Harley Davidson University

As Indians motorcycles and scooters or what we call two wheelers are just second nature to us. When I gave my test for my car license the authorities looked at me and said of course you can ride a bike and ticket the box for both. It’s just a given it’s like second nature to us.

But the funny part is it’s not second nature to us to fix our own motorcycles. There are so many roadside mechanics over and above the trained company ones that it’s just cheaper and faster to take your bike to one of them hand them the keys and come back when the work is done.

Ok let’s be honest I have spent many years riding motorcycles and spent many many days at mechanics and at Garage 52 watching stuff being done but never have I had a chance to take apart and rebuild and engine. So when Harley Davidson India invited me the attend two days at the Harley Davidson University learning to tearing down and building up a brand new Milwaukee Eight engine I jumped to it.

The Harley Davidson University is a school for all Harley Davidson technicians to come and learn and hone their skills. It was a first that a group of 40 odd motorcyclists (who don’t work for Harley Davidson) would be allowed in and allowed to run amuck.

To keep us in check they called in the big guns John McEnaney. An employee with Harley Davidson for almost 20 years he helped set up the India service operations and was technical lead for the longest time. When I asked him what bikes he had he said “every Harley since 42 and I rebuilt me all and they run” (it was some year like that I had a few beers in me when we had this conversation). So no better person to guide us in this operation.

We were given a new bench, a full set of tools, the official manual, step by step instructions by John and two of Harley India’s best mechanics to help us through the two days. John was a trooper he explained every step and came and lent a hand every now and then. Even when we snapped the bolt to the timing chain - because someone may have torqued it too much. He stood there took a deep breath and told us not to worry carry on but to put the torque wrench away as we were done for the day.

The two days on the bench working on those engines was such a brilliant experience all motorcyclists need to have specially here in our county. Thank you Harley Davidson for letting us be a part of it. Now to get some shut eye as I am riding at the crack of dawn to Goa for the 6th IHR and incidentally I am riding a new Milwaukee Eight Street Bob with the engines I now know how to put together. 

So if I break it I can fix it. 

But let’s hope I don’t have to.

 

Living the Harley Life

To be honest I have hardly spent any time in the saddle of a Harley Davidson specially here on our shores. A couple of years back around Boston I spent two days on a Electra Glide on another occasion in New Zealand I spend a couple of days on a Road King exploring the South Island (a must do) and last year Harley Davidson sent me a Road King to potter around Mumbai for a week. So when the invitation to come and be a part of the 3 day Harley Owners Group (HOG) celebration in Goa and the fact that I would have a Street Glide Special (Milwaukee Eight) to my self for the three days it was a no brainer. I was packed and ready to leave.

The celebrations entailed three evenings packed with of all sorts of stuff. There was music by Pat Savage an International HOG rider who is spending time in India making a documentary on the community and Vir Das and Alien Chutney were at hand to entertain the hordes of riders that had ridden in from as far as Chandigarh and Guwahati. Every dealership in India showcased a custom motorcycle their chapter had built.

One evening was dedicated to felicitating those riders who had munched many many miles across India on their steeds. I never realised how close knit the Harley community is and how the brand has got lots of people riding again after many years and by jove they are riding. There are people racking up huge number of miles every year and that is good to see.

For me the fun bit of the celebration was the fact that the days were not busy at all and that gave me time to explore the state of Goa. After a hearty breakfast I would get on the bike and just head out into a direction (I dare say with the music playing from inbuilt entertainment system on the bike). Since Goa is almost a second home to me I would think of a spot I had not been to (more like a lunch spot with great food) and all the small roads and tracks that I have missed riding down and I headed out in that direction.

I love the way the Special looks. Matt black with buckets of chrome I think I am developing a real love for the bagger styling. The bike comes packed with all sorts of features like cruise control, GPS (worked pretty well in Goa), Entertainment System, a charging dock that if you plug your device in its syncs up to the Infotainment system (I used it to charge my GoPro batteries). The new Eight is a dream to ride. It may look huge but once you are riding it its quite nimble for its size but its the new engine that is the most impressive. Its quiet and effortless and very quick to respond and I think it doesn't vibrate as much when it starts up. Apart from that while riding around in the Goa traffic or on the narrow back lanes of Goa. The bike never seemed hot and toasty (in Goa it can be a real pain) the new liquid cooling and redesigned exhaust works like a charm to keep the temperature down for the rider.

I spent so much time in the saddle those three days that I thought I was going to run out of roads to ride in Goa. What a fun three days it was. Thank you Harley Davidson for Inviting me I had a blast.

P.S - Now about that Road Glide...