Emission norms might have struck the final nail in the coffin for the two-stroke motorcycle scene here, but there are still handfuls who idolise those smoke coughing engines and come together in camaraderie.
Meet Bengaluru Rxians, a fresh community of city bikers, cruising on the iconic Yamaha RX 100 with sheer passion for the model that had hit the grave over a decade ago. Formed recently as a community on social media, today Rxians boast a 75-members group of bikers owning RX models including the RX 135, RXZ and the RX 135 Tiger.
U. Yeshwanth, the 22-year-old founder of the group, terms the RX comradeship a ‘dream come true.’ “My friends and I went for a big biker event in Bengaluru and rode along to realise that there wasn’t a single two-stoke engine powers vehicle except mine. I reached home in disappointment only to float a community for Yamaha RX 100 on Facebook,” adds the youngster who was surprised to find the response towards the post.
Interestingly, the response escalated and so did members to the community. “Thereafter we thought why not meet as a group. Thus formed the Bengaluru RXians,” raves Yeshwanth.
The RXians maiden motorcycle meeting took place on June 28 at a hotel on Madras Bank Road, Shanthala Nagar where over 30 likeminded roadies fiddled and flaunted their machines.
Forty-three-year-old Ajay Mithare is the senior member of the Bengaluru Rxians among an army of youth. “I have not felt odd among the young crowd but have gelled in with passion for the legendary Japanese motorcycle and the sheer joy of its riders coming together in Bengaluru,” says the businessman who owns an RX 100 model.
Bengaluru Rxians recently floated their group logo beaming an exhaust pipe and are now working on sweatshirt design.
Some similar motorcycling chapters in city
Bangalore RD 350 Club
Started in 2009 as an online group aiming at exchange of information on sourcing spare parts and zeroing in on the right mechanic soon snowballed into a club now boasting over 250 members. Long rides are frequent events in the riding calendar of the club which has mushrooms to similar chapters in other states like Kerala and Telangana.
Bikers of India
A community determined to promote motorcycling among roadies without discriminating what machine he or she owns or rides. With over 150 members in Bengaluru, the biker group meets for rides with their last meeting being in December with a ride to Hampi. With the motto of bonding over bikerhood, the group plans to hit the road to Horsley Hills in Andhra Pradesh post next meeting.
Suzuki Shogan Lovers Bengaluru
A bunch of two-stroke riding avids passionate about the Suzuki Shogan formed the Bengaluru chapter of the Shogan club. The chapter did an independence ride on Saturday with Shogan riders gathered in numbers.
Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Club
Also formed as an online community, the BJYMC grew as a club by 2007. A registered motorcycling group with a core committee, the riders meet every second Sunday of the month. International Jawa Day on July 13 is festive for the group who will be hosting the Southern Ride in the first week of October where chapters from southern States amalgamate.
