Today is World Motorcycle Day and almost every two-wheeler manufacturer is celebrating it across the globe. Royal Enfield is also celebrating the spirit of motorcycling and the camaraderie that comes along with owning a motorcycle. The company undertook a host of unique, engaging initiatives in 2019 which saw customer engagement attain an all-time high for the brand while focusing on the core themes of exploration and the importance of authentic experiences. On the account of World Motorcycle Day, here’s a trip down memory lane with some authentic experiences and adventures that the brand administered in 2019-20.
The year kicked-off with one of the most difficult expeditions Royal Enfield has undertaken- DBO- Karakoram Expedition. Royal Enfield in collaboration with the Indian Army, undertook the first winter motorcycle expedition to Karakoram Pass; Himalayan Heights. The expedition, in a single journey, skirted India’s borders with both Pakistan and China. Covering over 1,000 kms and some of the world’s highest motorable roads for a duration of 9 days, this unprecedented feat over hazardous and unforgiving terrain with temperatures as low as -40C was a tribute to the immortal courage and bravery of the Indian Army.
The DBO expedition was followed by the first edition of Himalayan Adventure- Mustang. A ride not for the faint hearted and who believe in the core of exploration. The first edition of the Mustang motorcycle expedition, the team explored the Kingdom of Lo in Mustang which is a remote and isolated region of the Nepalese Himalayas. The journey to Lo was arduous and the riders rode alongside the Kali Gandaki gorge (the deepest in the world) and skirted some of the highest peaks in the world including two eight-thousanders (Annapurna and Dhaulagiri).
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As tradition follows, July is the official Himalayan riding season in India. This was also the time for the brand’s marquee ride, Himalayan Odyssey. A special sustainable edition indeed, Royal Enfield embarked on a journey towards sustainability with the campaign #LeaveEveryPlaceBetter which minimised the use of single-use plastic water bottles. 60 riders embarking on a journey, considered as the holy grail of motorcycling, Himalayan Odyssey witnessed the riders covering a distance of over 2,000 kilometres in 15 days on their Royal Enfield motorcycles.
In October, Royal Enfield ventured into the core of the Himalayan region, Tibet to attempt an overland journey to the base camps of three of the eight thousand metre peaks in the world, Mt Everest, Shishapangma and Cho Oyu. The ride to Rongbuk (close to the Mt Everest Base Camp) is the highlight of the expedition, Himalayan Adventure - Rongbuk. The year ended with a bang with Rider Mania, three action packed days of motorcycling in Goa. Truly a community getting together, the 2019 edition saw the largest gathering of Royal Enfield owners anywhere in the world with nearly 8000 participants from around the world. There was more in store for motorcycling enthusiasts - the second edition of Winter White Out Spiti.
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