Words: Saidatta Naik | Photography: Saidatta Naik
Back in Pune, I’m still buzzing from the ride to and from Goa. The Royal Enfield Bear 650 made every kilometre unforgettable from highways to ghats, city streets to off-road trails. This motorcycle turned the mundane into an adventure, and the adventure into an odyssey! Homecoming never felt this exhilarating before.
I set off early from Pune, and the Bear 650 immediately proved its worth. The 650cc engine made overtaking effortless, and its confident handling inspired instant trust, even on rough patches of NH 48. The knobby tyres gripped the road like glue, and the suspension soaked up the bumps, keeping both me and my camera gear steady. And the mileage of 25kmpl made the fuel stops a lot more ‘bear’-able!
The Tripper dash was my little co-pilot. With navigation via the Royal Enfield app, I could focus on the road ahead while still taking in the breathtaking scenery in this part of the country that I call my home. Every stop to click misty fields, winding roads, and everything in between became a small celebration. I couldn’t resist the urge to click sometimes mid-ride, the joy of riding and photography blending perfectly.
Past Kolhapur, I took the Amboli Ghat route via Nipani and Ajara, and the Bear came alive. Its handling made every curve a delight, letting me maintain a thrilling pace while enjoying the countless number of bends. As I merged onto NH 66, the Goan breeze hit me, and I knew home was close, but I wasn’t ready for the journey to end.
I ran into city traffic, which, thanks to a local festival, was chaotic, and yes, the engine did warm up my legs more than I would have liked during this stretch, but I shook it off — the Bear danced through the streets with ease. Later, on Goa’s off-road trails, the scrambler DNA stood out. The suspension absorbed the bumps, the tyres gripped, and the bike turned into an extension of me.
As I returned to Pune, dusty, sun-kissed, and exhilarated, I realised that festivals for me have become something more than bright lights and
celebrations. They are about the ride, the freedom, the thrill of every turn, and the memories created along the way. The Bear 650 didn’t just take me home for the festivals, it turned the journey itself into a festival!
