Mumbai chapter: Ladies of Harley

When Sarita Ashutosh from Thane, first took to the roads on a Kawasaki KX 250 (2006) - an accident left her with a deep-seated phobia. "While riding, there was gravel on the road due to which my bike skid and I hit the ground. Just when this happened, there was a bus speeding in my direction and the distance between the bus's tire and my head was barely a foot," Sarita tells Midday.

Despite narrowly escaping physical injury thanks to her helmet, the incident left a lasting impact on her psyche. It festered a fear that ultimately led her to abandon biking altogether. However, it was during Covid-19 that she rediscovered a newfound desire to return to biking. "To accept that I got defeated by my fears was not an option for me. Thus, began my true journey with riding."

A pastry chef, Sarita is not the only one juggling between a high-octane passion and profession. Diving into the thrilling world of Mumbai's female bikers, Midday.com caught up with three 'Ladies of Harley' (as they like to be called) who recount episodes of adrenaline-pumping journeys.

Sarita Ashutosh riding her Triumph Tiger

IN PHOTOS: How female bikers deal with roadside `chapris`

7 months agoPHOTO GALLERY

Born to ride
Moving on to a cruiser Royal Enfield, Sarita would initially take it out for a spin around Mumbai. "I found myself drawn to it, you know? Riding with comrades, I gradually discovered a genuine passion. That's when it clicked for me and I just kept going," Sarita narrates.

Motorcycle aficionados recognise that every bike has its character - a cruiser, tourer, or adventure bike. For Sarita, when she hears the engines roar - it's like the bike is speaking to her directly.

To find the ‘it bike' that resonated with her soul, she switched to different models by BMW, Harley Davidson, Triumph and more. Upon riding the Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 CC, she discovered that she is an adventure rider and since then there has been no looking back for this rebel angel.

As Sarita conquers her fears, Captain Sonia Chawla (56) from Juhu traces her love for biking to her childhood days. "Biking runs in the family for me. During my childhood, my dad, an avid biker himself, would take me on his BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) when I was just 3 years old. Those ice cream rides started my love for biking, and it only grew from there," Sonia recalls.

For Sonia, biking came as naturally as breathing. Her father would let her hold onto the handlebars, and as a little girl, she was convinced that she was the one riding the bike! Since the early 80s, Sonia has been riding, seamlessly transitioning from a bicycle to a motorbike. From there, she ventured into flying airplanes, and now she has been piloting a Boeing 737 for over 25 years.

Captain Sonia Chawla on the left

While Sonia's love for machines blossomed during childhood, Niyati Suvarna (43) from Andheri West got bit by the riding bug post her marriage. "I've always been an adventure junkie but it was my husband who first introduced me to bikes. With his enthusiasm for riding, I imbibed that passion which gave me the adrenaline pump I was seeking," Niyati tells Midday.

Niyati, a full-time physiotherapist, discovered her love for riding when she was 30. "It was a lot of firsts for me - the first time I underwent proper training, and the first time I rode a bike was the Hero Impulse model. Initially, there was more than just excitement; there was a bit of fear too, worried I might end up dropping the bike." However, destiny had other plans for this speedhead.

Bikes: The fuel for her soul
The first ride for Niytai was when she reached the pinnacle of excitement. "It gave me a feeling that if I could do this, then nothing is impossible." She opines that it's not just about riding a machine but more about how it pushes you as a whole. "Especially a bike like Harley, it kind of pushes you to become stronger, for you to be able to handle its true mass."

During the early days, she would ride in and around Mumbai, cherishing memories of riding up to Café Mondegar in Colaba. "I would join my husband and the chapter rides where the entire Harley Owner's Group (HOG) community takes to the roads. It's quite stimulating, being a part of the whole battalion riding together."

Niyati Suvarna on her Harley Davidson
For Sonia, riding is like wind in her face and a sense of freedom on winding roads that seem to stretch endlessly. "It's a sensation where your heartbeat synchronises perfectly with the rhythm of the machine beneath you. So, for me, that's what freedom truly means. It's the thrilling liberation found in the open road, where every twist and turn becomes an adventure waiting to unfold."

While biking has instilled a sense of freedom in Sonia's psyche, it was a cancer scare that made Savita choose biking. "The doctor suspected that I might have a type of cancer involving blood clots forming in the body. While awaiting test results in the hospital, my perspective on life shifted. Despite being a workaholic, those two days made me realise the direction my life was taking."

And Sarita concluded that life was indeed not aligned with her desires, prompting her to take charge of it. That's how biking became her medium to tackle two fears - the false cancer alarm as well as the initial accident she faced back in 2008. "I wanted to return to the things I love, and that's when I decided to buy a Royal Enfield in 2019." She calls it the ‘fuel for her soul.'

Dealing with roadside hoodlums
In Sarita's experience, there have been men who pass comments or hoot when they spot a woman on a bike. She recounts one such episode, "These two bikers were riding alongside me, persistently calling out and passing comments. Despite moderate traffic, their behaviour was risky as they came too close to me and other vehicles on the road."

However, there has been only one such incident in her biking stint. She continues, "I ride with my ponytails, and my helmet has ponytails too. It serves as a symbol, making it clear even from a distance that it's a female rider."

Savita has been warned that biking as a woman is not safe in India, yet her experience is the bang opposite of what has been said to her. "I've seen that when they know it's a female rider, at most, what will happen is other bikers or car drivers will come parallel to you, give me a thumbs up, or just say that it's looking nice or whatever!"

For Niyati, it's the ‘chapris' who make it tough for her while riding in Mumbai. "They tend to come closer when they know that it's a girl riding a heavy bike. They might come alongside you, try to collar you off, or just give you a death stare." Admittingly, as a female rider - this is the last thingsthey expect while cruising leisurely on the road.

Some people are genuinely excited and try to come close to you in their cars to get a picture, shares Niyati. Although, this has resulted in a couple of bad falls for Niyati. Luckily, there haven't been any major injuries, but there have been a few scratches and bruises that she had to deal with.

While Sonia, who currently rides a Harley-Davidson Street 750, comes from a different reality. Back in the day, when she started riding, no women were dominating the roads on a bike. "There was just one or two of us on the streets. So, it was very challenging at that time. I had to keep getting into street races to prove that I was good enough to be there."

Old photo of Sonia riding a Yamaha RZ

Thus, when she was young, there was a lot of attention that would come. "I'm talking about the 80s, 90s. Yes, there was commenting and hooting. A lot of eyeballs and a lot of interest, but I used to ride very fast, so I didn't stop to check it out. Now, we ride in big groups, so yes, we still get a lot of attention, but it's the positive kind."

One important tip as a female biker

Savita: ‘I am big on safety gears'
When Sarita hits the road, she stands out with her trademark helmet adorned with two ponytails, reminiscent of Harley Quinn's iconic style. "I am big time into safety gear and you will never see me riding without a helmet, without my safety boots, jackets and gloves."

Niyati: Keep your core strong
To ride a bike, your core needs to be strong and you need good balance. I started CrossFit, incorporated exercises like pilates, and focused more on balancing with activities like using the BOSU Ball workout.

Sonia: Just do it

For International Women's Day, a women's biker rally was hosted at Lower Parle by Dextrus on March 10

Robin Chhabra, Founder & CEO of Dextrus, remarks, "In our society, riding bikes is perceived to be majorly dominated by men. Through Dextrus Women's Bike Ride, we have devised a way to expunge those notions and to serve as a reminder that we are equal partners within all ecosystems."