We have seen stunting aplenty - both in motoring magazines as well as on the road. And it’s a brilliant thing because motorcycling is as much about skill as it is about freedom and expression. Stunting, is also an expression, by the way.
Moreover, it’s really heartening to see that we the biking enthusiasts in the country aren’t looking for excuses to steer clear of challenges. We have traversed the most challenging terrain, in equally challengingly inapt bikes; done stunts our western counterparts pull on better suited, more powerful offerings; and the so-called barometer of motoring enthusiasm – motoring magazines have done their bit as well – showcasing brilliantly executed pictures of artistry on our teeny-whiney machines, then be it brilliant shots of wheelies, stoppies, burnouts, jumps or even cornering.
However, what has been missing hitherto has been the lack of show of some everyday riding skill. Getting one’s knee down around a corner is one; power sliding out of bends on opposite lock is, of course, the other!
The former I firmly believe aids corner speed, and is also a vital safety ingredient when it comes to fast riding. The latter meanwhile is a display of not just immense riding ability, but of utmost courage.
And we have been missing both for sometime now, on the road as well as in print. Thankfully, things are changing for the better. And I’d like to congratulate two particular individuals for it - Joshua from BSM who got his knee down on the Bajaj XCD a couple of months back, and Varad from Bike who achieved the same on the Hero Honda Hunk just last month.
There’s good reason to cheer the achievement too, just in case some of you were wondering what the hullabaloo is all about… You see, we have seen all and sundry pulling wheelies and stoppies not to mention burning rubber in mags, on traffic lights, around crowded locales and deserted roads. But, knee down antics, hitherto have been rare.
What makes it all special is the fact that the rider’s have wafer thin contact patches (read ridiculously thin tyres) to play with here. Not to mention tyres that are designed more for life than grip and over roads which are anything but predictable or well-laid or grippy. Unlike our racing friends (in India) who use special soft compound imported rubber on tarmac so grippy, it can shred leather (of your suit and your body) if you were to have a fall. Little wonder, knee down on tracks is a common occurrence.
The feat achieved by both is an indication really that motorcycling in India is getting a move on. We are not afraid to experiment, and take things to a higher level.
What is also of importance here is the fact that a lot of riders look up to magazines and their writers. They emulate them, cause they feel it’s possible – after all the mag guys too are riding the same bikes.
Heart felt congratulations then to Joshua and Varad for not only adding oomph to biking pictures, but also giving the Indian motorcycling youth yet another escapade to embark upon.
Moreover, it’s really heartening to see that we the biking enthusiasts in the country aren’t looking for excuses to steer clear of challenges. We have traversed the most challenging terrain, in equally challengingly inapt bikes; done stunts our western counterparts pull on better suited, more powerful offerings; and the so-called barometer of motoring enthusiasm – motoring magazines have done their bit as well – showcasing brilliantly executed pictures of artistry on our teeny-whiney machines, then be it brilliant shots of wheelies, stoppies, burnouts, jumps or even cornering.
However, what has been missing hitherto has been the lack of show of some everyday riding skill. Getting one’s knee down around a corner is one; power sliding out of bends on opposite lock is, of course, the other!
The former I firmly believe aids corner speed, and is also a vital safety ingredient when it comes to fast riding. The latter meanwhile is a display of not just immense riding ability, but of utmost courage.
And we have been missing both for sometime now, on the road as well as in print. Thankfully, things are changing for the better. And I’d like to congratulate two particular individuals for it - Joshua from BSM who got his knee down on the Bajaj XCD a couple of months back, and Varad from Bike who achieved the same on the Hero Honda Hunk just last month.
There’s good reason to cheer the achievement too, just in case some of you were wondering what the hullabaloo is all about… You see, we have seen all and sundry pulling wheelies and stoppies not to mention burning rubber in mags, on traffic lights, around crowded locales and deserted roads. But, knee down antics, hitherto have been rare.
What makes it all special is the fact that the rider’s have wafer thin contact patches (read ridiculously thin tyres) to play with here. Not to mention tyres that are designed more for life than grip and over roads which are anything but predictable or well-laid or grippy. Unlike our racing friends (in India) who use special soft compound imported rubber on tarmac so grippy, it can shred leather (of your suit and your body) if you were to have a fall. Little wonder, knee down on tracks is a common occurrence.
The feat achieved by both is an indication really that motorcycling in India is getting a move on. We are not afraid to experiment, and take things to a higher level.
What is also of importance here is the fact that a lot of riders look up to magazines and their writers. They emulate them, cause they feel it’s possible – after all the mag guys too are riding the same bikes.
Heart felt congratulations then to Joshua and Varad for not only adding oomph to biking pictures, but also giving the Indian motorcycling youth yet another escapade to embark upon.
