The 25-year-old engineer began her bike riding journey with a desire to ride at the age of 14, which she expressed to her uncle who advised her to put the pedal to the metal, quite literally. Thus began the 14-year-old’s first bike venture. She debuted on a Hero Passion and later got her first Activa at the age of 18. Since then, there was no looking back for Das. Her love for motorcycles further transcended into her academics, making Das take up Mechanical Engineering at a degree level.
In 2016, Das enrolled herself into the Ambey Valley Drag Race-India Speed Week after being motivated by her friends and family while being completely oblivious to the car racing scenario in India. However, the following year, she participated in both car and bike categories and came home with the title of ‘Fastest Female on Bike’. Although the biker began her racing career with cars, she prefers racing on bikes as she believes that track car races are way more expensive to be a part of.
During the drag race event, she was noticed by several senior riders who then helped her participate in the selection round for India’s first female bike racing team powered by TVS Racing. Among the 60 participants who were pitted against each other to make it to the first-ever team, 15 racers were selected, which also included Das. She praises TVS for taking up the initiative to promote racing for women and believes that it has certainly increased the number of women entering the industry.
“The initiative taken up by TVS has helped motivate women to get more involved in motorsports. I remember, in 2016, when I took part in drag races, there were around 400-450 boys and just four or five girls in the entire competition. After the TVS racing team was set up, the number of girls participating doubled. As years passed by, the number went on increasing. I believe the more racers the people see, the more awareness it will create,” she said.
Similarly, Das also got into racing after being inspired by Alisha Abdullah, India’s first female national racing champion. She recollects being trained by Abdullah in the TVS team as one of her luckiest days.
Further down the road, Das felt the need to move forward. She clearly believes in the phrase, the bigger the better. So she waited till she turned 21 to officially start her bus driving training. However, she was up for a bumpy ride. Most training centres mocked and questioned her ability to handle a heavy vehicle, being a woman. This further fuelled her drive to get trained. Expecting the worst, she reluctantly applied for the BEST training course as her last resort. However, the team was more than happy to train her and she received her licence soon after. On completing the training period, the 24-year-old was informed of the feat she had achieved – the triumph of becoming the first female to complete the training under BEST.
Another major laurel that came her way was the Great Asian Odyssey, a 15,000 km road trip with fellow bikers, covering the vast Southeast-Asian region of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka, where she proudly represented India at key places.
On being asked about difficulties a woman might face on roads, Das said, “None.” She says most people are more than happy to help a female rider. She recalls how women in rural areas come to strike up a conversation and get genuinely fascinated to see a female bike rider. In terms of personal needs too, she believes that most roads are fairly equipped.
Talking about family support, Das affirms that her mother’s complete support is what has helped her move forward. Despite receiving flak from other members of the family or even outsiders, her mother has stood by her like a rock. She says that even though many people have brought up the ‘girl factor’ to stop her from going on long trips, her mother always nodded ‘yes’ to her crazy adventures. However, Das also makes sure to be responsible while on trips by regularly informing her mother of her whereabouts.
Das has recently ventured into YouTube video creation space with her first introduction video already up for viewing. She aims to make content in her native language Telugu as a way to connect to the people back home, as most people mistake her to be a Mumbaikar. Apart from this, she also plans to feature her riding and travel videos and also use it as a platform to motivate more people into motorsports. She credits YouTuber Tagore Cherry, aka Cherry Vlogs, for persuading her into starting her own YouTube channel.
Commenting on her future goals, she says her next target is to ride to the Mount Everest base camp, which will be a challenge she would like to embark on. Additionally, she would also like to try her hand again at car racing. She also mentions the BMW S 1000 RR to be her dream bike. (MT)
Bajaj Auto Reintroduces Pulsar 180 To Mark Brand's 25th Anniversary
- By MT Bureau
- April 10, 2026
Pune-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major Bajaj Auto has reintroduced the Pulsar 180 motorcycle in India, citing consistent demand from riders and social media interest.
The reintroduction coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Pulsar brand, which launched in 180cc and 150cc formats in 2001. The updated model now features new graphics and integrated technology to align with current market standards.
The updated motorcycle incorporates a light-emitting diode (LED) headlamp, LED blinkers and a digital console with Bluetooth connectivity. Bajaj Auto has positioned the vehicle as a transition for owners of 150cc to 160cc motorcycles, providing a shift in performance and design. The Pulsar 180 is intended to maintain the balance between sport-oriented riding and daily commuting that established the nameplate's presence in the segment.
Engineering updates for this iteration focus on refined performance and modernised electronics while retaining the styling characteristic of the original series. The inclusion of connected features via the digital console allows for smartphone integration, a feature increasingly common in the performance commuter category.
Sarang Kanade, President, MCBU, Bajaj Auto, said, “The Pulsar brand has always stood for pushing limits and redefining performance motorcycling in India. The return of the Pulsar 180 is a response to the strong and consistent demand, as well as a groundswell of love on social media. As we mark 25 years of Pulsar, bringing back this iconic nameplate feels especially meaningful. Reimagined for a new generation, it continues to embody our ‘Definitely Daring’ philosophy combining power, precision and contemporary design to deliver an experience that is both exhilarating and accessible.”
Simple Energy Expands Retail Presence With 5 New Outlets Across India
- By MT Bureau
- April 09, 2026
Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler maker Simple Energy has inaugurated five new retail outlets in Delhi, Nashik, Aurangabad and Siliguri. The expansion increases the company's footprint across North, East and Western India, bringing its total network to approximately 70 outlets in 38 cities.
The company has implemented a strategy of pairing showrooms with dedicated service centres to support vehicle ownership. The EV maker has added two new locations in Delhi and Maharashtra each. It has also added a new 3S facility in Siliguri, West Bengal.
The new stores showcase the Simple One Gen 2 and Simple OneS Gen 2 e-scooter lineups. The Gen 2 model is available in two battery configurations (4.5 kWh) at INR 169,999 and 5.0 kWh battery configuration at INR 177,999 designed for long-range commuting. The prices are all ex-showroom Bengaluru, respectively.
Going forward, Simple Energy aims to reach 100 stores across India in the coming months. Future locations identified for expansion include Nagpur, Ranchi and Bhubaneshwar. The company currently operates in major hubs including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kochi.
Suhas Rajkumar, Founder & CEO, Simple Energy, said, “This expansion of Simple Stores marks a key step in strengthening our pan-India presence. By growing our footprint across North, East, and Western India, we are enhancing accessibility and building a stronger service network for our customers. Our scooters are engineered for long range and high performance, delivering reliable, anxiety-free rides for everyday commuting. As we scale towards 100 stores across India, we remain focused on making electric mobility practical, dependable, and widely accessible.”
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Crosses 10 Million Sales Milestone In East Region
- By MT Bureau
- April 08, 2026
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has recorded 10 million cumulative sales in the East region of India. The achievement covers markets in West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand and the north-eastern states, signalling the manufacturer's expansion across both metropolitan and semi-urban areas.
The sales volume has been driven primarily by demand in cities such as Kolkata, Patna, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Guwahati. Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India's operations in the region are supported by a network of over 1,200 sales and service touchpoints.
The Activa and Dio models remain the primary drivers in the scooter segment, while SP125 and Shine 125 were volume contributors in the motorcycle segment. The company recently entered the EV market with the Activa e: and QC1 electric scooters.
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India currently maintains a diverse product line-up ranging from 100cc to 200cc in the mass-market segment. For premium motorcycles, the company operates two distinct retail formats: BigWing Topline, which handles the 200cc to 1800cc range in major cities, and BigWing, which focuses on the mid-size 200cc to 500cc segment.
The current premium range includes models such as the CB350 series, NX500, and the Gold Wing Tour. Growth in the East region is attributed to brand trust, product quality, and established resale value within the local market.
Mutsuo Usui, Director - Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said, “The 10 million sales milestone in the East region reflects how deeply our products are integrated into the everyday mobility needs of customers across diverse markets. The accelerated growth in recent years highlights the increasing confidence in our portfolio and the strength of our network across metros as well as emerging towns. As we move ahead, our focus will remain on expanding accessibility, strengthening customer experience and driving the next phase of growth across the region.”
Triumph Motorcycles Crosses 100,000 Sales Milestone In India, Reduces Price On Mid-Size Offerings
- By MT Bureau
- April 06, 2026
Triumph Motorcycles has attained a new sales milestone of having over 100,000 motorcycles on Indian roads. Following this, the two-wheeler maker has announced updated pricing for its mid-capacity range, offering on-road savings of up to INR 21,500. The new price structure is supported by an 18 percent GST bracket applicable to the company's 350cc engine models.
The company is targeting growth in FY2026-27, leveraging its network of over 230 stores across 200 towns in India. The revised pricing strategy is intended to increase the accessibility of the 350cc and 400cc portfolios while maintaining the engineering standards and engine character associated with the brand.
Updated Pricing (Ex-showroom Delhi):
- Triumph Speed T4: INR 195,000
- Triumph Speed 400: INR 231,890
- Triumph Scrambler 400: INR 259,241
- Triumph Thruxton 400: INR 265,538
- Triumph Scrambler 400 XC: INR 289,534
Manik Nangia, President, Probiking, Bajaj Auto, said, "Bolstered by the massive success of our 400 range, with 100,000 Triumphs now on Indian roads, we enter FY2027 with strong momentum. The 18 percent GST bracket enables more competitive pricing while retaining the character and engineering excellence that define our products. We are confident that with these on-road savings, we will be able to bring many more riders into the Triumph family."
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