Interview: Abijith Rao

Who are you ?

I'm Abijith and I’m a fanatic motorcycle traveler, a musician and an audio engineer. 

When did you first get interested in bikes?

It can goes back 15 years ago, Where I was allowed to just park my Dad's Bajaj Chetak in and out of the Garage and to just drool looking at my Uncle's old Bullet 350cc. One ride being Pillion on the Yezdi with my Uncle I think triggered it all.

What was the first bike you ever owned?

My first motorcycle was a Honda Unicorn back in 2005, I was just in college and ever since then I've been inclined and bitten by the travelbug, especially exploring the trails and B-roads on the motorcycle.

What was the first motorcycle trip you ever took?

Just before I bought my first motorcycle, me and a couple of friends were riding 2 up on Bajaj Pulsar and RX 135. Coming from an orthodox family, I used to just take off saying I had to do combined studies and just hit to places like Coorg and the likes also in and around Bangalore. From that time on, I've never stopped.

Overland on a Himalayan. How? What? Why?

It all started with mainly MTM becoming the vital plug to ‘travel’ across borders for me. Meeting so many humble and great travellers inspired me a lot and I started dreaming about experiencing different culture and meet new people. Mainly it was, Hubert Kreigel, his stories and one phrase “Take that risk!” did it all for me. I always wanted to travel in the heart of Mongolia for some reason, It was just hooked on to my head. I thought I’ll do this trip in 2015, I didn’t pay much attention and just waved it away and I wasn’t that serious about it initially as this idea seemed impossible to me. After several days, it came back to me again, and this time it was more persistent. But I decided to suspend it as I was about to leave for one month trip to the Himalayas. I will have enough time to think about possible trip across border later, I told to myself. And it really happened this way. 

Preparation took me more than 15 months. During this period of time I went through the moments of doubts, hopes and disappointments, rises and falls. It was very difficult to find support and understanding, I was going in circles. By this time, I got invited by Castrol as one of their influencers the brand’s new product launch. I proposed this ride’s plan with them, after few negotiations they were willing to fund a part of my trip. There I was all set with the foundation with Castrol on board and all my savings ready to travel to Stans and Mongolia. 

Later the plan progressed onward to EU as China/Tibet was really expensive.

Himalayan - Everyone were kinda baffled, when I said I was taking the Himalayan. It was a fairly new bike in the market with a lot of initial issues. For us Indians, there are no options for a good adventure bikes, with the ergonomics of this motorcycle, I really felt comfortable and prepped it up for this journey. 

Always, There's a fine line between Reliability Vs. Repairability. I opted for Himalayan as it was a repairable bike and my plan was it to put it through some extreme terrains through this journey.  

How did you ship the bike to the starting point?  

India is pretty much landlocked right now, With all the bureacracy, Pakistan is a no-go and Burma is expensive needs a tour guide and same goes with exiting through Nepal/China. I had to fly/ship it out of the country. I’ve spent over 6 months working on Visas, documentation and all other paperwork. India is considered as a risk-immigrant country to apply for Visas in Central Asia. Dealing with paperwork has always been a drag for me. But 4 months of dealing with various embassies & regulations has taken patience to a completely new level. Particularly if you're planning to travel through Central Asia, do yourself a favour and ask a visa-agency to do the visa-runs for you, You might save a little time and avoid, running around in Delhi. 

Disaster struck, when I received the quotation for my Air freight charges. My expenses went up by almost 40pc. Then I started my crowd-funding campaign and I’ve received so much of support and people now are a part of my journey and I’m really grateful. Finally on April 15th 2017, I set off on this journey, arrived in Tashkent. I was also supported by 'Big Bad Bikes' who suited me up with Klim gear, Which is probably the best one out there.

I spent close to 2 months working on the motorcycle with my mechanic and made it ready for this big adventure. I even ran it 15,000 kms before the trip to see what problems i might encounter and be prepared for it.

Till now what was the best and the worst part of the ride you have encountered?

I wouldn’t say there’s any least favourite part as once you start a journey, ups and down are a part of it. It teaches you how you can adapt to a situation and how you’ll tackle it. It just makes you stronger. Riding through the Wakhan corridor of Tajikistan, Trans European Trail, Balkans Trails, Mongolia and even the Trans - Siberian across Russia have been just amazing and I'm in total loss of words as to how spectacular the ride was.

What's in your garage back home?

I have my 'Old Lady' which is a 1970 STD 350 G2 Bullet and the 2016 RE Himalayan

What advice do you have for other motorcycle nomads?

All of us dream and very few chase your dreams and go for it. We often keep pushing the ideas of our dreams for ‘Tomorrow’. We fail to realise at one point we will have way to many ‘tomorrows’ piled up and those tomorrows have become ‘Yesterdays’. For many, a job is some unpleasant work you do, in order to make money, with the sole purpose of making money. It’s absurd to take up a job for the sole purpose of making money. If money becomes the only goal and it does. If you work that way, you begin to lose out on your life. We live by media feeding us a lot these days, we are pointed a lot of unnecessary bullshit, with just negative and unwanted stuff to the mass. We are so hooked on to the monotonous routine that it’s really hard to get out of the ‘Autopilot’ mode. As long as you love what you do, find it soon and just go for it. Work will always fill a large part of your life, The only way to be truly satisfied is by doing what you love.

So remeber, One 'No' is say is one less ride taken. Just go!

Now what is your dream ride? 
Following the Sibersky Extreme Trail . The marked roads of ‘Walter Clebatch’ who is a legend in lesser explored sides of Siberia and Mongolia and South America with a lot of time in hand. 

Where are you riding next?
Mostly TAT ( Trans American Trail) and South America is on the charts. Hopefully, 2019. 

Where can we check you out on the interwebs and see whats next?

Facebook: @trailbugadv
Twitter: @trailbugadv | @abijithmrao
Instagram: @trailbugadv | @abijithmrao

Youtube:  https://goo.gl/K5LiMD

I'm currently updating the website, it's should up and running soon  www.trailbugadventures.com

 

Interview: Jonathan Gibson, Sydney to London on a 350cc Royal Enfield

Who are you ?
My name is Jonathan Gibson. A guy who gave up his day job (it's hard to believe I used to wear a suit... and have clean finger nails) to ride an old Enfield from Sydney to London while raising money for charity.  

When did you first get interested in bikes?
I have always had a thing for bikes. As a kid I had a hard-backed poster of Mick Doohan hanging in my wall. As a teenager I owned a leather jacket and jackboots long before I ever had a motorcycle. Despite coming from 5 generations of motorcyclists my parents were always very adamant that I should stay away from motorcycles.   

What was the first bike you ever owned?
A bright yellow 1994 Suzuki Bandit 250 at age 18. My parents tried very hard to keep me away from them... but here we are.  I rode the be-jesus out of that bike. Multi-day trips with all my gear loaded up. Learning to ride it on the back winding mountain roads around Brisbane and just being a general delinquent and hoon. The girl I was seeing lived at the bottom of a notorious mountain called Mt Glorious which Charlie Boorman once described as  "A truly great stretch of road": I used to blast that late at night when there were no cars or other bikes around. None of my friends owned bikes so I learnt to push the boundaries of that bike by myself.  I am very surprised that was not my first and last bike.  

What was the first motorcycle trip you ever took?
To go camping with my grandparents at a camp site so I could go fishing with them. The camping and fishing spot was about 4 hours north of Brisbane on the back roads. I didn't bring any food apart from a few packets of Ramen noodles to eat. To this day my grandparents still remind me about the time I went camping with nothing but a few packets of noodles and they had to feed the underprepared starving motorcyclist. In my defence - I really love noodles. 

In in 2012 Jonathan did 12,000kms on a 150cc across South America.

Sydney to London on a 350cc Royal Enfield. How? What? Why?
I read a book called the yellow book or 'Across Asia on the Cheap' along with Ted Simons' - 'Jupiter's Travels'. They both painted a picture of large overland travel from years ago... A very much a DIY attitude - No support crew, no real budget... Well... that kind of travel just appealed to me.   I always wanted to do a big motorcycle trip after blasting across South America on a 150cc for which I put together a photo blog which picked up 1.2 million views! I (and other people apparently) really got a kick out of taking a non-traditional bike to its limits and doing things that people say "Can't be done". 

I am the 5th generation to ride an Enfield, and I was aware that my grandfather rode a post-war 350 Bullet. I liked old bikes. Then one day I was siting in an office... I made the call to do a trip. Combine a few things I love. Old bikes, travel, meeting people and put it in action while raising money for charity. A few months later I left Sydney. 


What kind of preparations did you make for this ride? 
Not many. I didn't have much of a budget so I spent some time making some gear, researching the most cost effective mods I could make to the old bike along with some googling of different visa requirements. 

What bank did you hold up for this ride? 
These kind of trips can be cheaper than most people think. For me this trip will cost around the same as a new Harley Davidson back home. My budget is roughly $15 AUD a day or 25 Rupees a KM over 1.5 years.   

Till now what was the best and the worst part of the ride you have encountered?
The best part would have been some of the back roads between Goa and Mumbai. The run along the North Coast of Sumatra was also amazing. The worst part... Outback Australia. Just long straight stretches for days with nothing to really see while the sun cooked both bike and rider. I am glad I did it... but I will not rush back into it.   

What's in your garage back home?
I could never afford to have a garage when I was in Sydney. I did have a small outside courtyard though that I shared with another motorcyclist I lived with. In that area there were a whole bunch of redbacks (potentially lethal spiders), my Cagiva Raptor, my '72 XL 250, my house mate's SV650 and his XL500. We would have to put up a tarp when we wanted to wrench to prevent major sunburn. That said, I sold all of my bikes to do this trip. One day I will own a garage... That will be a good day. 

What advice do you have for other motorcycle nomads?
Carry a Leatherman and a smile. Those things along will get you out of 99% of your issues. 

Where do we go to follow your journey to London?
The website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter 

Interview : Avinash Thadani

Who are you? 
Avinash Thadani. Born and Brought up in Bombay. Went to Doon for boarding, back to Bombay, then to the States for 12 years. Now back in Bombay to work in Advertising.

When did you first get interested in bikes? 
When I was 10 years old, I saw Top gun. Thought he was the coolest guy because he flew planes and rode bikes. After that there was no turning back.

GPZ 900r, Leather Jacket and Aviators cool we approve but Tom what happened to the Helmet?  

What was your first bike you ever owned?
I was in the States, turned 21 I saved enough money and bought myself my first bike. A 1988 Honda Rebel 450 cc.Its got to be the coolest bike I ever had, and the way I felt when I rode it is still unmatched. I learned to ride while testing the bike out.

What is your favorite bike?
This is tough one.
KTM's will always be my favorite bikes, because they are just abnormal. They are fun and they give me the power to feel I can go anyplace in the world. My goal is to go where the streets have no name, and a KTM always takes me there.
The newer KTM's are not doing it for me, but the new 200 Duke is fun.
The KTM Supermoto is something I have been eyeing.
The KTM 2010 Dakar Speck is just too much to handle, and I want it - badly.
But the ultimate bike - hands down is my 2000 KTM 640 adventure.

However I would love a Ducati Sports Classic. It is the most beautiful bike I have ever seen. Next on the list is the Sports 1,000 Paul Smart addition - just sex on toast.

Would like the Enfield Desert Storm, think its quiet stylish.

Harley Street Bob. Its the best Harley out there, and it feel like a rough bike, unlike all the other bike which are built for the weekend pansy's.

I would kill for an old Norton.

1954 Nortan Manx

What bike would you like to see in India?
Ducati Sports Classic.

What was the first real trip you and your bike took?
The first trip was 1 month after i learned to ride. I bought my first bike (Honda rebel 450) on 28th August 2001. I learned to ride. Then September 11th happened. By the end of September I was itching to ride out. I had long hair and a big beard and I looked scary.

Once evening I got up at 8 PM, and said I am going. Got on the bike, and took 3 days to ride 1,000 miles to Washington DC. I had planned to go to NYC, but I got scared because everyone was freaked out by people like me. So I made it to DC, and chilled there for a week.

It was freezing cold, and I was scared going 80mph. I learned everything there is to know about myself, riding and motorcycles on that ride. I reached Wisconsin frozen, wet, almost frost bitten but happy as hell.

You spent four month in South America on your KTM how did that happen?
Saw a map, realized there was just one road from the top of N.America to the bottom of S.America. So obviously I wanted to ride it. Took 10 years of dreaming about it, talking about it, and planning it in my head. In July 2010 i got engaged to my girlfriend. We went to see a movie called Knight & Day (Tom Cruise, seems to be my inspiration) crap film but the character played by Cameron Diaz talks about how she always dreamt about driving to the Cape Horn (bottom of South America). Tom was like "if you keep dreaming it will never happen".

Thats when I realized my dream would never happen. I Told Pritha I had to do it, she promised to join at some point.

So I went back to NYC, sold our company, decided to return to India, but not before taking 4 months off to do the ride first.

As soon as I bought the bike the trip was on. From then it was just a matter of going through the motions. One thing lead to the next and finally in October I was off.

Flags of the world on the Bolivian Salt Flats

What kind of preparations did you make your ride?
Got the visas.
Got Wolfman luggage and a few spares.
I had read many travel books like Jupiters travels etc, so I know what the deal was.
Saw the Horizons unlimited DVD on what to take.
Got a lonely planet, and that was it.

Most importantly what bank did you hold up to pay for the ride? 
It didn't cost as much as you might imagine.
I did it in $30k. Most of the money went in Flying my bike to Colombia, then shipping it back to India. While on the road you manage in $20-$50 a day. South America is really cheap.
My company got sold, I had a small part in it, so I have a bit of cash for the ride.

What is the ultimate dream ride for you ?
Mongolia.
Road of bones, but with no back up.
Trans Siberian Pass

Whats parked in your garage right now?
KTM 640 Adventure
KTM Duke 200
Enfield 500 Machismo

Where are you riding to now?
Don't get to ride much, just working most of the time.

Do you have any advice for all those aspiring motorcycle nomads?
Its not about the kms or the countries you make it through. Its a state of mind. If you want to travel on a motorcycle, then you have to be ready to be exposed to the world. Once you do that then your on a different plane.

Take some time off to expose yourself to the world, and then the world will give it back to you.

Interview: Joshua John

I have know Joshua since college which as far as I can remember was along time ago. The first time I met him he had a dream of riding cross the US on a Harley (crap I never asked him about that). Lately he started the Delhi Bikers Breakfast Run and actually inspired us to start the Mumbai Breakfast Run (Cant remember the last time we rode though!!!). Anywho we caught up with him for a chat.

Who are you?

People call me Josh, my wife calls me ‘Baby’ and my baby calls me ‘Daddy’. I am a pastor of Fusion Church in Delhi. Run a site call headrushART.com that has mostly paintings on motorcycling around the Himalayas…and I run an inter-club motorcycle group called ‘Delhi Bikers Breakfast Run’.

When did you first get interested in bikes?

First time? That would be back in ’93. Some rugged German bikers visited our school on their Beemers to give a talk on their ride around the world. Unfortunately I wasn’t in the German class so I missed their talk but I got to pull back the throttle when they started their bikes. I was hooked! Our school actually had an Enfield club for the staff…

What was your first bike you ever owned?

I bought a second hand ‘95 RE 350 right after college. 

What is your favorite bike?

I am an adventure bike person. So if I could afford any bike I’d go for Yamaha XT Super Tenere or KTM Adventure fully kitted by Touratech.

What bike would you like to see in India?

Since KTM is already here, I’d love to see their 690 Enduro launched here.

Functionality vs bling?

Kill the Chrome! Bring on the mud! Tasteful Functionality please.

What is your favorite road to ride on?

The Lahaul-Spiti circuit would be my favorite for now. The terrain and landscape are incredibly diverse and beautiful. Plenty of detours to explore and get lost in. And at Tabo they serve a mean shot of espresso.

You took a road trip from Delhi to Kanyakumari a few years back tell us about that?

That was quite a trip! Initially there were 3 of us from Delhi, a friend joined us from Mumbai and then in Cochin I parted ways and went solo. I wanted to document the ride but having never filmed before I fumbled along and managed to make a doc about how not to make a bike film. 

Besides the sheer joy of riding from north to south (how can I possibly describe it here!)…there was the tension of riding with those who held a  different philosophy on riding and life in general. A long trip is always quite revealing and I realized what a self-righteous jerk I can be at times. But nothing beats the feeling of standing at the tip of India, knowing that the road really ends there!  

What’s the next big ride you are planning? 

With a family, I have had to be wise and reprioritize. (yes we know the feeling)

So the big trips are still happening but in our Scorpio (Sacrilegious J). We drove to Kanyamuari and back in January and covered most of Nepal in April. But come June, hopefully I’ll be off to Spiti on my bike once again!

What prompted the Delhi Bikers Breakfast Run?

I’ve been with a club and seen many others around and realized there were many incredible bikers unable to connect because of juvenile club restrictions. There’s this bikers ‘caste system’ that says the value of the biker is directly proportionate to the worth of the bike he/she rides. Which is bullshit! (We hear you man) People are more valuable than what they posses(we like to say we its not what you ride its that you do).

There had to be a platform that didn’t threaten existing clubs, united people across the brand-borders to simply ride few hours out of Delhi…for both first timers and seasoned bikers. Which was possible only by keeping all the cocky ego strutting and brand thumping out of the picture…and the alcohol & narcotics;)

Hence, DBBR was started. I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see the turnout growing steadily and this year our average number has been above 200 bikers per ride. 

So now what for the DBBR?

Great question! Our motto is ‘RIDE – RESPECT – RELAX’ and we’re trying to stretch the definition with each ride. From where we ride and why to how we show respect and the way we relax…

Currently, we don’t organize any breakfast runs because of the heat and because most of us are focusing on heading up the mountain.

But we have been doing cause oriented events (donating blood, building houses for the homeless and organizing talks on preparing for Ladakh…so DBBR will continue to engage our city’s marginalized and inspire one another. That’s how we’ll ride and respect and relax.  

We want to stay relaxed and as organic as possible. Not become an organization that begins to cash in on the numbers…DBBR, as far as I can help it, wont be for sale…which ensures that we have the right people for the right reason.

We’re an active community on the ground and less online and our ultimate goal is to steer an authentic motorcycling community that’s not simply aping the west but is uniquely Indian and impacting Delhi in a positive way. Don’t have a blueprint but have some solid bikers who’re teaming and helping me along the way. 

What do you do when you are not riding for breakfast?

Ha ha ha…I am giving interviews like these! Actually, I am super involved with my church that does its bit in serving and loving our city. We have a selfless group of people who are my heroes and I get to lead them. I prepare my sermons for Sundays, I tell people they have hope and eternal life in Jesus…etc I paint for upcoming shows or projects…I plan and prepare for upcoming seminars in schools or rides for DBBR, do odd tattoo designs for friends, drum for the Angelo Daimari Band when I need a free meal at a club. I laugh with and at my daughter and try to convince my wife that I wont go sterile by eating Wai Wai instant noodles. No two hours are the same for me…ever!

How does one get in touch with you?

Just go to my bragging site. (I know, you’ll be horrified, there’s a travelogue and it has nothing about motorcycle!) that’s why you have Helmet Stories! Go on my site, click on contact and tell me you want to produce my next doc film.

100th post special. Interview: Akshai Varde of Vardenchi Customs

For Helmet Stories 100th post we bring you Akshai Varde of Vardenchi Customs who has been building custom bikes since 2005. We caught up with him to find out what makes him tick and also ended up talking to him about some custom parts for our bikes. (Sigh... we just cant help our selves)

Who are you?
My name is Akshai Varde and I am a custom chopper designer, producer, manufacturer and enthusiast.

When did you get interested in bikes? and what was the first bike you ever owned/rode?
 I’ve been interested in bikes for as long as I remember. I don't remember anything that interested me as much as two wheels....put together of course.

My first cycle (tricycle): age 18 months
My first bicycle (with training wheels): age 24 months
My first BMX: age 12
My first racer cycle: age 14
My first motorcycle (RD 350) : age 16
Now when you have a RD 350 at the age of 16, you are king. Riding it to St Xavier's college early in the morning was a feeling I will never forget. That was my entry into the big, bad world of motorcycling.

What prompted you to build your first bike? 

After 30-odd months of doing " Tea/Coffee" and "Veg/Non Veg" (cabin crew lingo) I needed a miracle to bring me out of my rut. Dont get me wrong, I had lot of respect for my job, where else would a 23-year-old earn 25 G's a month and be chauffeur-driven to work and back. Plus I was doing alright, being one of the youngest flight supervisors at the time and being appreciated for the blood and sweat I was putting in. (I  once cut my finger once pulling a food cart out). The miracle came in the sweetest forms. My bike, my Love!
I bought my second hand royal enfield for Rs 14,000, barely managed to get the parts and money together to restore her and that was a sweet job in itself. It was not a full-blown job some basic paint job, chrome and custom bars that I thought were pretty awesome at the time - today I would be worried to hold it in my hands. I played a bit with the seats and the styling, with my close to zero skills in any thing automotive. This machine was now a nicely done Royal Enfield with a decent amount of individuality, and I got my fair share of looks and high fives.
I thought I was the man.
One day I went to watch a movie at the local cineplex. I rode down into the basement parking, revving the engine slightly as usual, causing the entire basement to thunder softly. Found a nice parking spot next to a stock Royal Enfield imagining the face of the owner, when he would come back from his movie to see my nice, shiny, custom deep red, all chrome Royal Enfield with a home-made custom handlebars and seats. I came back all smug, only to find a different motorcycle standing there.... a full-blown customized motorcycle... and what a job it was!!!  Shattered is a mild way to put what I was feeling. It was a far better chrome job, far better paint job, a mother of a handle, shapely tank and other sheet metal parts, and a finish far better than I could imagine. Standing right there in that parking lot in the August of 2005, I swore with every thing honest inside me that I would build my bike bigger, better and wilder than any other custom motorcycle India was ever to see.
So for the next six months of my life were hell. Six months of running pillar to post, with 20-hour work days, pleading and begging, cursing and yelling, frustration of every kind and in every intensity, all of it.....to create my own custom chopper. The first of its kind in India. That’s how Akshai Varde the Flight Supervisor turned into Akshai Varde the custom Chopper Builder.

Who are your influences? 

Roger Bourget. Though he's not a widely known chopper builder in the US, his was one of the first bikes I had seen in a magazine when I first got interested in customization. 

Roger Bourget from www.bourgets.com

I am influenced by Arlen Ness who is known as the father of the chopper movement in the US mostly because I visited his factory in Hayward, San Francisco and fell in love with his work.

Arlen Ness the Godfather of Choppers

Other than that I am inspired by all the art I see around me on a daily basis even some work done by Indian artists inspires me to create.

What is your favorite production bike?
That's a tough one. I would have to go with the Confederate Hellcat. Though it is custom production.

The Confederate Hellcat one hell of a bike. We would kill to own one.

What is your favorite bike you built?
I love all my bikes. The excitement of making someone’s dream bike into a road reality is enough to fall in love with her every step of the way.  From brainstorming to building to delivery, she’s got me whipped all along the way.  While she’s in my shop, she’s my favourite, but just like in a relationship - once I deliver her, I’m ready for the next challenge. However, the VEDIC has developed into a Vardenchi icon as she truly is a unique beauty and has found many admirers.

The Vedic is the Verdenchi's most admired and famous custom bike.

What do you do for fun?
For the last years developing Vardenchi has been my life.  Indulging in my passion is an amazing feeling and there is always so much more to learn.  I have fun dreaming up the next move.  We’re hoping to expand into body kits for Pulsars and Fazers and to eventually launch our very own Vardenchi V-Twin motorcycle brand.

What bike would you like to see in India?
The Confederate.

What is the worst bike ever according to you?
There is no such thing

Functionality vs Bling?
Blend. Functionality is essential in India, but bling should never be undermined.  All Vardenchi creations are built to both last and inspire. We make sure that your engine maintains its reliability and work on making the ride as comfortable as possible. We love taking our fleet out on rides beyond the city, gives you the opportunity to truly enjoy the beauty of riding. As far as bling goes, well we aren’t building these amazing masterpieces to keep them quiet... you will know a Vardenchi when you see one.

What is your favorite road to ride on?
There are many roads that people love to ride on for various reasons. I enjoyed riding on Highway 101 and the road to Sausalito in California. But when I need a joyride to set me free in a short distance I go riding on the old Mumbai-Pune highway.

U.S. Highway 101, Oregon Coast:  Astoria to Brookings

How does one get in touch with you? 

If you’re interested checking out our bikes or taking them for a test ride contact your nearest dealer. We have branches in Mumbai, Pune and Goa- with hopes of expanding into Kolhapur and Bangalore. If you live outside of these cities you are always welcome to visit our workshop or contact Nathalia Castella or check out our site.

Scenes from Vardenchi's workshop in Mumbai

How long does a build usually take ?
We offer 3 types of customization:
TYPE I: Revamp Kits, in a variety of styles... maintain the chassis and don’t have to send your bike in for a complete custom look.  We design, create and package the kit in 3-4 weeks.
TYPE II and III: Full deviations from your stock bike giving you that Custom Chopper Look and Feel. This requires you to send your bike in for assembly.  These builds take 8-10 weeks from when we receive your bike.

How many bikes have you built till date? 

We’ve built over a hundred bikes.  Lost count along the way, but if I really took some time I’m sure I could tell you each and every build since we opened our doors 5 years ago... but these days I prefer to remember the feeling they left me with.

Whats the future like for Vardenchi Customs? 

We are currently working on a number of projects. Hoping to expand our Chop Shop sales locations across the country in the form of dealerships, and we’ve already launched in Pune, Mumbai and Goa. We hope to grow to 10 locations by the end of the year.
We are also working on a new product launch for Pulsars and Fazers, offering Monster Body Kits for both.  We hope to bring Vardenchi to the sports and speed enthusiasts in the upcoming months.
Our ultimate dream though, is to launch our very own Custom Vardenchi V-Twin Brand of Motorcycles- the first in India!!!
All the projects are in the works and the buzz around them is big!  When I look at it now, I can totally envision all of this, but when I put myself back into 5 years ago, I truly had no idea that I would end up here.  Everyday I'm thankful for the incredible adventure my life has taken me on.

We hear you are working on bolt-on kits where can we get our hands on those from?
We have already launched our revamp kits for Royal Enfield and offer them in a variety of styles.  Check out your local dealer or our bolt-on kits section on our website. But don’t get thrown off by the term kit, these are full-on custom bikes that fully customize all elements of your bike excluding the engine and the chassis.  We classify these as
TYPE I Customizations as they replace all of the following components; wheels, tires (from stock 90mm to 140mm!), signature Vardenchi handlebars, hand grips and foot controls.  Custom welded tank, front and rear fenders.  Custom stylized seats, tool box, carburettor cover and our signature Vardenchi number plate housing available in side and rear mounts.
After the success of our Fazer Customization for Disney’s Tron we knew we had to develop kits for the Pulsars and Fazers of India.  The product will launch in the upcoming months, so be sure to keep an eye on our blog, website and fanpage for updates.  You can even check out the Tron build at our Mumbai dealership!

Harleyesque, but neat Royal Enfield bolt-on kits from Vardenchi .

How much does a Verdanchi Custom motorcycle cost?
TYPE I: Rs 50,000-1.3 lakh
TYPE II: Rs 2.2 lakh (most type III can be altered to fit the type II category)
TYPE III: Rs 3.2- 3.5 lakh  (most of our choppers featured on our website are TYPE III)
 Differences between TYPE II and TYPE III:
-       170mm rear vs. 200mm rear
-       Box Swing Arm vs single sided swing arm
-       Chain Drive vs Exposed Belt Drive

What is the latest bike you are working on?
We’re currently working on a Harley Davidson Sportster and a build for a guy from the Maldives, hooking him up with 300mm rear tires and full mag wheels.  This will be our first 300mm fitting and we are kicked to see how it looks. For the last years we’ve been working with 200mm, but have started importing 300s from America due to popular demand.  Shipment should arrive any day...excited to see these mad wheels!

We leave you with some Vardanchi Customs from over the years.