[DKG]

For years when a group of Harley riders went by when I lived in the US or the middle east I would get the goosebumps listening to that awesome rumble. When half a dozen or more Harleys fire their eccentric thump collectively its a sound you simply cannot explain. You have to hear it to get the full impact !!

Last Saturday Hyderabad came alive to that rumble and the streets of Hyderabad will never be the same again. A new animal has arrived and its a HOG.

Harley-Davidson organised their first ever HOG ride in Hyderabad on 9th July 2011 coinciding with the celebration of their local dealer's first anniversary. 19 customers including yours truly showed up plus 6 bikes with Harley-Davidson India and dealership staff. The streets of Hyderabad rumbled to the roar of 25 Harleys for the first time ever in its 400+ year old history !!

Let the pictures first do the talking. Will get some videos too for your listening pleasure










































We rode across the outer ring road upto the exit for the Vijayawada highway and then to Ramoji Film City for breakfast. Later we rode across town through some really nasty traffic jams and hot summer like heat onto the Shamirpet road to Leonia resorts for a nice lunch. Post lunch we had a game of paintball and closed the day with special commemorative badges and certificates for all the riders.

It was a brilliant fun filled day. Pure HOG nirvana !! This is just the beginning...

[DKG]

Sunday morning a few of us got together for yet another ride. This time to an old favourite picnic spot, Gandipet !







This picture really captures the spirit of why I bought the Harley. Hyderabad is a city I very deeply love and know very intimately. This spot, by the famous Gandipet lake is where I have come as a toddler, a kid, a teenager, and as an adult. As funny as it sounds this is my home, extended home !! and I love the fact that I can explore this beautiful country with a legendary motorcycle. Times spent like this with lovely people, chatting while enjoying the great Indian outdoors - what more can I ask. HOG heaven is unfolding right here in Hyderabad !!



When I asked what would be the preference for breakfast KJ very kindly invited us to the army mess for a lavish treat and a real surprise ! The mess is housed in an old mansion that once belonged to the Sultan of Mukallah's family here in Hyderabad. Through my childhood I must have driven past this house a million times but never got a chance to go in. Now thanks to the Harley and KJ we got to enjoy a splendid morning in stunning surroundings













After breakfast I couldn't resist the temptation to request KJ if we could see some Tatra trucks, of which I am a big fan. He obliged us with a smile and what a sight it was to see those monsters. Seeing my excitement he asked if I would like a ride in it and actually took me around the block. Amazing, totally amazing. What a machine !! Would love to cross the Empty Quarter in the middle east in a brute like this. Love it !!

[freakrz]

Finally it took a whole year to start the Hyderabad H.O.G , the result is....Awsomee ! There were about 25 Harleys Starting from Iron's,Superlow's to the NightRod's,Softail's & Street Glide. Customers were assembled at the showroom by 7:30 Am on the 9th of July and the briefing was quite brief which finally got flagged at 8:15 Am.The Riders are well informed on the hand signals and safety precautions before the ride.Proper Riding gear is enforced on the riders to ensure the safety.They also have a bunch of technicians and a van with tools and supplies all along the ride.










The ride is done in 2 stages , its about 170 Km in total. The first leg is from the Banjara Harley Showroom to the Ramoji Film City taking the Outer Ring Road,which is about 80 Km.Just after we got off the ORR we had a fuel stop as there were a number or Iron's , 48's and Nightster's.Breakfast is organized in the Film City , Its about 1 hr break.



























The Second Leg started from Film City to Leonia Resorts in Shamirpet , Which is also about 80 odd Km,This is quite a hectic route while going , as we had to cut thru the city via L.B Nagar, Uppal , Secundrabad. The bikes got totally heated up in the traffic,specially near Uppal.once we got on to the shamirpet road the traffic eased.Lunch is arraigned at the Leonia Resorts , After Lunch they organized Paint Ball for the Members,it was awesome, right after that we had a tea break and there is the pin up session with certificate distribution. At 5:30 everyone started back to the city,lucky that there isn't much of traffic this time.

















The event was a great success with a good number of bikes,Banjara Harley organised it very professionally and hopefully we are looking for more events like these in the future.

[jnpai]

AWESOME!! A real treat for Harley lovers.Thanks for sharing.

[//M]

Jaw dropped, eyes popped out, I get a feeling I'm seeing Pamela Anderson topless. I can just imagine the rumble of so many Harley's in butter smooth roads. Terrific event. Hope more of these happen across the country. Good work folks !!

Awesome pics of the event. Would love to see some videos taken during the ride. Please oblige.

[freakrz]

More Pics from the Sunday Gandipet Ride

Sunday Ride to Gandipet is quite a short one, its about 5 Harleys and a Ducati.It started off at Harley Showroom at about 7:00 am and four of us left to gandipet and other two bikers joined at gandipet from there KJ sir kindly invited us for the breakfast at the army mess, which is awsomee. loved the place and we got to take a lot of pics.i love the bikes and the army vehicles together.At about 11 we started back,It was a good sunday ride.

[h@r$h@l]

Brilliant event and as usual great write up. Glad to know that Harley is conducting such events and spreading awareness. Seeing such threads alot of us here would feel like being a part of the HOG

Now, 25 Harleys and so many pics; I am sure there were videos taken too. Please do upload the videos and lets us all hear the classing roar.

Thanks.

[phamilyman]

Brilliant images and a good camaraderie building ride. The sound of all the bikes on the ORR must've been music, no?

Getting together with a good riding group is notihng short of magical.

btw these chotu rides are enough - you should now put in a four digit ride to do the beauty true justice!!

OT/PS: If only all the riders bothered to wear full face helmets instead of open face helmets (its the same issue with Bulleteers) - maybe its just a image thing but I find open face helmets unsafe!!

[indian21r]

@DKG and others, that is One hell of ride. I will surely be a part of one these in the future in Hyderabad. And we wish to see regular updates of the HOG Dairies

Droolmaal

[shyn]

Wonderful pictures!

@DKG and Freakrz- Is that blue customized V-Rod from the city itself? 'coz I notice it has weird registration plates on it.

[DKG]

Originally Posted by h@r$h@l

Please do upload the videos and lets us all hear the classing roar.

Will do, there were three cars filming the ride so some good coverage should be available. Will access it and post here

Originally Posted by phamilyman

you should now put in a four digit ride to do the beauty true justice!!

Very soon. Many bikes in the group are brand new. Mine is just two weeks old and already has 425 kms. My friend took delivery Friday night and was on the ride next morning. So once most of us complete the first service we'll head out for longer rides.

BTW short Sunday morning rides and lazy breakfasts is super fun too. Its not just about long rides. We did both on superbikes long enough to know both are awesome fun

If only all the riders bothered to wear full face helmets instead of open face helmets

I have always worn a full face and bought one for the Harley too apart from a half for city riding. My real reason for buying the half is to enjoy the exhaust sound unhindered

Originally Posted by shyn

Is that blue customized V-Rod from the city itself? 'coz I notice it has weird registration plates on it.

Yes the owner imported it from the US when he moved back.

[dhanushs]

Hi DKG, superb review and very detailed pictures. Very Nice!..

Many Harley's were seen at Mysore on 3rd of July, and then at my hometown (Bathery) on 4th. So, I guess Harley is arranging this in every city?.

No pictures to report though..

[shyn]

Originally Posted by DKG

Yes the owner imported it from the US when he moved back.

So she is here to stay! That's great news
Can we have a few more pictures and info on that V-Rod, please?

[Rollin' Thunda]

Aren't 2-wheelers banned from that section of the ORR?

That said, I must confess that the I ride the ORR to get to Himayat Sagar, Gandipet, or the Vikrabad road almost every weekend. [In fact I was at Gandipet the same morning you guys came there, but at 7:00-7:30 in the morning. I'd have loved to see your HDs].

The country roads off the ORR, like the Vikrabad and the Shankarpalli roads, offer great rides (though at slower speeds) for a lazy Sunday morning.

[DKG]

Todays ride to Vikharabad was fabulous. Really enjoyed myself. Lovely day, great countryside, superb group to ride with !!

Originally Posted by Rollin' Thunda

Aren't 2-wheelers banned from that section of the ORR?

The showroom had taken permission for the ride.