Royal Enfield bikers from 35 countries and 33 cities in India alone were out riding on Sunday, 28 April, for ‘One Ride’ the brand’s flagship ride event across the globe.
The mission: To promote brotherhood and camaraderie among bikers. The stats: 77,697 Km ridden across 305 cities through 511 organised group rides.
What they aren’t telling you is that it’s a fantastic marketing ploy – a kind of roadshow that gets kids of passersby to go “Mai bada hoke Royal Enfield biker banunga.”
Delhi alone saw over 300 bikers decked out in riding finery assemble for the ride. The noise, the exhaust notes, the bikes, can all get pretty exhilarating. There were all models of Royal Enfield bikes on the ride – Classics, Himalayans, Bullets, Interceptors, GTs. We rode only about 70 km around Delhi-NCR, celebrating the biking spirit – the feeling of freedom and independence.
While brotherhood and camaraderie are great, there was a part of me left thinking that such a huge movement of bikers could contribute to a greater cause. Food for thought?
I just wish the brand would pick a cause and support it from the funds it generates through these rides. Something along the lines of the “Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride” held every September in support of prostate cancer globally would be nice.
Check out more photos from the event.
The event registration free was Rs 360 per head, which includes breakfast and a sticker for the event.
It was good to see many bikers turn up with safety gear. Such events help promote wearing of safety gear, at least helmets if nothing else.
Being a Sunday traffic was sparse, but the event mostly had formation riding in single-line or two abreast. Of course, with such a large number, it was quite a task to control the crowd in the city.
But out on the winding Gurgaon-Faridabad highway formation riding was possible.
The group headed for Kapashera on the outskirts of Delhi for breakfast. Similar events took place in other cities as well.
Royal Enfield has various adventure rides that it plans through the year, where riding groups head out on different tours. It also has an annual event – Rider Mania – that takes place in Goa, bringing bikers together.
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