Meet The Wild Hawks Kalinga: Bonded By Bikes, Rides and Passion

Meet The Wild Hawks Kalinga: Bonded By Bikes, Rides and Passion

Biking is not just about riding a bike. It is a culture that is a combination of passion, freedom and adventure. Bikers of Wild Hawks Kalinga group of Odisha believe that punctuality, discipline and social responsibility are the three important factors of a rider. Recently, having joined the rally ‘Kalinga Rides’ supported by Odisha Tourism, it is now known as one of the largest bikers’ groups in the state.

Talking about the group, riders Mussadique Ali and Abdul Sahed said, “Being bikers by passion and members of world’s biggest biking community popularly known as Harley Owners’ Group (HOG), we would thank Odisha Tourism on behalf of Wild Hawks Kalinga for organizing a ride to boost the tourism of Odisha and believing in us as torchbearers of state’s tourism. We rode from Infocity to Dhauli and from there we went to Mangalajodi Nature Camp which turned out to be truly mesmerizing. People have different perceptions about us bikers. But while we take the challenges of riding, we ensure the safety of others.”

Members of Wild Hawks Kalinga boast of having riders who cover the length and breadth of India every year to participate in H.O.G zonal rides. They organise an annual ride to Goa. The group has done international rides to neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bhutan. Riders of WHK are associated with charity events like blood donation camps, plantation drives and preach road safety, during their rides.

Riders Rohit Singh Deo and Priyanka Singh Deo said, “Odisha Tourism’s efforts to make super bikers’ community as tourism ambassadors for the day is commendable. People across the world witnessed the scenic beauty of Odisha through us.”

Operating a superbike takes multiple skills. However, the laws of the road apply to every rider just the same. A combination of consistent education, respect for traffic laws and basic common sense can help in reducing fatalities involved in motorcycle accidents. “It’s important to understand some basic motorcycle safety tips to make sure your next ride is a safe one,” said Rohit.

Bikers have to rise above their personal prejudices and think for the entire group and respect everyone’s opinion. “It gives you a sense of responsibility, makes you a more disciplined person, you start to adjust in various conditions and surroundings, which you then take to other areas of your life,” said another rider Bhagyashree Panda.

Wild Hawks Kalinga has thirty-five riders including women. Everyone in the group has a different character but they are bonded by one passion, that is riding.

There’s a thin line of difference between bikers and travellers which confuses people. Bikers are more conscious of the road, but travellers as bikers need to focus on the road and the surrounding as well, be it scenic locations of a valley or bumpy roads full of potholes beyond the valley. For a biker, while riding both the bike and rider are one mind, one soul.