Sanjay Gupta's new 11-lakh BIKE
By: Upala KBR, Mid-Day
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta has just acquired a 2006 Yamaha MT-01. He already has a Honda Valkyrie.
His true love for bikes comes across, when he says, "I prefer biking to boozing as going for a bike ride gives you more of a thrill than booze. Also there is no hangover after a bike ride."
The cost of a 2006 Yamaha MT-01 is 11 lakh (approx). We cornered Gupta for a chat on bicycles, bikes and his buddies. Read on...
When did you develop the bike passion?
I developed a passion for bikes during my school and college days. Being a state-level cyclist, I always loved cycling. For me, it was a big sport. I had a Hero Honda in college, but I waited till I could afford a fancy, flashy bike.
Today, I have two - a Honda Valkyrie and my spanking new 2006 Yamaha MT-01 with retro features. The new love of my life came last Friday. I have been waiting for her the last four months. Now I am very happy as my Honda Valkyrie has company. It's like having two girlfriends and two-timing them.
What's
the
difference
between
the
two
bikes?
Plenty,
I
say.
It's
of
two
different
genres
and
I
have
the
best
of
both
the
worlds.
The
2006
Yamaha
MT-01
is
also
called
a
retro
as
it
goes
back
to
the
retro
period
-
the
60s
and
70s
-
and
is
a
cross
between
a
street
bike
and
a
cruiser,
while
the
Valkyrie
is
a
cruiser,
which
I
had
used
in
Musafir.
Dhoom had shot with street bikes. A Honda Valkyrie is very powerful. It is 1500 cc with 6 cylinders while the 2006 Yamaha MT-01 is 1600cc.
One
reason
why
a
bike
is
better
than
a
woman?
I
can
name
many,
not
just
one...It's
the
best
girlfriend
a
guy
can
have,
you
can
ride
her
anywhere
anytime,
it
doesn't
complain
or
fight
back
and
is
ready
to
go
anywhere!
What's
the
best
time
to
ride?
I
always
ride
after
midnight
and
go
for
a
ride
on
the
highway,
Bandra
Reclamation,
to
town
and
back.
Lets
talk
about
your
biker
buddies
I
have
a
gang
of
filmi
and
non-filmi
biker
buddies.
In
the
film
industry,
there's
Sanju
(Sanjay
Dutt)
with
his
Harley-Davidson,
John
(Abraham)
who
has
a
Yamaha
R1,
Sikander
(Kher)
has
a
kick-ass
Honda,
Rohit
(Roy)
rides
my
Valkyrie,
Fardeen
has
a
Suzuki,
Arshad
(Warsi)
has
just
bought
a
Dragstar.
Zayed, Salman and Sohail have bikes, too, as do Andre and Viraf of Wizcraft. Normally, John, FK, Siku, Sanju, Zayed, Rohit, Fardeen and I meet up and go for bike rides together. As of now, there is no official gang, maybe we should make one...
Is
there
a
bike
race
in
the
offing?
Since
there
are
so
many
bikers
in
the
film
industry,
we
are
trying
to
work
out,
along
with
IIFA,
a
charity
ride
from
Mumbai
to
Pune
with
the
pretty
heroines
sitting
pillion
with
us.
An
unwritten
rule
for
a
new
member?
Though
there
is
no
written
rule
-
we
bikers
just
say
be
happy
and
keep
riding.
An
unwritten
rule
is
-
a
dirty
bike
is
not
allowed.
You
have
to
maintain
your
bike
well.
A
bike
is
like
a
woman
and
has
to
be
given
lots
of
TLC,
nourishment
and
laad-pyaar.
Three
cardinal
principles
of
biking?
Firstly,
safety
first.
John
Abraham,
our
mentor
in
safety
riding,
has
taught
us
everything
about
safe
riding
-
wear
a
helmet
always
and
other
safety
rules.
Secondly
no
competing
with
fellow
bikers.
That's foolhardiness. No zipping each other out. Biking is all about bonding and chilling out together and no competition. And lastly, no out-speeding the other bikers. It's just about enjoying your ride.