February 2013 saw a new dawn in the biking community of India, a common platform where bikers from different groups, motorcycle categories, and most importantly different states of India came together at one single venue to witness INDIA BIKE WEEK 2013, one of the most memorable moments in Indian motorcycling history. 6500 bikers roared into the festival grounds at Vagator, Goa, on February 2 nd and 3 rd. so it is obvious that this year the response is going to be better , louder and smokier then what it was last year.
INDIA BIKE WEEK 2014 is not going to disappoint us, because this year the expected amount of bikers is gone up to 8000 and counting. Organised to be held on the 17 th and 18th of January 2014 , the event will see various competitions, great music , stunt shows, a bikini bike wash, bike launches and racing teams, Motorcycle Traveller Meet, FMMX Stunts, the Full Contact Championship, Ride Parades, India’s largest Bike Accessory expo, over 15 bands like Dub Vision, Biker Challenges and Workshops from international experts and the IBW Bike Build Off and a meet of the worlds best bikers.
IBW2014 will be flagged off by a parade led by Ted Simon and Nick Sanders world’s famous motorcyclists .The events one should look forward to are:
Bike Build-Off: The IBW Bike Build-Off will seek out and honour the best motorcycle builders in the country. There are 4 participants shortlisted in the Open Class and 3 in the Chopper Class. Vijay Singh, the winner of last year’s Build-Off gets a chance to defend his title and will get a direct entry into the finals of the Chopper Class. All shortlisted builders will be given Rs. 50,000 in cash.
FINALISTS CHOSEN
- Chopper Class – Rajputana Customs
- Chopper Class – Rag and Bone Customs (Paul Smith)
- Chopper Class – Reza Hussain Choppers
- Open Class – TJ Motor works
- Open Class – Moto Exotica
- Open Class – Bombay Custom Works
- Open Class – Transfigure Custom House
The Second India H.O.G. Rally parade and H.O.G. Custom Contest: Each year, India Bike Week coincides with Harley-Davidson’s annual national rally – The India H.O.G. Rally. This year over 1000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles will descend on to Goa for the H.O.G. Parade and to attend India Bike Week 2014. The H.O.G. Parade will perhaps be the largest parade of motorcycles that will be riding into IBW this year.
Also on display at India Bike Week 2014, will be many customized Harley-Davidson motorcycles, bringing to life the age old saying that no two Harleys are the same. 5 of the best customized motorcycles, one from each of Harley-Davidson’s 5 families of motorcycles, will be awarded the title of ‘Best Customized Bike of the Year 2013’.
MRF Freestyle Muscle Motocross (FMMX) & MRF Zapper Burnout Stage: The burnout, as explained in the unwritten bikers’ dictionary, is the practice of keeping the bike stationary and spinning its rear wheel, causing the tires to heat up and therefore causing smoke from friction. But you knew that! Check out the amazing line up we have for you.
IBW Mod Bike Competition & Special Showcase: The Mod Bike Competition at India Bike Week is the country’s largest display of custom bikes. This year’s judging panel has some luminaries on it – renowned Mumbai-based mechanic O.A. Anthony a.k.a. Anton; Rolling Stone creative director and co-founder of Helmet Stories, Harsh Man Rai; legendary motorcycle adventurer Sam Childers, a.k.a. Machine Gun Preacher; They will judge the motorcycles on the basis of two criteria – Technical and Design.
Motorcycle Travelers Meet:
MTM @ IBW is a get-together of like-minded serious motorcycle travelers and adventure motorcyclists. The meet is geared for travelers who belong on the motorcycle, who venture out to explore the boundaries of adventure and travel. The theme at IBW is “Dreams to Realization – Travel Inspiration” – Engaging the Motorcycle traveler to achieve their dreams of long distance journeys.
Big Trip Cinema: Keeping in with the theme of “memorable stories”, this edition of IBW will host legendary adventure motorcyclists Ted Simon, Nick Sanders and Sam Childers, Scott Redding who will be sharing stories from their experiences and their documentaries at the Big Trip Cinema.
IBW Stakeholders Meet: This meet is poised to take biker conversations at IBW to another level
Harley-Davidson Street 750 Debut – India Bike Week 2014 will also be the exclusive venue for the first ever India unveil of the all new Harley-Davidson Street 750 motorcycle along with 3 Street custom concept motorcycles and 2 Street motorcycles customized with Harley-Davidson Parts and Accessories. This Street 750 is from the first new motorcycle platform developed by the company in 14 years.
India’s Home Made Electric Cycle – The launch of Nisttarkya first Indian Electric Concept Bike by Santhosh.
IBW skills challenge: This challenge course will be held on IBW grounds and is free and open to any festival attendees. To riders must sign a disclaimer and show a valid motorcycle license. The skills challenge is meant to be fun but also competitive as it tests all riders proficiencies in a few of the most basic riding skills. Each participant will be graded on the 3 different challenges. Those with the best scores (based on time and balance) will be awarded prizes
Loudest Bike Competition: Watch your mean machines compete with each other and win the title of IBW loudest bike!
The worlds most famous motorcyclist visiting the event will be
Ted Simon: To ride from Mumbai to Goa. Ted embarked upon a four-year solo motorcycle journey around the world. Ted has expressed his journey bestselling books, Jupiter’s Travels, and Riding High. Stories from this second ride found their way into his third book, Dreaming of Jupiter. Ted Simon passed through 45 countries on his first ride in 1973, covering over 103,000 km, and documented this trip in his bestselling books, Jupiter’s Travels, and Riding High. In 2001, his second trip took him through 47 countries, clocking about 95,000 km. Stories from this second ride found their way into his third book, Dreaming of Jupiter.
Nick Sanders: A British motorcyclist best-known for his long-distance riding achievements. He has circumnavigated the globe on his motorcycle 7 times, and gone up and down the Americas 7 times, earning him the badge of the most experienced solo motorcycle adventurer in the world. He currently holds the record for riding around the world in 19 days, and also the record for a double transit of the Americas – from Alaska to Ushuaia and back – in 46 days.
Sam Childers who began to lead armed missions to rescue children from rebel militant groups, earning him the moniker, “Machine Gun Preacher”. Today, the orphanage is the largest in Southern Sudan and has housed and fed over a 1,000 children, and more than 200 children call it home.
Frank Savage: Frank Savage is an Industrial Designer and Manager in the Styling Department at Harley-Davidson Motor Company, with responsibility as creative lead for styling project teams who develop and deliver the visual appeal of the Company’s motorcycles. Frank joined Harley-Davidson in 1996, designing motorcycles for Harley-Davidson under the guidance of Willie G. Davidson. Frank is the lead designer behind Harley-Davidson’s first completely new motorcycle platform – the Street. Frank has also worked on many milestone motorcycles, such as the 2004 update to the Sportster chassis, XR1200, Nightster, 48, Iron, and XL1200C.
Scott Redding: An English Grand Prix motorcycle racer who rode in the 600cc Moto2 class for team Marc VDS Racing Team. He holds the distinction of being the youngest rider in the history of Grand Prix motorcycle racing to ever win a race at age 15 at Donington, breaking Marco Melandri’s 10-year record. He is also the youngest man to have contested 50 Grands Prix and has 4 GP wins to his credit. Castrol Power 1, is presenting SCOTT REDDING at IBW. Castrol Power 1 is also a sponsor on the Go & Fun Honda Gresini Moto GP team 2014
Our very own Indian legends, bikers like Aspi Bhathena, Zubin Patel and Anton will also grace us with thier presence. Bikers who have worked very hard in improving the motorcycling in India to what it is today.
We will also have educational workshops to help a biker in the following
- Panel discussion: Challenges To “Start”- Get On A Long Distance Trip
- Workshop: Understanding The Challenges, Bike And You On The Road
- Workshop: How To Deal With Situations – Breakdown And Problems
- Workshop: How To Document (photos / videos / blog)
- This will also include a session of using the GoPro cameras and basic editing guidelines
- Meet the Motorcycle Travelers Meet allies
- MTM Journal launch
- Personal interaction with speakers
- Planner chart to achieve your dream
Stalls to look forward to for drinks and refreshments are
The Howling Dog Bar: The Howling Dog Bar at India Bike Week is where you can hang out and shoot the breeze with your biker buddies, make new friends, swap stories – all over a few drinks. And you just might find yourself rubbing shoulders with some motorcycling legends
Eat Street: Your motorcycles need fuel and you need yours, to keep going. Drop by at The Eat Street at India Bike Week to dig your teeth into a range of lipsmacking food from around the country or get a meat of your choice and grill to your desired doneness at MyBBQ.
Bikini Bike Bar: Let the Bikini Wash girls give your motorcycle the TLC it deserves, while you down your poison at the bar and watch motorcycle films on the video wall
I for one, am most certainly going to be there..
WHAT ABOUT YOU???
