The DOOT has been the most influential motorcycle of my life

Of all the addictions in the world, feeling the wind in your hair must be way up high towards the top (at least for me). I was introduced to this feeling when I rode around with my cousins on an Escorts Rajdoot 175. It was my Uncle's motorcycle, he got it as a marriage present way back in 1992 and was fairly well maintained given the quality of roads in those times. Since I was a kid they let me sit at the front as there was a danger of me falling if I sat at the back. I was asked to grab the middle of the handlebars for safety (I know). This is when I realised how awesome riding a motorcycle really was (or could be).

When I grew older I started controlling the throttle and managed the clutch on the empty village roads while my cousin sat at the back and changed gears, mostly from 2nd to 3rd and back. When it came to the 1st gear I just couldn't control the motorcycle and it was when my cousin would take over. The bike felt very heavy while creeping and while standing still. As time passed I started to take the bike out on my own. There was, however, one problem. The kick lever was too heavy for me so I had to ask someone to start it. No big deal as someone would do that for me. However, the bike would sometimes stall while returning back and that is when I learned the most. After pushing the motorcycle back home on many occasions, I started to manage the clutch and accelerator way more carefully so as to not stall the motorcycle. All my motorcycling abilities owe their credit to that very moment when a 13-year-old me was trying his absolute best to not let the motorcycle stall while heading back home.



Since then I've ridden quite a few bikes but only a few have that sense of occasion as Rajdoot. It had the kick on the wrong side so you had to start the bike before getting onto the seat which wasn't really a smooth process but made riding the motorcycle a little more special. I wouldn't necessarily trade today's reliability and comfort for the feeling of yesteryears but in a world where Rajdoot exists, there can never be a motorcycle that gives me the same happiness as this!

Everytime I see a Rajdoot on the road