Sunday was a celebration day for city’s bike aficionados. For, man and his ‘Forever Bike’ had a date.
The 13{+t}{+h}International Jawa-Yezdi Day and the second such event organised in Hyderabad saw bikers across the city profess their love for machines, around 75 of which were proudly displayed at the Deccan Club.
The event organised by the Jawa and Yezdi Club of Hyderabad saw owners wax eloquence on their machines, while mechanics who to this day fix Yezdi and Jawa models introduced in the 1960s swore by them.
“These are bikes true to their tagline of ‘Forever Bike, Forever Value’. No matter how many times they are opened up and fixed, they last. They are highly durable machines,” said Mohammed Abdul Lateef, who has been fixing Jawa and Yezdi bikes at his workshop in Red Hills for more than three decades.
His Yezdi 350 Twin was a head-turner at the gathering. Yezdi Monarch and 1961 Jawa were other notable bikes at the event.
The club is planning to tap into the cult following the bikes have, to get more owners and even women to ride them. Amit Arni, one of the members, said that the club will try and convince owners to get their old machines running.
“Many people are known to own a Yezdi or Jawa. While for some it was passed down as heirloom, others still have their purchases. We would like to see more of these bikes on the road. We have been helping owners who seek to revive their bikes by supporting them to procure parts, sometimes even from other States,” he said.
Later on Sunday, over 60 riders took their bikes on a spin to Raj Bhavan and back to Deccan Club.
