Industry experts estimate that the number of females riding bikes in India increased by forty percent in 2010. Despite this, a Harley Davidson is not a brand that many Indian women would pick for themselves.
When Sheeja Mathews first placed an order for her ‘Iron 833’ bike, she didn’t know that she was the first woman ever in India to purchase a motorcycle of this particular brand.
This HR professional has been riding it to work for the last 12 years or so, but has never owned a motorcycle of her own before. When she decided that the time had come for her to buy one just for herself, she says she didn’t have to think twice about which model she wanted.
“I have always been passionate about biking. I’m not the kind of person who would just buy a motorcycle and keep it in my garage; rather, I want to use it as much as possible. I have ridden two Indian motorcycles before, but it is every rider’s ultimate experience to own one of these bikes. Besides, one of my husband’s friends who owns one himself had recommended it highly to me. So I decided I wanted one as well,” she says.
Sheeja has been commuting to work on a motorcycle regularly for the last few years. However, she claims that of late she has been biking simply for pleasure as well. When asked why she had zeroed in on this particular model, Sheeja claims that the decision was surprisingly easy.
“I gave it some thought, and decided I wanted a bike that was ideal for the Bangalore roads. With so much traffic and congestion at signals these days, it helps to have a bigger bike because other vehicles, especially cars, give you more way on the road. This bike was sleek, and was also the best option for the budget I had in mind,” she explains. The bike cost her about Rs 8.5 lakh.
Sheeja placed her order for the bike in February, and came to collect it four months later. She is surprised that she turned out to be the first woman in India to ever do so. “I have seen lots of women riding two-wheelers on the roads in the City, so it came as a bit of a shock,” she says. However, she admits that this particular brand and model is definitely an unconventional choice for most women to make.
She’s firm though, that she hasn’t selected this bike to make a point or statement in any way. “I simply wanted it, and felt that it was best suited for the roads,” she clarifies.