The Grease Monkey: Vardenchi's Vedic Chopper

Date: 20/02/2010.

Location: Marine Drive, Mumbai.

I was out for a drive with my friends on a mission. Mission "SPOT SOMETHING NEW TODAY".

Well!! Yes girls are a thing to spot. But I was out for something different. Some mean wheels, a few wild beasts on the road. But little did I know about the thumping that was about to happen for the next couple of minutes.

Clicked By: Tanmay Tungare

Suddenly, a strong beam of light reflected into my eyes through the centre mirror of my Baleno.

And me, as usual cursed the rider behind for doing that. I was about to utter a few words and we heard the thump.

We slowed down and gave him his way.

Clicked by: Tanmay Tungare

And when I saw it, all I could hear is 5 people in a Baleno saying "OH F**K!!!" in a unison.

Our Eyes popped out by seeing the curves, the long shiny handle,the heavy looking wide rear tyre, alloys shining and what not just in mere 20 seconds!!

We had to chase it. But the traffic scene in Mumbai!! This isn’t right!!! Somehow, we spotted it again and this time, my friend was ready with my camera phone to shoot it.

Let me tell you one thing, we knew nothing about the bike. But still we were left so amazed as if we had spotted a "Bugatti Veyron".

That was the feel of presence the bike made.

What a moment that was !!!

Almost 10 months now.Enjoying my Exam PL, I was browsing through my videos and I found that video again.After 10 months of curiosity to know "what was that bike all about?". I came through a fan-page of "Vardenchi". And the beast was in front of me, on my laptop screen.

Ok, what exactly is Vardenchi?

It is a company started in 2005 by "Akshai Varde" by name "The Mumbai Motorcycle Company". The company keeps collective vision of building quality motorcycles and motorcycle products.

It is a 15 member team. Each has a different skill, but passion remains the same. Later on in 2006, the name was changed to "Vardenchi" since it needed a very own personal image. Indeed!! VARDENCHI, which means "belongs to Varde" in Marathi. (VARDE-N-CHI. Its my own funda applied here and may not be true.)

Aim: To build the best custom-made motorcycles in India.

Vardenchi is well known for its standard of service with a firm control over innovative design and quality. Here, "quality" means not only the design, but also the ride. Vardenchi bikes are a mix of a classic and new age looks.

Courtesy: Google Images

Vardenchi - Each build will be better than the last.

And they stand by their statement.

Courtesy: Google Images

Name: Vardenchi Vedic Chopper.

Description: It is craziest custom chopper to hit the Indian streets!!

Customer name: Nimit Mehta.

Vardenchi's earlier work had been some of the sickest 8 and a half footers and loud thumpers. But this one was built by Akshai himself and maybe this is why he says "It is quite close to the heart".

Built:

Courtesy: Google Images

It is a 9 feet long Royal Enfield and a single seater!!!

A slim and long tank, accentuating the structure with a VM's pop-up gas cap.The controls actually suit the overall theme of the bike.

The single sided swing-arm and belt drive has been a trademark of Vardenchi.

Akshai says "Her handle bars were kept at comfort wide grip and with bare minimum wiring they looked like the wings of the bird just before a flight". And I second that.

He adds "It wasn’t a wonder that when I tested her, she was everything I imagined and more true to the initial imagination of my heels scraping the road on the 1st test".

Artwork:

Courtesy: Google Image

The plan was to not keep the bike plain white.

Akshai wanted a touch of artwork on it just like other choppers but to make sure that it is unique.And guess what he came out with? The Hanuman Chalisa in English, written in an Indian form of Calligraphy by an artist from Aumchakra design.

Hanuman Chalisa in English. This is something creatively brilliant. Isn’t it?

To add to this sensational beast, was a little celebration.

Nimit had become the proud father to a son a couple of weeks before the bike was made. So, Vardenchi team decided to emboss the bike in chrome on the tank after his son "Vivaan".

What a great piece of artwork? Do check out the video of "Vardenchi's Vedic Chopper" spotted by us.