see the city of
Gangtok in the distance on the opposite
hill. Before reaching Rumtek, the riders
stopped for lunch at a restaurant aptly
named Clouds End. From the restaurant
balcony you get a birds eye view of the
valleys and mountains below which are
constantly engulfed in pristine white
clouds. The next day was going to be a
big day as we would be riding into the
beautiful and evergreen kingdom of
Bhutan across the Indian border.
The Land of the Thunder Dragon
(Bhutan) as its called is a landlocked
state, located at the eastern end of the
Himalayas and bordered to the south,
east and west by India and to the north
by Tibet. The first town we entered
in Bhutan was Phuentsoling at the
Indo-Bhutan border. Though not a big
place, the people here are very friendly
and courteous. Once the bike permits
and route passes were all in order, the
riders carried on the capital of Bhutan
Thimpu. As they climbed the mountains
ahead, they were all awestruck with the
immense beauty and lush landscapes
that greeted them.
Thimpu is a great city to visit in Bhutan,
with its impeccable architecture,
cultural heritage and even a night life.
One shall find a variety of karaoke pubs
and a few discotheques. A little further
away from Thimpu is the town of Paro,
a nice, quiet and peaceful town, whose
main attraction is the world famous
Tigers Nest monastery perched high up
on a mountain crag. It was built in 1692,
14

tour of rajasthan

15

ride story
around the Taktsang Senge Samdup
cave where Guru Padmasambhava is
said to have meditated for three months
in the 8th century. Padmasambhava is
credited with introducing Buddhism
to Bhutan and people from all over the
world come to visit this monastery in
seek of inner peace and enlightenment.
After a good day of rest and
relaxation, the riders headed towards
Bumathang. There are many significant
Buddhist sacred sites near the town,
such as Kurjey Lhakhang, which holds
a body print of Guru Rinpoche; Jambey
Lhakhang, one of the 108 monasteries
that in mythology were miraculously
constructed by King Songten Gampo
in one night. It has a river flowing
alongside the highway as you enter the
city and the beauty of this place keeps
you in awe. It got a bit nippy here as the
sun set but the view of clouds swooping
in and out of the adjacent mountains
made it worthwhile.
The next day the riders rode to
Mongar which is at an altitude of 5250
feet. Mongar is 190 km from Bumthang.
The journey took them through the
4000 meters high Thrumsing-la pass to
the town of Mongar in eastern Bhutan.
The waterfalls, sleek curves and lush
vegetation on the way provided for the
spectacular views. This journey was
through one of the highest motorable
roads of the country. The road remained
closed in the winter as it gets fully
covered with snow.
Next on the route was the town of
Tashigang and the final destination on
the route in Bhutan was the border city
of Somdrup Jongkar. On that day of the
ride, the riders were blessed with cool
showers of rainfall as they rode up the
mountains and through the clouds. It
was truly a divine experience. Finally
they crossed the border into Assam and
further on to Guwahati and were back
on Indian roads. Though most of them
felt nice to be back in India, the country
of Bhutan did leave a lasting impression
on all of them who rode together on
this trip. They made new buddies,
helped each other out in a jam, laughed
hysterically at each others jokes, and
came back with memories that will
forever be etched in their minds. The
Royal Enfield Tour of Bhutan was
simply fantastic, and given a chance,
most of the riders would do it all over
again.
16

17

ride story

Royal Enfield Tour

Text: Santhosh Vijay

Images: Various
Contributors

10 March, 2012 Ahmedabad:

The riders started pouring in one by one
and underwent their bike and riding
gear scrutiny which was followed by a
pre-ride briefing. The riders got to know
each other and exchanged points and
expectations from the ride.
The next day 18 riders took off from
Ahmedabad on this epic journey. Mr
Mahesh Nayak, Deputy Commissioner
of Police formally flagged off the tour
from the Acropolis Mall where a large
crowd had gathered to cheer the riders.
18

Ahmedabad is reckoned as the cultural

capital of Gujarat and sets an example to
many other cities and towns this side of
the country, thus making it the obvious
choice for the flag-off. With this event
the culturally rich city known for the
arts, crafts and culinary delights woke
up to its adventurous side. After the
first regroup, the riders headed towards
Zainabad and reached later in the
afternoon. After a short nap, the riders
got some much needed practice when
they took an off-road trail to a nearby
lake to watch the migratory birds.
The group rode out from Zainabad
the next day and promptly hit the Little
Rann of Kutch. After entering the vast

of Rann of Kutch

desolate landscape the riders couldnt

hold themselves back and enjoyed it
to its fullest extent running wild in
the vast emptiness that extended in
every direction. The day ended at the
campsite in Dholavira where the team
could see the Great White Rann right
in front of their eyes, a terrain that they
had to negotiate the next day.
On the 13 March, after breakfast the
riders ventured into the Great Rann.
Riding over sandy and rocky trails they
went through the two border outposts at
Machhi and Karni which are areas quite
secluded from regular civilization. Upon
reaching the Greater Rann, the riders
were a little disappointed when they
19

ride story
realized that the Greater Rann was still
wet and flooded due to recent rainfall.
However the ride through the trails to
Karni and Mucchi was any off-roaders
dream and more than made up for the
disappointment. In the evening they
visited the 4000-year-old-Harappan
Civilization site near Dholavira before
calling it a day.
The next day was a long ride and the
riders covered approximately 300-plus
km out from Dholavira to Dhordho. The
day ended at the serene Kutch Rann
Resort at Dhordho, after a night ride
out into the White Desert, which to the
delight of the riders was dry.
15 March saw the riders heading
all the way to the India Bridge.
Unfortunately they were not allowed
to cross over towards the border
because of a technicality regarding
the permissions. After spending a
disappointing few hours, the riders rode
out to Kala Dungar, also known as the
highest point around the Rann to watch
the spectacular sunset and then headed
back to a different corner of the White
Desert and rode through the night
before returning for dinner.
The penultimate day of the tour
perhaps ended up being the longest day
of the whole journey. The riders on their
Royal Enfield motorcycles left from
Dhordho and to cross the Little Rann
once again to head back to Zainabad.
The riders were more confident of
tackling the Rann this time around and
they really enjoyed putting themselves
and
their
motorcycles
through
manoeuvres that they wouldnt have
dreamed of a scant few days ago. After
a small party for all the riders where
they shared stories of the individual
adventures they had during the ride and
how they bonded over the motorcycles
they called it a day.
The next day, on 17 March, the day
started off with the riders slowly getting
to realise that this was perhaps the last
day of their adventure. No one really
wanted to head back to civilization but
then they shook off the after effects of the
nights party and geared up for the last
120-odd km ride back to Ahmedabad.
Getting off the bike at journeys end, the
riders were exhilarated and recollected
moments of their adventurous ride as
they dusted off their jackets and finally
gave their bikes some rest.
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21

club

Royal Knights, Bangalore

he Royal Knights Motorcycle Club is one of Bangalores

most popular biking clubs.
The club which was started
in April 5, 2006, by a small
group of like-minded, dedicated Royal Enfield enthusiasts, has grown over the last
five years, to become one of Indias premier
Royal Enfield motorcycle clubs. The first
ride of the club was on 9th April 2006 to
Belmuri Falls near Mysore, with just 2 riders Debraj and Shakti.
The reason that makes the Royal Knights
stand apart from other clubs is perhaps
their simplicity and the fact that they make
their rides a spectacular affair. For them the
ride is more important than the destination. They follow various riding formations
based on the amount of traffic on the road.
There are guidelines which every rider must
follow to ensure everybody has a safe and
fun ride. The Club even has its own terms
and conditions and prerequisites which
every potential member must go through

before joining the club. All in all,

they are a professionally managed group of motorcycle enthusiasts who believe in riding free.
The Royal Knights Motorcycle Club is also one of the easiest clubs to join. All you need is
a Royal Enfield motorcycle. The
members of the club come from
various backgrounds; people
from all walks of life, who would
have otherwise never met, get a chance to
rub shoulders with each other simply because they share a similar passion riding.
From artists to architects, IT professionals
to doctors, entrepreneurs to students; the
club has them all. The members go about
their daily grind of life from Monday to Friday (some even on Saturday), and escape on
to the highway on Sunday. For them, riding
with the club is a well-deserved break and
a stress buster which prepares them for the
coming week.
Royal Knights Motorcycle Club Anniver-

sary rides are only for the members who are

regular to the club. The first anniversary
celebrations were at Wayanad, Kerala in
April 2007 where 20-odd members rode to
and then followed by a great party, dance
etc. Each of the anniversary rides are special in itself and means a lot the members
of the club. The 2nd Anniversary was celebrated at Masinagudi and the 3rd Anniversary Celebrations was organized at Coorg.
The 4th Anniversary Celebrations was organized at Lovedale (Ooty), Hill
Country in 2010 April which was
attended by more than 45 members while the 5th Anniversary
Celebrations ride to Wayanad
Golden Gates Resort in 2011 was
by far one of the biggest ever celebration with 80-plus motorcycles riding together and 90-odd
people. This year the 6th Anniversary Ride was held from 911 March, 2012, at Kodaikanal.
This ride covered close to 1200 km in just
three days.
Although, the club might only meet during rides or club meetings, it goes well beyond just being all about motorcycles. Personal friendships are also cemented over
rides and all in all, they are more than leather and Kevlar clad men cruising past you on
their rumbling motorcycles. They consider
themselves to be a brotherhood of people,
and every ride only helps in ensuring that
the brotherhood goes stronger.
The club boasts of a wide array of motorcycles, from the vintage classics of the 50s
and 60s to the modern fuel injected beasts
of today. You would also find motorcycles
modified to such an extent that they have no
resemblance to their original look though
some keep their bikes the same way they
bought them, even if it has been close to 25
or 30 years. The Royal Knights Motorcycle
Club has travelled to almost every destination in South India. But the sheer size of the
group in every ride somehow is a hindrance
when it comes to travelling long distances;
thus most of their rides are short and sweet.
To join the Royal Knights in Bangalore
and be a part of their rides, send a mail to
info@royalknightsindia.com

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gear review
Revit Sand jacket
The Revit brand is well known for its ergonomic fit and Sand jacket is
one of its offering for adventure touring. The jacket as they call it, is a four
seasons one which comes with two removable liners. One is a waterproof
one while the other a thermal liner to keep the rider warm when it gets
cold. The jackets outer layer has a water resistant coating and with the
liner inside, the waterproofing is remarkable. On the hotter days, the zippers in front, back, arm cuffs can be opened and the venting works fairly
well. This is not a mesh jacket but it does a good job for an all-round one.
The jacket can be zipped together with the pants. The jacket comes with
three pockets, two on the front and one large one on the back. These provide plenty of space and most of the important stuff can fit in them. However these arent exactly waterproof. The waterproof liner as well as the
thermal liner has a breast pocketso if you want to securely place your
phone or iPod, then these are waterproof. Revit has gone one step further on its previous editions by using re-enforced stitching in key stress
places on the suit thus making it tougher. The neck strap is now adjustable
and has a unique hook design so it doesnt keep flapping when you unbutton it. There is CE-approved armour used inside the jacket. The armour
is foam type however once you pull it out and have a look at it, its smaller
than
the ones used on some of the top-of-the-line riding gear
available today and somehow does not instil great
confidence. There are straps that can be used
to adjust the fit. Available in four colours, this
jacket is most liked for its ergonomic fit, styling and the thermal and waterproof liners.
Available through leading riding gear
sites for USD 470, this definitely is on
the higher side but is value for money if
coupled with matching riding pants.
Adarsh Saxena

Nerve Carib / run jacket

Come summer and riding with a armoured jacket becomes quite
tiresome, firstly due to the heavy weight of the jacket as well as the
heat which makes it quite uncomfortable inside. The Nerve Carib
is a great summer mesh jacket which makes riding in hot weather
a breeze without compromising on protection as well as comfort.
The mesh front of the jacket has good ventilation while the cordura

material on the back and sleeves provides

good all weather protection. The CE
approved armour is surprisingly lightweight and does not add to the weight
of this jacket. There are no side pockets in this jacket. There is however
a small pocket in the liner inside
and one pocket in the front to
keep your phone along with
a few other things and this
pocket has a waterproof zipper arrangement. This jacket
can be worn in light rain and
offers minimal protection
against precipitation and in a
downpour, its not of much use.
Unfortunately this jacket is available only in black there is not
much style attached to it in terms of look and feel but it has good
comfort and functional utility attached to it.
Available through leading riding gear sites and stores for approximately INR 6000, this jacket is definitely is value for money and is one of the most inexpensive ones available in India.
Praveen P Sathaye

23

keep riding
The following rides were organised by Royal Enfield all over the country under the Keep Riding
initiative started to encourage enthusiasts and customers to ride out on their motorcycles.

Ahmedabad rides: Clockwise from top left, to Sula Wines, Nasik; to Taparpura; and to the Little Rann of Kutch

Ahmedabad to Sula Wines via

Bhandardhara
In March 2012, riders from Royal Riders
Ahmedabad rode out to celebrate the grape
season by riding to the Sula Vineyard near
Nasik via Bhandardhara. This was a ride
they all were looking forward to as it also
gave them an insight into how wine is made.
A wine tasting session was organised after
which the riders lazed around the vineyard.
The scenic route through Bhandardhara
hills and back through Saputara provided
the much needed adventure during this ride

the new places and villages rather than the

usual tourist destinations. Taparpura is
a small village aloof from the city life and
bathed with peace and quiet. The riders
decided to explore the fields around the village and riding on their Royal Enfield motorcycles was the only option. The decision
meant tough off-roading through the rustic
paths where only tractors had been seen till
now. The ride was made more interesting
by a nice relaxing lunch made right there on
the field, amidst interactions with the villagers, making it a perfect weekend.

Ahmedabad to Taparpura

Ahmedabad to Little Rann of

Kutch

Late February saw riders visit a relatively unknown place a mere 120 km from
Ahmedabad. The riders wanted to explore

The occasion for this ride was the 2nd Anniversary of the Royal Riders showroom
in Ahmedabad and what better way could

24

have been to celebrate this than a ride. The

ride was organized to the Little Rann of
Kutch, about 130 km from Ahmedabad.
The passion for riding in Ahmedabad and
their love for Bullets were highlighted when
the number of registered riders for this ride
crossed 150. The thunderous sound of all
the Royal Enfield motorcycles roaring in
sync woke up the entire city to a sight everyone would cherish for long. Once on the
Rann, all one could see were Royal Enfield
motorcycles riding as far as the eye could
see. This group of riders consisted of very
different people with many varied interests
but having one thing in common, their passion for the Royal Enfield.
To join more rides from Ahmedabad
contact Puneet Singh Banga on
psbanga@royalenfield.com

keep riding
Ghats where the curves did add the necessary thrill to the ride. By the time they
reached Ganpatipule, it was evening and
the riders after checking into their rooms
headed out for some some fun and games on
this most spectacular beach on the Konkan
coastline.
The next day they visited the legendary
Ganpati temple and around noon left for
Mumbai, but not till they had spent time
on the beach riding up and down on their
Royal Enfield motorcycles.
Riding through the pleasant evening the
riders rode into Mumbai as light started to
fade away. This was one ride which the riders would carry fond memories of for days
to come.
For joining our rides from Mumbai
please get in touch with Harshil Desai on
hjdesai@royalenfield.com

Valentine's Day ride, Gandhinagar

Valentines Day Ride,

Gandhinagar
Valentines Day 14th February 2012. Love
was in the air and the Royal Enfield riders
in Gandhinagar celebrated it with style.
This ride stemmed from the strong belief
that there are just two loves in a riders life,
the love for the sweetheart and love for the
Bullet. So a ride just for couples was arranged which later on culminated in a salsa
session and workshop. This unique event
got a great response from the people who
after the salsa rode out to end the day with a
romantic candle light dinner.
For joining our rides from Gandhinagar please get in touch with Puneet Singh Banga on psbanga@royalenfield.com

Mumbai to Ganpatipule

Gurgaon to Shimla

The riders started riding in at 5.00 am at

Nerul brand store and soon all 10 of them
had assembled together. Accompanying
them was Mr Mallick, one of the senior riders who for this trip had got along his wife
and was travelling by car. Harshil Desai, the
Brand Stores Manager from Bandra along
with other staffers Sunil and Priyank, accompanied the customers. Since this was
one of the first long ride for many of the riders there, a certain amount of nervousness
did prevail but the guidance of Royal Enfield staff definitely did give them the confidence to undertake this ride. They rode
down the scenic NH17 via Panvel, Vatkal
Naka, Kolad and the meandering Kashedi

Under the Log Out program for Polaris

Labs a ride from Gurgaon To Shimla was
organised in March 2012. A total of 7 riders joined this ride and some of them were

Gurgaon to Shimla ride

riding on Royal Enfield motorcycles for the
first time. The riders rode up from Gurgaon
towards Chandigarh on the first day, riding
further till Solan and finally culminating in
Shimla. While returning they took a different route, climbing further into Kufri and
then descending into Chail and finally getting back to Gurgaon via Solan and Chandigarh. Overall an amazing experience for the
first timers, such rides often entice young
riders to adapt to the Royal Enfield riding
culture and who then subsequently graduate into becoming Royal Enfield owners
and loyalists.

Gurgaon to Lansdowne
Mumbai to Ganpatipule ride

A Log out Ride took place in February

which was organised for the people from
the armed forces. A total of 13 riders rode on
this trip and started off from Gurgaon early
25

keep riding
Gurgaon to Lansdowne ride

morning. Their stay in Lansdowne was arranged at the Indian Armys Garhwal Regiment guest house. At Lansdowne they were
taken around by one of the Army personnel,
who rode along with them on the Bullet 350
Army edition. The riders rode to some of the
most scenic locales around Lansdowne the
next day. The third day they all rode back to
Delhi, definitely missing the awesome experience they had in the hills.
For joining our rides from Gurgaon
please get in touch with Anil Goyal on
agoyal@royalenfield.com

Delhi to Tilyar Lake, Rohtak

A Log Out ride was jointly organised with
Royal Bikers, the club based out of the dealership Kaytee Automobiles in Mahipalpur.
A total of 11 riders started off from Mahipalpur at 5:30 AM and rode out towards
Dhaula Kuan and then onwards to Pithampura as more and more riders joined them
26

Delhi to Tilyar Lake ride

at these places, before getting out of the
city and reaching the Tilyar Lake around
7:30 AM. The riders then basked in the lake
view and gorged on the breakfast prepared
by the Haryana Tourism Restaurant there.
By 8:30 they started the return ride. During the return ride they halted specially for

a cup of tea at a dhaba as Rohtak is famous

for this typically Haryanvi Tea. Riding onwards the group reached Delhi by 11: am itself after which the bikers dispersed. It was
indeed a morning well spent as claimed by
all the riders.

keep riding
Delhi to Lansdowne

Delhi to Lansdowne ride

The Royal Bikers is an initiative taken by

2 hardcore Royal Enfield riders Amit Kaushik and Manish Bhaskar to promote a safe
and well organized riding culture with a lot
of learning and fun. This club is attached
to the Royal Enfield dealership Kaytee
Automobiles. The Royal Bikers club was
kick-started on 1st April, the One Ride day
this year. This club rode out to Lansdowne
under the Log Out ride initiative from Mahipalpur. The riders left Delhi at 5:00 AM
and were backed up by a Tata Xenon pickup truck for support. Lunch was at the famous Jain Shiknjee dhaba on the highway.
The riders also explored the rustic hillside
doing a bit of off-roading along the river.
The next day, after watching the sunrise on
the mountains they rode out to Haridwar.
After a dip in the holy Ganges River, the riders turned towards Delhi and home.

Delhi to Rishikesh

Delhi to Rishikesh ride

This ride was organised from Kaytee Automobiles, the dealer in Mahipalpur and close
to a dozen riders rode out on this ride. They
started off in the early morning at 5:00 AM
from Delhi and rode out towards Rishikesh
taking the highway towards Modinagar and
then onwards to Rishikesh. Where they
stayed at a camping site and enjoyed a bonfire at night. The next day they undertook
river rafting and other sporting activities
beating the chill and having a good time before riding back to Delhi in the afternoon.
For joining our rides from Delhi please
get in touch with Anil Goyal on agoyal@
royalenfield.com

Korba to Chorghat

Korba to Chorghat ride

One fine morning 10 riders rode out from

Kailash Auto Agency, the Royal Enfield
dealer in Korba and rode out to the famous
picnic spot of Chorghat about 120 km away.
A major part of the ride was done on broken
roads and added the fun and adventure to
the ride. Chorghat has a river from where
water is supplied to nearby villages and
hence riding to the water body as summer
started setting in was definitely a great experience. Though this was one of the first
rides in this region, the culture of leisure
and adventure riding is slowly catching up
in this region also as is in the rest of the
country.
For joining our rides from Korba
please get in touch with Srinivas on
srinivas.pilli825@gmail.com
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