Adrenaline meets awareness: NCR’s superbikers rewrite the ride

In the early hours of Sunday, a group of nine motorcyclists put on their non-negotiable riding gear, fasten their helmets, and set out on their superbikes for a spin. But unlike the hundreds of riders tearing through Gurgaon roads at high speed, these nine eased off the throttle, choosing control over chaos.

“When we are riding as a group, we aren’t racing, we aren’t challenging each other. So, we need to follow the safety rules. We need to be within our limits and return home safe,” says Suparna Sarkar, 38, who heads the STAR: School for Training of Aspiring Riders and was leading the pack of superbikers when we joined them for a Sunday ride. The riders reflect on riding responsibly, being one with the machine, and the evolving superbiking culture in NCR.



‘Ride Safely Today to Ride Again Tomorrow’: The safety mantra shaping a culture
No road is conducive for riding a superbike, reflect superbikers, adding that this makes responsibility even more critical. Nitesh Vashistha, 32, an engineer, says, “My kick for getting into biking was speed. I graduated from being a commuter to a serious biker and now I invest in track experiences. It is said that while upgrading your bike, you must go for double the power of your existing motorcycle. I graduated from a 200cc bike to a 400cc bike and then switched to Kawasaki after collating enough experience on track. To utilise the full potential of your superbike, in a safe environment, one must try track. It is definitely expensive – more like the golf of superbiking – but you learn a lot.”

“Today, motorcycling influencers do absolutely anything for views. It is a trap, no one should fall for. Wearing gears, riding safe, understanding your skill is key,” says 23-year-old Gurcharan Singh Gill, who is using motorcycling as a means to cope with a health condition. He says, “Riding responsibly comes naturally when riding a heavy machine, like Z 900. I believe that the right speed is where you know you will be able to break and stop in time.”

“We believe in setting an example for those who are inspired seeing you on a superbike. So, it’s all the more important for us to prioritise our safety while riding on the Indian roads. The mantra should be to ride safely today so that you can ride again tomorrow,” says Suparna.

“Enjoy the luxury of owning and riding a superbike, but don’t take it for granted. You ride for yourself, not for others,” suggests Siddharth Jain, who rides a Honda Goldwing.

Cruising with the community
For riders, community is the backbone of the growing superbiking culture in NCR. You will find Surya Chaturvedi, 38, a fashion and lifestyle photographer, riding with his biker buddies on the weekends. Talking about taking on challenging routes as a community, he says, “On tough routes, accountability comes from the bonding between riders. I have seen boomers and Gen Z ride together like they have been friends forever. With the community, this connection becomes even stronger. The way we train, ride and look out for each other creates a natural sense of responsibility. On challenging terrains, we keep checking on one another, remain in proper formation, communicate clearly and make sure no one is left behind. When the community becomes your family accountability is not a rule. It’s a feeling.”

Faridabad resident and 3D installation artist, Deepak Bansal, 45, has been riding for 25 years. “I ride my Triumph Rocket 3 every weekend with Group of Delhi Superbikers. I feel alive riding with my buddies who share the same passion for heavy machines. Being with a community grounds you. Sometimes you feel too low or lethargic to wake up early on a Sunday, but the camaraderie keeps you going.”

Healing on the highway
Every serious rider says that motorcycling makes them feel light and allows them to connect with themselves. “Become one with the machine, they will speak to you,” says Sushil Gupta, 63, who is enjoying his post-retirement life by taking biking tours on his Triumph. “Motorcycling is like self-regulation. My advice to is to feel the pulse of your bike. Your machine and you should be one unit. On the most difficult biking routes, like Sach Pass and Delhi-Leh in winters, what kept me going was the fact that I knew my machine would get me through.”

Sixty-three-year-old eye surgeon Dr Sanjay Dhawan, who gifted himself a Triumph on his 60th birthday, says, “At 60, the bug to ride bit me again. For me, motorcycling is life in motion. The thrill and the shield-less connection with nature is what I enjoy the most. It keeps you grounded.”

For Gurgaon-based light designer Siddharth Jain, 42, the joy of riding grew after joining the STAR Riders community. “Solo riding wasn’t that much fun. With a community, you learn more. Awareness and anticipation of how others on the road behave is crucial. Over the years, riding becomes reflective and inward-looking.”

For some, motorcycling has been deeply transformative. “Motorcycling saved my life. It is like dhyaan (meditation) to me,” says 61-year-old Rajesh Arora, who took up riding after suffering a brain stroke in 2016. “I had aphasia for three years. When I picked up motorcycling again after 30 years, I had to relearn everything. But it rebuilt my speech, memory, and strength. It made my brain and body powerful again.”