Tuesday, December 23, 2025

IBW 2025 culminates in a high-altitude biking celebration

Follow Us On:

Follow Us On:

India Bike Week (IBW), India’s largest motorcycle festival, culminated its 12th year against the scenic backdrop of Panchgani. The response from India’s bikers, clubs, and all our partners was astonishing. They turned up in their thousands and thousands with just 3 weeks’ notice – IBW 2025 drew around 16,000 passionate people, die-hard biking enthusiasts, families, and young fans, all coming together to celebrate the spirit and culture of motorcycling.

Set against the winding roads and dramatic landscapes of Panchgani, India Bike Week 2025 transformed the hill station into a vibrant hub of motorcycling energy. The landmark shift from the beaches to the hills was made possible with the support of MTDC and the wholehearted cooperation of local authorities. This small town in Satara district captured the attention of bikers and enthusiasts from across the country, providing an unprecedented boost to the local economy. All the local authorities and the venue played a crucial role by providing essential infrastructure in a record time, ensuring the success of this edition of IBW.

INDIA BIKE WEEK 2025 (3)

From sunrise to sundown, the festival delivered a compelling mix of racing, launches, appearances by global riding legends, strong community engagement, and a high-energy music lineup, reaffirming IBW’s position as the beating heart of India’s motorcycling ecosystem. Bikers, community fans, and families alike enjoyed connecting with like-minded enthusiasts while exploring branded merchandise, engaging with adventure travel organizers, and discovering riding gear, performance accessories, and spares, making the experience immersive both on and off track.

Commenting on the conclusion of the 12th year of India Bike Week, Martin da Costa, Festival Director, India Bike Week said, “This edition will truly go down in IBW history as a season that rose above numerous challenges. We are deeply grateful to the local authorities and Kamran Dubash from the Dubash Airfield for warmly welcoming us and supporting the hosting of IBW 2025 in the beautiful town of Panchgani. It is incredibly heartening to see bikers and enthusiasts from across the country come together to celebrate the undying spirit of the biking community—one that never gives up. This experience only strengthens our resolve to continue delivering newer, richer, and more exciting experiences at India Bike Week every year.”

EXPERIENCES:

IBW 2025 raised the stakes with an action-packed lineup of experiences for bikers and enthusiasts. The Hard Enduro Stunt Show by Pol Tarres, at the Gulf Syntrac Enduro Park, left the crowd in awe as Pol performed breathtaking stunts that set hearts racing. SKODA offered over 750 off-road trials for thrill-seekers in their Kodiaq, while Vida gave over 200 children a safe and exciting introduction to biking on their Dirt-E Track. Pulsar Underground created a buzzing stunt zone with freestyle music, coffee raves, interactive booths, and electrifying performances by the Ghost Ryderz. Meanwhile, the KTM Enduro Cross Track tested riders’ skills, with the fastest participants earning a coveted spot in the KTM Adventure Rally in Goa featuring Chris Birch.

INDIA BIKE WEEK 2025 (3)

Fans of competitive racing received an up-close view of the action at FMSCI-backed tracks such as the IBW Hill Climb by Reise Moto and the Harley-Davidson Flat Track Race, further cementing IBW’s commitment to elevating grassroots racing culture.

RACES AND CONTESTS:

At the Harley-Davidson Flat Track Race, Gideon Benjemin claimed the top trophy and a cash prize of ₹5 lakhs, followed by Asad Khan, who took second place with ₹3 lakhs, and Donesh Deepak Joshi, who secured third place with ₹2 lakhs.

Winners of the KTM Enduro Cross Track will receive a complimentary ticket to the KTM Adventure Rally India 2026, scheduled to take place in Goa in February 2026. (Details of the Race Results for the KTM Enduro Cross Track, Hill Climb and Dirt Dash are in the annexure below)

The Jameson Ginger Ale Bike Build Off, in association with Harley-Davidson was won by Shreyans Shakur of Dextrous Motorcycles for his Shrehan Shakur’s X1R — DESIGNED TO MISBEHAVE. 3 custom motorcycle builders were shortlisted from a nationwide competition based on their vision for the Build and Concept by our IBW panel of judges: Shail Sheth (Bombay Custom Works, Harshman Rai and Ravi Avalur (Harley-Davidson India). All the shortlisted builders received a stipend on Rs 1.5 lakhs to build and a Harley-Davidson X440. The winner will now go to present his motorcycle at the Adventure Bike Rider festival in UK in June 2026, an all-expense paid trip to UK.

INDIA BIKE WEEK 2025 (3)

Roaring Toys ran an exciting three-part contest at IBW. The first contest invited riding groups with over 1,000 followers to register at the Roaring Toys stall, with a lucky winner selected at random. The second was an online contest where participants commented on Roaring Toys’ IBW post to win cash prizes worth ₹1 lakh through a lucky draw. The third focused on on-ground engagement, offering two Yamaha R15 bikes via a lucky draw for visitors to the Roaring Toys stall at IBW.

LAUNCHES AND REVEALS

At India Bike Week 2025, several key launches and showcases stood out across motorcycles, riding gear, and motorsport experiences.

The all-new Triumph Trident 660 was launched at IBW refreshing its middleweight lineup while retaining the same performance package.
Aprilia had a surprise visit by their Moto GP pilot Lorenzo Savadori and introduced new colour options for the RS 457.
SMK Helmets expanded its premium portfolio with the launch of the new Cygnus focusing on enhanced safety by way of a unique LED light system that pulses via sensors when the bike slows down.
KTM announced the KTM Adventure Rally Cup, offering riders a competitive rally-style experience and a pathway into KTM’s larger adventure rally ecosystem.
From the house of Hero MotoCorp, VIDA DIRT.E recently launched a first-of-its-kind bike designed to grow with your child. The DIRT.E K3 was showcased and experienced at the VIDA DIRT.E Track at IBW.
Reise Moto launched the following tyres:
Reise tourRad (Specialised Touring Radials)
⁠Reise torqR 03 SX (Specialised Supercross Tyres)
⁠Reise trackR (Specialised Flat Track Tyres)
⁠Reise twistR (Specialised EV Tyres)
Gulf launched its all new Syntrac range, a fully synthetic motorcycle engine oil designed for superior performance.

BIG TRIP (presented by Gulf Syntrac)

IBW’s iconic Big Trip stage brought together exceptional speakers and storytellers who shared inspiring stories of grit, resilience, and exploration. Global overlanding legends like Simon & Lisa Thomas, Kshitij Saxena, Elspeth Beard, Noel Lynam, Zubin Jaffar, Abhijeet Ganu and many more gave insights on what it’s like to explore the world on two wheels

IBW Sheriff Maral Yazarloo led the Mumbai–Alibaug–Panchgani mentorship ride, giving select riders the opportunity to learn the art of overlanding from one of the best in the business.

Masterclasses & Panel discussions by Motozoomer, Elspeth Beard, Sajid Chougle, Vir Nakai, Aishwariya Pissay, Naveed Alam, Sonia Jain and others drew large audiences, captivating participants with insights, tips, and real-world experiences from the road.

ENTERTAINMENT

Presented by Carlsberg Elephant Strong Soda, the festival’s music line-up maintained IBW’s high-energy vibe with standout performances by King, Karan Kanchan, Sugga Honey, and Harley-Davidson relaunched Harley-Davidson Rock Riders with a set featuring Antariksh. From soaring melodies to electrifying beats, the soundtrack fueled two unforgettable days of celebration in the hills. The Jameson Connects Howling Dog Stage came alive with performances by Hamza Rahimtula & The Folkstars, DJ Blackjack and DJ Russell.

INDIA BIKE WEEK 2025 (3)

VIBING IN THE MOUNTAINS:

The after party was designed to create a distinct and immersive experience that complemented the serene mountain setting of Panchgani. Moving away from the conventional festival format, the after party embraced a relaxed, camp-style vibe that blended music, camaraderie, and the outdoors. With camps set up against the backdrop of the Western Ghats, people unwound under the stars, shared stories from the day, and enjoyed an atmosphere that felt authentic, intimate, and perfectly in sync with the spirit of the mountains.

With unforgettable moments both on the track and in the scenic mountain setting, IBW continues to reaffirm its place as the ultimate destination for motorcycle culture in India, leaving everyone eagerly anticipating the next edition.

Mohit Soni
Mohit Sonihttps://www.thrustzone.com/
NOT A Commander, Director, Editor-In-This/ That, CEO, MD, President, Entrepreneur, etc etc. Just a first employee at Thrust Zone with a team of enthusiasts who love car and motorcycles more than anything else in the world, just like I do. Hashtag blessed

THRUSTZONE SOCIAL CHANNELS

51,158FansLike
32,000FollowersFollow
2,615FollowersFollow
16,000SubscribersSubscribe
- Advertisement -

Latest Articles