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JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong><br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
Tour of Rajasthan <strong>2013</strong><br />
TOUR OF ROK<br />
5 GETAWAYS<br />
THE BIKERNI<br />
FLASHBACK : INDIAN WESTERNER
KICKSTART<br />
inside<br />
02 Upcoming Rides<br />
• Himalayan Odyssey<br />
• REunion North<br />
...............................................................<br />
04 Keep Riding<br />
5 Getaways<br />
...............................................................<br />
06 Rider Profile<br />
The Bikerni<br />
...............................................................<br />
07 <strong>Mar</strong>quee Ride<br />
• REunion West<br />
• <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> Tour of<br />
Rajasthan <strong>2013</strong><br />
• <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> Tour of ROK<br />
<strong>2013</strong><br />
...............................................................<br />
16 Destination<br />
• Sariska Wildlfe Sanctuary<br />
...............................................................<br />
18 News<br />
• Latest Happenings<br />
• New Dealerhips<br />
...............................................................<br />
20 International<br />
• <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> Owners Club<br />
• Flashback : Indian Westerner<br />
...............................................................<br />
Editorial Team: Praveen P Sathaye,<br />
Abhijit Brar, Shaji Koshy, Swati Mitra<br />
and Anumeha Saxena<br />
International Contributing Editor:<br />
Gordon May<br />
Published by: <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong>,<br />
A Unit of Eicher Motors Limited<br />
Gurgaon<br />
.............................................................<br />
Do send us your feedback at<br />
thebeat@royalenfield.com<br />
We are pleased to bring to<br />
you this issue of The Beat<br />
which marks the first one<br />
for this year in its new<br />
avatar. Besides seeing a change of hands<br />
at the helm of <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong>, we have also<br />
seen the successful launch of the riding<br />
season with three marquee rides.<br />
The new events held this quarter were<br />
the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> REunion West which<br />
took place in Mahabaleshwar and served<br />
as one big gathering for <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
enthusiasts. Our marquee ride calendar<br />
started off with the Tour of Rajasthan in<br />
February <strong>2013</strong>, followed by the Tour of<br />
Rann of Kutch (ROK). While the Tour<br />
of Rajasthan saw the riders tackle the<br />
shifting sands, ROK took them across<br />
the vast desolate salt flats in the Rann of<br />
Kutch invoking the spirit of adventure.<br />
Details of the other rides lined up in<br />
the coming months can be found in this<br />
issue, as well as in the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> <strong>2013</strong><br />
Rides Journal, a copy of which can be<br />
picked up from your nearest <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
dealer or downloaded from the website.<br />
Celebrating the spirit of International<br />
Women’s Day, this issue also features<br />
the all-women riding club — ‘The<br />
Bikerni’. This issue also brings a newly<br />
introduced section on weekend getaways<br />
from a motorcycling perspective. The<br />
centrespread is a pull-out poster from<br />
one of our epic rides.<br />
A detailed listing of all the dealers<br />
which have opened up in the first quarter<br />
of <strong>2013</strong> is also put up in the Dealer News<br />
section.<br />
Republic Day was<br />
celebrated with much fervour<br />
with numerous <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
riders and enthusiasts coming<br />
out and expressing solidarity<br />
towards the nation by riding<br />
together from many dealerships<br />
and showrooms<br />
The International section brings to<br />
you news from the world of <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
across the globe and features one of the<br />
older models in the Flashback section.<br />
We look forward to your contributions<br />
and feedback on this new look and on the<br />
articles you have been reading. Send us a<br />
mail at thebeat@royalenfield.com<br />
Editorial Team<br />
The Beat<br />
JANUARY | FEBRUARY| MARCH <strong>2013</strong> 1
UPCOMING RIDES<br />
ROYAL<br />
ENFIELD<br />
Himalayan<br />
Odyssey<br />
<strong>2013</strong><br />
.....................................................................<br />
Himalayan Odyssey <strong>2013</strong>,<br />
the 10th edition of the ride, will<br />
take one through three mountain<br />
ranges and six passes - reaching a<br />
dizzying height of 18,380 feet at<br />
Khardung La pass<br />
REGISTER<br />
NOW<br />
ITINERARY : 21st June – 7th July <strong>2013</strong><br />
Day 1 : Scrutiny and Briefing - New Delhi<br />
Day 2 : New Delhi - Parwanoo | 276 kms<br />
Day 3 : Parwanoo - Narkanda | 158 kms<br />
Day 4 : Narkanda - Kalpa | 213 kms<br />
Day 5 : Kalpa - Kaza | 210 kms<br />
Day 6 : Kaza<br />
Day 7 : Kaza - Debring | 200 kms<br />
Day 8 : Debring - Leh | 120 kms<br />
Day 9 : Leh<br />
Day 10 : Leh - Hunder | 130 kms<br />
Day 11 : Hunder - Leh | 130 kms<br />
Day 12 : Leh - Debring | 120 kms<br />
Day 13 : Debring - Keylong | 235 kms<br />
Day 14 : Keylong - Manali | 130 kms<br />
Day 15 : Manali - Chandigarh | 130 kms<br />
Day 16 : Chandigarh - New Delhi |<br />
240 kms<br />
.................................................................<br />
To know more about the Himalayan<br />
Odyssey please send a mail to<br />
Santhosh Vijay Kumar at svkumar@<br />
royalenfield.com<br />
Considered the holy<br />
grail of all motorcycle<br />
rides in India, the 10th edition of the<br />
Himalayan Odyssey, will take one<br />
through three mountain ranges and six<br />
passes - reaching a dizzying height of<br />
18,380 feet at Khardung La pass.<br />
The sense of pride and achievement<br />
begins from New Delhi itself where an<br />
impressive flag off ceremony marks<br />
the commencement of the ride and this<br />
prevails all the way till the last rider rolls<br />
back into New Delhi at the grand finale.<br />
Being the 10th edition celebrations, we<br />
are looking for 100 riders to join us for<br />
this adventure of a lifetime.<br />
The Himalayan Odyssey is so<br />
action-packed that it feels like several<br />
rides packed into one. Starting off in<br />
the sweltering heat of the plains, the<br />
ride gradually enters the hilly areas<br />
with tantalising curves. There is a high<br />
possibility that you could be drenched in<br />
the monsoon showers.<br />
By the time you start enjoying the<br />
solitude of the hills, you reach Leh which<br />
is like an oasis. Nubra Valley exposes<br />
you to a more gentle and idyllic part of<br />
Ladakh, while Spiti valley in Himachal<br />
Pradesh opens up another dimension<br />
altogether.<br />
For some, a ride to Ladakh marks<br />
a transformation from boyhood to<br />
manhood and for some others from<br />
manhood to childhood. The ride can be<br />
a difficult learning experience and you<br />
would enjoy it more if you already have<br />
some experience.<br />
Recommended For : Experienced <strong>Royal</strong><br />
<strong>Enfield</strong> riders.<br />
To know more about the Himalayan<br />
Odyssey <strong>2013</strong>, please send a mail to<br />
Santhosh Vijay Kumar at svkumar@<br />
royalenfield.com<br />
2<br />
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong>
UPCOMING RIDES<br />
LOREM IPSUM<br />
ROYAL<br />
ENFIELD<br />
REUNION<br />
NORTH<br />
.....................................................................<br />
The REunion will indeed<br />
be a high point — both in location<br />
and in scale<br />
REGISTER<br />
NOW<br />
ITINERARY : 30th June <strong>2013</strong><br />
Day 1 : Ride in, events and ride out<br />
.................................................................<br />
To know more about the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
REunion North, write in to Adarsh Saxena<br />
on asaxena3@royalenfield.com<br />
This June would see<br />
Ladakh, the holy land<br />
of the Lamas, come alive to the beat of<br />
a thousand thumps as <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
celebrates REunion (North). This annual<br />
motorcycling meet is organised by <strong>Royal</strong><br />
<strong>Enfield</strong> for the diehard fans of this region.<br />
Besides a musical extravaganza, the<br />
action-packed weekend would see various<br />
motorcycle related events and games with<br />
attractive prizes to be won.<br />
The events would include team events<br />
like ‘Assembly Wars’ and ‘Carry Your<br />
Bike’ which would test the sheer strength<br />
and knowledge of the enthusiasts as well<br />
as the popular individual event ‘Slow<br />
Race’ which tests the riding skills of the<br />
participants.<br />
One major attraction at the REunion<br />
North shall be the riders of the Himalayan<br />
Odyssey, riding into the venue, as part of<br />
their celebratory 10th edition ride.<br />
These riders will make a detour<br />
into the REunion North venue before<br />
returning to the epic ride to conquer the<br />
rugged mountains.<br />
Registrations for REunion North will<br />
open in a few days . For more details log<br />
on to the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> website.<br />
For all the riders headed to Ladakh for<br />
the ‘Highest <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> get-together',<br />
assistance in terms of accommodation<br />
and route plan will be provided.<br />
Technical assistance would also<br />
be provided since motorcycles would<br />
need some R&R after riding through the<br />
challenging terrain.<br />
Save your dates for 30th June, when<br />
Leh would host the ‘Highest Gathering’<br />
of <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> motorcycles. Be there.<br />
For more information on the <strong>Royal</strong><br />
<strong>Enfield</strong> REunion North, please write<br />
in to Adarsh Saxena at asaxena3@<br />
royalenfield.com<br />
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong><br />
3
KEEP RIDING<br />
5<br />
Getaways<br />
The following rides were organised by <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> across the<br />
country under the ‘Keep Riding’ initiative, to encourage enthusiasts<br />
to ride out on their motorcycles<br />
1<br />
Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar for REunion West<br />
On 1st <strong>Mar</strong>ch, <strong>2013</strong>, 34 riders on 27 motorcycles started from the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
showroom in Bandra riding out for the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> REunion West organised at<br />
Mahabaleshwar. This was one of the few rides undertaken by the Bandra Brand Store<br />
to encourage <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> enthusiasts to ride out and enjoy the spirit of motorcycling.<br />
The ride took them from Bandra to Mahabaleshwar via Panvel, Lonavla, Pune and<br />
Shirval. Climbing up the Khambataki Ghat was one experience none of the riders<br />
would forget as their thundering machines made good use of the high torque and<br />
lumbered up the winding twisties leaving behind a trail of crawling traffic. Crossing<br />
Wai, the riders climbed the Pasarni Ghat leading to Panchgani and went further ahead<br />
to Mahabaleshwar where they thundered into a resort for the REunion. The riders<br />
participated enthusiastically in various competitions and won prizes. After sundown<br />
when the music took over, the riders danced the evening away. After the REunion<br />
ended, everyone packed up early next morning and left Mahabaleshwar and rode out<br />
towards Panchgani and further downhill to Wai. The return journey was much more<br />
exciting as the experience at the REunion had recharged them completely. The ride<br />
on NH 4 was smooth and the riders reached the outskirts of Mumbai by evening and<br />
dispersed after bidding each other goodbye.<br />
< To join more such rides from the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> Brand Stores in Bandra, Mumbai<br />
please get in touch with Harshil Desai at hjdesai@royalenfield.com ><br />
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................<br />
2<br />
Mumbai to Vikramgad and Jawahar<br />
A group of enthusiastic riders headed out on the NH 8 from Mumbai towards Jawahar<br />
on 9th <strong>Mar</strong>ch, <strong>2013</strong>. The initial part of the ride took them through the western suburbs<br />
of Mumbai where they crossed the Vasai Creek bridge before finally cruising on the open<br />
highways. The ride lead was young Adash Sawant who not only took the initiative of<br />
scouting out this interesting location but also led the riders in a well arranged formation<br />
as they negotiated highway traffic. After riding beyond Vasai and Virar, the riders went<br />
further via Manor to Kasa where they rode off the highway taking a narrow road leading<br />
up to Jawahar via the Dhamni Dam in Vikramgad. Vikramgad is famous for its rich<br />
cultural heritage that can be seen in the renowned Warli paintings. The riders visited<br />
this heritage destination and then rode back via the Dahanu road, hitting NH 8 and<br />
then riding back to Mumbai.<br />
< To join more such rides from Mumbai, please get in touch with Harshil Desai at<br />
hjdesai@royalenfield.com ><br />
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................<br />
4<br />
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong>
KEEP<br />
RIDING<br />
3<br />
Mumbai to Tapola/Kaas<br />
The year began with a bang for the riders from Mumbai who got together to ride into the<br />
hills on 12th January, <strong>2013</strong>. The destination was the lush green scenic location of Kaas<br />
plateau and Tapola lake which are situated in the valley below. The riders started from<br />
the Bandra Brand Store early in the morning and rode up to Lonavla before descending<br />
to Pune and riding further ahead to Mahabaleshwar. From Mahabaleshwar, they rode<br />
down to Tapola lake. Kaas plateau is known as the ‘Valley of Flowers’ of the Western<br />
Ghats and provides a great road to ride upon, winding through the Western Ghats.<br />
The return journey to Mumbai was again via NH 4. The ride marked the beginning of<br />
the riding season for the year <strong>2013</strong> for many of the enthusiastic riders who rode out in<br />
groups.<br />
< To join more such rides from the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> Brand Stores in Bandra, Mumbai<br />
please get in touch with Harshil Desai at hjdesai@royalenfield.com ><br />
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................<br />
4<br />
Mumbai to Mulshi Dam<br />
A large group of enthusiastic riders rode out from Mumbai to the Mulshi Dam on<br />
16th February, <strong>2013</strong>. The riders went from Mumbai to Lonavla and then further ahead<br />
to the scenic lake Mulshi and the dam close by. This was an opportunity for them to<br />
let loose their motorcycling spirit, away from the clamour of the city. The ride was led<br />
by Chetan Ail, who ensured that throughout the journey, the riders rode in discipline<br />
and with safety. Breaks were taken whenever rest was essential for the riders and their<br />
machines. Once the riders reached the destination, they just rode out into the open<br />
space surrounding the lake. The riders covered a total distance of 500 kms in this 2-day<br />
ride and rode back to Mumbai on 17th February. Those who had come for this ride for<br />
the first time went back promising to be back for the ride next month.<br />
< To join more such rides from the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> Brand Stores in Bandra, Mumbai<br />
please get in touch with Harshil Desai at hjdesai@royalenfield.com ><br />
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................<br />
5<br />
New Delhi to Jim Corbett<br />
On 23rd February, a total of 19 <strong>Royal</strong> Bikers started their ride to Jim Corbett National<br />
Park from Kaytee Auto in Mahipalpur, Delhi. The rain did slow down the average speed<br />
but could not deter the spirit of the enthusiastic riders. The riders were followed by a<br />
backup vehicle and took their first pit stop for tea near Hapur. At Gajraula, the riders<br />
had lunch, checked their motorcycles and took respite from the rain. Braving the<br />
adverse weather, the riders finally reached their destination after riding for close to<br />
10 hours. Everyone reached the Corbett River Creek Resort at 3 pm and took some rest.<br />
In the evening live music livened up the atmosphere. Early next morning, the riders<br />
went out to explore the core area of the National Park with the help of some local forest<br />
experts. Everyone was ready by 10 am to start their journey back to Delhi.<br />
< To join more such rides from the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> dealership in Delhi please<br />
get in touch with Anil Goyal at agoyal@royalenfield.com or <strong>Royal</strong> Bikers at<br />
royalbikersdelhi@gmail.com ><br />
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................<br />
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong> 5
LOREM IPSUM<br />
CLUB PROFILE<br />
The Bikerni<br />
ounded on 16th<br />
F<br />
January 2011, The<br />
Bikerni, is India’s first<br />
all-women motorcycle<br />
association and is the<br />
brainchild of Firdaus Shaikh and Urvashi<br />
Patole. Avid riders themselves, these two<br />
ladies felt the need to have more women<br />
in the motorcycling fraternity, given the<br />
sense of liberation and satisfaction that<br />
riding offers.<br />
Today, within a short span of two<br />
years, The Bikerni has more than 200<br />
members - online and offline- engaging<br />
in a host of activities for women like long<br />
......................................................................<br />
Their aim is to break the<br />
stereotype that women cannot<br />
ride motorcycles, and show the<br />
world that Indian women are<br />
not just confined to the boundaries<br />
of their home and work<br />
......................................................................<br />
rides, club meets, tours, riding schools<br />
and events.<br />
Besides Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai,<br />
Kolkata, Bangalore and Pune, there<br />
is a steady increase in the number<br />
of members from smaller towns of<br />
Rajasthan, Punjab, and Arunachal<br />
Pradesh. Ten core members look into the<br />
day-to-day activities of the club.<br />
The Bikerni has a strong social<br />
media presence and constantly keeps<br />
conversations going with followers.<br />
It is India’s first and only all-women<br />
motorcycle club to ride to Khardung La<br />
– the world’s highest motorable road.<br />
The 15-day long journey had ten Bikernis<br />
ride from Delhi to Ladakh. This record<br />
has been officially registered in the Limca<br />
Book of World Records. Bikernis from all<br />
across India also rode in the India Bike<br />
Week in Goa held recently.<br />
The club has been covered by the<br />
Times of India, HT, DNA, Women’s<br />
Health, <strong>Mar</strong>ie Claire, BBC, NDTV, and<br />
IBN Lokmat. The Bikerni has the honour<br />
of representing India at WIMA (Women’s<br />
International Motorcycle Association).<br />
Both Firdaus and Urvashi come from<br />
a communications background and put<br />
their knowledge and experience to propel<br />
The Bikerni towards a better future. They<br />
strongly believe in empowering women<br />
through motorcycling. Their aim is to<br />
break the stereotype that women cannot<br />
ride motorcycles. They want to show the<br />
world that Indian women are not just<br />
confined to the boundaries of their home<br />
and work; they too have passions and<br />
know how to pursue and excel at them.<br />
6<br />
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong>
MARQUEE<br />
RIDE<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
REUNION<br />
WEST<br />
Praveen P Sathaye | <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
......................................................................<br />
The hills of Mahabaleshwar<br />
resounded to the<br />
reverberating thump of the<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> motorcycles<br />
......................................................................<br />
ITINERARY : 1st – 3rd <strong>Mar</strong>ch <strong>2013</strong><br />
Day 1 : Registration and events<br />
Day 2 : Events<br />
Day 3 : Events, prize distribution<br />
Following closely on the lines<br />
of REunion South that took<br />
place in Ooty last year, <strong>Royal</strong><br />
<strong>Enfield</strong> organised REunion<br />
West, which took place in<br />
Mahabaleshwar, often called the 'Queen<br />
of the Western Ghats'. The REunion<br />
attracted riders and enthusiasts from all<br />
over Maharashtra, Goa, and even Gujarat<br />
and Karnataka.<br />
The riders started off on Friday, 1st<br />
<strong>Mar</strong>ch, <strong>2013</strong> and as the day progressed,<br />
the hills of Mahabaleshwar resounded<br />
to the reverberating thump of the <strong>Royal</strong><br />
<strong>Enfield</strong> motorcycles. Once the riders<br />
reached Mahabaleshwar, they settled in<br />
and mingled with the rest of the riders.<br />
After sundown, the DJ took over the<br />
stage. The next morning saw the first of<br />
the many events lined up for the riders<br />
at this REunion. The day began with the<br />
popular Slow Race, where riders had to<br />
ride their bikes across a short distance<br />
without stalling the bike or keeping their<br />
feet on the ground.<br />
To make things more interesting, a<br />
pillion rider was also added which made<br />
this event fun to watch and to participate<br />
in. Yusuf Bombaywala and Vandan Patel<br />
from Mumbai emerged as winners of the<br />
Slow Race.<br />
The second event was Carry Your<br />
Bike, where a team of four riders had to<br />
pick up the motorcycle and carry it across<br />
a short distance.<br />
The team which completed this task<br />
in the shortest duration was the fourmember<br />
team of Saransh, Saurabh,<br />
Manav and Anand from Navi Mumbai.<br />
The next event was the bike towing<br />
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong><br />
7
MARQUEE RIDE<br />
......................................................................<br />
The Queen of the<br />
Western Ghats witnessed<br />
amazing fervour and fanfare as<br />
thumpers from all around<br />
converged to celebrate REunion<br />
West<br />
......................................................................<br />
competition which was thoroughly<br />
action-packed. The competition required<br />
a rider to tow his buddy on a motorcycle<br />
and whoever covered the given distance in<br />
the shortest time, was judged the winner.<br />
This event definitely needed significant<br />
muscle strength and clutch control, as the<br />
teams revved hard and roared the bikes<br />
up the incline. The team of Aditya and<br />
Pralesh finished first by using their skills<br />
to their advantage.<br />
The day ended with arm wrestling and<br />
beer guzzling events. Ayush from Pune<br />
flexed his muscles to victory in this event.<br />
After sundown, the prize distribution<br />
ceremony began in which the event<br />
winners were felicitated and handed<br />
their medals and trophies. Next it was<br />
celebration time as winners danced away<br />
with their spoils to some great music.<br />
Even those who didn’t win any prizes<br />
exhibited immense sporting spirit and<br />
participated in the celebrations.<br />
Sunday morning saw the riders lazily<br />
wake up and after breakfast head off<br />
towards their destinations. A few of them<br />
took off solo while others grouped up<br />
with new found buddies.<br />
Everyone headed homewards with<br />
a promise to meet again for a ride down<br />
to Goa for the next big <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
extravaganza: Rider Mania, <strong>2013</strong> to be<br />
held in November.<br />
8<br />
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong>
Ride<br />
Story<br />
ROYAL ENFIELD<br />
Tour of<br />
Rajasthan<br />
<strong>2013</strong><br />
LOREM IPSUM<br />
ITINERARY : 4th – 14th Feb <strong>2013</strong><br />
Day 1 : Scrutiny and briefing - Jaipur<br />
Day 2 : Jaipur - Mahansar | 220 kms<br />
Day 3 : Mahansar - Bikaner | 195 kms<br />
Day 4 : Bikaner - Jamba | 165 kms<br />
Day 5 : Jamba - Jaisalmer | 220 kms<br />
Day 6 : Jaisalmer - Sam | 300 kms<br />
Day 7 : Sam - Jodhpur | 310 kms<br />
Day 8 : Rest Day - Jodhpur<br />
Day 9 : Jodhpur - Kumbalgarh | 300 kms<br />
Day 10 : Kumbalgarh - Ajmer | 275 kms<br />
Day 11 : Ajmer - Jaipur | 130 kms<br />
JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2012 9
MARQUEE RIDE<br />
Rachit Malik | Rachit Malik<br />
.............................................................<br />
I<br />
started off on my first ever long ride crossed villages, I tried remembering for the day' — control the throttle to<br />
on my <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> motorcycle the route map and key points shared slow down and use the brakes a little less<br />
from Delhi and met the fellow riders during the morning briefing, to reach our — and the route map and directions to<br />
from Delhi at the Gurgaon Toll. As I stopover: Mahansar, where we stayed at Bikaner were explained.<br />
rode, I remembered the note made the Mahansar Fort Hotel.<br />
We started off with some dune<br />
way back in the month of November – to<br />
ride to Rajasthan with <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> (the<br />
The 3rd day, during the morning<br />
briefing, we were given the 'riding tip<br />
bashing and had loads of fun in the sand<br />
after which we rode further through<br />
.............................................................................................................................................<br />
only thing I could tick<br />
highways lined with<br />
off from my Things We were given the 'riding tip for the day' — control the throttle green and yellow farms<br />
To Do list). to slow down and use the brakes a little less — and the route map on one side and brown<br />
In no time,<br />
cruising on the<br />
highway, we rode<br />
through Aravallis<br />
into the Pink city. We reached Hotel Teej<br />
and were warmly greeted by the <strong>Royal</strong><br />
<strong>Enfield</strong> Team. Our bikes went through the<br />
scrutiny after which we crashed into our<br />
rooms.<br />
The 2nd day was the flag off and<br />
I woke up to an irritating alarm but<br />
it couldn’t beat my excitement.As we<br />
assembled, the formal welcome to<br />
the riders began where we adorned<br />
Rajasthani pagdis and tilak of respect and<br />
pride. As our cavalcade of 25 motocycles<br />
and directions to Bikaner were explained<br />
After reaching Bikaner<br />
.............................................................................................................................................. we set out to explore<br />
10 JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong><br />
desert on the other.<br />
more in the city and<br />
visited the Junagarh Fort.<br />
Day 4 took us to the world famous<br />
rat temple or Karni Mata Temple. After<br />
a stop here, we started for Jamba, our<br />
destination for the day.<br />
All along the road we saw sand dunes<br />
and desolate landscape till we reached the<br />
campsite.<br />
By Day 5, we were back on the roads<br />
towards a new city, Jaisalmer. Day 6, we<br />
rode off towards Sam, on a road that took<br />
us through a narrow highway to the Tanot
MARQUEE RIDE<br />
......................................................................<br />
Our first regroup for the<br />
day was at the legendary<br />
Bullet Baba Temple at Pali.<br />
Imagine a 350 cc Bullet<br />
standing with pride like a god,<br />
with garlands around it<br />
......................................................................<br />
Opposite page (Above) <strong>Royal</strong> Rajasthan is<br />
experienced best on a <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
(Below) <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> riders at the<br />
Longewala War Memorial<br />
Left Offerings at the Bullet Baba Temple,<br />
Pali<br />
Mata Temple which survived despite<br />
being caught in the middle of the war in<br />
1971.<br />
After visiting the temple, we rode<br />
further to the Longewala Post near the<br />
border for a photo-op and then rode<br />
towards our campsite in the desert at<br />
Sam. After sundown our camp had<br />
organised quite an entertaining evening<br />
for all, with folk music and a bonfire. Day<br />
7 and 8 were in Jodhpur.<br />
Kumbhalgarh was one name, I hadn’t<br />
heard of before this ride and that was our<br />
destination for day 9. Our first regroup<br />
for the day was at the legendary Bullet<br />
Baba Temple at Pali. Imagine a 350 cc<br />
Bullet standing with pride like a god, with<br />
garlands around it.<br />
From here, we rode through the Haldi<br />
Ghati, and reached The Dera, our camp<br />
for the night.<br />
Day 10 saw us riding to Ajmer and it<br />
was quite disheartening as we could now<br />
see Delhi signboards.<br />
After reaching our hotel in Ajmer and<br />
freshening up, we rode out to explore<br />
Pushkar. After the divine darshan at the<br />
Brahma Temple there, we went for some<br />
shopping and picked up some trinkets<br />
and other small artifacts before heading<br />
back to Ajmer.<br />
The 11th day morning we visited the<br />
Dargah at Ajmer Sharif and were off<br />
towards Jaipur. This was the last day the<br />
riders were riding together and the first<br />
regroup was at the Sambhar Lake.<br />
From Sambhar Lake all of us rode<br />
back to Jaipur. We parked our beasts<br />
and rushed to bear hug one and all to<br />
celebrate the picture perfect finish. Early<br />
next morning, all departed with heavy<br />
hearts, promising to ride again soon. <br />
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong><br />
11
MARQUEE<br />
RIDE<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
Tour of ROK<br />
Santhosh Vijay Kumar |<br />
Sharath / Vikas<br />
......................................................................<br />
Navigation is tricky in<br />
the Rann as it has no reference<br />
points and if you lose your bearings,<br />
it is very easy to go around<br />
in circles<br />
......................................................................<br />
ITINERARY : 15th - 22nd <strong>Mar</strong>ch <strong>2013</strong><br />
Day 1 : Scrutiny and briefing - Ahmedabad<br />
Day 2 : Ahmedabad - Zainabad | 120 kms<br />
Day 3 : Zainabad - Dholavira | 200 kms<br />
Day 4 : Dholavira - BOP Karni -<br />
Dholavira | 60 kms<br />
Day 5 : Dholavira - Hodka | 300 kms<br />
Day 6 : Hodka - India Border -<br />
Hodka | 250 kms<br />
Day 7 : Hodka - Zainabad | 350 kms<br />
Day 8 : Zainabad - Ahmedabad | 120 kms<br />
Keeping in line with the<br />
motto of the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
Tour of ROK ,'Taste the Salts<br />
of Adventure', the riders<br />
definitely did a lot of that<br />
in its fourth edition. The ride started off<br />
from Ahmedabad on 15th <strong>Mar</strong>ch and the<br />
riders were bid farewell by a lot of other<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> riders at the flag off event.<br />
The first day ride was a short one<br />
and the riders reached Zainabad; a small<br />
village at the edge of the Rann, by lunch<br />
time. After a quick lunch and a siesta,<br />
they set out for Nava Talab, a small<br />
lake, about 10 kms from the resort, to<br />
get everyone accustomed to riding on<br />
everything that is ‘not’ tarmac.<br />
After travelling through some fields<br />
and sandy tracks, the riders reached the<br />
lake bed and spent time riding there until<br />
the sun set. The resort played a perfect<br />
host and after a great dinner it was time<br />
to rest, before everyone headed out to<br />
cross the Rann the next day.<br />
The Rann can be quite a tricky surface<br />
if you are not prepared for it. One minute<br />
it is soft and easily broken under the<br />
wheels of your motorcycle and then in<br />
the very next stretch it becomes hard with<br />
cracks that can put you in a ‘tank slapper’<br />
moment if you don’t know what you are<br />
doing.<br />
Navigation is also tricky in the Rann<br />
as it has no reference points and if you<br />
lose your bearings, it is very easy to go<br />
around in circles.<br />
After a quick briefing and some tips<br />
on riding, the riders got off the highway<br />
and entered the formidable Rann.<br />
Following a trail through thorny bushes,<br />
14 JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong>
MARQUEE<br />
RIDE<br />
all rode through it and then there was<br />
no looking back. Everyone spent a good<br />
time riding out in the desolate open<br />
space before heading further towards the<br />
destination.<br />
Dholavira was the stop for the night<br />
and to reach there the riders crossed<br />
the Rann and took the road via Rapar.<br />
Dholavira is on the edge of the Great<br />
Rann and during the Indus Valley<br />
Civilisation, it was a major trading centre.<br />
The next day was to be spent riding on<br />
the Great Rann, in and around Dholavira.<br />
With a visit to the Karni Mata Temple<br />
at BOP Karni and a ride further to BOP<br />
Macchi, the day got over before anyone<br />
realised it.<br />
In the evening, everyone set out to<br />
find a nice trail leading to the Great Rann<br />
and luckily they found one filled with<br />
sand and fun. The next day the riders set<br />
out to cross the Great Rann.<br />
The Rann is white and from a distance<br />
it looks like ice. When dry, it has a layer<br />
of salt that is about six inches thick, but<br />
at some places the thickness is less than<br />
an inch, and right underneath the salt is a<br />
‘hellish’ mixture of water and clay, which<br />
can stop even a battle tank in its tracks.<br />
The Great Rann this year was quite<br />
dry and brilliant to ride on. There were<br />
a lot of wet patches up ahead and some<br />
riders even got stuck in the soft clay.<br />
Teamwork and common sense prevailed<br />
and those who got stuck were helped<br />
out of the slush after which everyone<br />
continued crossing the Great Rann.<br />
The riders then headed towards<br />
Hodka which was to be their halt for the<br />
next two days.<br />
Day 5 was a big day as it was the day<br />
to ride out to the Indian border. Cutting<br />
right through the Rann, everyone rode all<br />
the way to the border, stopped there and<br />
had lunch.<br />
After lunch, everyone turned back<br />
towards Kala Dungar, a hill that is the<br />
highest point on the Rann and offers<br />
magnificent views, especially of the<br />
sunset.<br />
After five days of adventure and a<br />
lot of action, Day 6 and Day 7 were the<br />
days riders used to get back to normal<br />
life. With the ride drawing to a close,<br />
withdrawal symptoms were easily<br />
noticeable.<br />
Everyone reached Ahmedabad with a<br />
realisation that the only salt they would<br />
come across henceforth, would be of the<br />
iodised kind.<br />
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong><br />
15
LOREM IPSUM<br />
Weekend<br />
break from<br />
the<br />
capital city<br />
ALWAR<br />
16<br />
JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2012
DESTINATION<br />
Praveen P Sathaye | Praveen P Sathaye<br />
................................................................................<br />
RIDE<br />
OUT<br />
From Alwar, one can ride out to Sariska early morning and be there<br />
in time to be part of the wildlife safari that takes one deep inside the<br />
forest. Some of the noteworthy places within 50 kms of Alwar are the<br />
Alwar Palace, Moosi Maharani Chattri, the Alwar Fort, Siliserh Lake and<br />
Jai Samand Lake<br />
Alittle more than delicacies for which this part of India is dwellings. There are umpteen<br />
160 kms from famous. This culturally rich city boasts monuments, belonging to the royal<br />
Delhi is the quiet of some of the best Rajasthani delicacies era, strewn around which are highly<br />
town of Alwar in that appeals to almost every palate<br />
recommended for an avid explorer.<br />
Rajasthan, which basks in the glory of offering a combination of spicy treats and The roads around Alwar traverse the<br />
traditional Rajput culture and history. delicious sweets. There are plenty of good Aravallis and have some good twisties on<br />
Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary,<br />
hotels and resorts in and around Alwar the way back to Delhi via Bhehror.<br />
situated near Alwar is one of the closest where one can crash for the night.<br />
The total distance would still be<br />
santuaries from Delhi, where one can<br />
From Alwar, one can ride out to<br />
under 200 kms, even after one explores<br />
spot the Indian tiger. An early start is Sariska early morning and be there in the surroundings, before taking a ride<br />
recommended to avoid the morning rush time to be part of wildlife safaris that back to Delhi via the SH 14. The highway<br />
of heavy vehicles plying on the Delhi- takes one deep inside the forest.<br />
takes one through some good twisties<br />
Jaipur NH 8.<br />
Alwar itself has a host of scenic<br />
across the Aravallis before leading<br />
After riding out till Daruheda, one locales with good country roads which back to Bhiwadi via Neemrana and<br />
should get off the National Highway<br />
makes for a great riding experience.<br />
Shahjahanpur.<br />
and ride out on the SH 25 which leads<br />
Some of the noteworthy places within The country roads, though not as<br />
to Tijara. This four-lane state highway 50 kms of Alwar are the Alwar Palace, wide as the highways, have a good tarmac<br />
is well maintained and interjected with Moosi Maharani Chattri, Alwar Fort, surface which is slightly broken at places<br />
speed breakers where the road passes Siliserh Lake (which boasts of marsh but nothing a <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> rider would<br />
through small hamlets and villages.<br />
crocodiles), and Jai Samand Lake.<br />
need to worry about.<br />
The ride to Alwar is splendid as the<br />
A short distance away are the ghost<br />
This is one weekend ride one can<br />
road takes one through the plains and towns of Bhangarh and Ajabgarh.<br />
undertake in any season, as winters and<br />
then the Aravalli ranges. A quiet town, Folklore has it that these two towns<br />
summers both are good for riding to the<br />
Alwar has its own share of royal grandeur were cursed and henceforth everyone hills if one leaves Delhi in the wee hours<br />
in terms of the palaces, monuments and left, leaving behind ruins and vacant of the morning. <br />
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong><br />
17
NEWS<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> at the Valley<br />
Run, Aamby Valley<br />
Drag racing came back to India<br />
after a long time with the Valley<br />
Run, which took place at Aamby<br />
Valley, Lonavla. The event was held<br />
on 9th and 10th <strong>Mar</strong>ch <strong>2013</strong> at<br />
the Air Strip. A visual treat for all<br />
motorsports enthusiasts, the event<br />
was attended by the legendary ten<br />
times World Drag champion, Rickey<br />
Gadson. Of the five participants,<br />
Manan Patel from Mumbai stood<br />
first by completing the quarter mile<br />
run in 19.3 seconds. He rode a <strong>Royal</strong><br />
<strong>Enfield</strong> Machismo LB 500, which was<br />
also used by Heta Gala who stood<br />
second, with an elapsed time of<br />
20.3 seconds.<br />
.........................................................<br />
Thunderbird wins more<br />
accolades<br />
The annual Car India and Bike<br />
India Awards <strong>2013</strong>, presented by<br />
Shapoorji Pallonji, was held in at The<br />
Lalit Hotel, Mumbai, on the 8th of<br />
January. Attended by the dignitaries<br />
and celebrities from the automotive<br />
industry, the event saw the<br />
Thunderbird 500 bagging the award<br />
for Motorcycle of the Year (above 250<br />
cc). This award added to the slew<br />
of awards this legendary ‘Highway<br />
Cruiser’ has won earlier.<br />
Republic Day Ride In India<br />
Celebrated on 26th January, the Indian<br />
Republic Day was marked by various rides<br />
all over the country from <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
showrooms and dealerships. One such<br />
ride was organised by a <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
dealer in Indore, on the eve of Republic<br />
Day, to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers<br />
who embraced martyrdom.<br />
Fifty riders rode out from the <strong>Royal</strong><br />
<strong>Enfield</strong> showroom to the Samadhi Chowk.<br />
They also lighted candles in the memory<br />
of the warriors. The motorcycles riding<br />
together in strict formation at an easy<br />
pace was certainly a sight to cherish for<br />
the onlookers.<br />
In Lucknow, 32 riders gathered at<br />
the Lucknow Brand Store, on their <strong>Royal</strong><br />
<strong>Enfield</strong> motocycles, at 7 in the morning.<br />
With full enthusiasm, the flag hoisting<br />
ceremony was conducted and the riders<br />
set off in strict formation for a route of<br />
around 60 kms in and around the city. As<br />
a part of the ride, all paid homage to the<br />
freedom fighters at Kakori. The ride ended<br />
at around 11 am at the Brand Store.<br />
The Bandra Brand Store in Mumbai<br />
saw an impressive turnout of close to 1500<br />
riders who assembled at the showroom at<br />
7 am. After the mandatory instructions for<br />
group riding, the riders started off around<br />
8 am. There were seasoned riders as well<br />
as some novices and enthusiasts in the<br />
group.<br />
The riders moved out from the<br />
showroom towards Carter road from<br />
where the ride started and moved towards<br />
South Mumbai. There were participants<br />
from all walks of life including the likes of<br />
Vardenchi, the ace custom bike builder.<br />
The convoy took halts at various<br />
places so as to not lose traction and<br />
adjust to traffic conditions and rode out to<br />
<strong>Mar</strong>ine Drive from where the grand finale<br />
-a ride to the ‘Queen's necklace’- was<br />
to start. The sight of hundreds of <strong>Royal</strong><br />
<strong>Enfield</strong> motorcycles roaring down the road<br />
definitely did liven up the otherwise quiet<br />
part of this city.<br />
18<br />
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong>
NEWS<br />
New Dealerships<br />
With each passing month,<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> continues to expand<br />
its network across India with<br />
the addition of new dealers with<br />
state-of-the-art facilities. This is<br />
a part of our endeavour to<br />
reach out to our customers and<br />
enthusiasts, and address all their<br />
motorcycling needs.<br />
1 Aanal Auto Agency<br />
Plot No- 12/A, GTS Road<br />
Vayu Sena Circle,<br />
Sector - 30, Gandhinagar<br />
Gujarat - 382030<br />
% 02712-23262020, 9099049555<br />
w aanal,sales@gmail.com<br />
2 ABC Motors<br />
Perinthalmanna, Liyana Tower<br />
Near Jubilee Junction, Calicut Road<br />
Perinthalmanna, Kerala<br />
% 04933-226677, 9961992426<br />
w abcmotorspmna@gmail.com<br />
3 Aruna Motors<br />
Tata Kandra Main Road<br />
Adityapur, Jamshedpur,<br />
Jharkhand - 831013<br />
% 0657- 6574010/11, 9431961488,<br />
8809989581<br />
w arunamotor@yahoo.in<br />
4 Hari vanshi Auto Agencies<br />
Opp Racha Swami Satsang Bhawan<br />
Roorkee Road, Muzzaffarnagar<br />
Uttar Pradesh - 251001<br />
% 0131- 2646477, 8272002677<br />
w harivanshauto@gmail.com<br />
5 Jayashree Automobiles<br />
3-6-260/001, Madhuri Mansion<br />
Stock Exchange Road, Near Telugu<br />
Academy, Himayat Nagar,<br />
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh - 500029<br />
% 040- 65169666, 8801013737,<br />
9966074488<br />
w jayashreeautomotives@gmail.com<br />
6 Kusum Motors<br />
Kishori mohan Complex, Medical<br />
College Road, Near Chandauti More<br />
Gaya, Bihar - 823001<br />
% 0631 -6500124/25, 9631276499,<br />
9386569229<br />
w kusummotorsgaya@gmail.com<br />
7 Legend Automotive<br />
Dargahdahi Golei Janardanpur,<br />
W. No. 19, Baripada,<br />
Mayurbhanj, Odisha - 757001<br />
% 9337208884, 9337208885,<br />
9437960007<br />
w legend.re.ac@gmail.com/ saleas@<br />
legendautomotive.in<br />
8 Manmohan Motors<br />
SCO 1, Sunny Business Center,<br />
Sunny Enclave 2, Sector 125<br />
Near KFC, Mohali, Punjab<br />
% 0172- 6527366/67, 9216267888<br />
w manmohanmotors@gmail.com<br />
9 Nangal Motors<br />
Laxmi Narayan Mandir, Jawahar<br />
<strong>Mar</strong>ket,<br />
Ropar, Nangal, Punjab<br />
% 0188- 7229160, 948609760<br />
w nangalmotors@yahoo.in<br />
a Pratik Motors<br />
Plot No. 37, Panvel Co-op Ind. Estate<br />
Opp Peace Park Hotel<br />
Mumbai - Pune Highway, Panvel<br />
Maharashtra- 401206<br />
% 022- 27480040/41, 8655660770<br />
w pratikroyalenfield@gmail.com<br />
b Pravilika Motors<br />
9-35-39, Kamayya Thopu Centre<br />
Kannur, Vijaywada<br />
Andhra Prdesh- 520007<br />
% 0866-6529555, 9030299555<br />
w re.pravilikamotors@gmail.com<br />
c Sanjo Motors<br />
Ariyikkal Junction, Karukutty<br />
Angamaly, Ernakulam, Kerala<br />
% 0484- 6888888, 8606809999<br />
w sanjomotors123@gmail.com<br />
d Tirupathi Auto World<br />
Plot No. 99, NH 5, Patrapada<br />
Near IOL Petrol Pump, Bhuvaneshwar<br />
Odisha - 751019<br />
% 0674- 2470248, 7873024203,<br />
9937086601<br />
w truptiroyalenfield@gmail.com<br />
e Unnony Motors<br />
NH Road, Madanada<br />
Kollam, Kerala<br />
% 0474- 2760800, 2761400<br />
w unnoonnyenfield@unnoonnygroup.<br />
com<br />
f XED Motorcycles<br />
Nutan Nagar, Agartata-Airport Road<br />
Agarata, Tripura (West) - 799009<br />
% 0381- 2341098, 8415951975<br />
w info@xedmotorcycles.com<br />
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong> 19
INTERNATIONAL<br />
ROYAL<br />
ENFIELD<br />
OWNERS<br />
CLUB<br />
SHOWCASE<br />
.....................................................................<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> Owners Club aims<br />
to promote the interchange of ideas<br />
and information on the maintenance,<br />
restoration and use of <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
motorcycles and machines<br />
Gordon May<br />
EXCLUSIVE<br />
Gordon May is a celebrated motorcycle<br />
author, and is recognised as an<br />
undisputed authority on classic<br />
motorcycles, especially the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong>.<br />
His love affair with <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> began<br />
in 1986 when he bought a 1963 250cc<br />
Crusader Sports. His books on <strong>Royal</strong><br />
<strong>Enfield</strong> include Made In India (2001),<br />
Made In Redditch (2003), By Miles The<br />
Best (2004), and The Legend Rides<br />
On (2005). His books have given him a<br />
deeper insight into the history and the<br />
achievements of the brand. Gordon joins<br />
us as a regular columnist for The Beat,<br />
and his articles will feature important<br />
international events and products.<br />
Now in its 33rd year,<br />
the Bristol Classic<br />
Motorcycle Show is unquestionably the<br />
highlight of the year. The event, which<br />
took place among the rolling hills of<br />
Somerset in south west England over<br />
a February weekend, attracted around<br />
30,000 motorcycle enthusiasts.<br />
There were numerous club displays,<br />
private entries, auto-jumble and trade<br />
stands. At the top of one of the main<br />
club halls was a large exhibition of <strong>Royal</strong><br />
<strong>Enfield</strong> motorcycles manned by the<br />
UK based <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> Owners Club<br />
(REOC), whose aim is to promote ‘the<br />
interchange of ideas and information on<br />
the maintenance, restoration and use of<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> motorcycles and machines’.<br />
Two national flags, which fly sideby-side<br />
in a backdrop, immediately grab<br />
one’s attention: the British Union Jack<br />
and the Indian flag. Both producers of<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong>s are equally respected and<br />
honoured by the club. Club member and<br />
organiser, Rob Graham, was keen to<br />
speak about the bikes.<br />
'The stand is put on by the Somerset<br />
and Dorset section of the Owners Club,<br />
and most of the bikes are from our own<br />
members. However, we wanted the best<br />
display possible, so put out a request in<br />
our club magazine, The Gun, for any<br />
other owners who have interesting bikes<br />
to participate. Several have, including one<br />
who has travelled 170 miles from Essex,'<br />
Rob points at the exceptionally rare 1965<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> GP5 2-stroke racer.<br />
Among the 16 bikes on show, was a<br />
huge 1140cc Model KX from 1938, a 1947<br />
Model G 350cc single, a 1960 700cc Super<br />
Meteor twin and a 250cc Turbo Twin with<br />
a Villers 2-stroke twin cylinder engine<br />
from the mid-1960s. Interspersed with<br />
the British classics was a fine assortment<br />
20 JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong>
INTERNATIONAL<br />
Opposite Page 1938 1140ccModel KX<br />
Top 1965 250cc GP5 Racer<br />
There were also a couple of Indian specials, including an unregistered<br />
350cc Café Racer, a 500cc Bobber, a 500cc Bullet retro-fitted<br />
with a Hitchcock’s rigid tail kit and a highly collectible 412cc Robin<br />
Diesel Bullet conversion<br />
of Indian-built machines, ranging from a<br />
2003 Bullet Sixty-5 in stock trim to one of<br />
the latest EFI Classic models.<br />
Apart from this, there were also a<br />
couple of Indian specials, including an<br />
unregistered 350cc Café Racer, a 500cc<br />
Bobber, a 500cc Bullet retro-fitted with<br />
a Hitchcock’s rigid tail kit and a highly<br />
collectible 412cc Robin Diesel Bullet<br />
conversion.<br />
The club also has a dating officer who<br />
has access to a large number of factory<br />
records, including all the G2 Bullets<br />
originally sent to Madras Motors India,<br />
and it’s certainly very satisfying to discover<br />
when your motorcycle first left the factory<br />
and where it was sent. The officer can also<br />
provide help with registering an <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
for the road.<br />
A couple of weeks after the Bristol<br />
Show we had the MCN Scottish Motorcycle<br />
Show in Edinburgh, Scotland, where<br />
one came across another <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong><br />
Owners Club stand. In the furthest corner<br />
of the classic area the REOC Scottish<br />
East Coast Branch had its stand. Four<br />
bikes made up their display, comprising<br />
a 2003 500cc Clubman with stylish<br />
alloy tank and ace bars, a 1961 500cc<br />
Meteor Minor twin, a 1959 Constellation<br />
and a 1938 250cc side-valve Model B.<br />
Organiser Doug Young, a club member<br />
since 1978 who has run the stand at the<br />
Edinburgh event for over 15 years, says:<br />
'I was serving in the British Army in<br />
Germany when I spotted an advert for<br />
the newly-formed club in a motorcycle<br />
magazine. I joined straightaway. Since<br />
then, along with my wife Paula, we’ve<br />
been regional representatives, been on the<br />
club committee, and have acted as social<br />
secretary, archivist and dating officer.<br />
We’ve also had three tenures as editors of<br />
The Gun.'<br />
Like Graham, Doug was also very<br />
pleased with their progress transferring<br />
the old Redditch factory records from<br />
aged ledgers onto an easily searchable<br />
computer programme. 'It’s been hard<br />
work and by no means complete, but it’s<br />
already a very valuable resource.'<br />
One of the club’s founding members,<br />
Don McKeand, gave the final word on<br />
the REOC, 'For us, being members of the<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong> Owners Club is a family<br />
affair. My wife and I have taken our<br />
children along to club camps and I’ve<br />
also held a number of different voluntary<br />
roles within the club.' He further added<br />
'<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong>s bikes, along with club<br />
membership, have formed the main<br />
hobby of my adult life and I have made<br />
the best and longest standing friendships<br />
as a result.'<br />
To find out more, visit the club’s<br />
website at www.royalenfield.org.uk <br />
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong><br />
21
INTERNATIONAL<br />
FLASHBACK<br />
A Challenging Restoration :<br />
The 1958 Indian Westerner<br />
Gordon May<br />
......................................................................<br />
'I just can’t see myself<br />
wanting to ride a modern<br />
motorcycle they’re all the same.<br />
I prefer the individuality of a<br />
classic. The Westerner will stay<br />
with me'<br />
......................................................................<br />
F<br />
or 17 years, the 1961 model of<br />
the Crusader Sports was Job<br />
Hutchings, a Bristol-based<br />
engineer’s only means of<br />
transport. After being nearly<br />
hit by a car once, he decided to trade his<br />
bike for the safety of a four wheeler. But<br />
Job’s love for two-wheeled transport<br />
has recently been rekindled with the<br />
acquisition of a 500cc Indian Westerner<br />
in December 2011. 'The Westerner has<br />
been a story of pain, heartache and<br />
despair,' he says with a roaring laugh.<br />
Job had always coveted a Bullet 500<br />
and was keen to find one from the year<br />
of his birth, 1958. When he spotted<br />
a Westerner Project bike for sale at<br />
<strong>Enfield</strong> parts specialists, Hitchcock’s<br />
Motorcycles, he grabbed the opportunity.<br />
'I liked its styling and thought it would<br />
be an interesting bike to own, but I was<br />
unprepared for the amount of work it<br />
would take to bring it back to life. As I<br />
began restoring my bike, many more<br />
problems emerged. I've solved most of<br />
them by throwing money at it and the<br />
bike is beginning to look good now.’ One<br />
major surprise came when he looked into<br />
his machine’s provenance. He discovered<br />
that it was never shipped to the USA.<br />
Instead, it made it only as far as Castle<br />
Bromwich, near Birmingham.<br />
'Towards the end of the rebuild, I<br />
discovered that the frame was badly<br />
misaligned. What a blow! I suspect that<br />
that is why it never left the UK. By chance,<br />
Hitchcock’s had another brand new<br />
Westerner frame in their store. It was<br />
wrapped in brown paper that was over 50<br />
years old, which crumbled as I touched<br />
it. I immediately bought it and changed<br />
everything over. Then I discovered I had<br />
to use the original frame to have the<br />
bike inspected by the DVLA, so it could<br />
22<br />
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong>
INTERNATIONAL<br />
be registered for the road. That meant<br />
two whole days work reinstalling the<br />
old frame, then after the inspection,<br />
swapping everything back.'<br />
Almost everything on the bike either<br />
had to be replaced, repaired or improved,<br />
including new wheels, forks, brakes,<br />
seat and Armstrong shock absorbers. As<br />
a racing motorcycle, the Westerner was<br />
originally equipped with an Amal TT<br />
carburetor. 'That would be impossible to<br />
live with so I bought a more manageable<br />
1-3/16" Amal Monobloc, which is of the<br />
same era.'<br />
This is the perfect example of the<br />
spirit of Job’s restoration. Because<br />
Westerners originally had no lighting<br />
system, Job replaced the Lucas racing<br />
magneto with a Magdyno as used on an<br />
Indian Woodsman which meant that<br />
lights could be fitted.<br />
'The restoration took a year of<br />
dedication. The bike now starts in a<br />
healthy second or third kick and sounds<br />
magnificent. The exhaust produces<br />
a hearty roar that immediately turns<br />
heads.'We take the Indian just a few miles<br />
from Job’s home to the Avon Gorge, and<br />
park it in Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s<br />
outstanding Clifton Suspension Bridge.<br />
We have stopped barely a minute<br />
before people begin to talk to Job about<br />
his gorgeous motorcycle. And they don't<br />
stop. He could have been there for hours<br />
answering questions from passers-by. Job<br />
certainly has many plans for the bike’s<br />
future.<br />
'It needs to properly run and be made<br />
reliable. So far I've only ridden 100 miles.<br />
Then I want it to enter the Exeter Trial,<br />
a classic reliability trial that takes place<br />
every January.'<br />
He would also like to find, or have<br />
made, a set of original Westerner<br />
handlebars, which sit much higher than<br />
the standard 1950's Bullet bars that the<br />
bike sports now.<br />
Despite the considerable expense<br />
and frustration caused by the difficult<br />
restoration of the Westerner, it obviously<br />
hasn’t dampened Job’s enthusiasm for<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Enfield</strong>s.<br />
'I just can’t see myself wanting to<br />
ride a modern motorcycle - they are all<br />
the same. I prefer the individuality of a<br />
classic. The Westerner will stay with me.'<br />
The Indian Connection<br />
The famous Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing<br />
Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, was<br />
one of the world’s largest motorcycle producers.<br />
Between 1901 and 1953 the company created a<br />
wide range of machines, most notably the iconic<br />
Scout and Chief V-twins. The Great Depression<br />
and Second World War seriously damaged the<br />
company’s profitability and in 1950 it was taken<br />
over by UK engineering company and motorcycle<br />
exporter, Brockhouse Engineering. Indian went<br />
bankrupt in 1953 but Brockhouse continued to<br />
trade using the Indian name and the established<br />
American distribution network.<br />
Between 1955 and 1959, a range of modified <strong>Royal</strong><br />
<strong>Enfield</strong>s were exported to America and sold as<br />
Indians. The model names were changed to suit<br />
the brand: Tomahawk, Lance, Trailblazer, Chief<br />
Woodsman, Fire Arrow and Apache. A strippedback<br />
500 Bullet, tuned for dirt track racing, was<br />
included in the range between 1957 and 1959. Its<br />
name? The Westerner.<br />
Facing Page: 1958 Westerner<br />
Left: Job Hutchings with his 500cc<br />
Westerner<br />
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH <strong>2013</strong> 23