The Harley Burlys

[speed]

It is commonly referred to as an American icon and characterised by a thumping engine sound that bikers venerate the world over. Harley-Davidson, which will open shop in India next year, has also been the envy of Delhi roads. Ask Rakesh Kohli, 54, who has a dozen vintage Harleys parked at his Sainik Farm residence and is planning to get a Harley dealership as well as buy the latest model. “The biker community is excited about the official arrival of the Harley, but the bike’s love affair with India started even before Independence,” he says.

Kohli runs a successful Harley spare-parts business that his father started almost 40 years ago. “We used to export Harley spare parts to dealers in the US, Australia and the UK. We provided gear boxes for the phatphatias used in Delhi,” he says. His favourite in his collection is a 750 cc 1948 WLA that he bought from a friend in Kolkata for Rs 2,000. “I ride her once a week,” he says.

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Speed