2023 India Bike Week Experience: Celebrating a Decade of Madness
The recently concluded India Bike Week not only surpassed all its previous iterations but also set a new benchmark for motorcycle events and festivals in our country.
By Karan Mathur
For the past decade, IBW has been the mecca for motorcyclists nationwide, and this year marked a significant expansion of the event, with almost 5,000 riders in attendance, along with an even larger number of spectators. The event featured high-profile launches from manufacturers, an array of live events, custom bike contests, race events, and more. This year also marked my first experience of IBW, and boy, did it leave a lasting impression! So, here is a glimpse of the highlights of the action-packed two-day event.
The event is a celebration of motorcycle culture and adventure, and the theme of this year’s iteration of the IBW was ‘Everyone as One’. Furthermore, IBW served as the chosen stage for product announcements from various manufacturers. For instance, the Aprilia RS 457 was introduced at ₹4.10 lakhs (ex-showroom), and Kawasaki introduced the W175 Street at ₹1.35 lakhs (ex-showroom). Furthermore, Triumph unveiled the limited edition Tiger 900 Rally Pro, along with ‘Stealth Edition’ line-up, which includes the Speedmaster Red Stealth Edition, Bobber Purple Stealth Edition, Bonneville T100 Blue Stealth Edition, Bonneville T120 Blue Stealth Edition, Speed Twin 1200 Red Stealth Edition, Speed Twin 900 Green Stealth Edition, Scrambler 900 Orange Stealth Edition, and T120 Black Stealth Edition.
Beyond the buzz and excitement at mainstream manufacturer stalls, the event also offered a range of challenges and races for IBW participants. Among the most thrilling were those organised by CEAT, which included Flat Track, Enduro track, and Mud Rush events.
Harley-Davidson, Hero, and Triumph also offered an ‘Arrive and Race’ feature at the CEAT Flat Track, Hill Climb, and Mud Rush arenas, adding more thrills to the event. Complementing these high-octane races, a plethora of two-wheeler activities, such as the Wheelie Ring of Fire, the Well of Death, manufacturer parades, Club Marathons, Club Games, and more kept the excitement rolling.
In the custom bike competition, Bulleteer Customs won the IBW Bike Build-Off championship decider, while Kunwar Customs won the Mod Bike Competition. Apart from the motorcycle-centric events, the 2023 IBW also had plenty to offer for food enthusiasts and music aficionados alike. This year’s event also witnessed the largest participation of F&B partners for IBW, offering a delightful array of continental and Goan cosine, and I, for one, couldn’t get enough of it all.
The list of musical performances formed a spectacular line-up, enough to justify a stand-alone festival on its own, featuring Nucleya, Gully Gang, Disco Kid, Gurbax, Nash, Vipin Mishra Project, and more. Spanning genres from hip-hop and electronic to retro and soul, each performance delivered hit after hit. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the country’s biggest annual motorcycle event, and needless to say, I am now determined to make it an annual tradition.
