Born again riders

Bijoy Kumar Y, Consulting editor, India Syndicate
Editor, BS Motoring

On occasions you also notice that the indicator has not been switched off since he made his last turn...obviously, he is not used to these mundane acts. They are clumsy at fuel stations and even more so riding slowly in traffic. Has not understood the breed yet? Well, I am talking about the 'born again riders' and their numbers are on the rise with improved road conditions and the advent of new motorcycles that fit the bill.

These are men (mostly) in their 40's and 50's who want to relive their motorcycle days all over again. These are guys who strutted their stuff on board Yezdi 250s and Enfield 350's in the 1970's and eighties or even 100cc crotch-rockets in the eighties and nineties. Most of them abandoned motorcycles soon after college and did what every one else seem to be doing - got a job, got married, made children and lived happily ever after. And yes they drove cars. Just that the dormant motorcycle bug just wiggled deep inside and made the dude march to the friendly neighbourhood motorcycle dealership. Some realized soon after that they are way too old to adapt to riding techniques while some became the proverbial specs in the horizon as they started enjoying life all over again. Some extreme ones, started studying routes to Leh, Goa and Arunachal Pradesh...as life would never be the same again for them as they got smitten by the freedom and liberation as offered only by motorcycles.