Keeping the tradition of bringing exclusive content for our readers, this time, too, PakWheels.com has brought an interview of the Bahawalpur Bikers, read the whole interview below.
Kindly introduce yourself and for how long have you been into biking?
I am Haris Nisar from Bahawalpur, and I have been into superbikes for the last 13 to 14 years. I am Salman Hussain from Bahawalpur, and I have been into superbikes for the last 11 years. I am Danish Nazir from Bahawalpur, and I have been into biking since 2019. I am Ghulam Mustafa from Bhawalpur, and I have been associated with biking since 2016.
What was your first-ever sports bike, and how did you buy it?
Haris: My first sports bike was Suzuki GSX-250 Across, which was of 1989 or 1990 model. I first saw a superbike back in 2004 in Karachi, and from there, my craze developed. I used to look at superbike pictures online, and this was the time when social media platforms like Facebook did not exist. My father was unwilling to buy me a superbike.
Salman: I came to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia in 2005, and I became the neighbor of Mr. Haris. I developed my taste and inclination for superbikes after seeing the collection of Mr. Haris. At that time, he used to have superbikes like Yamaha R1. My first superbike was Suzuki RGV250, and I bought it from Multan. Mr. Haris taught me to ride that Suzuki RGV250 bike overtime.
Danish: I have a fondness for sports bikes from an early age. Mr. Haris, Salman, and Mustafa helped me in getting on track with superbikes. I bought my first bike from Karachi, and I have been having fun riding my bike with my colleagues.
Bilal: I have drawn my inspiration for superbikes from Mr. Haris when I saw him riding back in 2013. I bought my first bike in 2016 after saving my pocket money for a very long time. My start was from Yamaha R6. After the R6, I have changed roughly 10 bikes to this date. Bikes like BMW HP4 have remained under my ownership.
How safe is it to drive a superbike?
Haris: Whenever you are riding a superbike, the probability of risk is high always because you get this adrenaline rush when you have so much engine power at your disposal. I was in an accident back in 2008 on a superbike. In that accident, I share responsibility, and to some extent, it was due to my fault. Over time, I shifted from superbikes to cruiser bikes and then adventure bikes. Safety gear is very important, especially when you are riding a superbike. The safety gear saves you from a nightmare or a huge disaster.
Tell us about your experience of shifting from superbikes to cruiser bikes?
Haris: I imported my first ever bike back in 2013. It was a 2012 model CRF 250. I rode this bike for a very long time. I rode this bike from Karachi to Gwadar as well and explored the Cholistan desert. Cruiser and touring bikes give you a better and more enriching experience than superbikes, and they are not very risky to ride either. However, I do not discourage buying and riding superbikes. They have their own unique charm.
Tell us about some of your riding experiences?
Haris: At first, we used to ride in Bahawalpur then, with the passage of time, we started riding from Bahawalpur to Lahore and other cities. We used to travel to Lahore through Multan since other roads were not good to ride on motorbikes. The first time I rode from Bahawalpur to Lahore, I had a Honda Gold Wing bike. After Lahore, I continued my journey to Islamabad, Naran, and eventually to the Babusar Top. From Bhawalpur to Lahore, we usually travel at 20 to 40 km/h on this road since it is not safe to go above this speed limit.
How much time do you spend riding every day, and how long are your trips usually?
Haris: On a long trip, we usually spend at least 5 to 10 days. On a daily basis, we can ride up to 6 to 8 hours. Last time, we went to Naltar Valley from Bahawalpur, and on those days, our average daily riding time was around 11 hours.
What do you do before you guys head off on a trip?
Haris: On a long road trip, there is for sure a lot of wear and tear of our bikes as I earlier mentioned that we ride for 11 hours a day at times. So before we head off, we check the engine and engine oil of our bikes. We also look into the bolts and screws and the other typical maintenance. We also carry tire inflators with us and a jump starter so that we are not left stranded in case our bikes break down. We have also made our very own puncture kits. For our personal gear, we carry bike gloves, helmet, jacket with padding and biker trousers, and boots. We have made it a rule that we do not ride without proper safety gear.
How has been your experience of owning a heavy bike?
Danish: People are very happy to see heavy bikes, and my experience has been very enriching, owning a heavy bike. Just like we used to anticipate what a heavy bike was when people see us, they also have this anticipation to know about the heavy bike.
Salman: When you have a heavy bike, it is difficult to control the excitement and enthusiasm of people. At times, people, especially kids, do not know how heavy the bike is actually. It is considered rude when we turn away people when this happens. Sometimes certain parts of the bike are hot, and kids can burn themselves if they touch them. Moreover, when we ride across Pakistan to different cities, people give up thumbs up, and they are happy to see us. Normally people are happy to see bikers and bikes.
Haris: When a person does not have the skill and experience to handle a superbike or a heavy bike, then the risk factor involved is usually increased. People need to pace themselves when learning to ride bikes. It is not difficult to accelerate a superbike; it is how to stop it from a high speed, which proves to be difficult.
Slide to view all the pictures:
How many bikes have you owned, and of what brands and models?
Haris: In my garage, I have had BMW R1200GS, Suzuki Hayabusa, and many other 250cc to 1000cc bikes. In street bikes, I had Suzuki Inazuma 250 to Kawasaki Z1000 bikes. I have also ridden Shadow Phantom and Gold Wing in cruisers. When I started adventure biking, I started off with Honda CRF250R. Currently, I have a BMW R90 cruiser bike as well.
Salman: Currently, I have Yamaha stryker in my collection, which is a mid-range cruiser. In the 600cc category, I have owned Yamaha R6 many times. I have also owned Suzuki Hayabusa, which is also my favorite bike. We are also on the lookout for adventure bikes. Adventure bikes are currently short in the market.
Danish: Currently, I have Kawasaki Z1000 street bike in my garage. I have enjoyed riding this bike. Next, I want to buy an adventure bike, and I am looking forward to enjoying it as well.
Bilal: I started my biking experience with Yamaha R6 then I moved on to BMW HP4. After owning these two bikes, I moved on to Yamaha V-Max, which is a fast cruiser. After this, I bought a Ducati 1199 Panigale. I have also owned a Suzuki Hayabusa. To this date, I have changed around 10 bikes. I have recently sold the Shadow Phantom. Currently, I have VTX 1300 from Honda. I have also placed an order for a Kawasaki Versys 650.
What can you tell us about the spare parts and maintenance of bikes in Pakistan?
Haris: We usually order spare parts from abroad. Basic things like oil filters; however, we have to import specific parts that are not available in Pakistan. There are problems with maintenance and sourcing of spare parts for these bikes in Pakistan. There is cutting-edge technology included in these high-end bikes like electronic stability and height control, which are difficult to get repaired in Pakistan. It is even more difficult to maintain these bikes in Bahawalpur. Usually, what I do is that I have a vendor in Rawalpindi who takes care of bikes. I go to him when I am going on a trip towards the northern areas of Pakistan.
Do you love and enjoy riding bikes?
Salman: The activity and hobby of biking keep you in a good and lively mood. Generally, in Pakistan, people live a stressful and frustrating life. Riding a bike puts you in a good mood. Always remember to drive at such a speed that you know is controllable, given your skill set and capabilities. Biking is a healthy sport, and you can get in touch with the surrounding environment.
Bilal: Bikers are those people who are youthful, and they enjoy their lives. Biking also helps you in developing a healthy social circle and develop longlasting bonds of friendship and comradery.
How long have you been connected with PakWheels.com?
Haris: I have been connected with PakWheels.com since January 2004. It was the time when PakWheels had recently been launched. PakWheels has been one of its kind platform for all sorts of automobiles. It was the first platform for automobiles that supported forums on every aspect of automobiles, which I personally like about it. PakWheels.com is still like a family to me.
Salman: I bought my first-ever bike from PakWheels.com, and ever since that time, most of my bike-related deals have been done on PakWheels.com. PakWheels.com has made it very easy to buy or sell automobiles and bikes in Pakistan. Moreover, reviews and other information available on PakWheels.com make it convenient and easy for you to buy a car or a bike.
Drop your thoughts in the comments section below.
