The India Motorcycling Scene – Delhi Bikers Breakfast Run

As I write this, the Desert Storm 2019 rally cars and motorcycles are thundering through the scorching Thar Desert of Rajasthan. Last week, Hero Motocorp launched the 200cc dual-purpose Xpluse at a very competitive price, giving another option for those making the annual exodus to Ladakh next month. Then after celebrating “May the Fourth be with you!” with Star War fans, I was told the next day, May 5th was IFRD or International Female Ride Day. Triumph recently organized a track day at the Buddh International Circuit, led by none other than Vijay from Rajputana Customs. Harley Davidson is giving classes at its “University” and they’ve got heavyweight professor Vir Nakai giving the lectures. (Insert open mouth emoji here) I’m going breathless just writing all this. But the point is, there’s a lot more going on in the motorcycle scene in India than ever before!

Anyone serious need not spend their days riding vicariously via someone else’s social media feeds. They have options. But it can get a bit overwhelming. At its inception was an underwhelming group we founded 10 years back. It was more of a statement of intent than a slick name. “Delhi Bikers Breakfast Run” now called DBBR. What was meant to be a one-off experiment has had more than 10,000 riders get out and ride with perfect strangers and eat breakfast together. No point guessing who all have seen the photos or heard their stories. It soon became a platform for novice and seasoned bikers to connect without having to earn their right to be a biker by riding enough or owning the right bike or gear.

This has led to peer-to-peer influence that has had a significant impact on how new motorcycle related businesses get launched, what gear people acquire, which bikes they buy, the places they ride to and more importantly for me, how they perceive Delhi and the motorcycle culture at large. It is far easier to sit back and read reviews by professionals and bike companies and let them steer India’s motorcycle culture. But on the road, over breakfast one gets insights from the most unlikely and unassuming folks who in turn steer the future. In such rides I’ve gotten a better understanding on why the Mahindra Mojo didn’t take off even though I loved their near flawless ad campaign? Is there a clear winner between Royal Enfield Himalayan and Bajaj Dominar? Why do 40+ year old’s usually shy away from KTM bikes? How does discouraging customization by the lawmakers ruin creativity and innovation in the automotive industry? Which social media influencers are followed for mere entertainment and who actually influences people’s decisions?

As motorcycles get launched each month, more festivals, events, training and rides get planned, I feel DBBR still has a role in taking everything that gets thrown at us for a breakfast ride so we can really chew on it and give a feedback not on a forum or survey but to those who matter, our fellow bikers. What has helped DBBR stay the course has been our motto “Ride – Respect – Relax”. Come hailstorm or heatwave, we ride. Because if we don’t we get lost in the ocean of virtual information. And at its center, we aspire to ride with respect. Firstly with respect for ourselves, which impacts how we care for others and the environment. Lastly, since life is already so complicated, we ride to relax. Don’t forget, it’s just a ride and this is just another article.