February 7
You can call it the beauty or the beast, the road monster or road Romeo but you just can’t ignore it. Its roaring sound signals it arrival and attracts glances and envy of other motorists. The older it gets the more its value. The owners swear by its matchless beauty, monstrous abilities to give the real thrill of biking and the macho image that comes with it. And those who have felt the sheer pleasure of riding it will never settle for anything less. We are talking about the “the King of the road – the Bullet”, which over the years has captivated the hearts and minds of many macho Indian males. Very soon the roads of Mangalore will roar to the echoes of the sounds of these bikes when the hard core Bullet riders are ready to set the Mangalore roads on fire going in a bunch in a collective quest of getting the real thrill of biking.
For all those macho men, the proud possessors of this timeless beauty in Mangalore, here is an opportunity to come together and gloat over and sing praises in unison over their proud possession. The “Bullet Club” in Mangalore is finally becoming a reality after a lot of dilly-dallying. Though the idea has been weighing in the minds of these hard core bikers, as Bullet riders are usually known, finally a young lad has taken the initiative to make this club a reality. This brand of bullet owners who are in awe of this 350 CC monster are going to hold their first meeting on February 8, 2009, to chalk out their further course of action to express their love and respect for this road romeo, which has always been the envy of the friends and neighbors.
Gaurav Raj, an Engineering student along with his like-minded bullet aficionados has taken the initiative of bringing together the bullet owners by forming the Bullet Club. “The thrill of riding a Royal Enfield Bullet is all that we are proud about”, he chuckles explaining the motto of this club. “We plan to meet 1st Sunday of every month and it gives a forum for every Bullet rider to express his/her ideas on what makes Bullet the envy of others but pride of owners”, he explains. It also gives an opportunity for the riders to convey his ideas regarding the creativity that has gone into the making of the Bullet series.
Initially these Bullet riders will set the Mangalore roads on fire by going round the city and gradually will chalk out plans of venturing out of the city and the state. “Make way for the Legend”, the motto of the club aptly sums up what the bike is all about – a legend in its own way. The Club also has plans to go on trekking, rock climbing etc., and depending on the response the club will chalk out ambitious plans of venturing out of the state on a rally. The Bullet Club is an attempt to make this community of bike riders realize how much they care about their bikes. This crazy bunch of hard core riders is going to assemble at helipad in Maryhill, this Sunday, which no doubt will provide additional pep to their already existing high voltage energy.
Gaurav says “A Bullet is a Bullet. There is nothing that compares with it. Usually Bullet riders show respect to one another in a non-verbal communication of saluting one another wherever we meet on the road criss-crossing, which is nothing but the respect we have for one another. You respect the Bullet and it respects you”, says this youngster who is greatly captivated and madly in love with what he calls his “superior caste” of bike.
Even when the market is flooded with new and latest models of bikes of different brands, those who are charmed and hooked to the beauty and power of Bullet which has almost attained the royalty status, are steadfast in their loyalty to their age old Bullet. Some of the hard core loyalists are a bunch of young men who create a flutter on the roads with their mean machine. “It is the man and machine that makes the difference”, avers Amrit Raj, another admirer of this timeless beauty.
Amrit Raj who owns a garage is rides a Bullet for the last three years has found a way out to express his passion for the monster bikes. He has put his creative genius to work by converting the king of bikes into choppers by altering it to give that low, lean and lengthy bike look. He picks up a Bullet engine and start working to create an altogether new machine that can thrill your senses and fill you with the passion of riding a bike. He takes inspiration from movies and some foreign books and never repeats his designs providing the exclusivity to his choppers.
“This kind of alterations is possible only with Bullet because of its engine strength. I have some loyal customers in Mangalore and Manipal and from Bangalore and Goa”, he points out. One is sure to get goose bumps with excitement just by looking at those lean and hungry bikes, exclusivity being their USP, waiting for the riders to take them for a long ride.
Amrit is thrilled with the idea of the Bullet Club. “The idea was there but was a non-starter mainly because everybody wanted someone else to take the initiative. Finally Gaurav has decided to go ahead and launch the club, which I am sure is going to be a hit”, he stated.
“It is sheer foolishness to compare Bullet with any other bike. If you ask me to opt for a girl of a Bullet I will surely go for my bullet”, says Gaurav asserting his love for the bike. It is this love for the bike that bolstered him to come out with the idea of starting the club.
So, all monster riders, young and old, get set for that ultimate thrill of riding your mean machine through the rugged roads of Mangalore. Wipe off the dust and make way for the helipad at Maryhill to meet other monster riders and share your common love for Bullet. All other commitments can wait.
All those interested in joining this crazy bunch can contact Gaurav on 99640 22995.
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