Passion Reignited
From the time I could remember, I was always obsessed with two wheels and the wind on my face. My first love? The iconic Yamaha RX 135, a machine that symbolized freedom and fuelled years of unforgettable memories, and the last in the legacy of two-stroke engines in India.
My first love: The Yamaha RX 135
Fast forward to 2012, I moved to the UAE, and though life got busy, the itch to ride never quite left me. After years of hesitation, I finally gave in and brought home the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650. It wasn’t just a bike for me, it was a return to myself, and what better way to return to the arena than on a Royal Enfield, the emotion of all Indians. Even though at that time it was an impulsive decision without a clue on what I was gonna do with it, it all changed when I discovered the amazing biker culture in UAE. Pretty quickly I was integrated into the incredible biking brotherhood, and it completely changed the way I experienced life.
Royal Enfield: Where engine meets emotion
Enter King of the Road Challenge
Vivek Mehta of Biker Buddies Brotherhood had set up a Whatsapp group with over 750 bikers. This is a resource for bikers to exchange news, motivate each other and share stories of their endurance rides. I first learnt about certified endurance challenges from that group.
When Vivek Mehta and Chirag Rami, well known riders in the Biker Brotherhood, announced on the Whatsapp group about the revival of the King of the Road Challenge after years of hiatus, I knew I had to enrol into this endurance test that’s unlike any other.
At the initial pre-ride briefing, Vivek Mehta explained that the challenge had three stages:
Phase 1: 805 km in 12 hours
Phase 2: 1610 km in 24 hours
Phase 3: 2415 km in 36 hours
To be honest, I didn’t think I had it in me to complete all three stages. By this time I was regularly riding around 300 to 400 km on all weekends, and I assumed the first 805 km will be something I can realistically manage without breaking my back and butt.
We flagged off with a solid crew of 23 people, which included a mix of experienced and first-time endurance riders. Chirag Rami led the way with clarity and consistency, keeping the group focused and the ride well-paced. His foresight and timely course corrections helped us stay on track throughout. We were also fortunate to have Vivek Mehta as our mentor. His guidance, planning, and oversight ensured everything ran smoothly from start to finish.
Ready, set, go: The start of something unforgettable
Unlocking New Limits
What I didn’t expect was how much the ride would awaken something inside me.The conditions weren’t always ideal; we had to ride throughtwo heavy sandstorms, a prolonged traffic jam, fuel shortages in between gas stations, several mechanical faults and a minor accident, but nothing was going to stop us. The camaraderie, the road, the rhythm, it was contagious. After finishing the 805 km stretch, something in me said, “Why stop now?” I pushed on to Phase 2. And then… Phase 3. What began with hesitation ended in triumph. I became one of the 8 riders to complete the entire 2415 km in 36 hours. As a cherry on the cake, I realized later on that my bike was the First Super Meteor 650 in the world to complete the King of the Road challenge, who would have thought!
At the finishing line: The 8 Kings of the Roadwith the mentor (from left to right, Victor King, Mentor Vivek Mehta, Sanjith Soman, Captain Chirag Rami, Gregory Fuller, Sunil Kulkarni, Avinash Surve,Kunal Bhatia and Umar Akbar)
My Key Takeaway
This challenge wasn’t just about distance or endurance. It was about self-discovery. Somewhere between gas stops, fatigue, and sandstorms, I found the strength I didn’t know I had. I learnt that our limits are often self-imposed, and that you need to step out of your comfort zone to grow. If you have ever doubted yourself and your capacity to go further, to do more, just get on that saddle, and the road has a way of showing you what you are truly made of.
A Word of Thanks
To Mentor Vivek Mehta: Your experience, guidance, encouragement, and discipline made all the difference.
To Captain Chirag Rami: Thank you for bringing this unbelievable achievement to life and leading us with vision.
To my fellow riders: Thank you for inspiring me and reminding that this journey is never meant to be a solo one.
Ride far. Ride true. Until the next one, peace out.
Sanjith Soman
Member of Eagles Tribe MC, UAE
Completed BIKER BUDDIES Endurance ride – United Through Storm – King of the Road Challenge, 8th– 9thFeb 2025