THE UBIQUITOUS MOTORCYCLE

Two-wheelers are the most widely used means of conveyance in our country. The roads of urban cities and rural towns are predominantly populated with two-wheelers of all kinds and brands. For most people, they are the cheaper alternative to a four-wheeler vehicle due to their comparatively cheaper running costs and parking ease.  Out of two-wheelers, motorcycles are the most popular because of their associated macho image and versatility.  People use them for commuting to workplace, for dropping children to schools, for going shopping, for visiting friends and relatives on weekends, going to cinemas with the whole family perched on the pillion and fuel tank.  For college-goers it is a windfall to own a motorcycle.  The demand for motorcycles is ever-growing which has resulted in India becoming the largest producer of motorcycles in the world today.

The sight of whole families of four-five persons commuting on bikes moved Ratan Tata to conceive the vision of making a car for them at the price of a bike – and the Nano was born. But the segment for whom the Nano was targeted did not grab the offer. They didn’t like the idea of owning a cheap car. The bike was simply okay.  So the Nano perished and bikes flourished.

MOTORCYCLE BREEDS AND RIDER TYPES

A motorcycle is not simply a riding machine on two wheels. They are technically classified into different categories according to their displacement and purpose,  viz., Standard,  Cruiser, Touring, Sports Touring, Dual Sport,  Scooter, Moped and Off-roader motorcycle. Likewise, motorcycle riders can also be classified into different types according to their individual character and riding behaviour.  It’s fascinating to note the extent of influence a motorized pair of wheels can infuse into a person’s nature and psyche.

We can group motorcyclists into the following broad categories –

1. The Commuters – they are simple folks who do not demand much from their bikes except good mileage, maximum utility and low maintenance.

2. The Freaks – they are the nuisance elements of the biking world. Leading the pack is the Squid – who is omnipresent and have scant regard for safety, traffic rules and riding etiquette. Then we have the Speeder – for whom nothing else but speed only matters. The last of the freak is the Stunter – who constantly punishes his machine and tyres with extreme stunts.

3. The Hobbyist – They are sober people whose bike is like a close friend. First, in this group, we find the Mechanic – who messes a lot with his machine, like taking off parts and modifying them.  Second, we find the Loyalist – he will not ride anything other than his glorified brand e.g. Royal Enfield or Harleys.  Third, we have the Adventurer – who prefers to explore the off-beat adventure trails on his bike.  And lastly, we have the Cruiser – who enjoys the relaxed and long motorcycle rides. 

It is the hobbyist motorcyclists who flock together to form a Riding Club or Motorcycle Club. The Riding Clubs are the group of riders who share company to ride together. The Motorcycle Clubs are a different breed. They are an exclusive group and have their own code of conduct, rules and regulations, unique dress codes and reserved entry requirements. The club motorcyclists pursue riding as a lifestyle.

THE BIRTH OF MOTORCYCLE CLUBS

Ever since the invention of wheel in the 2nd millennium BCE and invention of the safety bicycle in 1868, the first motorcycle ‘Daimler Reitwagen’ was made in 1885 by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Germany. It had a 264cc diesel-based internal combustion engine.  The first mass-produced motorcycle ‘Hildebrand & Wolfmüller’ came in 1894. Between 1901 and 1903, several popular motorcycle brands were born, viz. the Royal Enfield, Triumph, Harley Davidson, etc.

The oldest motorcycle clubs were the Yonkers MC (New York) founded in 1903 and San Francisco MC founded in 1904 in America. In 1924 the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) was formed. Today it has about 1100 chartered clubs with more than 2,00,000 motorcyclists as its members. 

After the Second World War, American war veterans embraced the motorcycle club culture as a way seeking thrill, independence and camaraderie. Their lifestyle was portrayed in many Hollywood films like ‘the Wild One’, ‘Maniacs on Wheels’, ‘The Pace that Thrills’, etc. However, various factors kept them away from the AMA membership, and hence they came to be known as outlaw motorcycle clubs aka one-percenter. This term came into being after the Hollister riot in 1947 in California which involved a motorcycle club and earned notoriety for motorcycle clubs. Following this incident, it is said that the AMA reacted that 99% of their motorcyclists were law-abiding citizens and the rest 1% were outlaws.

WHY PEOPLE RIDE WITH MOTORCYCLE CLUBS?

            If you want to be happy for a day, drink.

            If you want to be happy for a year, marry.

            If you want to be happy for a lifetime, ride a motorcycle.

― Anonymous

                                                                                   

The first reason people join a motorcycle club is their absolute love for motorcycles. These people are sort of addicted to riding. Within a club organization, they derive the feeling of belonging to a fraternity, of participation in group activities with like-minded people and the joy of sharing mutual tastes. Added to these are the feeling of abandon, breaking free from the daily rut, the discovery of new adventures, the thrill of adrenalin pumping and the rush of wind on the face.

Most motorcycle clubs have a strict code of conduct along with a set of rules and regulations which allclub membershave to follow strictly. Many motorcycle clubs are regularly associated with social work like organizing blood donation camps, offering help and services to NGOs, etc. For most motorcycle clubbers, their world revolves around their motorcycling activities, like periodic get-togethers, organizing riding trips to far-off destinations, attending annual motorcycle events, taking part in trans country rallies, etc. They have a parallel tradition. There are hundreds of quotes and sayings related to motorcycle and riding. There also exists a list of Ten Commandments of Motorcycling. The most widely used version is listed here-

1. You shall not eye your neighbour’s motorcycle

2. You shall respect old classics

3. You shall give more than you take

4. You shall love your motorcycle more than anything else

5. You shall follow the laws of the land

6.You shall never leave a fellow rider behind

7.You shall call out before passing

8.You shall be forgiving to users of four wheels who put your life at risk

9.You shall show love for your motorcycle through the finest care

10.You shall always be a rider

Source:https://advrider.com/world-motorcycle-day-and-its-10-commandments

The NRMA (National Roads and Motorists Association) Australia has a more practical version of the 10 Commandments for Motorcyclists on its official website relating to safety advisory for riders.

Read it here – https://www.mynrma.com.au/cars-and-driving/driver-training-and-licenses/resources/the-10-commandments-of-motorcycling

THE PAIN-POINTS OF MOTORCYCLISTS

The risks and difficulties associated with motorcycles and two-wheelers, in general, are many. To begin with, leaving aside the well-maintained national and state highways, most roads are unsafe for two-wheelers with potholes, unmarked speed-breakers, oil slicks and stray animals. But the massive danger comes from being invisible to the large vehicles and from blind spots, vehicles suddenly turning to the left, unwarranted opening of car doors, or rash driving by other vehicles. In addition, the riders of big motorcycles wearing a riding gear with boots and proper helmets look out of place and are often looked down upon with scorn and disrespect. Policemen pulling out ignition keys from motorcycles at check posts are not unheard of.

The activities and lifestyle of motorcycle clubbers are unknown to the common people and hence misunderstood. Let us try to learn some facts about motorcycle clubs. Firstly, the motorcycle clubs are legally registered entities either as non-profit organizations or societies or in some cases, private tour operating companies. Secondly, the motorcycle club riders are law-abiding citizens just like us. Most motorcycle club members are well educated, work in respectable professions, and often hail from decent backgrounds. Thirdly, motorcycling is classified as an extreme vehicle sport and its practitioners are experts and experienced riders who prioritize safety protocols while riding.  Fourthly, motorcycling as a leisure activity is cool just like any other normal hobby. Valentino Rossi quotes- “Riding a bike is like an art, something you do because you feel something inside.”

MOTORCYCLE CLUBS IN INDIA

One of the earliest MC is the Delhi-based Group Of Delhi Superbikers (GODS) which was founded in 1998 by Dr. ArunTheraja with just two members. It was formed to promote biking in a positive and responsible way and to spread awareness of biking as a way of life. The club advocates safe riding with proper gear and accessories.  The GODS members are highly educated professionals with a passion for riding.  A new entrant has to be at least 25 years old with a mature & stable mind and a 600cc bike or above with some riding experience. New entrants are admitted only after proper scrutiny. Another oldest motorcycle club in the country is the Aizawl Bullet Club founded in 1999 in Mizoram. Later in 2003, they renamed it, Aizawl Thunders. 

In 2002, a small group of 7 Bullet enthusiasts in Chennai (erstwhile Madras) teamed up to form the Madras Bulls.  During the same year, in Mumbai, the 60Kph was formed. Next year, in 2003, a Royal Enfield motorcycle club, the Easternbulls was founded in Kolkata.  In 2005, the Rolling Wheels Bikers Club was started in Kolkata with entry open to both genders and all kinds of motorcycles. In 2006, Kovai Thumpers Motorcycling Club was started in Coimbatore for Royal Enfield riders only. Delhi Bull Riders club was founded by Sajeesh Nair in November 2007 (renamed as India Bull Riders In June 2010 due to its pan-India membership). India Bull RidersMotorcycle Club is a Royal Enfield motorcycle club that has 9 recognized chapters in Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Udaipur, Chennai, Jaipur, Pune, and Kolkata, and 6 probationary chapters in Dehradun, Guwahati, Jamshedpur, Patna, Durgapur, and Chandigarh.

During the subsequent years, the motorcycle club lifestyle trends caught up with the Indians and many clubs came up throughout the nation. Royal Enfield motorcycle clubs alone accounted for more than hundreds. In addition to these many brand-specific, displacement-specific, mixed brands, stunt motorcycle clubs also came up. Women motorcyclists also began to join the bandwagon. The Mumbai-based Musafirs founded in 2011 has a lady co-founder -Sharmishta Chakravorty, an engineer by profession. Many clubs have members from both genders. From 2011, women-only motorcycle clubs began to come up.

WOMEN MOTORCYCLE CLUBS

The Bikerni founded in 2011 by Firdaus Shaikh and Urvashi Patole, is said to be India’s first all-women motorcycle club. It has more than 1600 women members across 17 chapters of India.  It seeks to promote women’s empowerment through the spirit of motorcycling and has created several records.

Simultaneously, several other all-women motorcycle clubs cropped up, viz. Kolkata-based Bengal Lady Bikers was started in 2011 by RaimaSamuiandMohuaPolley. Bengaluru-based Royal Enfield exclusive Hop On Gurls was founded in 2011. The Ahmedabad-based The Riderni was formed in 2012. Mumbai-based Royal Enfield only REgalswas founded by dentist Aparna Bandodkar in 2012.

Women riders also made entry into the above-650cc super-bike arena. In 2015, Sarika Mehta founded a super-bike all-women motorcycle club- Biking Queen in Surat. In 2016, MaralYazarloo started the Pune-based super-bike all-women motorcycle club Lady Riders of India which requires its members to have 10,000 km. riding experience to join the club.

MOTORCYCLE CLUB ACTIVITIES

Most motorcycle clubs aim at building a mutually supportive motorcyclist community. The club activities focus mainly on holding meetings and conducting rides. The periodicity of club meetings varies from club to club. Some clubs meet daily, some meet only on weekends, some meet once or twice a month. There may be minimum criteria for attendance in club meetings. The meetings mostly revolve around discussions on a motorcycle and riding topics. Plans for regular rides and tours are also made in these meetings.

Mutual respect and discipline are the binding factors of most motorcycle clubs. Hierarchy is seldom challenged or surpassed. Whenever any member deviates from the club rules, he/she is removed from the club membership. The club activities also involve conducting group city rides, weekend rides, and night rides. One or two long riding tours to exotic destinations are also planned and conducted annually. The clubs also plan their participation in annual motorcycle club festivals and related events.

ANNUAL MOTORCYCLE CLUB EVENTS

World Motorcycle Day is celebrated on 21st June every year. The Indian organizations and club consortiums organize annual motorcycling festivals and meets with participation by numerous clubs and ever-growing numbers of motorcyclists. Usually, these festivals are two or three days’ fun-filled events with competitive rides, rallies, parades, music, etc. Most of them are sponsored by bike and tyre manufacturers, e.g. Royal Enfield, Harley Davidson, MRF tyres, etc.

In 2002, Vernon Dias of the Madras Bulls Motorcycle Club conceptualized the idea of Rider Mania.  The first event was held in Goa in 2003 with the participation of approximately 70 riders. In 2005, Rider Mania became Brotherhood of Bulleteers Motorcycling Consortium (BOBMC) Rider Mania, an annual event organized and hosted by a member club at a different venue each year. BOBMC is a common platform to unite the Bullet riding clubs all over the world. BOBMC Rider Mania has traveled to Goa, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ooty, Chennai, Chandigarh, Nagpur, Kolkata, Delhi, Shillong, Pune, and  Mumbai. In 2019, it was held in Udaipur with the participation of 111 clubs.In 2020,  the 19th edition of  BOBMC Rider Mania was slated for hosted at Pokhara, Nepal from January 24 to 27, 2020.

Other annual motorcycle festivals are – Royal Enfield Rider Mania a 3-day event which was started in 2003, H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) Rally was started in India from 2012,  India Bike Week a two-day fest was started in 2013, North East Riders Meet which started in 2009, Bike Festival Of India is another two-day bike event which started in 2014 at the Buddh International Circuit. Some of the other fests are the Pulsar Festival Of Speed, KTM Orange Day, etc. The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India also conducts annual rallies and races for two-wheelers as competitive sporting events.

The first all-women motorcycle event, the WIMA India National Rally a three-day event organized by the Women’s International Motorcycle Association- India is slated to start in Goa in 2020.

MOTORCYCLE CLUBS AS TOUR OPERATORS

Apart from pursuing motorcycling as a lifestyle and hobby, some clubs also function as motorcycle tour operators and offer rental services for motorcycle tours. One such club is the Delhi-based Royal Enfield bullet club the Highway Players which was founded in 2010. Riders can hire 350cc and 500cc Bullet motorcycles at Rs.1000-1300./- per day and riding-suit, helmet, saddle bag, knee and leg guards, gloves, and tents at additional costs. The first motorcycle tour operator in India – Classic Bike Adventure was founded in Goa. Since its founding in 1989, it has been conducting motorcycling tours along with experienced guides in the Indian Himalayas, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Laos, and Vietnam.

CONCLUSION

So… shall we ride too? Well, not necessary. All of us have our unique strengths and weaknesses. We must know them. We must find out what works out best for us and what doesn’t. Motorcycling is dangerous because, without protective barriers, the rider is fully exposed and vulnerable to impacts.  Most motorcycle club members are seasoned riders and skilled at minimizing the associated risks. So, before starting something new, it is wise to know one’s own competencies, learn every little trick of the game, gain some experience, and above all seek professional help and mentorships. That way we can ensure a safe and enjoyable ride for ourselves and others as well.

Happy riding!

WARNING: This weblog explores the motorcycling club lifestyle and is intended purely for informational purposes and reading pleasure only. We do not advocate your indulgence in motorcycling activities without proper training and expert guidance.