Superbike expert Ranjit Randhawa, who built the bike for the Punjabi film Bambuk at insists that there is more to fast bikes than speed.
Superbike expert Ranjit Randhawa, who built the bike for the Punjabi film Bambuk at insists that there is more to fast bikes than speed.
It all started in 1982, when his mother got him a German Lego. It was the first time he saw little vehicles with working pistons and engines. There has been no looking back ever since.
Kharar (Punjab) based Ranjit Randhawa, who made the unique motorcycle for the recently released Punjabi film Bambukat with majority of parts sourced from old jeeps from scrap yards insists that going back in time was an interesting experience.
Known across the region and beyond for modifying and enhancing performances of some of the most complicated motorcycles like the BMWs, Harley Davidsons, Triumphs and Indian, Randhawa who recently restored an Aston Martin sports car at his farmhouse which houses a huge workshop, says,
"The producers had heard about me from a common friend. Their brief was that the protagonist makes a motorbike inside the jail premises from an old jeep. The challenge was to make it workable. Not to talk about the tight deadline." The motorcycle expert, a farmer by profession, was given one month to assemble the motorcycle.
He spent ten days on the drawing board. "I got just three weeks to actually assemble the machines as a lot of time was spent salvaging old jeep parts in places like Zirakpur, Dera Bassi and Patiala," he remembers.
We shift to his workshop where more than 20 superbikes are parked-from Ducatis to Triumphs. "They have either come for repairs or modifications. Some like the Indian made Yamaha 350 cc have been there for more than a year for want of spare parts," says the man who did his graduation in arts from Panjab University in 1996.
No, a lack of engineering degree has not held him back in any way. For someone who is known to point out the fault in the engine of a superbike by listening to its sound over the phone, he offers, "The only difference between me and others is that I first understand how each and every part works. I then work backwards and find the fault," he points at an imported Kawasaki motorbike he is working on presently.
It has been some journey for the man whose first motorcycles were the Indian made KB 100 and Yamaha 350 which he rode in the 1980's and impressed his then girlfriend and now wife Amrita Randhawa with. The go-to man for most superbikers in the region whenever they need advice or modifications, insists that the ever-changing technology is something that keeps him excited forever and constantly in awe.
"For most things, you no longer need a spanner but a computer scanner as more and more companies are preferring computerised systems. These are interesting times.
Also, because Indian companies are being forced to pull up their socks in the face of advanced technology coming from abroad." Despite steep prices (with most starting from Rs 5 lakh onwards and going up to Rs 20 lakh), Punjab is one of the biggest markets in the country for superbikes.
The Chandigarh Superbikers Incorporated (CSI) alone, an exclusive superbike club, which has 14 members including Randhawa, has more than 20 of such motorbikes, besides several other superbike clubs in the region. Attributing the spurt in sales of such machines in the region not just to disposable income, Randhawa says, "Punjabis have always been known for their passion for vehicles. If they like something, they won't think twice before spending on it.
Moreover, I feel that the monstrous power these vehicles deliver fascinate men in this region no end." Talk to him about the fatal crashes these motorcycles have been involved in, and he points out, "Yes, the acceleration is addictive. But how is it the machine's fault? It is built to perform exceptionally well. The rider has to be very responsible. He needs to respect her at all times.
Just because the bike is so powerful, it does not mean that you push her beyond your limits. Moreover, roads are no place to drive fast. You have tracks for that where there are all safety measures in place."
After the exhausting work on the motorcycle for Bambukat, the man has some more plans up his sleeve. "For one, I plan to build a trike (a three-wheel motorcycle) besides an old school classic car from scratch," he says.
For the past four years, this motorcycle man has started spending a lot of time outside his garage. With trips to Leh-Ladakh and Bhuj on superbikes with his group, he is exploring a new facet of super biking.
"Sadly, most people believe that only an Enfield is capable of conquering a mountain. Taking high-end and untested foreign machines there is not just a pleasure but a challenge, something I am always unto," says the biker who himself owns a Kawasaki ZZR 1400 cc, Honda CVX 400 cc and the recently launched Royal Enfield Himalayan. It's time to leave now.
After all, his three-year-old daughter Anahat, who studies in nursery, has been waiting for the interaction to finish so he can play with her in the tree house her dad has built for her.
Safety first:
Smart boys use protection
Not just a helmet, wear knee and elbow pads, rider boots and a proper riding jacket while riding a superbike.
Know your Limits
Nobody will be impressed if you crash her. It's just you who will go broke after expensive repairs and a sky-high hospital bill.
Only Fools Rush in
Don't buy a 1400 cc superbike straight after riding an underpowered Indian-made 150 cc for years. Go in for a 350 cc, then 650, a 1000 cc and maybe then a 1400 cc-only if you are confident enough.
Treat Her Nice
It is a sophisticated piece of machinery built for specialised purposes-street bike, off-roader or track bike. Decide what you want to do and stick to that. Take care of her, and she will treat you nice.
Don't mess with her
Every Indian man thinks he knows a lot about technology. Most don't. These foreign ones don't take to jugaad very kindly. Keep your hands off her sensors and vitals. Frustrated? Book the racetrack and go all out. The bike will also show you her mean side and test you. A road is no place to speed up. Only juveniles try to accelerate a 1000 cc on a busy road. Real riders always go smooth.