Motorcycle Diaries

“It is not just a bike but an indulgence,a religion,a cult icon and a style statement. The minute you roll this baby on the roads,people are literally going to stop in their tracks and bow with respect,” says consultant Sachin Abraham. Hyperbolic as it may sound,die-hard fans are ready to swear that nothing compares to the adrenaline rush a Harley can trigger. And with Harley-Davidson India appointing its first five dealers across the country,including one in Chandigarh,city folks can start planning their epic road trips.

“People in Chandigarh have a natural passion for automobiles and the world’s most iconic brand,Harley-Davidson,is bound to capture their imagination,” says Siddharth Garg,who will head the aptly-named Himalayan Harley-Davidson dealership in the city. “It is the best cruiser and Chandigarh’s proximity to the Himalayas will provide many bikers the the perfect topography to ride on,” he says. Incidentally,dealerships in other cities have interesting names too,from Tusker Harley-Davidson in Bengaluru,Banjara Harley-Davidson in Hyderabad,Seven Islands Harley-Davidson in Mumbai and Capital Harley-Davidson in New Delhi. A Harley is priced at Rs 6,95,000,with finance options available.

For Garg,riding a Harley is more about pleasure than speed biking. He fell in love with the machine when he first laid eyes on it at Harley Owners Group (HOG) in California. “From that moment,I wanted to fulfill my passion for motorcycles and give others an adventure of their lifetime,” says Garg. “Nothing beats the full throttle sound of 20 V-Twin engine,” as he looks forward to riding on the Super Glide Custom.

Dealers will stock everything from Harley-Davidson motorcycles to genuine parts and accessories to motorclothes apparel and service equipments. In India,the brand will offer 12 models from their 2010 line-up,with bookings already open. “You can visit the Harley-Davidson India website at http://www.harley-davidson.in for more,” says Garg.

Bike enthusiasts,understandably,are on cloud nine. “I had promised myself a Harley once I turn 35,” says Sachin,who kept alive his passion for bikes through his modified Bullet. “My brother Danny,an 18-year-old roadside mechanic,Habib and I got together and have worked on this bike since 2001,and so far,I’ve spent close to three and half lakhs on its modifications,” he adds. Enamoured by the classic image of a biker donning goggles,boots and flying scarf,he revels in the admiration that his Bullet generates. “Every time I take out my bike in Gurgaon or Mumbai,people literally chase me. That’s the beauty of a bike,especially a Harley — it makes anyone look like a star,and that too a dangerous one,” he adds. His word of caution: ride it only if you are passionate about it.

Like Sachin,Vir Nakai,art director with a Mumbai-based ad agency loves riding a bike,feeling the wind caress his face. “Winter morning,empty city roads,the soft purr of the bike and being close to nature,it is a heavenly feeling,” he says,recounting the many trips across the world on Harley-Davidson. “Although I own a Bullet,I would love to get a Harley,the god of all bikes.” Bikers,will most definitely,agree.