Dhoom machale dhoom: Why these Indian women bikers have made motorcycles their lifeline

Vaishnavi Bhangare initially bought her 160cc bike for travel and long rides. Now it is a daily mode of transport

On most Mumbai mornings, the day begins with crowded platforms, impatient horns, and ride-hailing apps. For 27-year-old Serina Oguh, the solution has been consistent for the last eight years. She straps on her helmet, mounts her 2018 Suzuki Gixxer 155cc, and rides at the break of dawn.

"I just put in the petrol and then, I am on the go," she says. "I don't have to wait for anybody." Oguh works with The Souled Store and has been living in Mumbai for nearly a decade, owning a bike was never a novelty purchase. "It's not a toy thing for me," she explains. "It was a passion." That passion began long before she moved to the city.

When she was younger, she'd sneak out to ride a friend's bike whenever she could. "I used to hide from people and ride my friend's bike," she laughs. "That's what gave me the urge to get a bike as soon as possible."

When Serina Oguh moved to Mumbai from Awalpur, near Chandrapur district, eight years ago and encountered the daily crush of traffic and local trains, bikes became practical. PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI

When she moved to Mumbai from Awalpur, near Chandrapur district, and encountered the daily crush of traffic and local trains, the decision became practical. "Seeing the rush in the locals, I prefer to ride a bike because it's more convenient for me to reach from one place to another," she says. Oguh taught herself to ride. A friend gave her basic instructions on shifting gears, and the rest she learned through practice. "Anything else, I did it on my own," she says.

Her mother supported her decision, even contributing financially towards the purchase. In daily life, she says, a geared bike makes more sense than a scooter or public transport. "With a scooter, I used to just keep ramming the throttle," she explains. "With a bike, the speed is distributed. It depends on which gear you are in." The structure of a geared motorcycle, she says, makes her more patient and controlled on the road.

Cost is another factor. Regular cabs or autos do not make financial sense in the long run. With a bike, expenses are largely limited to fuel and maintenance. "I don't have to book a ticket. I don't have to wait for a bus," she says. "I just put petrol in and I start."

Reactions on the road have been mixed, but largely uneventful. Dressed in riding gear, she is often mistaken for a male rider until she removes her helmet. "Only when I remove the helmet do they get to know," she says. She adds that Mumbai riders generally "mind their own business," though fellow bikers occasionally acknowledge her with a nod of approval.

While Oguh represents a younger generation of daily riders, 50-year-old Mayuree Tayyadey's journey with motorcycles took a different path.

A hair and makeup artist, Tayyadey recently purchased a Royal Enfield after years of putting it off. She owned an Avenger 16 years ago, but stopped riding after a minor accident shook her confidence. The desire, however, remained. "The itch to buy and ride a bike never left," she says. "I realised I have the time right now. I am financially set and whatever is on my bucket list, I want to slowly start ticking them off. I don't want to wait anymore."

Concerned initially about handling the weight and height of the Enfield, she trained with Royal Enfield instructors and practised on empty roads early in the morning. "Through practice, my patience and confidence increased. That fear has completely left my mind now," she says.

Having always had it on her bucket list, Mayuree Tayyadey finally bought a Royal Enfield recently

Encouragement came from home. Her 72-year-old mother-in-law urged her to go ahead with the purchase, and her husband supported the decision. Today, she uses the bike even for short distances. "There's an attachment to it," she says. "I go to my bike early in the morning and just caress it like I would a child."

For Payyadey, the Enfield is not necessarily the most economical option, but practicality was not the only consideration. "If you are able to buy a bike, you will find a way for the petrol later," she says with a laugh. She now hopes to ride to Goa for an annual bikers' event later this year.

In Lonavla, Vaishnavi Bhangare rides for a different set of reasons. A ceramic crockery entrepreneur who also works with the Shivdurga Mitra team on rescue operations across Maharashtra, she initially bought her 160cc bike for travel and long rides. Riding was always a part of her travel and adventure. Gradually, it became her primary mode of daily transport. "It just became my default mode of getting around," she says.

In a town that sees heavy tourist traffic, especially on weekends, a bike offers flexibility. "Lonavla gets very crowded, especially on weekends, and a bike helps me move around quickly for work, errands, and site visits. It saves a lot of time, parking is easy, and my 160cc bike is very economical, so it's also a big money saver," she says. Compared to cabs or a car, she finds it more reliable and cost-effective. "With a bike, I can avoid traffic, reach places faster, and most importantly, I don't have to depend on anyone or anything. I have complete control over my time and movement."

All three women come from different age groups and professional backgrounds, but their reasons converge around convenience, time management and financial sense. None describe their choice primarily as a statement. Instead, it is a solution. For these riders, the motorcycle is not a symbol. It is a tool that saves time, reduces dependency and, increasingly, feels entirely ordinary.