Gurgaon Harley Davidson accident raises concerns over licensing of high-end bikes

The death of a senior lawyer while riding a Harley Davidson on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway has raised concerns over handling high-end bikes without adequate training. Absence of norms for issuing driving licence as per the classification of a vehicle compounds the problem, experienced riders said.

The death of a senior lawyer while riding a Harley Davidson on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway has raised concerns over handling high-end bikes without adequate training. Absence of norms for issuing driving licence as per the classification of a vehicle compounds the problem, experienced riders said.

Senior lawyer Sunil Seth, who died in an accident on KMP Expressway on Sunday, had rented the Harley Davidson from Eagle Rider India on Golf Course Road. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

Sunil Seth, 53, was killed when the Harley Davidson bike he was riding with his friend Neeraj Seth, 45, hit a crash barrier on KMP Expressway Sunday morning. The duo had rented the bike from Eagle Rider India, a bike rental agency, at Golf Course Road.

A few expert riders feel bike companies should provide training before selling high-end sports bikes so that people know how to handle the machines. They also said changes were required in the method of issuance of driving licences for both two-wheelers and four-wheelers.

“Anyone can walk into a showroom with money and buy a high-end bike or car irrespective of whether they know how to handle the vehicle. There is also no difference in the driving licence for riding a normal bike and a high-end bike. Licences should be issued as per the classification of a vehicle,” Subhash Sahay, safety officer with Motorhead Motorcycle club, said.

When handling high-end bikes, a number of aspects have to be kept in mind. A rider has to be given training on the braking system, manoeuvre, gap between two bikes and with other vehicles, and road dimensions,” Sahay who has been riding with the group since 2012 said..

“Wearing safety gear is a must while riding as an accident can happen anytime,” Sahay said.

Eagle Rider India said it follows rental guidelines as per international standards. “We ensure that anyone who rents motorcycles from the brand takes a test ride with the team. Customers are provided proper riding gear, including helmet, armoured riding jackets, and knee protection pads,” a spokesperson of Eagle Rider India said. The spokesperson said that the agency did not rent out motorcycles to first-timers.

A representative of the agency said a motorcycle was rented out to Neeraj Seth, who had rented bikes twice earlier too.

In an accident on April 30, 2016, 25-year-old Salman Hussain Falarjani, a counsellor in the Saudi Arabia Embassy, was killed when his Suzuki Hayabusa crashed into a divider on the Gurgaon-Faridabad Road. Salman was riding his 1,300cc bike with four other bikers when the bike skidded.

In April 2016, renowned rider Veenu Paliwal was killed after her Harley Davidson skidded off a road at Vidisha district in Madhya Pradesh. Paliwal was on a nationwide tour on her motorcycle.