Apr 2011 - Royal Enfield

the enfield family gear check keep riding DIY
april - june 2011
www.royalenfield.com
Tour of
Rann
of Kutch
Himalayan
Odyssey 2011
+ One Ride! one love!
+ GULF BIKE EXPO
+ Royal way around
marketing newsletter

kick start
Hi Friends,
After a great 5 year stint here at the Royal Enfield, it gives me
immense pleasure in writing to fellow bulleteers who adore
this brand in much the same way as India adores Sachin
Tendulkar or Chennai worships our own “Superstar”
Rajnikanth. Over the years we’ve seen the brand evolve, grow, redefine
itself and appeal to people with a vigour that keeps getting stronger by
the day.
Being a part of the first ever Royal Enfield “One Ride”, I rode with
a sizeable group of Royal Enfield riders recently to Mahabalipuram
and back to Chennai. I came away with a feeling that is frankly
beyond description. This got me thinking on what makes this brand
stay relevant to so many people from different walks of life. More
importantly, I dwelt on the factors that are instrumental in delivering
such a dream bike to thousands of Bulletteers across the world.
In these eventful years, we have seen so many positive developments
at Royal Enfield - a consistent growth in volume and financial stability,
increased focus on quality, creation of company run Brand Stores in
10 locations, the smooth and successful transition to a new engine
platform, fresh new talents joining our family as employees, suppliers
and dealers, the blazing performance of the new Classics across the
world, dealers presenting themselves to the market with renewed
“josh” and the list goes on and on.
Here I come back to my question
as to what has made this success
possible. Our success is mainly driven
by individual departments and their
functions integrated together which
has given us the momentum to keep
moving forward all the time. In other
words, progress has been driven by 2
locomotives - people and processes.
For someone who’s been around the
block in the automobile industry, the
situation at Royal Enfield was quite
a revelation. On one hand you get to
see veterans of 25 years of experience
and more, who could probably work
blindfolded with ease and still creates
the masterpiece. On the other hand,
you see energetic youngsters raring
to be as proficient as the veterans.
Visit any department or just walk
through the vehicle assembly, engine
assembly, plating shop or the painting
shops and you would feel the unique
power of new and old co-existing
to nurture the legend that is Royal
Enfield. As we grow in volumes and
spread, we will grow better, share
more and learn more – of this, I am
very confident.
With great growth comes the great
responsibility of improving on our
processes to keep the wheels moving
smoothly towards the ambitious
goals we have set for ourselves.
We have to constantly keep our systems and processes abreast of
requirements in all areas, be it design & development, scheduling
& procurement, manufacturing & assembly or sales & service. The
disciplined SAP usage and constant improvement of the processes
have been instrumental in seamlessly absorbing a huge volume
increase across the board in all functions. To give a ready example the
RTGS implementation across all dealers has made the entire order
and payment cycle faster, reliable and more dynamic. Our dealers
would surely appreciate the speed of response on fronts like warranty
settlement and periodic reconciliation of accounts etc.
We will continuously keep updating our systems for future
requirements also - the first step being up-gradation of the current
SAP platform to the ECC 6.0 interfacing with a robust Dealer
Management System. Consequently most of our business processes
are being reviewed and reformed to suit our future needs.
I sign off for now with the pride of having been a part of a glorious
phase in Royal Enfield’s history and the excitement to face an equally
bright future ahead. Being a ‘born again biker,’ I am sure I’ll catch up
with some of you on rides soon. Till then, all the best and keep the beat
going………………
— K Ramesh,
Vice President – Finance & Business Process
If you would like to contribute to The BEAT email us at schavan@royalenfield.com e d i t o r i a l t e a m Shaji Koshy, Sachin Chavan, Praveen P Sathaye
2

upcoming rides
The
itinerary
June 25 - JULY 10 2011,
16 days
Take the High-Way!
Delhi • Chandigarh • Manali
• Keylong • Sarchu • Leh
• Nubra • sakthi • Debring
• Keylong • Kaza • kalpa
• Narkanda • parwanoo
• Delhi
Its back! - The biggest,
toughest, highest and
the most fun-filled
ride above sea level,
now in its eighth edition is
back again to give all Royal
Enfield riders a chance to
have the trip of a lifetime
riding to the top of the
world. Keeping in line with
the tradition of promoting
leisure and adventure
motorcycling culture across
the country, Royal Enfield
brings the Himalayan
Odyssey 2011, a ’trip’ of
adventure riding across the
rugged and treacherous
landscapes of the Himalayas
including a ride to the
legendary Khardung La pass.
Ladakh literally means
the Land of the Passes. This
Holy Grail of motorcycling
roads famed world-wide
will take you through three
mountain ranges and many
passes to a dizzying 18,380
feet high at Khardung La
and a 40-km off-road ride
through a high altitude
desert at the Moré Plains.
Rich in natural beauty, the
landscape in its silence,
emptiness and unbelievable
vastness is breathtaking.
As it enters its 8th edition
of successful running, the
annual tradition of the Royal
Enfield Himalayan Odyssey
today has proved itself
to be revered as a ritual
of ultimate adventurous
motorcycling.
This ride has always been
considered as an exalting
pilgrimage to the Mecca of
endurance motorcycling, the
mighty Himalayas, Ladakh
region in particular. It is this
ride from Delhi to Ladakh
and back that Royal Enfield
Riders undertake every year
which is often considered
as an achievement by many
a motorcyclist. The bikers
who choose to embark on
this adventure trip are not
just guided to understand
the perils of rough weather,
rugged terrain laden with
gravel and boulders but
also taught how to make
use of their understanding
and negotiate and tame this
difficult and treacherous
route.
It is this ability that the
riders develop during the
course of the ride that
makes these able bodied
men (and women) ride on
together, Covering each
sector of this extraordinary
adventure with panache and
confidence.
The adventure run begins
from 25th June 2011 and
goes on till 10th July 2011
Details of the same could
be had on our website at the
following link: http://www.
royalenfield.com/company/
events/himalayan-odyssey-
2011/himalayan-odyssey-
2011_.aspx
You can read about
last year’s adventure
on the following link:
http://www.royalenfield.
com/company/events/
himalayanodyssey/2010/
hostory.aspx
3

one ride
The
itinerary
Aug 14 – Aug 20, 2011,
7 days
Mumbai • Srivardhan
• Panchgani • Guhagar
• Panhala • Malwan
• Amboli • Vagator
Romance the Rains
Royal Enfield takes
a memorable trip
down the legendary
Mumbai-
Goa highway, the NH 17,
a road which has been a
scenic backdrop for many
a Bollywood blockbuster.
However, this trip is with a
slight twist as we explore the
area surrounding the NH 17
riding along yet-unknown
beaches while trying out
delicious coastal cuisine, to
taking a walk in the clouds
in the Western Ghats and
riding through mist. Also get
a chance to ride through the
legendary Valley of Flowers
of Maharashtra before finally
ending up in tranquil Goa. We
shall have the rain gods for
company which makes this
ride not only more challenging
but much more enjoyable as
you romance the rains. We
encourage you to enjoy the
romantic and adventurous side
of this ride as a couple and gear
up to have an experience of a
lifetime. While the main theme
is an exhilarating experience,
the underlying emphasis is also
on safety in every aspect of the
ride. Royal Enfield provides
service and medical back up to
provide confidence not just to
the first time participants but
also to their friends and family.
The Tour of NH 17 has expert
and experienced pilots to guide
the group in various areas of
bike riding and coping with the
weather and terrain.
The Adventure run begins
from 14th August 2011 and
goes on till 20th August 2011
Details of the same could
be had on our website at the
following link:
http://www.royalenfield.
com/company/events/
tourofnh17/tourofnh17.aspx
You can read about last
year’s adventure on the
following link:
http://www.royalenfield.
com/company/events/
tourofnh17/tour-of-nh-17.aspx
4

Classic Chrome & Bullet 500 Launched
Royal Enfield’s new CEO Dr Venki Padmanabham unveiled 2 new models for 2011 at the New York Motorcycle
Show held during 20 - 22 January 2011. These two models are as follows:
NEWS
Royal Enfield Bullet 500: The Bullet 500 is the culmination of over 8
decades of legacy, of the longest running model in continuous production.
Since 1932 the Bullet has mesmerized thousands all over the world with its
unique styling and one of its kind feel of ride feel. The Bullet 500 is a seamless
pairing of the majestic Bullet styling, performance and reliability with
the new technology elements like the Electronic Fuel Injection synergized
seamlessly with the period styling. The Bullet 500 is all about romancing
with history on today’s terms.
Royal Enfield Classic Chrome: The Royal Enfield Classic Chrome is
based on the Classic 500 with a rather generous dose of chrome on it. Like
the Classic 500, the new Classic Chrome retains the quintessential classic
British styling of the 1950s: simple, harmonious, well proportioned. The
Chrome sports a seat with a leather finish and adds to the visual appeal
of the motorcycle.. Built of old-fashioned metal, in clean elegant lines of
Chrome combined with Royal Maroon the design of the Royal Enfield Classic
Chrome is a tribute to the retro look of post war British motorcycles.
Jay Leno rides a Royal Enfield
Jay Leno popular star of “The
Tonight Show” and “Jay Leno’s
Garage” picked out a brand new
Fuel Injected Black Royal Enfield
Bullet Electra Deluxe to add to
his collection. Mr.. Leno’s new
motorcycle was delivered by Mike
Francovich representing Royal
Enfield in Los Angeles. Mr. Leno
and Mike’s father were friends and
shared the car collecting hobby. A
whole segment about the Royal
Enfield for “Jay Leno’s garage” was
shot on Saturday April 30, 2011. The
episode highlighted the three bikes
during the show. Mr. Leno’s Black
Bullet Electra Deluxe, a Black Bullet
Electra with a Cozy sidecar attached
(also make in India) and the
ever popular Teal Green Classic 500.
Mr. Leno talked about the history
of Royal Enfield and then pointed
out the feature of the new UCE/EFI
bikes. He was very well informed
about Royal Enfield and the UCE/EFI
bikes when he came to the studio.
He observed the features and benefits
of each model and sat in the
sidecar and spoke a bit about it.
Jay Leno is the most popular
night time TV host in America. His
show is “The Tonight Show”. He is
an Actor who rose to become the
host of this very popular show. He
is a avid automobile and motorcycle
collector. He is adamant that he
does not collect vehicles as museum
pieces but rather as part of a collection
to be used. He drives and rides
all of his vehicles and is often times
seen on the streets of Southern
California driving one of his collection.
he is an eclectic collector and
has everything from early 1900’s
steam and electric powered cars to
turbine cars and motorcycles. He
also had a widely popular internet
show called “Jay Leno’s Garage”. It
is this show that we will be featured
on. We should be on in about two
weeks. One nice thing is that the
show stays on line indefinitely.
5

ONE Ride
One Thought;
One Feeling;
One love for the
Royal Enfield.
Starting 2011 the FIRST Sunday of April came to be celebrated as
the ONE RIDE day where Royal Enfield owners all over the world
were encouraged to take their motorcycles out and ride. This year the
ONE RIDE took place on the 3rd of April and was celebrated across
the world. This celebration is in line with Royal Enfield’s philosophy
of promoting the adventure and leisure riding under its 'keep riding'
initiative.
Although each rider could have his or her own individual 'One Ride'
Royal Enfield encouraged them to either start the ride from any of
their Brand Stores/Dealership/Distributor or Service stations or end
at them for an easy count. Special ONE RIDE commemorative stickers
and cloth patches were distributed amongst the riders who proudly
adorned their bikes, helmets and jackets with these memorabilia.
Even if the riders were not able to join any of the ONE RIDE celebrations
they were inspired to still take out their beloved Royal Enfield
on this day and show the chrome and the polished tank some sunlight
and ride.
This was a ride for camaraderie and unity where the roads came
alive with the distinct thump of Royal Enfield machines. The event
became big with the support of all riders and enthusiasts who came
forward and joined in the celebrations.
Perhaps one of the largest celebrations of the ONE RIDE was on
home ground in Chennai. Over 140 bikers assembled at the Besant
Nagar beach to celebrate the ONE RIDE.
This ride was to start from Besant Nagar
to Mahabalipuram and then to ‘The Farm’
a resort on the OMR where riders were
treated to some good off-roading fun. A
scrumptious breakfast and loads of chit
chat session later all the riders dispersed
for home. Live tweets were done during
the ride from our official channel as well as some enthusiasts who were
there on the ride. The CEO of Royal Enfield Dr Venki Padmanabham was
one of the prominent riders in the group.
Confirmed reports of the ONE RIDE from many other locations
across the country started pouring in throughout the day and kept
coming till the next few days. Major rides happened at places like
Ambala, Gurgaon, Delhi, Jaipur, Bikaner, Udaipur, Chandigarh, Agra,
Lucknow, Muzzafarpur, Patna, Allahabad, Deoria, Kolkata, Hyderabad,
Ranchi, Vizag, Bangalore, Mangalore, Mysore, Madikeri, Cochin, Kottayam,
Nasik, Indore, Bhopal, Kolhapur and Goa.
Mumbai Pune witnessed one of the largest gatherings of people
as 150 odd riders ride from Mumbai, Nerul and Pune to meet up at
Lonavla for a brunch session at a motoring theme Cafe. Live tweets
were done from the ride be an enthusiast who went along.
One Ride
in Korea
One Ride in UAE
One Ride in Chennai
One Ride in Chennai
Internationally the ONE RIDE was also celebrated and riders
rode out at following locations. Photographs and live tweets
were sent in from some of these locations also Australia,
Korea, Japan, Nepal, Dubai, Luxembourg, Spain, UK,
Argentina and USA. At last count the total number of riders
who celebrated this day across the world could easily run
into 4000 plus.
6

one ride
One Ride in Japan
One Ride in Athirapally
One Ride in Spain
One Ride in Argentina
One Ride in Argentina
One Ride in Argentina
One Ride in Ambala
One Ride in Goa
One Ride in Delhi
One Ride in Nepal
7

NEWS
International
Parkour Experts
Andy Day and Thomas Couetdic the two International Parkour Experts
who had come down on a tour of India came to Chennai as part of their
endeavour to spread the culture of Parkour visited us during their stay in
Chennai. They then
toured all over India on
2 Royal Enfield Classic
500 motorcycles which
were loaned to them
by Royal Enfield as
a good will gesture.
Their journey took them
around Karnataka, Tamil
Nadu, Maharashtra,
Gujarat, Rajasthan and
all the way till Rishikesh
and Varanasi where the
journey ended and they
handed over the bikes
to us. It was a great
please for us also be
part of their adventure
across India promoting
and educating people
on adventure sports and
parkour in particular.
Here are a few glimpses
from their epic journeys.
RM East
Ride
In January the Kolkata based
Royal Enfield Club, Eastern Bulls
organised an event called the
RM East. A lot of Royal Enfield
clubs and riders came for this
event. Royal Enfield staffers also
attended this event by riding
down from Chennai to Kolkata.
8

NEWS
Royal Enfield's Newest Facilities
New dealerships were recently
added to the ever growing Royal
Enfield network.
1 Gautam Motors,
Muzaffarpur: Bihar
2 Newaskar Automobiles,
Ahmednagar: Maharastra
3 S R Motors,
Thane: Maharastra
TOP 10
Dealers
JAN '11 - MAR '11
Dhone Automobiles
Pune
1
H.S.R.Services
Bangalore
Soniya Motors Pvt. Limited
Mumbai
2 3
Awards for Royal Enfield
Best Brand: Royal Enfield was awarded the Best Brand ​2011 in 2
wheelers by Auto India. Incidentally this award has been given to us for a
3rd time in a row. Additionally Royal Enfield also climbed 7 places from last
year’s 9th position to this year’s 2nd position in terms of Best Styling in 2
wheelers. Kudos to our styling team for their work on the Royal Enfield Classic
motorcycles which has significantly contributed to this achievement
Power Brand: Royal Enfield was bestowed with the honour of being
a ‘Power Brand’ by Planman Consulting for the year 2010 – 2011. This
listing has been based on a perception based survey conducted by ICMR
along with the IIPM think tank.
The parameters are based on the
high recall value, brand awareness,
brand image/perception,
brand performance and
brand association. 1500
brands were selected
from amongst 40,000
across the world and
the survey
was conducted
amongst 10,000
respondents based on the parameters of brand
awareness and brand preference across
several cities in India. The additional 9 factors
which contributed to the selection as a
‘Power brand’ were trust, sustainability, image,
awareness, effectiveness, perception,
aspiration, loyalty and positioning.
Royal Motors
Ambala
Manmohan Auto Stores
Chandigarh
Teknik Motors
Bangalore
Jaycee Motors Corporation
Amritsar
Ess Aar Motors
New Delhi
Amar Auto
New Delhi
South Delhi Motorcycles
New Delhi
9

motor show
Bikes Lined up at the Motor Show.
Bikes and Merchandise on display
Dignitaries from the Arab
world admiring the bikes
Gulf Bike Expo
Royal Enfield sidecar Combo on display
The 2 Bikes
which won the
best customised
European
category trophy
Gulf Bike Expo
2011 was part
of the Gulf Bike
Week and is the
Middle East’s only dedicated
Bike Festival that showcases
the very latest in bikes, off
road and all terrain vehicles,
apparel, accessories, customdesigned
bikes and motorcyclerelated
products as well major
international lifestyle brands
from Europe, the USA and
Asia.
The Gulf Bike Expo held
in Dubai in February 2011,
attracted over 30,000
enthusiasts plus 1000 people
from the Media. This was
the largest Bike and Off
Road Festival anywhere in
the Middle East. The show
had prominent Motorcycle
manufacturers and other
accessory exhibitors displaying
their products. Royal Enfield
Participated in the Bike Expo
for the second consecutive
year backed by the purchase
potential in Dubai.
Royal Enfield
officially launched
the Classic Chrome
and the Bullet 500
models for this
region in the Expo with the
media snapping every moment
of the launch.
Royal Enfield had one
open stall and a semi-closed
stall which showcased the
Classic range of motorcycles
apart from the Café-racer
customised version by the
Dubai Distributor Classic
Motorcycle LLC. The Open
booth also featured
a prominent
sidecar combo on a 500cc
Royal Enfield along with
the Customised motorcycle
models from the distributor.
Royal Enfield rider group
of Dubai participated in the
rally and drew the attention
of the visitors for the unique
looks and sound compared to
the other prominent brands.
The visitors were amazed to
see the unique combination
of our motorcycles with the
Classic Retro appeal and style
combined with the modern
technology. Royal Enfield
also Stole the limelight by
winning the first and the
second trophies for the
‘Best Customised European
Category’. The award winning
customised bikes impressed
everyone for their nuance looks
and the retro appeal.
10

contest
photo by makarand udavanT
Republic Day Ride
In the month of February on our Facebook fan page we
had a contest for the best photograph of a Royal Enfield
Republic Day ride. The three shutterbugs who won
a T- Shirt each from Royal Enfield were Riddhi Rathi
from Mumbai, Sherman Nazareth from Mumbai and
Makarand Udavant from Nasik.
photo by sherman nazareth
photo by riddhi rathi
We are having more such contests on our social media platforms. Watch out for them. Participate and win cool Royal Enfield merchandise
Inked for Life
Vaibhav Roy
Aarti Samant
Vaibhav Roy
Amit Jambotkar
Amit Jambotkar
Sameer Saxena
Royal Enfield enthusiasts across India
showed off their tattoos as we looked
for some of the best Royal Enfield
marks through our Social media sites.
We came across some interesting ones
which deserved not just a mention but
also won their owners some goodies
from Royal Enfield. Theses tattoos
definitely do make an impression and
carry a theme too. Some depicted their
lifestyle on the Royal Enfield while
some just depicted their machines
and their affiliation to the Brand. The
notable winners were Vaibhav Roy from
Goa, Amit Jambotkar, Aarti Samant and
Sameer Saxena from Mumbai
11

one ride
Follow the Leader!
Two become One
on the ONE RIDE
One Ride! One Love…
Royal Enfield!
t e x t & p h o t o g r a p h s : r u t a v i me h t a
Need I say more? Well,
Royal Enfield is and will
always be the dream
bike of every biker in
India, no matter which
bike he is currently riding, he would always
aspire and die to be a “One Rider” on a Royal
Enfield. I can’t help but hum to the tune of
a very popular jingle which was one of the
classic advertisements for Royal Enfield,
‘Yeh Bullet meri jaan, Manzilon ka Nishaan’
truly, with that heartening spirit all the Royal
Enfield Lovers from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai
got together for a journey to the destination
that would not only give them a feeling of joy
but all the people watching on the road a true
sense of cataclysmic awe. The “One Ride” was
a ride for camaraderie and unity where the
roads came alive with the distinct thump of
Royal Enfield machine. With over 155 Royal
Enfield Bikes at their helm, hitting the streets
together, one can’t just sit back to watch
them take the roads. I’m sure each and every
passerby must have been dying to be part of
the ride. Out of the 155 Royal Enfield Bikes 75
were from Navi Mumbai.
3rd April, 2011 was celebrated as Royal
Enfield ‘One Ride’ day across the world
where people took their respective Royal
Enfields on the road and gave the onlookers
a sight of Royal Enfield love. Royal Enfield
has proclaimed that this year henceforth, the
first Sunday of April shall be celebrated as the
‘One Ride’ day.
A lot of folks from Mumbai and Navi
Mumbai came together with the Royal Enfield
spirit and spent the day at the starting point
at Nerul Royal Enfield Showroom and ended
their sojourn at the Big Wheels Motoring
Café near Pune. For those who already know
this place, this had to be the perfect spot to
end the One Ride; for those who don’t, well
you can call this the heaven of bikers; one that
most of them would always love to check into.
Indeed, couldn’t ask for a better destination
than this place to end the “One Ride”.
The One Ride event in Mumbai was
Initiated and organized by Mr. Nitin Chawla
12

one ride
Line Up outside
Nerul Brand Stores
Off to Lonavla
Line Up outside Big
Wheels Motoring
the Navi Mumbai Royal Enfield Brand store
manager and S.S Ghisad, Regional Manager
for service support. Nitin along with the senior
riders from Navi Mumbai, like Suresh Nair
(celebrating his 356th ride),Manish Sharma,
Ajit Matre, Steven Miranda, Akash Agrawal
,Vikram, Ronak Wadhwani, and Manan
Patel made the Ride quite a comfortable
and good experience for all 155 Riders. They
also ensured providing clear instructions/
guidance to avoid any complications on roads
or breakdowns. To make each Royal Enfield
owner special, the event was photographed
by me .
“One Ride” was formally flagged off from
Palm Beach road where the Bandra Riders
also joined in and rode along with the Navi
Mumbai riders till the final destination,
showing off their chrome and the polished
tank in the bright sunlight. It was certainly a
day to cherish and from this year onwards, a
tradition had begun and all the riders looked
forward to celebrate this as a fest each and
every year.
Highway riders
2 better than 1
on the ONE RIDE
Flying colours
13

tour of rok
Royal Enfield
Tour of Rann of Kutch
March 2011 –
Ahmedabad - The riders
started pouring in
one by one as the bike
12th
/riding gear scrutiny
started, and briefing happened. The riders
got to know each other and exchanged
points and expectations from the ride.
The Next day 13th March 2011 the twenty
six riders took off on their epic journey after
they were flagged off by Mr. Amitabh
Pathak, Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad,
from Acropolis Mall, S.G. Highway
Ahmedabad. A large crowd had gathered
to cheer the riders as they embarked on this
adventure. Ahmedabad is reckoned as the
cultural capital of Gujarat and sets an example
to many other cities and towns this
side of the country, thus making it the obvious
choice for the flag off. With this event
the culturally rich city known for the art
and craft and culinary delights woke up to
its adventurous side. The riders were given
an escort by the police vehicles till the outskirts
of Ahmedabad and it definitely was
an impressive sight for the people around.
After the first regroup they headed towards
Zainabad and reached later in the
afternoon. After a short nap the riders rode
through a sandy track, which also gave
some much needed practice to novice riders;
to a nearby lake to watch the migratory
birds, . The next day 14th of March the
14
The Flag off from Ahmedabad
Map of the Rann
group rode out from Zainabad and hit the
little Rann of Kutch. After entering the vast
desolate landscape the riders couldn’t hold
themselves back and enjoyed it to its fullest
extent running wide in the vastness. The
terrain was also quite harsh as was evident
by the 4 – 5 punctures they suffered by the
end of the day but it was all worth the experience.
The day ended at Dholavira where
the team rested for the day and could see
the great vast white rann right in front of
their eyes. They prepared themselves for
tackling the great white rann the next day.
15th March was the day the Riders ventured
into the great white Rann. Riding

tour of rok
Together we ride
Crossing the Tropic
Great White Rann
15

tour of rok
A Border Outpost watches
over the Rann
Raider of the ROK
Camels for company
Its the ‘JOSH’ that counts
over sandy and rocky trails the riders went
through the two border outposts at Machhi
and Karni which are areas quite secluded
from regular civilization. Reaching the
Greater Rann, the riders were in for a shock
as they realized that the Greater Rann was
still wet and flooded. The BSF commandant
confirmed that late rains in February
and a broken dam on the other side of the
border was the cause of it. However the ride
through the trails to Karni and Mucchi was
any off roaders dream and more than made
up for the disappointment. In the evening
they visited the 4000 year old Harappan
civilization near Dholavira before calling it
a day. 16th March was a long day and the
riders covered approximately 300+ kms out
from Dholavira to Hodka.
They stopped at the Bhuj dealership
where a traditional gala welcome was organized
by the local team. The day ended
at the serene Shaam E Sarhad resort at
18
Hodka, after a night ride out into the White
Desert which fortunately was dry. 17th saw
the riders heading all the way to the India
Bridge and then further on to the BSF operated
old sardar post. Located right on the
border the Old Sardar post is the site where
a memorable battle was fought by the CRPF
in 1965. To reach the post the bikers had to
go ride on surface which was more of an
off-road trail than tarmac roads. The temperature
in the Rann at this time of year
had started to rise already and as per the
riders it was very hot. Riding 300 kms on
this day was definitely exhausting but the
adventure made it seem exhilarating and a
test of endurance. On the return the riders
rode up to Kala dungar to have a magnificent
view of the sunset over the rann. They
spotted some wild jackals on the horizon
as the wildlife of the rann started getting
alive with the fading twilight. After the
sunset they headed straight to the resort.
18th March was the penultimate day of the
tour and perhaps ended up being the longest
day of the whole journey. The riders on
their Royal Enfield motorcycles left from
Hodka and since they did not get the necessary
permissions to cross the little Rann
again they had to take the highway all the
way back to Zainabad.
The weather was hot and the strong crosswinds
on the long 400 kms marked the end
of one of the most awesome adventures for
the year. After a small party for all the riders
where they shared stories of the individual
adventures they had during the ride and
how they bonded over the motorcycles they
called it a day. The next day on 19th March
the day started off with the riders slowly
getting to realise that this was perhaps
the last day of their adventure. No one really
wanted to head back to civilization but
then they shook off the after-effects of the
night’s party and geared up for the last 120
odd kilometre ride back from Zainabad to
Ahemedabad. The sleepy town of Ahemedabad
was woken up to the sound of over 2
dozen thumping royal enfield machines
as the riders rode into the city and headed
straight to their finish point. Getting off the
bike they were exhilarated and recollected
each and every moment of their adventurous
ride as they dusted their jackets and fi-

tour of rok
Climbing to the highest
point in the Rann
19

DIY
One of the most common problems we face while
riding out on the roads are punctures. And in such
a case dragging the bike with a deflated tyre to
the closest puncture shop may not be the most
feasible idea. Better would be to remove the
wheel and take the same to the puncture repair
shop. Following are the instructions for removing
DIYthe rear and front wheel of the bikes.
➜ Keep the motorcycle
on the main
(centre) Stand and
place a flat piece of
stone/tile/wood under
the stand to ensure
the front tyre is off the
ground. Rotate the tyre
and check tyre surface
for metal burrs, nails
or other objects
embedded which
may have caused the
puncture. be careful
while inspecting with
hand.
➜ Disconnect the
speedo cable. Loosen
the Pinch Bolt on the
right side fork guide.
Remove the split pin
from the front axle using
pliers and remove
the axle nut along with
the washer. Gently
tap the axle Push out
the front spindle. Put
the nut back on the
spindle along with the
washer to avoid them
getting misplaced on
the ground.
➜ Shake the wheel
loose and pull it
towards the left side.
Tilt the bike to the
right side and remove
the wheel along with
the speedo drive and
the Right side spacer.
take out the speedo
drive and the bush on
the right hand side.
➜ After the puncture
is repaired and the
tyre set back on the
rim. Place the speedo
drive bush in position
and place the speeedo
drive on it.
➜ Tilt the bike to the
right side again and
insert the front wheel
back along with the
speedo drive and RH
spacer between the
front fork ends. Ensure
the speedo drive is
placed properly such
that the cable can be
connected without
any difficulty.Ensure
that the disc is placed
exactly between the
disc pads.
➜ Caution: Dont
press the front brake
lever at all during this
operation.
➜ Insert and gently
tap the front axle till
it fits snugly. Refit the
washer and tighten
the axle nut. Tighten
the pinch nut on the
fork gyide. replace
the split pin with a
new one. Rotate the
tyre to check for free
movememt. Check
for any rubbing sound
of tyre or disc plate
rubbing.Connect the
speedo cable to the
speedo drive. Press
brake lever 3 - 4
times to check front
brake working. Take a
short ride to check for
wobble.
20

DIY
➜ Keep the vehicle on
main Stand and ensure
the rear tyre is off the
ground. Rotate the tyre
and check tyre surface
for metal burrs, nails
or other objects
embedded which
may have caused the
puncture. be careful
while inspecting with
hand.
➜ Remove the split
pin from the rear
axle using pliers and
remove rear spindle
nut. Push out the rear
spindle along and remove
the rear spindle
along with cam
adjusters, distance
washer and spacer.
Put the nut back on
the spindle along with
these to avoid them
getting misplaced on
the ground.
➜ Shake the wheel
loose and pull it towards
the left side. Tilt
the bike to the right
side and remove the
wheel assembly.
➜ After the puncture
is repaired and the
tyre set back on the
rim. Tilt the bike to
the right side again
and fit the rear wheel
back. Ensure that the
sprocket bush rubber
slots are positioned
into the sprocket drum
lugs.
➜ Once wheel is
placed with the bush
rubber slots well
placed inside the drum
lugs. Place the collar
into the rear wheel
seal. Insert spacer and
the chain adjuster cam
along with the Axle/
spindle.
➜ Adjust the two
chain adjuster cams to
have same number of
notches on both sides.
Tighten the spindle
nut and lock it with a
new split pin.Check
the chain for optimum
tightness/slack. Rotate
the wheel for free
movement and check
rear brake for tightness
and locking. Once
done ride the bike for
a few metres to check
if no wobble is there
in wheel. Now you are
ready to go.
21

keep riding
Following rides were organised all over the country under the Keep Riding initiative
started by Royal Enfield to encourage customers to ride out on their motorcycles
Bikaner
Ten riders under the guidance of Dhanna
Lal, rode out from Bikaner and traversed
across some rural patches and dirt roads
through the adjoining small hamlets, rode
through the desert landscape and around
evening time returned back to Bikaner.
During the ride they also had to spend
some time at the local mechanics getting
some motorcycles fixed. The customers
on getting to work on the motorcycle realised
that this often creates a unique bond
and understanding of the machine as you
get to see it closely and spot the details
too while getting a hands on knowledge
transfer of the intricacies. Covering over
200 Kms this ride was definitely going to
be etched in the memories of the riders for
years to come.
Ambala – Jaipur
The Royal Bikerz club from Ambala
Cantt following the route Ambala-Mohri-
Pipli-Panipat-Murthal-Delhi-Gurgaon-
Dharuhera-Behror-Jaipur for their
recent ride. Their ride started on a cold
chilly morning and headed towards Delhi
with more and more riders joining in
from Mohri and Pipli till Panipat, During
this ride they also met Mr. Vijay Singh
of Rajputana Custom Bikes. His Great
ancestral house was located opposite the
Chief Minister’s house and a portion of
it had been converted into a workshop
for motorcycle customization. It is here
that he built custom Royal Enfield Bikes.
At Jaipur they also visited the acclaimed
Amer fort and spent time there. Spread
across 4 days they rode through chilly
nights as well as unseasonal rains but
enjoyed the ride thoroughly.
22

keep riding
Saputara
Saputara traditionally is known for its calm
and peaceful environment. People generally
go there to get their dosage of peace and
tranquility. And then one day, the sleepy
little hill station in Gujarat woke up to the
thump of 20 bullets. And life was never the
same again. It all started when 21 riders
came together at the Royal Riders showroom
at Ahmedabad on the cold wintery
morning of 21st January 2011. This was
their first ride of 2011 and they all had gathered
with their riding gear, gloves, winter
clothing, etc in place and after a hot cup of
tea (or was it many cups) the thump began
to stir up the souls of sleeping ‘Amdavadis’.
Getting on the old national highway to
Vadodara, they made the 1st stop for breakfast
at Anand. Some took a rather light
breakfast while others decided to fill their
stomachs to their limits. Being a long ride,
some people also joined from Vadodara
and Bharuch. Once the whole group was
in place and about 200 kms already under
the belt, they stopped for lunch and deeply
appreciated the inventors of foam based
sofas. Bums rested stomachs and fuel tanks
refilled and it was time to begin the 3rd section
of the ride. This section was the most
fun filled one with broken roads, winding
twisties and low visibility. Overall a great
experience this ride would be one which all
the riders would cherish for the entire year.
Tikarpada
Ten Machines and 17 riders including the
Royal Enfield service team rode to Tikarpada
(Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Orissa).
The permission for riding inside to forest
was acquired after much efforts from the
Royal Enfield staff. The journey started at
5’o clock from kolkata and covered 600 km
to the destination. The riders did find some
difficulty at the fag end of the trip as they
could not locate the place due to heavy fog
and had to rest in the middle of Jungle in
Tiger Reserve Core area till morning,
Tughlakhabad
Three Riders from Murthal taking inspiration
from their Royal Enfield friends took
up this trip and started off from Murthal
one winter morning. They rode northwards
towards Ambala and maintained a moderate
pace crossing into Chandigarh, taking
fuel and food breaks enroute. After Roopnagar
the climb started as they ascended
the hills till they reached Bilaspur. Calling
it a day at Bhuntar they woke up the next
day morning and rode to Kasol, exploring
the hilly regions around that place. After
visiting the famed Manikaran Sahib Gurdwara
the next day they rode back towards
Chandigarh. The last day saw them start
late in the day, not wanting to get back into
city life but the riders eventually rolled
back home later in the day. The riders were
thankful to “South Delhi Motorcylyes” who
were instrumental in keeping the bikes
trouble free so that they could enjoy their
ride to the fullest.
Ranthambore
As part of the Log Out programme Royal
Enfield riders and friends from Gurgaon
rode down to Ranthambore. A small group
of bikers, they called themselves the ‘Nomads’
and despite setting off early at 5:30
in the morning had to counter traffic enroute.
Stopping at roadside dhabas to try
out the local delicious parathas and meals,
the riders just took off their urban diet
conscious garb as they feasted on the local
delicacies. At Ranthambore besides watching
the magnificent fort and its huge walls,
they also had their share of wildlife; not to
forget a tete-e-tete with the mighty Tiger.
Guided by Anil Goyal and Arpit Bansal,
the riders understood the real meaning of
the philosophy of ‘leave home’ on this ride
and came back tired but extremely happy
and satisfied.
23

ider profile
Marina Beach
Riding in the ghats
Somewhere in Karnataka
The Enfield Family
Fan club
t e x t & p h o t o g r a p h s : d i a n n e sr e e n i va s
We call ourselves the Enfield
family. We hail from the
UK but our association
with Royal Enfield began
right here in India. So how did this unique
relationship begin? It began almost twenty
years ago when my daughter Zoe was the
first person to buy a 350 cc Bullet. We all
watched and admired her confidence riding
around Goa, we all followed on Scooters
and small 125 bikes until three years later I
thought to myself if my daughter could do it,
so could I. Thus, I purchased a second hand
350 cc Bullet and suddenly the whole of India
was opened to us. My other daughter
Tanya was next a few years later and after
that we started touring together out of the
Goa.
In 2002 we saw advertisements in the
newspapers/magazines for the newly
launched ‘Thunderbird’. And so one fine
morning my daughter Tanya, her husband
Howard, me and my husband walked into
the main Royal Enfield dealer in Margao,
Goa and announced that we wanted FOUR
Thunderbirds all in different colours in a
week’s time. You can imagine the amazement
and confusion this must have caused,
no one in the history of that showroom had
24
Enroute to Agra
just walked in like this before and said give
me one of each colour, pointing out at any
bike. However, one week later, as promised,
we all got on our brand new bikes and started
touring in earnest. Two years after that my
son Warren came to India for his first holiday
and was immediately hooked. He too
purchased a Thunderbird and toured with
us, loving it as much as we do. I guess we really
owe it all to Zoe. If she had not bought
the first Enfield we may still have been pottering
around Goa on scooters.
Our association with Royal Enfield went
beyond the bikes when we attended the
Royal Enfield Rider Mania in Goa in 2009
November. We saw how much fun we could
have in the company of all Enfield lovers. We
again came to Rider Mania 2010 and met
more of the people behind these machines. It
was during this that we also thought of visiting
the Royal Enfield factory in Chennai.
We started off on our trans-India tour
this year somewhere around February had
decided to make a visit to the Royal Enfield
factory in Chennai during our trip, travelling
there from Goa on our bikes of course.
Sadly Zoe was not able to join us on this trip,
but we are sure she would definitely join us
the next time we undertake another such adventure.
On the way to Chennai we stopped
at Hampi, where we met up with friends
who run a restaurant in the middle of the
At the Factory
Bazaar, we have known them for many years
and they always make us welcome. Two
days later, riding about 350 kms a day, we
reached Chennai, found a comfortable hotel
in the middle of the city, relaxed for the
evening with good food and a few beers eagerly
discussing our forthcoming trip to the
Royal Enfield Factory.
We arrived at the Factory in the morning
and were welcomed by the staff from the
Marketing group and were shown around
all the workshops and were able to watch the
bikes being spray painted, assembled and
lastly tested. We enjoyed every minute of it
and left even more determined to “Keep on
Riding”. We left Chennai with regret as we
all fell in love with the City and the friendly,
helpful people we met and want to do the
trip again but next time with Zoe.
On the way home we stopped off at Pondicherry,
Mysore and Kerala, meeting up
along the way with friends we had met on
previous trips. This tour was for 16 days but
we felt that it was over far too quick. We have
now started planning several trips in 2012
but have to travel home very soon to the
U.K. So all our bikes are serviced, greased
and locked in my apartment until next November
– my sitting room literally looks like
the local Enfield garage. So now in the UK I
shall spend a summer season working hard
in my Ice Cream Parlour and counting the
days for my return to India.

iding tip
Water
Crossing
All the brave adventurers
who have dared to head
out to the Himalayas,
Ladakh region in particular
on their trusted
steeds have often kept
in mind 3 major perils of the region namely
dropping temperatures, altitude sickness
and water crossings. Good clothing
and diamox can get you through the first 2
but there is no aid you can call upon to get
over the water crossing part. Each one has
to ride his own bike.
A water crossing has the ability to
shrink the scenery to itself and they always
seem to look better after you have
crossed them. When travelling in a group
they bring out cameras faster than anything
else on the road. Even experienced
and confident riders pay more attention to
this particular aspect of the terrain.
There are many different kinds of water
crossings some flowing into your path
some away from you some perpendicular
and ever other unimaginable angle. There
are some that make a huge splash and a
lot of noise and some that flow silently
without drama. Sometimes you have no
idea what lurks underneath and sometimes
its visible on the surface.
Its a very simple technique really get
in at a manageable speed in a low gear
and medium revs with the clutch let out.
Before getting into the water establish
a firm stance on the bike (either sitting
or standing) and look where you want to
go. (not just 2” ahead of the tyre) take the
crossing with a bit of acceleration so your
front wheel is light. This will enable you
climb easier over obstacles and give you a
bit more clearance. Honestly its as easy as
that. Always stay calm and make sure that
your actions are from your thinking and
not from a panic reaction.
Some basic rules to follow
● Take your time to study the crossing
and dont be lazy
● Keeping your shoes dry is not the ultimate
aim.
● Its better to wait (dry) before the crossing
and watch other people cross than
to wait on the other side while you dry
yourself.
● When in doubt choose the lower gear.
● If you do get stuck try smarter not harder.
Take your time dont panic
● Pay special attention not to allow the
engine to stall.
● Point into the flow
● Don’t be afraid to get wet
● Have a plan but be ready to improvise
● If riding in a group go one at a time
Avoid
● Going in too fast
● Taking your feet off the footrest
● Stalling the engine/motion
● Panic
● Slipping the clutch
● Too much rpm
● Holding too hard on the handle bars
In case you don’t get it right the first time,
no problem. The worst thing is that you
fall and stall. I’m sure each of us will figure
out how to handle a fall. In case the
bike stalls when the silencer or air filter
was below the water level or we suspect
that the engine has taken in water do not
attempt to restart the engine. Once on dry
ground remove the spark plug dry it and
give the engine a few good kicks till you no
longer see it throw out water. you can use
the electric start to crank the engine as
well. You are good to go now but remember
to change your oil and clean your carb
at the next earliest opportunity
Ride safe
— Sachin Chavan
25

FLASH BACK
Royal Enfield Diesels
With the rise in fuel prices a lot of automobile
manufacturers are turning towards
diesel as an alternative fuel. This is something
we had touched years ago when we
made the motorcycle with the world’s lowest
running costs. Here is a look into these
‘oil burners’ of the era gone by:
Royal Enfield Taurus: The Taurus was
largely regarded as the diesel version of the
legendary Bullet. It saw light of day around
the end of the 1980’s and was launched into
the market early 1990 as a workhorse. Powered
by a 325 cc Greaves Lombardini diesel
engine producing a measly 6.5 BHP but a
good 15 NM of Torque at just 2500 RPM,
this bike was better known for its unique
range. Claiming a mileage of 70 KMPL and
a Fuel tank containing 14 Litres upwards, a
full tank would easily take you across 1000
kms without worrying about a fuel stop. It
did end up serving as an agricultural contraption
in many places, including perhaps
doubling up as a water pump. One of the
rare diesel motorcycles manufactured the
world over this definitely was one rare piece
of machinery. Being a versatile motorcycle
it came with a range of attachments and
luggage carrying options. Having a split
seat option also this was often operated as a
single-seater with luggage taking up space
where the pillion would sit.
26

Royal Enfield Robin: At almost the
same time in the UK, Ernie Dorsett, who
had done private conversions of Matchless
motorcycles to diesel, got in touch
with Redbreast (Blixworth, Northamptonshire),
the UK importer of the Japanese
Fuji Robin diesel engine. A deal was
reached with Redbreast to provide engines
and Banavar Products (at that time
the importer of Royal Enfields) to provide
a rolling chassis. The Enfield Robin
D-R 400D was powered by an all-alloy
air-cooled Fuji Robin single cylinder engine
of 412cc of displacement. It put out
8.5hp@3600rpm. It had a kickstarter but
was also equipped an electric starter, allegedly
being the first "Production Royal
Enfield" to have electric start. The Robin
finally went for sale in 1993 at 4,500
pounds, almost double of what the Bullet
350 retailed for at the time in the UK.
High cost, lack of performance and the
unfamiliar look of the engine have been
cited by some as reasons for low sales for
the model. Several dealers in the UK, Germany
and other places undertook "private
conversions" of various scales, some doing
one-off bikes per request others attempting
a more regular production.
With the cost of Petrol still rising and
diesel vehicles getting popular day by day,
who knows maybe Royal Enfield shall
again come out with another of its legendary
diesel engine contraptions combining
fuel efficiency, solid torque and the rugged
built in one easy to operate package.
27

world tour
Loading onto a ship
The Royal Heros
Royal Way Round
Four adventurous young men from the steel city of Jamshedpur set out to go
round the world in 1971 and successfully completed the adventure. This year
they relived the memories of those days by getting back together to celebrate
the occasion at the Royal Enfield Factory.
Heaving through slush
29th January 1971,
Four young men working with the Tata’s set
out on 2 Royal Enfield Bullet Motorcycles
from Jamshedpur with just about 100 dollars
in their pockets but tons of grit, and a
spirit of adventure; something they credit
their motorcycles to have cultivated in them.
These gentlemen were Mr Subhash Sharma,
Mr Ashok Kher, Mr Sampuran Singh and Mr
Manmohan Singh. Their journey took them
across 52 countries and 1,60,000 Kms. In the
course of this journey they got financial as
well as other assistance from people whom
they kept meeting and thus managed the
finances for this adventure. Their trustworthy
motorcycles took them across Deserts,
the Savannah, Slushy tracks, across small
streams, and including some parts of the
Grand Canyon. The riders rode through hot
blistering summers and snowy chilly winters
as they traversed the continents on their
thumping juggernauts. At places where they
couldn’t ride they transported their bikes by
Ship, or on off road trucks or boats but never
28
Crossing the Equator
even once turned back.
The Journey took them from Jamshedpur
to Delhi and then Mumbai, crossing over
the Arabian Sea into Iran, Turkey, Syria,
Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya,
Uganda, Congo, Cameron, Nigeria, Algeria,
Morocco, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland,
Germany, England, Canada and finally the
United States. Enroute they visited legendary
cities, and monuments like the Giza
pyramids, Roman coliseum, Eiffel tower,
Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon. The
motorcycles had special racks welded on
the rear stays on which they piled up their
luggage and during certain legs of the run
even carried a spare tyre and tubes tied behind
the bike. Their epic journey ended on
the 11th of June 1972 after which they got
their motorcycles to Royal Enfield factory in
Chennai. As a good will gesture Royal Enfield
refurbished their motorcycle and gave
the bikes back to them back sparkling as new.
To mark the 40th anniversary of their epic
ride these gentlemen decided to get together;
unfortunately one of them is no more so the
At the Factory
Well equipped riders
Out of Africa
3 got together and decided to come down to
the Royal Enfield factory to see how much
the birthplace of their epic motorcycles has
changed since they visited last. They met the
Management and Staff at the factory and
took a look at the modern machines being
made. They found the new Classic 500 to be
very familiar to the bikes they had ridden, not
having lost its traditional Royal Enfield style
and mark.
It is such men who set an example of ultimate
adventure spirit by undertaking such an
endeavour way back in the days when maps
and navigational aids were not as advanced as
they are today. It’s no surprise that their trip
was called the World Odyssey, akin to Royal
Enfield tradition of naming the rides.

motorcycle roads
Yercaud: Escape from
Bangalore & Chennai
A quick getaway from the hustle bustle of city life for Bangloreans and Chennites
is to take a ‘trip’ to Yercaud, a hill station half a day’s ride away
Yercaud in Tamil Nadu is perhaps
one of the perfect getaway destinations
from Chennai as well
as from Bangalore. It is famous
for its peaceful surroundings, the big lake in
the center of the hamlet and the hills nearby
which also serve as perfect trekking destinations.
Besides the weather the other thing
Yercaud is famous for are orchids and there
is a dedicated Orchidarium run by the botanical
society of India. As they say sometimes
it’s the journey and not the destination
that makes a trip worthwhile, getting
to Yercaud from Chennai or Bangalore is
also more or less same. The roads and the
scenic places with their individual specialities
make this journey memorable. A mix of
national highways, state highways and meandering
ghat roads full of twisties make
the route a perfect combination of different
driving scenarios. Riding on these roads
scores a point more than driving as there is
the added thrill of adventure.
Starting from Chennai the road towards
Yercaud goes out towards the western direction
on the Chennai Bangalore highway
or NH 4 towards Sriperumbudur, location
of the Madras Motorsports legendary Race
Track. After Sriperumbudur, the road widens
up and encourages one to check the
top speed of the motorcycle. However one
must be cautious of the fast moving Chennai
Bangalore buses and Big cars which
often try to exercise control on this patch.
The road then leads to the famous temple
town of Kanchipuram the bastion of Godess
Kamakshi. Cross Kanchi and the next big
place to slow down your ride is Ranipet,
once Royal Enfield had its manufacturing
plant here where it assembled/manufactured
the Enfield Fury, Explorer and Silver
Plus motorcycles. Once across Ranipet, the
road again beckons towards the yonder and
the journey becomes pleasant. Lined with
trees on both sides, and a medium boasting
of seasonal flora the road often is a sight to
reckon. Riding down this road one reaches
the famous town of Ambur known for its
Non-Veg Biryani and its leather industry.
Good chance of picking up a pair of decent
boots here and tank up with scrumptious
biryani and chicken dishes. Once you cross
Ambur you need to look out for a turn that
takes you off this highway into the countryside.
This place called Vaniyumbadi often
does get missed out. Many people prefer to
travel further down the highway to Salem
and then climb into Yercaud but we chose to
get off at Vaniyumbadi and move towards
Harur. The Route from Bangalore also
more or less joins here. It comes via Hosur,
Krishnagiri and then into Vaniyumbadi.
Once you cross Harur the temperature
starts going down as you start seeing lush
green hills in the distance and feel the cooler
mountain air refresh your soul. A shot
dash through some villages will take you
through a winding state highway to Kuppanur.
it’s here that the excitement begins
as you start ascending the ghats and since
there is hardly any traffic on this road one
wouldn’t be startled by oncoming vehicles
but it always pays to be alert. Climbing into
the hills one can just take stops randomly
anytime a small clearing is spotted from
where the valley and the nearby hills make
up for an amazing sight. The forests on your
way up are also densely populated with
bamboo, which sometimes provide a great
sight contrasting with the other vegetation
growing around.
As you roll into Yercaud, the sight of
the vast lake with numerous paddle boats
bobbing up and down in the placid waters
greets you. Yercaud also literally translates
as “A lake surrounded by Forests” which it
indeed is. There are numerous inexpensive
places to stay around the lake which would
suit every person’s budget. Alternatively
you could also camp out in the open at Yercaud
and enjoy some treks in and around
the nearby mountains.
Know an exotic location which is just a
bike ride away from the hustle bustle of
the city and would be best enjoyed on your
faithful Royal Enfield motorcycle; write in
to ppsathaye@royalenfield.com and let us
know of the exotic location and the ride.
29

REVIEWS
Arai tour XD 3 / Tour X helmet review
The XD 3 is a mix between a motocross and a
street helmet and it is a very functional design as
I have discovered. I bought it primarily because
of its ability to be used with a goggle and a visor;
however I have been lazy and have used it primarily
with the visor only.
Part of buying an Arai is the education and
insight that you get into helmets. After getting
an Arai I realised that my other helmets are too
loose and ill fitting. The Arai XD3 has the ability
to be snug and fitting without being uncomfortable.
I also love the ‘room’ around the ears and
the ease with which the helmet accepts
sunglasses/spectacles and speakers.
In this helmet the extra room in front
of the mouth and chin makes it easier to have a
conversation without removing the helmet. The
Camelbak bite valve also passes easier from under
the helmet. The XD3 has a chin spoiler that can be
pulled down to reduce noise but I haven’t noticed
any difference. The extra room makes it more bearable
in the summer but doesn’t penalise you much
when it’s cold.
Peripheral vision is good and in spite of the
sharply raked design the visor is optically true.
You can either lock the visor shut or keep it slightly
★ ★ ★ ★
open to reduce fogging. There is a pin lock visor
and insert available and I would be trying that this
year during the Himalayan Odyssey.
The peak does a good job of taking the glare
away and there is no sun in your eyes unless it’s
really low on the horizon. Noise levels remain more
of less the same so it’s not too much of a concern.
I also found it a bit more difficult to turn my head
at high speeds or strong winds and I suspect this
resulted from the shape of the helmet.
The XD3 has an emergency cheek pad release
system which is basically two red tabs on the
cheek pads. When these are pulled the
pads come off making it much easier to
remove the helmet. However, it goes
without saying that only a trained paramedic
should take the call about whether to remove the
helmet or not. The ‘Double D’ ring fastening system
is great and I prefer it over the usual buckle arrangement
because it's more secure, comfortable
and adjustable. And yes – it’s perfectly OK to put
stickers and even repaint the helmet if you want.
Overall this is a great helmet and if you can afford
it then you should go for it. It is very practical
for touring in India and nothing else perhaps even
comes close. – Sachin Chavan
Diadora
Boulevard Boots:
A colleague had ordered a pair of Diadora
Boulevard boots for himself, but they
turned out to be one size larger. I was
looking out for a pair of boots and it
seemed like a good idea to try these on. I
usually wear a size 45 (Europe) and these
shoes (also size 45) did fit me very well.
They were a bit of a squeeze for my wide
feet initially but a few days of riding and
walking around with these boots sorted
this out. They do not slip off as easily as
kicking off a pair of sneakers, and require
me to gingerly take them off using my
hands. Once on they fit snug and comfortable
too.
Diadora was a brand I had not heard of
earlier, but I am certainly impressed with
the levels of comfort these boots offer.
I did have one niggle where I noticed a
small gap between the body of the shoes
and the sole. A spot of glue was used in
time to arrest any further separation. I
★ ★ ★
have not had the opportunity
to test them
in rain, but the boots
have a waterproof lining which should
hopefully keep water seeping inside.
They also have a zipper and a double
Velcro flap which should ensure that my
socks are dry during water crossings.
The shoes have enough flex in them and
I have had absolutely no trouble shifting
gears, even using the toe shifter or while
using the rear brake pedal. Having spent
a full day riding with these boots, on
the highway, I feel these boots are very
comfortable and do not induce fatigue.
Definitely a good option for a buy if one
is looking out for comfortable all weather
riding boots. These are available at
around $100 at most leading motorcycle
gear selling websites. Customs and
Shipping charges would also apply over
and above that including them this still is
quite a worthwhile piece of equipment.
– D Ravi Kiran
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WEB WORLD
Royal Enfield’s presence on social media is augmented by its presence on twitter too.
The official twitter feed tweets about the upcoming rides along with various interesting
trivia around this legendary marque. It also serves as a tool for most Royal Enfield
bikers out there to communicate with the company as well as with each other and seek
help, guidance or just an opinion. Twitter also serves as a real-time live reporting tool as
was used during some of the rides and Rider Mania. Twitter stream can be found here:
www.twitter.com/royalenfield
Royal Enfield’s presence on Facebook is through its official fan page on which Royal
Enfield shares interesting videos, images and other news information for Royal Enfield
aficionados all over the world. Contests are often held on Facebook with some
interesting Royal Enfield merchandise up for grabs for the winners. The Facebook fan
page can be found here:
www.royalenfield.com/royalenfieldfans
Royal Enfield Blogs are basically categorised
into Life at Royal Enfield and
Riding topics. The senior management
at Royal Enfield (CEO and MD)
have their own blogs through which
they communicate their ideas and
visions with the world but giving it a
personal viewpoint and not through
official communication channels.
These Blogs not only have been read
abundantly but each comment provides
valuable feedback to the writer
and to the organization indirectly.
The Royal Enfield Blogs are accessible
at the following url:
http://www.royalenfield.com/
RE_blog/index.asp
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