Forget the salty air of Vagator and the overpriced shacks of Goa. This year, India Bike Week 2025 pulled a “Fast & Furious” drift and relocated to the Dubash Airfield in Panchgani.
Because the move was communicated later than a slow-loading GPS, the Day 1 crowd was… let’s say “exclusive.” Instead of the usual 25,000-person mosh pit, we had a tighter brotherhood of riders who actually enjoy a 12-degree chill.
On one hand, I and Rakesh were stoked because Panchgani is practically in Pune’s backyard; on the other hand, we did miss that vibrant Goa vibe (and maybe the fenny).
08:00 AM: The Triumph Roll Call
I and Rakesh dragged our gear to Triumph, BU Bhandari (Abhimanshree) by 8:00 AM sharp. Our departure was set for 8:30 AM, but because “Biker Standard Time” is a real thing, we actually wheels-upped at 9:00 AM.
The Squad Goals Lineup:
- Pradeep: Looking classic on the Thruxton 400.
- Aejaz & Himanshu: Doubling down on Scrambler 400s.
- Aaryan: Tucked in on the Daytona 660.
- Rakesh: Holding it down on the Trident 660.
We wove through the Baner-Pashan traffic crawl until we hit the NH-48. That’s where the fun started. The Triples (Trident and Daytona) were zipping between 80–120 km/h like they had a dinner date with destiny.
The 10:30 AM “Carb-Loading” Crisis
After regrouping at the Khed Shivapur Toll Naka, we pulled into Vitthal Kamath before the Khambatki Ghat.
If there’s one thing bikers do better than riding, it’s eating. I tackled a Tomato Onion Uttapa, Rakesh demolished a Butter Masala Dosa, and Himanshu went for the Ghee Masala Dosa. We washed it all down with filter coffee so strong it could probably power a small village. By 11:00 AM, we were back on the road, dodging construction zones to reach the Airfield by 12:30 PM.
The “Box Office” Heart Attack
The organizers had a special parking zone called the “Box Office.” This is where my heart stopped: I had forgotten my pass at home. Panic? Yes. Sweat? Plenty. Luckily, my wife is a saint. She sent a photo of the pass, and the cool folks at the gate sorted me out with a handband in about 30 minutes. Phew. Since the event didn’t officially kick off until 2:00 PM, I, Rakesh, and Himanshu marched 500 meters to Dakshin Express. We ate Paneer Tawa and Dal Khichdi like we hadn’t seen food in years.
The Box Office
02:30 PM: Inside the Airfield (Torque & Tech)
Once inside, the vibe was pure adrenaline. I and Rakesh had a mission: spreading the word about RidersThread.
We distributed over 1,000 pamphlets for the app, which is a literal lifesaver for riders (Live tracking! Ride history! Community vibes!). It’s live on the Google Store with 1,000+ riders already on board.( You can download the app from here).
The Highlights:
- The Moto-Gods: At 4:00 PM, Aprilia unveiled Lorenzo Savadori’s MotoGP RSV4. The crowd gathered faster than a free sample line.
Lorenzo Savadori’s MotoGP Aprilia RSV4
- Hero’s Evolution: We saw the Hunk 440 (the cooler, rebranded brother of the Mavrick).
Hero Hunk 440
- The “Mini” Dirt Bike: Vida introduced the Dirt.E K3 for kids. It hits 25 km/h and costs roughly ₹69,990. Rakesh immediately registered interest for a 10-year-old boy named Saransh. Start ‘em young!
Dirt.E K3 for kids
- Custom Kings: The builds from SNS Custom Wheels and Kunwar Customs were so pretty it almost hurt to look at them.
06:00 PM: The Strawberry Run & The Lost Lamb
As the sun dipped, I, Rakesh, and Himanshu pointed our front tires toward home. We stopped for the mandatory Panchgani strawberries and met Swapnil, a Himalayan 450 rider who joined our convoy.
Then, things got spicy. Himanshu, who apparently lives life on the edge without a mobile mount, missed a crucial turn. While Swapnil led us through a secluded “secret route” with zero traffic, Rakesh had to act as a human telephonic GPS for Himanshu. However, later we requested Himanshu to take the route which is good for him.
The Final Tally:
- Me, Rakesh, & Swapnil: Home by 9:00 PM.
- Himanshu: Finally rolled in at 10:00 PM.
- Current Status: Himanshu is currently browsing Amazon for a mobile mount so he does not end up in another state next time.
IBW 2025 was a wild ride—fewer crowds, more hills, and enough memories to last until the next gear shift.
Our Social Media Handles
- Instagram : LivingWithGravity
- Medium : Akash Dolas
- YouTube Channel : Gear and Shutter
- Facebook : LivingWithGravity
