Kuldip Purohit, Co-Founder and Business Head, Royal Brothers, shares with us the journey so far, the challenges they faced and what lies ahead for this motorcycle rental company.

Purohit says, “Royal Brothers signifies brotherhood and brings a sense of belongingness. We wanted to showcase our brand as one which can be trusted like a brother and provides safety and comfort like a brother does.” He further explains that they wanted to use the term ‘Royal’ in some sense, possibly because one of their earliest achievements was securing a wide range of Royal Enfield motorcycles for their fleet, and also because the team members were all of the same age – like brothers in arms.

Speaking about the challenges the team faced in securing an RTO authorisation, Purohit said, “We took almost six months to procure the first licence in Karnataka. As the officials were not aware of the procedures and the bike rental scheme, we had to educate them about the Central Government’s scheme and the State Government’s role in processing the application.”

When asked if Royal Brothers was a passion product for a team that enjoyed motorcycles or more of a lucrative business opportunity, he said, “Royal Brothers was started with a passion to change the way the industry behaves. Even after 100 years, the rental market is still unorganised and is not treated as an industry. We wanted to change the unorganised sector into an organised one.” He further added by saying that the co-founders and employees are all passionate bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts; their common goal to serve people made it a lucrative business in the process.

Commenting on the recent Covid-19 ordeal, Purohit said, “Covid19 was a challenging and stressful period. Even though it’s not fully over, we believe we have been able to manage it well and will continue to do better in the future. Lockdown was announced suddenly and we had a lot of our assets deployed with customers and on the roads. The first month was difficult, but thanks to the team’s dedicated efforts, we were able to recover the vehicles from the customers and get them back to our yards.”

To ensure customer safety, all rental bikes are checked and sanitised before delivery. The company also makes sure that the assets are regularly washed, cleaned and sanitised, and a proper temperature log of the executives is also maintained.

Elaborating on how the company managed to cut losses when there was no revenue from bookings during the lockdown period, the co-founder spoke about Royal Brothers X, a long-term subscription model, conceived during the second month of lockdown. This enabled customers to book a vehicle for up to nine months and in-turn generated some revenue for the company to sustain the blow.

Commenting on the efforts that go into maintaining and servicing a large fleet of two-wheelers, the business head claimed that they would get the service done at the OEM service centres in the initial days when they had five motorcycles. Going ahead, the Vehicle Health Management team (VHM) was formed with the sole responsibility of maintaining the quality of the fleet across all 23 cities.

The VHM also determines when to retire a particular asset based on a certain number of KMs on the odometer or the number of years on particular models. Market factors also play a crucial role in the discontinuation of certain models in the Royal Brothers’ fleet.

Royal Brothers recently established a touchpoint at the Bangalore International Airport, making it one of the first bike rental companies to do so . Speaking about the operation, Purohit said, “The project took more than six months to materialise. We had a lot of restrictions due to Covid and also the way airports function. We had to procure a lot of approvals from various teams and authorities to begin with. Also, the vehicle models and their maintenance at the airport required a new set of SOPs which we had to develop specifically for the airport. All our executives were trained as per the airport security, functioning and operating guidelines.”

Taking innovation a step further, Royal Brothers has been working with Ather to spread awareness on EVs by facilitating test rides at select locations across Bangalore to help people understand the capabilities of the vehicle.

In these trying times of pollution and rising fuel prices, this initiative strengthens the need for eco-friendly mobility. Furthermore, the company offers Ather scooters in its fleet alongside other prominent EVs. “We believe in sustainable development and would like to play our part in a greener mobility solution,” he adds.

Speaking on the secret behind the company’s success, Purohit says, “Everything looked challenging in the beginning; however, we were determined to succeed. My personal motto is – If there is a problem, find a solution.”

“We have worked round the clock on the feedback of the customers and that has brought us success. The easiest way to figure out the loopholes and lags in the business model for a service-driven business is to listen to its users. We followed the same and kept making changes on a regular basis,” he adds.

Commenting on Bangalore, the metropolitan city of blossoming entrepreneurs and countless start-ups, Purohit says, “Bangalore is Love. We all love the city and believe that there is no other city in the world that could have given us what this city offered us. Bangalore and its people are not averse to new ideas and offer full support to budding entrepreneurs.”

In Royal Brothers’ case, he says, Bangalore has grown over the years and so has the acceptability of bike rentals in the market. He appreciates residents whose entrepreneurial spirit knows no bounds. “There is no dearth of talent in the city. One can find capital, talent, guidance and mentors in abundance,” he concludes.

When asked on what lies ahead for Royal Brothers and if we could expect a gradual inclusion of four-wheelers in the fleet, Purohit said, “We are not looking to move into the four-wheeler category anytime soon, but also not ruling out the possibility. Currently, we want to focus on the two-wheelers and make Brand RB the largest in SE Asia.” (MT)

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Classic Legends, an Indian motorcycle manufacturer by the Mahindra Group the makers of Jawa, Yezdi and BSA brands, celebrated the 24^th Edition of International Jawa-Yezdi Day (IJYD) on 12 July 2026.

The event, which began as an initiative among motorcycle owners, involved over 7,500 riders across 150 cities in India this year. The celebration included 40 enthusiast communities in India and participants in 11 countries, who marked the occasion through rides and gatherings. The event united owners of vintage motorcycles with riders of current Jawa and Yezdi models.

Anupam Thareja, Co-Founder, Classic Legends, said, "24-years ago, International Jawa-Yezdi Day began as a simple expression of passion among riders who wanted to celebrate the motorcycles they loved. Today, it has grown into a global tradition that transcends borders and generations. What makes IJYD truly special is that it belongs to the riders themselves. Every ride, every gathering and every shared story keeps this legacy alive. More importantly, it celebrates the friendships, communities and memories built around these motorcycles. We are honoured to be a part of movement that continues to grow stronger with every passing year."

The festivities were organised by more than 40 rider clubs, along with dealerships and enthusiast communities.

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IGNYTE, the premium helmet brand of Steelbird, has introduced its Carbon Fibre Series, featuring three models: the IGN-10, IGN-14, and IGN-16.

The helmets are manufactured in-house using carbon fibre composite shells designed for impact performance and durability. It introduces multi-colour exposed carbon fibre textures and finishes.

The IGN-10 and IGN-14 are priced at INR 14,999, while the IGN-16 is priced at INR 19,999. The helmet comes with a three-year warranty and accessories such as smoke visors and fitting head foam.

It uses an Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) liner with Kevlar reinforcement, which provides energy absorption and multi-impact capability. The series holds both ISI and DOT certifications. Features include anti-fog and anti-scratch visors, ventilation channels, antimicrobial interiors and an aerodynamic profile. The production process utilises balloon moulding.

Kashish Kapur, Director, Steelbird Hi-Tech India, said, "The IGNYTE Carbon Fibre Series represents our vision of creating premium helmets that combine world-class safety, advanced materials, and exceptional craftsmanship. Every helmet has been designed and manufactured in-house with a strong focus on innovation, lightweight performance, and rider protection. With this launch, we are taking another significant step towards offering Indian motorcyclists globally competitive products that deliver the highest standards of safety and performance."

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Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has introduced a campaign for its Destini scooter, titled ‘Hero Ka Scooter, Scooter Ka Hero.’ Conceptualised by McCann India, the campaign focuses on the relationship between a father and child, portraying the scooter as a companion for family journeys.

The campaign film features a girl who imagines an evening ride with her father as an adventure involving a dragon. The narrative integrates product features into the story: the metal body provides protection, the mileage exhausts the creature in a race, the legroom stores food and the under-seat storage is used to toast corn.

Aashish Midha, Head of Marketing, Hero MotoCorp, said, “At Hero MotoCorp, we believe the most meaningful stories are those rooted in everyday life. ‘Hero Ka Scooter, Scooter Ka Hero’ celebrates parents – the everyday heroes of every Indian family –through the boundless imagination of a child. The Hero Destini has always stood for trust, comfort and practicality, and this campaign brings those values to life in a way that is both emotionally engaging and deeply relatable. It reinforces our commitment to building products that become an integral part of our customers’ lives and cherished family moments.”

Prasoon Joshi, Chairman, Omnicom Advertising India, said, “The more memorable ideas rarely begin with what a brand wants to say. They begin with something people already feel, but may not have found the words for. When a brand captures that truth, it stops feeling like advertising and starts feeling deeply familiar. Hero Destini expresses this in a simple but evocative manner. Every child sees their father as their first superhero, not because he has superpowers, but because he quietly shows up, overcomes obstacles and finds a way to keep the family moving. In the film, the scooter becomes part of that quiet magic. It isn’t just a ride. It helps turn an ordinary journey into an adventure, complete with a dragon, seen through a child’s eyes. That’s what makes the film linger. It reminds us that true creativity doesn’t need to exaggerate reality; it elevates the genuine emotions already present. And this is where the brands then find a place in people’s hearts.”

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India Yamaha Motor has launched the FZ-Blue Flex, a motorcycle capable of running on ethanol-blended fuels ranging from E20 to E85 at INR 1,24,240 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The motorcycle, powered by a 149cc fuel-injected engine, delivers 8.6 kW of power and 12.8 Nm of torque via a 5-speed gearbox. It uses a front telescopic suspension, a rear swingarm and an anti-lock braking system.

Hajime Aota, Chairman, Yamaha Motor India Group, said, “Achieving a carbon-neutral future requires a dynamic, multi-pathway strategy rather than a single solution. Having already commenced our electric vehicle journey in India, the introduction of our innovative Blue Flex technology marks another strategic milestone. This move is a deliberate alignment of Yamaha’s global sustainability vision with the Indian government’s progressive biofuel policies. By embracing multiple technological avenues, we reinforce our commitment to global carbon neutrality goals while providing versatile, high-quality products tailored to the evolving needs of Indian consumers.”

The motorcycle will be available in Metallic Black and sold through selected Blue Square dealerships across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.

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