As the iconic motorcycle brand Harley-Davidson prepares to launch in India,we speak with three enthusiasts who already own one Arjun Khanna,Fashion DesignerHis passion is directed towards all things vintage,rather than with the marvels of motor engineering that modern technology brings. I collect all kinds of vintage machines and carry out restoration work on them. My focus was primarily on British machines,but five years ago I had the opportunity to buy a vintage Harley, says the 41-year-old. The machine manufactured in 1942 is clearly not a motorcycle he can use everyday; he manages to take it out for a spin once a month. Referring to the launch of Harley-Davidson in India,Khanna says Harley has superior technology and provides unparalleled customisation which is attractive to any consumer; additionally they are cleverly bringing in a whole fleet of models rather than just one. Asked whether he would buy a Harley-Davidson when it launches,Khanna says he wont,unless they gift me a vintage. Jimmy Mistry,ArchitectA classic motorcycle enthusiast,Mistry had,since childhood,yearned for a Harley-Davidson until he finally bought a V-Rod around eight years ago. The Harley has cult status for cruiser bikes and is easily the best in the world. What makes it special is the tremendous customer association. When I visited Italy,I noticed this biker who had his Harley parked nearby. I cant speak a word of Italian and he didnt know English. Yet,we spoke for 15 minutes about bikes; the connection works worldwide, he gushes. Asked about whether his purchase lived up to his expectation,Mistry points out that In a small way,Harley needs customisation for Indian riding conditions. Within four years,I noticed pitting corrosion on bolts,indicators and some accessories. You wont ever see that on a Japanese bike. Also,the suspension needs to be raised slightly to deal with pot-holes. Harley-Davidson Indias managing director Anoop Prakash,though,begs to differ. We will not be modifying any of the models for Indian conditions; these motorcycles are successfully used in over 70 countries. Balu Bafna,Automobile distributorBafna is an avid automobile fan,which is just as well given that he owns distributions for Honda and Hyundai. He imported an Ultraglide in 2003 and has always been a Harley-Davidson fan. Since birth,or rather since I first got to learn about motorcycles, he says. Bafna is as fond of cars as he is motorcycles. I use my Harley only on weekends,especially when I go out of town to Amby Valley or Pune. I dont have the time to use it everyday and travelling by car is more pleasurable, he feels. Unlike Mistry,though,he thinks his motorcycle totally lived up to his expectations; Ive only had issues with maintenance which should disappear now that Harley is coming to India, he says. One of the things he loves about the brand is the fact that it can be extensively customised. Every time I go out of the country,I purchase accessories, Bafna says. Customisation is,thus,one of the strongest features the brand. Prakash says that there are over 5,000 parts and accessories to choose from.
