travelandleisureindia.inIT’S NOT ABOUT THE DESTINATION. We’ve
heard that a million times. It needn’t be
either, because the mind of the motor-head
turns a bit diff erently. If you’re into
automobiles, you look at each milestone not
just as your friend and your guide, but also
as a marker for the next challenge.
Gaurav Gill, arguably India’s best rally
racer, is no stranger to the road or the
trail. A triple Asia-Pacifi c Rally
Championship drivers’ champion and
World Rally Championship competitor, he
has been into bikes and cars since he was a
boy. The idea of a road trip on a luxury
tourer, the Honda Gold Wing, took him
back to his racing roots, because Gaurav
started on motorbikes, competing in the
National Motocross Championship before
he made the transition to four wheels.
He’s no stranger to Honda
motorcycles, of course. “When I was
younger, we had the iconic VFR750RR. My
uncle would take me out on these amazing
bikes, and I learnt so much from him—
the way he used to ride, the way he took
care of the bikes, and the way he loved his
machines,” he says.
The plan was to ride from Delhi to
Jaipur and back. That was the plan. But
once we were on the road, Gaurav found
detours, picked his way through highways
and country roads. Because, when you’re
on the road, you don’t want to stick to an
itinerary. You want to explore. “It’s very
important to understand and bond with
the machine. You have to respect it, you
have to understand how it works, you have
to be one with it. The Honda Gold Wing is
a brilliant machine, a completely diff erent
kind of bike,” says Gaurav.
Though he largely concentrates on four