The Real Face

Yes, we all have different faces. We put each one on according to the situation or circumstance. But I must say, when I am riding my Yezdi Roadking, it’s the real face that’s on me. The face that’s relaxed, leaving behind the struggles of life, the face that loves the wind, the rain and everything that mother nature has provided us.

My obsession for this breed of bike started with my dad. I was a nine year old kid when he used to make me sit in front on his Roadking and take me to various places around the city. I used to wait every evening for that sound ‘dung dung drrrr’, an indication that my dad is coming home from office. This would mean that I would get to go for a ride on the bike in our locality. I used to love it. When no one was around, I used to touch the bike, sit on it and fantasize riding it.

One evening, when dad got home, I didn’t hear the sound of his bike!!! I run outside to search for the bike but it wasn’t there. A financial crunch had made him sell the bike. I cried that night. My dad silently whispered into my ears - Don’t worry son, it’s my duty to see that you are educated first, you will one day start earning and buy the bike of your dreams. These lines somehow stayed with me.

To my bad luck, the Ideal Jawa factory closed down in 1996. But, since it was reliable and easy to maintain bike, it somehow remained in the market well beyond the factory closure.

The day finally came when I got my job and started earning. Having saved up some money, I went to the infamous JC road in Bangalore to find my dream Roadking. After asking a couple of shops, I finally landed up in a small shop where the dealer had a Roadking. He made a few calls and after couple of minutes, I heard the familiar sound “dung dung drrr.” I came running out of the shop to see the bike but it was badly bruised. The engine was making weird noises, the gears were not shifting properly etc. 

The day I got this black beauty

This might sound crazy, but it looked like it was talking to me, asking me to take it home. I decided to go with my gut feeI and took it straight to a mechanic. It stayed with the mechie for a week undergoing essential repairs and was finally was ready to hit the streets in style.

At the mechanic getting an overhaul

This is to those who are not familiar with the Yezdi’s. The Roadking is an all-metal bike. Other than the indicators, there’s no plastic or fibreglass anywhere in the body. If today’s tin, plastic, fiberglass & coat hanger assembled bikes can be termed as “Definitely Male”, then the Yezdi Roadking is “Definitely The Beast”! It commands attention. Very reliable, low on maintenance and a super handler. When u sit on this bike and open up the throttle, your animal instincts take over and you are transformed.

Coming back to my story, I called dad and told him that I had brought a bike. I did not reveal anything about the bike but asked him to wait outside the house. I rode my RK and stopped right in front of him, got down and handed him the keys. He was in a state of shock and couldn’t believe his own eyes. He walked around the bike touching it like a little kid. He saw me in the eye and I could see him being nostalgic. I could see tears roll down his eyes that day and reminded me of those lines he had whispered into my ears years ago.

With my proud Dad

A few years later, I got introduced to a group called Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Club. I felt great to know there are likeminded people around. The brotherhood and the passion for these bikes is simply amazing in the club. I have been to many rides with the brotherhood and each ride is a story of its own. Everyone in this brotherhood are of different professions but, we ride together with one passion - Riding. Yes, we all have different faces and we put them on according to the situation and circumstance. But I must say, when I am riding my Roadking, it’s the real face that’s on me.

The Beast

Author: Krishna Narasipura
email: nskris@gmail.com

Register for the 8th International Jawa Day

With just about a week left for the 11th July Jawa Day, we are gearing up to make sure we put up a better show this time. Last yr we could not handle the crowd (can't blame them either) as they got over excited. Our voices were muffled by the loud dub dubs of the 350 odd bikes present at the open air venue.

This time we are going to be prepared and hopefully our PA system will be louder than our bikes. We have also planned a small program to honor our elders and mechanics who have helped us keep these beautiful beasts alive and running for a fraction of the price. I still remember spending about 300 - 400 Rs on one major service and my bike would run for a whole year without any problems.

We have also ordered for limited quantities of special Jawa Day T-shirts (dark green color) which will be ready a couple of days before the event. Those interested in buying them, pls write to Lokesh on mail2lokeshjm@yahoo.co.in or Amrit on amrit.appaiah@gmail.com or post a comment here. Here is a simple layout of how it might look.

We also request you to give your registrations either before or at the venue. The cost of registration per bike is Rs 50.

C u all next week and keep a look out for newspaper coverages promoting this event.

BJYMC

Forever Bike
Forever Bikers

Largest Get Together of Jawa Yezdi bikes in India on 12th July

Yes, the 7th International Jawa Yezdi Day celebrations in Bangalore saw the largest get together of Jawa, Yezdi and CZ bikes in the country.
Organised for the second consecutive year by the Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcyle Club, the event saw over 160 Roadkings, 70 Jawas and 60 Yezdi Classics with about 30 special category bikes like the 350cc twin Jawa's & Yezdis or the rare CZs.
By 7am the Kanteerva Stadium ground transformed itself into the '80s and '90s with all these rare beauties lining up according to their category. Each one was better than the other as their owners proudly showed them off to the other participants and visitors.

Cameras came out of the pockets and people went mad trying to get the right shot and angle to capture these unique bikes that had lined up. Media crew were not far behind as they covered the entire range and interviewed a few owners and organizers.
By 8.15am the registration counter had already run out of special Jawa Day T-shirts and stickers but requests kept pouring in. Soon the crowd was overwhelming and it was time to ride out to our destination Channapatna Coffee Day.

Ace Rallyist Chinnappa did the honor of flagging off these bikes which rode past MG & Brigade rd before connecting the Town Hall - Mysore Rd flyover. From here it was non stop ride to the destination which was about 75kms from the city.

By 11am most of the bikes had reached the coffee day on mysore rd and the riders went around admiring each others machines over a cup of hot coffee and some masala dosas. After another round of photographs, the riders returned back to Bangalore by 2pm with precious memories to last a lifetime.

Special thanks to the sponsors - Progressive Mines n Minerals for the venue and GreatEscapes Bangalore (A Travel Advisory Services Company) for the memorable Jawa Day Stickers.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures posted here and do share your comments.


for The Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Club

(From R to L - Lokesh, Brian, Amrit & Sam)

Ride to Kanwa Reservior

Its been a while since we've updated this blog but going forward you will get regular updates on the rides and events happening at the club.

Had been a while since the biker boys met and rode together so a ride to the not so popular Kanwa Reservoir was planned on one misty sunday morning during the last week of May.
As usual, we all assembled at the Rajarajeshwari Arch at 6.30am and after a short chat and exchange of greetings about 30 bikes headed out on Mysore rd towards Channapatna. After about an hour of continuous riding we reached Kamat Lokaruchi restaurant but didn't stop there. We wanted to reach our destination first so continued beyond for another 3 kms till we reached the arch on the right side which said Ramanjenaya Temple which is quite popular among the locals.

There is a small lane beside this arch which is a dirt road and after about 8kms of dirt riding we reached the scenic yet peaceful reservoir. There is some construction work underway hence we had to go beyond and take the back side rd to get on top of the reservoir. We soon gathered all our bikes and parked in order for our traditional photoshoot. Unfortunately, my bike had a small puncture and the rough terrain had taken its toll on the rear tyre which was completely flat by the time we reached this lake.
After all the bikers had gathered, some with their family members including small children, we had a round of photoshoot and brief discussion about the upcoming Annual International Jawa Yezdi Day celebrations. One enthuiastic oldtimer came prepared with notes on how to form the club formally with a lot of do's and don'ts which he share with all of us. We all went around appreciating some rare beauties and exchanged notes on spares and cues on modifiyin the latter models.
By 10.30 our tummies began to grumble and it was time to head back for breakfast but i on the otherhand had a task to complete before i could think of food. So with the help of a few bikers i quickly dismanteled the rear tyre and we were on our way back to the highway to get my tyre fixed. Within minutes we were back at Kamat Lokaruchi for a sumptious breakfast and exchanging notes on our bikes. With fully bellies we were read to head back and Amrit on his Yezdi Monach was kind enough to take me back to the resorvior to fix my bike.

Soon we were back on the road towards Bangalore with the sun god being kind to us and providing shade all thru. Guess we all reached the city by 1 pm and parted our respective ways with memories of yet another successful ride on our good old classic beauties.
Those of you who were part of this ride, do share your comments and hope to see you all for the next ride in June.

For the Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Club

brian