Challenge Accepted

My WhatsApp starts pinging like mad. I check instantly because I am stuck to the phone surfing Instagram all the bloody time these days.

Other Person :"Vir What are you doing between the 1st - 3rd Feb"

Me: "Nothing" 

Other Person : "Wanna ride a motorcycle?"

Me:"Do the wheels of a bus go round and round?"

Other Person : "HUH!!!"

Me: "Yes"

Other Person : "Ok then we want you to ride to the Harley Davidson 6th HOG Rally in Goa and well do your thing but only with your GoPros." 

Me: "Challenge Accepted"

Other Person (GoPro India): "Killer we cant wait. Someone will be in touch about the motorcycle."

So the idea was straight enough. Ride a new Harley Davidson 2018 Street Bob from Mumbai to Goa and have fun while doing so. Spend a few days with the HOG crew partying in Goa and go back home. 

This is what I got. Tell me what you think? Did we nail it or not?

Exploring Goa

So we spent the afternoon scoping out roads and routes for the Helmet Stories Goa Breakfast Ride during India bike week in February 2013.

Helmet Stories: The films we love

For a long time we have waited for a motorcycle festival in India that welcomes all bikers to come and hang out and party, sans the politicking, just a common ground to share the biking camaraderie. The India Bike Week in Goa on 2-3 Feb 2013 promises to be just that with fun events, custom bike competition, vintage motorcycles on display, a flea market just for motorcycles and many top music acts.
For us, at Helmet Stories, the most fun is in riding to events like these with buddies, a common song in our hearts. And at the end of the day looking at our parked bikes, engines ticking cool in the dark of that night, there's that quiet joy of another perfect day. And of course a fine Scottish beverage.
So here are a few of our favourite  films that inspire us and make the call of the open road so much more desirable... - HARSH MAN RAI, Mumbai

It's Better In The Wind - Short Film from Scott Toepfer on Vimeo.

MUSIC VIDEO RIDING SEPTEMBER from SAGS on Vimeo.

LONG LIVE THE KINGS - Short film documentary - from SAGS on Vimeo.

PETROL-FOOD-BEER: Around the World with Austin Vince from Make Your Bones on Vimeo.

Sunday Ride, Goa

Jamshed at Sunset Point in Mollem, Goa

Rider Mania 2011, for Vir, again

Had a ham roesti for you, Vir

Rider Mania 2011, breakfast at Lila Cafe

Not the choriz-pau but equally good

Rider Mania 2011, Capella pool

Rider Mania 2011, Capella, Goa

Riding in the rain on the tour of NH17

We joined Royal Enfield and rode with them on their Tour of NH17. As they say on their website the main idea is to take the scenic route from Mumbai to Goa, the highlight of the ride is to get on your bike and ride during the monsoons, walking through clouds at one moment and strolling on the vast deserted beaches, gorging on strawberries in the ghats one moment while sipping on a hot coffee the other. The ride was even better than expected and we had a blast riding the back roads of Maharastra making our way towards Goa. Must put this on your list of must do rides.

 

 

Mollem Ride, Goa

Chilly water stream, the perfect pit stop on a muggy day
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Rider Mania, day 3

Tooling off to the Mollem reserve forest
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Rider Mania, Trials

Clean run from local rider Faisal
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Rider Mania Day 2, 500cc dirt race

Chotu Baljit wins the 500 class by a country mile
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Dirt Race, practice

Mayhem already on the practice lap!
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Rider Mania, Day 2

Old friend Javeen getting his 'question mark' bike ready for the custom competition.

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Helmet Stories

A clutch of helmets at Rider Mania 2010. If they could speak, I'm sure they would have some interesting tales to tell about the journey to Goa, just like how ours was.
Tomorrow is the dirt track and trials events at RM which I suspect should provide some thrills and spills. Watch this space...
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Rider Mania Begins!

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Lineage

The first bike the starting point...Machismo 350 what a super bike

The first crew on its way to Mcloedgang years ago

The now crew on its way to Goa Rider Mania 2009