Love for the legend
Madras Bulls a.k.a Mad Bulls is perhaps the first motorcycle club in Chennai with a cult following for the legendary Royal Enfield bullet. Formed in April 2002 by four bulletiers following a coffee-table rendezvous at Besant Nagar, soon the first bunch of Bulls hit the road. One founder-biker even created a yahoo group for members that still exists.
A 120 active member group, an army of Royal Enfields, club merchandise and an eye-catchy logo is what makes the Madras Bulls today the big daddy of motorcycle clubs in the city. There are also two women members in the club. A budding biker segment titled the Madras Bulls Newbies was started in 2004 in order to streamline entry to mother group. To become a Mad Bull, all one needs to do is flaunt four criteria – a Royal Enfield motorcycle, valid vehicle documents including a driver's license, a full-face helmet and suitable riding shoes.
Mad Bulls meet at 7.00 a.m. every second Sunday of the month at a coffee shop in Besant Nagar. Group rides happen every month and a long ride, often an overnight experience, rolls out once in two months.
To be a Mad Bull: register at >www.madrasbulls.com or call club moderators Ajit at 96000 01422 or Jyothi at 98941 27172.
Spearheading the speed demons
In 2001, a bunch of biker buddies from Choolaimedu in Chennai decided to christen their group. Thus was born Gear Force Motorcycle Club. Initially rolled out with regular motorcycles, Gear Force gradually turned into an all Yamaha RD 350 club. Today its members burn rubber with one of the fastest motorcycles ever produced in the country, the RD 350. The 31.5 bhp (high torque) speed demon on-road, came into the market in 1983 as Rajdoot 350.
Members of the club who were college-goers are now employed in various professions. But that doesn't stop them from meeting once a month and throttling their 350s for the ride of the month.
Interestingly, the logo of the club, designed in the form of a motorcycle, appears prominently on the club members, motorcycles and on merchandises like t-shirts, helmets and key chains.
Gear Force also had a short but successful stint at the racing circuit a few years back.
To be part of Gear Force: The club membership is restricted to the bunch of buddies. For more, write to >clubgearforce@gmail.com
Roaring with Jawa
The result of five guys with a passion for a common motorcycle meeting online, was a club in 2003.
Roaring Riders, Chennai's sole motorcycle club for Jawa and Yezdi has evolved from a mere five to a 50-member group today. The reason – Jawa, the motorcycle from Czech Republic (formerly Czechoslovakia) and the Yezdi that followed gained popularity mainly among some youngsters here. The rider camaraderie extends to another 125 members with their yahoo group online.
Roaring Riders meet every first Sunday of the month at Elliot's Beach and go on long rides every month. The second Sunday of July every year is commemorated as Jawa Day the world over is carnival for these bikers.
To be a Roaring Rider: Log on to >http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/ROARINGRIDERS/
Or call moderator Sabyasachi Debnath 99629 72327.
Wheelies and stoppies
Started in 2001 by two school mates from Chrompet, Byker Boyz stands unique from the rest of the groups here. The members are often daredevil riders who are capable of performing stunts on two wheels. And these skills could earn any biker a membership to Byker Boyz, Chennai's only motorcycle stunt club with a strength of more than 50 bikers who came together to social network website Orkut.
While the acts of wheelies and stoppies on two wheelers are dangerous and illegal on Chennai roads, Byker Boyz, however claim that they practise their stunts only on isolated stretches. The Boyz have strict on-road rules like wearing helmets and performing stunts away from roads packed with general public.
Of late, the club members have been performing stunts for television shows and product promos.
To be a Byker Boy: Definitely not for the faint-hearted. Others call moderator Manoj Jain at 99622 19166 or write to >bykerboyz46@gmail.com .
Pedalling away
Beach-goers would have witnessed Mask Racing Team, a 12-member teenager neighbourhood bicycling group from Triplicane formed in 2006. These boys are no ordinary cyclists as not one, but all the 12 can perform a ‘wheelie' on their bicycles in synchrony for quite a distance. A great sight for the onlookers, the Mask team practise the stunts including the stoppies and spinning for days together. Most of the teen members have custom-made bicycles – beaming flashy paint jobs with eye-catching stickers. Mask Racing Team even has an exclusive logo. Interestingly, the best ‘wheelie' cyclist from the team is decided on the basis of how many lamp posts he can cross at Marina Beach pedalling on one wheel. Apparently, the record is 13 lamp posts.
To be a Mask Racer: The team is restricted to teenage friends from Triplicane.
Just jeeps
Chennai's own jeep enthusiasts club Jeep Thrills, started in March, 2005, has over 40 active members today. They often put their Willys, Fords and Mahindras to the test through some rough terrain they pick outside the city limits. Thrill seekers but socially responsible drivers, the members often avoid meadow and thickly populated areas to power their four-wheel beauties.
A fleet of classic jeeps including a 1942 model World War II Ford and 1948 model CJ 2A are the highlight from the Thrills that has similar club chapters in other metros with an overall members count of 1,200.
To be part of Jeep Thrills: Jeep lovers can join the club even if they don't own a vehicle. For more log on to >www.jeepthrills.in .
