The Bullet Brigade

From Gujarat to Shillong,and Kashmir to Kanyakumari,the bikers reminisced about the milestones,replete with fun and adventure. “We are not the speed guys,we are the cruisers; peace-loving mellow riders who love our bikes and the road ahead,” proclaimed the group.

These bikers take pride in their self-funded rides and events. “Our stops are not five-star hotels,they are roadside inns,cafes and dhabas,” said Kanwar Aulakh. They were joined by other fellow riders on the occasion,including Tejinder Singh,Pradeep Chakraborty,Anurag Khanna,Bikram Singh,Ravneet Juneja,Jojo,Manpreet Singh and Gaganpreet Singh.

“We’ve had a run in with a rhino,spotted a leopard,and experienced bungee jumping,white river water rafting and paragliding — everything on the road,with our bullet by the side,” said Tejinder Singh. An easy bike to maintain,and a sturdy one to ride,the men prefer Bullets over Harleys and Triumphs. Yes,they do feel a little left out when they are unable to source Royal Enfield accessories and parts.

They say that the company should initiate more activities with the Bullet clubs. With over 60-70 clubs across India and a few in Pakistan,the members here are in touch with each other and organise rides and events together. While Rider Mania fest,a two-day event with an attendance of 1,000 riders from all over India,was held in Shillong this year and will be Chennai next year,they are planning to bring it to Chandigarh in 2015.

The 10th anniversary of the club saw members share stories and anecdotes,especially how every bike starts reflecting its owner’s personality. So,there are the shabby ones,the obsessively clean and shiny ones,and the regular ones. “We love travelling long distances,and although we don’t carry any social message,we just want people to ride safe,” said Chakraborty.