Motorcycles are not just a means to get from one place to another – it is a way of life. To see this in all its glory, one has to visit the Rider Mania extravaganza. Since 2003, every year Royal Enfield motorcyclists from all over the country flock to Goa for this mega event which is synonymous with brotherhood, passion and brand loyalty.
As expected, the 11th edition got bigger and better which had everything from showcases, dirt biking, arm wrestling, beer drinking competition to live music performances.
As you enter the venue, the first thing to notice is the wish wall called “Before I die I want to ride to…” and you can see the riders listing their wishes to ride to various exotic places like Bhutan to Estonia to Alaska.
The venue for the event saw food and drink section and the competition space which had the tracks etc. for the different races. The dirt track saw some serious action as always with Sohel winning the Men’s Himalayan Expert race (yet again, he was the 2017 and the 2018 winner) and Aryhana bee winning the Women’s race. There were a host of other exciting races such as Ace the Hill, Motoball, Slow Race, Plank Race, Assembly wars, Carry your bike to name a few. Each of these events saw competition at its best with participants trying their mighty best to win and be able to lift that winner’s trophy. You can see the list of all the winners on the Royal Enfield events page.
The vibe at the event was infectious and power packed coupled with an eclectic showcase of music from The Royal Enfield Collective, Avial, Dualist Enquiry, The Local Train, Parikrama and a host of DJ’s that kept the vibe alive and pumped. The event stood true to the Royal Enfield Ethos of ‘Music, Mates and Motorcycling’. It’s heartwarming to see the passion with which each of the riders rode in from various parts of the country all basking in RE pride.
Two special mentions –
The event also saw the unveiling of the Royal Enfield SLIDE SCHOOL where they are taking Flat Tracking to a whole different level. The school is launched in collaboration with Big Rock MotoPark, Bangalore for riders to experience this motorsport in a controlled environment. The school’s endeavor is to introduce and train riders to the nuances of this growing sport.
These are on customized Royal Enfield Himalayans designed in collaboration with S&S Cycles which will help riders be a part of this growing motorsport. Let’s look at the custom-made Himalayan that makes all this possible – firstly it has been tuned for track use and stripped off any extra weight for the perfect ergonomics with a light weight full spectrum battery; which reduces the overall bike weight to approximately 64 kgs. Impressive I know!
An absolute highlight for us while we there was the buzz around the Garage Café. Garage Café is a RE themed Café located at Baga which is a must visit for all who visit Goa. Set right next to the Baga River, the café offers a quaint and relaxed atmosphere with absolutely exquisite food. The food was delicious to say the least; the menu reflects the local and international flavours.
We found ourselves going there for a quick bite and a quiet meal more than a few times for the ambience and food alike. The Café was bustling with RE riders and others too which made the energy in that place undeniable. Alongside the Café, you can experience the RE brand through the museum which has a fascinating collection of RE vintage motorcycles as well as a gear store where you can shop till you drop. On your next trip, if you’re looking to hire a RE, you know where to stop by.
Whether you are a Royal Enfield rider or not, do join us again for the Rider Mania 2020 and experience for yourself how the community takes over the brand on music, mates and motorcycles.
Till then… rev on!
Words – Amit Shelar