Royal Enfield Motoverse 2023: Highlights
Royal Enfield Motoverse 2023 (formally Rider Mania) was back for its latest season this November 2023. While Rider Mania was renamed Motoverse, the famous biking festival is still widely known as Royal Enfield Rider Mania. More to the point, not only thousands and thousands of Royal Enfield fans but also the true-blue motorcycling enthusiasts rode their motorcycles from across India to Vagator, Goa, to enjoy the three-day event. There is no doubt that the Royal Enfield Motorverse is the country's one of the largest motorcycling festivals, similar to the India Bike Week (IBW), that enthral motorcycle buffs of all ages. That being said, the festival was held between 24 and 26 last month.
The 13th Edition of the Royal Enfield Motoverse unfolded several surprises for the motorcycling community, especially the Royal Enfield fans. The itinerary for the three-day festival was packed with an all-day events split into a variety of areas, catering to the distinct motorcycling community. While there was a host of thrilling activities, riding gear and apparel shops, Royal Enfield's accessory and clothing stalls, along with loads of food, beer, and music, the crux of the 2023 Royal Enfield Motoverse were the unforeseen public debut of the Shotgun 650, followed by the price announcement of the new Himalayan 450.
Although the Shotgun 650 is based on the on-sale Super Meteor 650, it features numerous changes to stand out in the crowd. The bobber-style motorcycle was showcased at a stage built specially for the unveiling, which bore 'Inspired By Custom for Custom'. In fact, the Shotgun 650 revealed at the venue was the Motoverse Edition model, limited to 25 examples, which was sold at Rs 4.25 lakh (ex-showroom) to the attendees of the Motorverse 2023 via a contest.
After a hiatus of years, the brand showcased the new Himalayan 450 at the recent 2023 EICMA in Milan, Italy, alongside the Him-E, an electric Himalayan test bed. On the occasion of Motoverse 2023, Royal Enfield took to the massive stage at the event to reveal the prices of its ADV for not only the Indian market, but for also the Europe and United Kingdom.
Apart from the said major attractions, the Motoverse 2023 was a treat to foodies, offering culinary delights from the Himalayan region, while music lovers attended various artists and bands performances, lapping up the funky beats and local brew. For reference, be it 'A Plate from Kharu', cocktails inspired by the Himalayas at 'Zing Zing bar' or artists from Arunachal, such as Taba Chake and Da Shugs an indigenous band from Ladakh performed a fusion of traditional folk and rock music.
Further, Royal Enfield showcased its new range of apparels, helmets for children, and eyewear. On top of that, attendees witnessed numerous custom-built motorcycles at Shed Builds - a first time for Motoverse. This initiative gave an opportunity to custom builder to use their imagination and creativity of the community and display their unique motorcycle at the event. The 23 custom-built models were selected through a crowd-sourced digital campaign.
This season also hosted an action-packed activities at MotoThrill, comprising the flagship dirt track, a curated class for the new Himalayan, an obstacle course, and Hunter Hood - another first for Motoverse 2023, which was an experiential ride through a curated course designed to highlight the agility of the Hunter 350. The riders had an opportunity to gain and use their skills at the Slide School, Trail School, and Ace The Hill.
The Motoverse 2023 provided a stage for emerging artists at the Culture stage, featuring various talents from around the globe. Whereas, the Moto Reel hosted adventure buffs from various fields, such as Ashish Raorane, CS Santosh, and Sajid Chougle, Rizza Alee, and Vijay Menon, and Abhijit Rao.
Other highlights of the Motoverse 2023 were 'Helmets for India' initiative, where kids and young adults were given an opportunity to paint helmets. Similarly, Royal Enfield also allowed attendees to hand-paint the fuel tank of the Super Meteor 650 and create their unique graphics. Close to the parking lot was a temporary service centre by Royal Enfield to check and repair motorcycle coming all the way from different corners of the country. This centre also prepared bikers with some basic repairing techniques via its DIY programme. Here, RE owners were able to work on their motorcycles under the guidance of an expert mechanic.
Overall, the Royal Enfield Motoverse 2023 was a wonderful and fun experience, featuring various motorcycling-related activities with a touch of delicious food, brew, and music.