Men who are madly in love with their mean machines have new addas to hang out and discuss their future road trips. Cafés based on the theme of bikes are gaining popularity among passionate bikers, says Prerna Sharma
While you will have your meal on the seats rested on strong iron poles, you will surely think of the times when you had a cutting chai and bhajia on your bikes, parked at the corner of the road. The motorbike graphics will take you back to your teenage when all you dreamt was to possess the latest bike models and also such graphics adorned the walls of your room.
In short, everything about these café in the city will remind you of your bike days. And chances are high that the group on your neighbouring table is of the serial road trippers, discussing nothing but their bikes.
Eating joints with the bike theme are created for such passionate lots and their number is on a rise in the city. Such café boast of bike-inspired interiors, menus and rock music.
They seem to be inspired by Europe’s strong biking and café culture. The trend started from cities like Bengaluru and is now in Delhi.
There are a few bike cafés that even sell, repair or rent bikes. Others have some good reading material on bikes. Many, predictably, sell state-of-the-art biking gear and designer biking clothing.
The bike enthusiast just needs a medium to express his love for bikes, and this was the thought behind the opening of Bikers Café in Vasant Kunj. Owners of the Café, Sanjay and Rakhi Yadav are bike fanatics, and though they were not able to take out time to ride bikes because of their hectic schedules after marriage, they came up with an idea of designing a café, especially for bikers. “The concept is different and new, that is why people are appreciating it extensively. Though every restaurant is coming up with different themes, we also wanted to be in the league, follow our passion and do something alike. It is a place meant for people who can or cannot ride a bike. Obviously, the bikers will enjoy it but we have designed the café in such a way, that women or children who cannot ride a bike will also get a feel of it,” Sanjay explained. The duo was planning the restaurant since last two years. They opened it this year after an extensive research.
Another bike theme-based café, Revv Café in GK 1, keeps in mind that the bike lovers love their machines more than their better halves. The owner, Saurabh Mehra, came up with the concept because he thinks that motorbikes are much more than just a means of transport. It has become a culture for bike crazy people.
Talking about the distinctiveness of the café, Mehra said, “Our café is made for bike enthusiasts who want a quick munch before heading on a road trip and for machine-crazy people who want to indulge in intellectual talk and discussions on bikes.”
If you are a bike and coffee lover, you may be aware that bike rides and coffee go hand in hand. Coffee comes without the risk of hangover and that’s the best thing for the bikers. So these café have specially paid attention to variety of coffees, served in never-seen-before tyre or horn shaped mugs. “We have hazelnut, mocha and other exotic varieties. Coffee has caffeine in it, which keeps the bikers awake during road trips. Our coffee and machines are specially imported from Brazil, to make sure the bikers enjoy good coffee” said Sanjay.
Bikers Café is decorated with motorcycle memorabilia and boasts of everything — lights and furniture, inspired from bikes. The seats are customised with leather upholstery to give you a feel of a motorcycle seat. Wall clocks and souvenirs designed from original bike parts, like the wheel chain, a wheel rim and a bike handlebar with a headlight, adds to the charm of the interiors. Revv Café also has bike chains, customised seats and other quaint material.
The food served at these cafes is quick to munch. Rich protein burgers and sandwiches are on the list. Some restaurants also serve Maggi, batata vada and easy-on-pocket food.
The food served is light as bikers cannot travel after gorging on paranthas and lassi. Also, the café make sure that they promote ‘don’t drive and drink.’
Ambika Sharma, a bike rider from Delhi, love to visit these café. “Visiting such a place is a different experience, as people belonging to same community can chat and plan with people, they might or might not know.”
Karan, a passionate biker, added, “When we go out for road trips, we do need such kind of cafés. But the flip side is, that these cafes are not openend on highways, where they are needed the most.”