The Man Behind India’s Women Biker Revolution
Manokriti Bedi
In a society where women have long been restricted by traditional roles, a quiet but powerful change is taking shape on Indian roads. Hardeep, a passionate biker and trainer, is one of the key figures behind this shift. His mission is clear: to empower women by teaching them how to ride motorcycles—and in doing so, help them reclaim their confidence, independence, and sense of freedom.
Hardeep’s journey as a biker began in 2014. “I started riding professionally with breakfast rides in Delhi,” he shares. “Then came short rides and eventually long-distance ones.” He noticed a stark difference between Delhi and Chandigarh when it came to women riders. “In Delhi, you could see many women already participating in the biking scene. But in Chandigarh, the number of female riders was disappointingly low.” At that time, Hardeep was working as a manager with Royal Enfield, and in 2020, he decided to take action. “We started training women riders, not just to teach them a skill but to challenge the mindset that bikes were only meant for men.”
Entering a traditionally male-dominated space wasn’t without its challenges. Hardeep and his team encountered resistance in many places. “People would say things like, ‘Why are you training women on bikes? A scooter is enough for them.’ Others said we were wasting our time, that women would never be able to learn biking—it’s not their game.” But Hardeep didn’t let the negativity discourage him. Instead, it made him more determined to continue. “These comments showed me exactly why we needed to do this. We had to break the myth.”
One of the most common challenges women face when learning to ride, according to Hardeep, is fear, particularly of the bike’s weight and their height. “They often say, ‘The bike is too heavy,’ or ‘I’m not tall enough,’” he explains. “But I always tell them: weight and height are just numbers. The real block is in your mind.” From the very first day of training, Hardeep encourages women to get on the bike and start riding. “We don’t delay. The sooner they start, the sooner they gain confidence.”
Over the years, he has seen many transformations, but one story stands out. A woman in her late 30s, from a conservative family, came to him with zero experience. “She had never even sat on a motorcycle before,” he recalls. “She was hesitant, unsure, and nervous. But she was also determined.” After weeks of coaching and encouragement, she not only learned to ride but went on to lead a group ride across state lines. “Seeing her take off on that journey, the pride in her eyes—it was emotional. That was a moment I’ll never forget.”
Hardeep understands that each woman comes with a different background and set of fears. His training methods are not one-size-fits-all. “Some women are afraid of the bike’s height, some of its weight, and others are worried about what people will say. For those from conservative families, we begin by working on the mindset. We explain that the motorcycle doesn’t care who is riding it—male or female—it’s just a machine. The rest is just a social construct.”
He believes women bikers are redefining what freedom and empowerment look like in India. “This is a male-dominated society, and when a woman rides a bike, she is doing more than just travelling. She is breaking a myth. She is showing the world that motorcycles are not just for men. She is taking control of her journey.” According to him, every woman who chooses to ride is setting an example. “They are proving that they can do anything they set their minds to. That’s real empowerment.”
Beyond the technical skills, Hardeep says the most important thing he tries to instil in his students is confidence. Women are naturally strong. They manage homes, raise children, and balance work and family. Riding a bike is nothing in comparison to what they already handle every day. The only thing missing is belief in themselves.” He makes it a point to remind his trainees of their inner strength and resilience. “Once they believe they can ride, everything else falls into place.”
As for the future, Hardeep is optimistic. “There are already so many women using bikes for their daily commute. The trend is only growing.” Some of his own students are now leading rides for major motorcycle brands and running biking communities of their own. “That makes me so proud. They’ve gone from never touching a bike to becoming role models.”
His vision is to take this initiative to the next level. “I want to expand into smaller cities and rural areas where the idea of a woman on a motorcycle is still unimaginable. I want to build a community where every woman, regardless of her background, feels welcome to learn and ride.”
What Hardeep has created is more than just a training program. It’s a movement—a movement that challenges norms, builds confidence, and gives women the freedom to take the road less travelled. Through each ride, his students are not just learning to balance a machine on two wheels—they are learning to believe in themselves, to trust their instincts, and to rise above outdated beliefs.
For Hardeep, every ignition, every throttle, every kilometre covered by his students is a step toward a more equal and empowered society. And he won’t stop until every woman who dreams of riding knows she can.