Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, June 29: A father-son duo from Udupi who rode their old Hero Splendor bike to Khardung La — one of the world's highest and toughest motorable roads in Kashmir — have received a grand gift from Hero MotoCorp.
Rajendra Shenoy and his son Prajwal Shenoy, residents of Shirva in Kaup taluk, were honoured with a Centennial CE-100 bike — a collector’s edition worth Rs 10 lac — at the Hero showroom in Udupi on June 28.
Rajendra Shenoy has been touring across the country on his 25-year-old Hero Splendor for years, having already covered 17 states. His journeys have included visits to Tirupati, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Puri, Shirdi, Nashik, Pandharpur, Ayodhya, and most recently to Prayagraj for the Mahakumbh.
Last year, the duo took up a new challenge. While most riders head to Kashmir on Bullets or high-powered bikes, the Shenoys chose to rely on their trusted old Splendor. They successfully covered around 1,900 km from Udupi to Khardung La — situated at an altitude of 17,982 feet — in just 10 days.
To mark the 100th birth anniversary of its founder, Dr Brijmohan Lall Munjal, Hero MotoCorp launched a special Centennial edition, with only 100 bikes released globally. These bikes are being auctioned online and have fetched bids of up to Rs 20.30 lac.
The company chose to honour the Shenoys as “Best Customers” and presented one of these prestigious bikes to recognise their incredible journey and brand loyalty.
Expressing joy, Prajwal Shenoy said, “Five years ago, I went on my first ride to Bengaluru with my father on my old Hero Honda Splendor. Since then, we travelled to many states without any issues. My solo ride was to Ayodhya Ram Mandir from Shirva in February. One of our longest rides was to Leh-Ladakh. We transported the bike by train from Mangaluru to Delhi, and from there we rode over 1,500 km in 12 days before returning the same way. We never imagined that such a big company would recognise us and give us this platform. I am extremely happy.”
Vijay Karne, managing director of Shakthi Motors, said, “The company follows specific criteria for selection. Splendor is a bike that makes India proud, and they have travelled across the country on this pride bike, which has been recognised everywhere. Their trust in the Splendor bike and their pan-India journey is why they were selected. Many people have been chosen for this gift, and Prajwal is one of them. This is not an ordinary bike – it is a highly advanced technological bike, manufactured in memory of the founder, Brijmohan Lall Munjal. Only 101 such bikes have been made. Our dealers across India have spent around Rs 25 to Rs 30 lac to purchase this bike, while its actual cost is Rs 14.5 lac. To encourage young riders, Hero has gifted this bike to Prajwal.”
Vijay Karne handed over the bike key along with the warranty card to Prajwal Shenoy. Shakthi Motors also presented him with a special gift.
The event featured a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate the occasion.
Hero Honda Motors Limited became Hero Honda Corporation Limited in 2011. The centennial edition bike is gifted to achievers across India who have contributed positively to the Hero brand. This special edition, manufactured in collaboration with Germany and India, is built entirely with carbon fibre and is an extremely high-performance bike.
The ceremony was attended by branch manager Rahul, Prajwal’s father Rajendra Shenoy, family members, staff and others.