Guwahati, May 27: Adventure biking is poised to gather speed in the Northeast with a dealership to showcase and roll out the Fat Bobs and Fat Boys in town.
Yes, it's official! US bike manufacturer Harley-Davidson is all geared up to launch its first exclusive outlet here in July.
Along with an array of powerful and stylish motorcycles, the 8,000 square feet showroom, Brahmaputra Harley Davidson, will have Fat Bobs and Fat Boys. It will also have almost everything a biker aspires to - from technical advice to parts and accessories, merchandise to customisation of the mean machine.
Harley owners here are extremely elated with the American company's Northeast foray.
"It will primarily bring in two positives. Firstly, owners will be saved the trouble of going to Calcutta or the long wait for technical help that comes once in a while on demand. Secondly, it paves the way for more organised biking events in the region itself as the region will now have its own Harley chapter that will take the initiatives. Till date, the club has organised trips on its own," Devajit (Lon) Saikia, a Fat Bob owner and a member of the Harley Owners Rhino Club since 2013, told The Telegraph.
"Moreover, with the chapter here now, we can get the bikes, which come in standard designs, customised/modified to our requirements. There are about 40 models of Harleys with each having several thousand parts that can be altered," Saikia said.
"We have invested about Rs 5.5 crore in the dealership, which is coming up at Sarusajai in July. There will be 13 models of Harleys up for display, including one directly imported from the US, at the showroom. The process to recruit a 25-member team has started," Samir Agarwala, the proprietor of Brahmaputra Harley Davidson, said.
The team will work on specialised areas such as technical service, sales and marketing, merchandising and consultancy.
This will be Harley-Davidson India's 22nd franchise in the country.
"Looks apart, the engine power of the motorcycles ranges from 750CC to 1,800CC and more, something which should entice riders here," Agarwala said.
"A number of women here ride bikes, with some being a part of bikers' clubs as well." Officially there are more than 40 Harley owners across the Northeast. Unofficially, there may be more.
The Calcutta outlet - Bengal Harley-Davidson - industry sources said, sells about 20 units per month with the Northeast procuring 25 per cent of them.
" The Harleys would be priced between Rs 4.9 lakh and Rs 49 lakh," Agarwala said.
Harley-Davidson India is a wholly owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, based in Gurgaon. It commenced operations in August 2009 and appointed its first dealership in July 2010.
Since then, over 12,000 Harleys have hit the country's roads. So, with a new chapter here, quite literally, it's time for the cruise riders to take control of the throttle!
