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Motorcyclists across the country are gearing up to ride to Goa to attend one of the biggest festivals—India Bike Week (IBW)—on December 2 and 3, 2022. The eighth edition of IBW comes after a pandemic-enforced hiatus of three years.
Touted as Asia’s largest Motorbike Festival, IBW brings more than 20,000 motorcycling enthusiasts for two days of festivities and events. The highlight for the 2022 edition of IBW has five racetracks of varying degrees of difficulty, Ladakh Tent where the biking community can meet and listen to conversations with motorcycling stalwarts and biker cafes, clubs and adventure bike trip organisers. Also attending IBW are some of India’s leading names in bike manufacturers and custom design houses including brands such as KTM, BMW Motorrad, Harley-Davidson, etc., which have confirmed their participation as well.
Why India Bike Week is such a big deal for motorcyclists
Over the years, motorcyclists in India have become a subculture with a very strong sense of community and fellowship. There are rides and excursions that are planned—while some are decided based on your loyalty to brands such as Triumph and Royal Enfield, others are terrain specific such as adventure, off-roading and tours, while others are brand and terrain agnostic driven purely for the passion of being on a motorcycle.
India Bike Week brings all of these passionate bikers together to share stories, expertise and more. We reached out to some of the stalwarts in India’s motorcycling world to see what they had to say.
Urvashi Patole
Urvashi Patole took up motorcycling more than a decade ago and since then has covered more than 300,000 km on her motorcycle. She is also the co-founder of a women's motorcycle club, The Bikerni, which started in 2011.
“For motorcyclists like us, India Bike Week is a welcome change, especially after the pandemic. It will be great to see so many motorcyclists in one place enjoying the biking culture together. It is a place where bikers can enjoy what we love the most and meet like-minded people. The festival has different aspects such as motorcycles on display, local races, and stunt shows. Without such community-building festivals, there will be no movement in the biking culture all together. We’ve also come a long way where we’ve evolved from small clubs to a bigger arena as IBW.
Personally, I'm really looking forward to the new motorcycle launches scheduled at IBW. I'm looking for an adventure motorcycle which is either 890CC or 1290CC. Let's see which brand brings it to the market.”
~ Urvashi Patole, dirt biker, long-distance tourer and co-founder The Bikerni
Sameera Dahiya
From being a pillion rider to the fastest female biker in India, Sameera has been riding across 28 states and six Union Territories in 24 days. She has are eyes set on winning more rallies and competitions.
“I'm a big believer in community, and IBW provides a platform where people from different regions can come together and share their journeys and passion. India’s motorcycle community is evolving with people of all genders, perspectives and brands. I feel that such events give a nice outlook on where we are as a motorcycle community.
I'm definitely looking forward to meeting people and participating in competitions, winning some, and definitely bringing some trophies at home. I also want to meet other women riders I look up to and support women riders because they have been achieving so much in this space and I want to share my experiences and learn from theirs.”
~ Sameera Dahiya, rally racer and enduro rider
Sagar Sheldekar
A veteran automotive journalist and a certified California Superbike School Coach, Sagar Sheldekar is a name every motorcycle enthusiast knows and follows. His content on his YouTube channel, Living It Up, is the go-to for two-wheeler reviews.
“I think events such as IBW are even more relevant post the pandemic. You can meet people who share the same passion. Events such as IBW have obviously helped a lot of us to just connect with everyone and share our thoughts and journeys with like-minded people.
Normally IBW is a big deal for us because whenever we have been there, we premiere one of our latest films or reviews, but this time I don't even have any activity plan. I just want to meet up with people who I have not met in a long time. There are a lot of brands who are coming and there are a lot of launches that are happening.”
~ Sagar Sheldekar, auto journalist and founder, Living It Up
Experts recommend things to do
If you’re a novice who is trying to evolve from just being a daily commuter on a motorcycle to a biking aficionado and then onto a hardcore biker, Patole says to head to The Big Trip and Ladakh Tent sessions at IBW. “Stalwarts from the motorcycling community are going to share their experiences about riding through India and understand what it takes to actually be a motorcycle traveller,” she says adding that a visit to the many motorcycles stall is also a must-do since you see and understand what is required to call yourself as a motorcyclist.
Things to watch out for at India Bike Week 2022
The cultural, modern, and high-on-energy moments with the below key highlights:
- The Big Forkers Meat Fest (happening for the first time in Goa where five Goan chefs are coming together)
- Music Bonanza with Lagori, Teri Miko, The Easy Wanderlings, DJ Mojo JoJo, Uday Benegal, DJ Unnayaanna, DJ Ayesha Pramnik
- Bikers Mart with over 75 plus brands
- Ride-Outs across city to explore the culinary expanse of Goa
- Ladakh Tent which will feature more than seven custodians of moto-culture for the epicureans coming to IBW across years
- Howling Dog Bar with sessions around safety, roadside quick fixes and everything bikes!
- Big Trip featuring over 10 bikers sharing their tales (includes women bikers, biker moms, scooter travellers)
To register for any of the activities and book tickets visit: www.indiabikeweek.in
Photo: India Bike Week