Farhan Khan has loved bikes for as long as he can remember. When he owned a Pulsar 150 at the age of 18, it was the fulfillment of only the beginning of his long wishlist of bikes. He then rode a Yamaha R15 for a year, KTM Duke 200 for two years and now, at 23, he owns a bike that not many have in the country, a KTM RC390 launched in September last year.
“I do not know when and how, but I was crazy about wheels from a young age. I would observe the mechanics of it,” says Farhan. He dreams of owning a variety of bikes in different segments — speed bikes, sport bikes, off-road bikes. He is not just a biker but a trainer too. As a store manager at KTM showroom in Indira Nagar, Bangalore, where he works part-time, Farhan is part of the team that teaches customers safe riding. “I wanted to work with something that I love. When your passion and work is the same, there is nothing better you can ask for,” he adds.
As for academics, he has chosen to focus on the ‘management’ part of his job, doing a part-time MBA at St Joseph’s College, Bangalore, rather than, say, mechanical engineering, as one might expect of someone who is interested in the mechanics of biking.
Farhan is a part of the biker’s group, Free Riding Network, in Bangalore, which has close to 1,000 members. He says that every week, at least 10-20 people take off on long rides and he is usually a part of it. He goes for at least two road trips a month.
Although he has travelled over 1,000 km in a day, he had his most memorable experiences on the Madras Motorsport Racing Track and Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore. Farhan loves off-roading, and prefers twists and turns in his roads than convenient highways. Most importantly, Farhan is an active promoter of safe riding. “No matter where you go, you must wear your helmet. Even if you are careful, people from the opposite side may not be. Safety gear is a must, is what I tell anyone who wishes to go on a ride,” he says.
revathi@newindianexpress.com