Maral Yazarloo
Dr. Maral Yazarloo is an Iranian fashion designer and world traveller. She is based in India where she rides her Harley Davidson and her newly acquired Ducati Diavel. She chats with Global Women Who Ride about getting into riding, motorcycling in India, and some major plans coming up. [Rashmi Tambe, Editor]
Dr. Maral Yazarloo with her Harley Davidson Nightrod and Ducati Diavel
I’m an Iranian who moved to India for college twelve years ago and ended up staying. A friend challenged me saying that I couldn’t kick start a bike. I proved him wrong when I kick started my first ever bike – a lavender Royal Enfield Bullet 350. At the time, I didn’t know that I was signing up for a lifetime of passion. I turned into a near obsessed long distance rider, clocking over 68,000 km in a very short time while working full time.
I now have the highest mileage among Ladies of Harley in India. I am the first and only woman who crossed the India-Bhutan border on a Harley during my first international HOG ride. I am also the first and only Ducati rider in India at the moment. I am currently planning a world ride, riding from Pune, India to Alaska, USA. I am super excited about getting to cross my country Iran on my motorcycle.
Riding is one thing and riding in India is yet another thing. You actually build 3D vision and use all six senses much more often. It’s what I call adding “masala” to the overall riding experience. You never get bored! Signal colors have totally different meanings here. For example, a red light means “cross the intersection slowly but don’t stop!” You see cute buffaloes eating grass on highway dividers when you’re riding at 140 kmph. You’ll usually see bikes, cars and trucks coming towards you in the wrong direction, even angry at you because you popped up right in front of them! And of course my favorites are the potholes and speed breakers.
Having said all that, if you don’t ride in this magical country, you have missed out on a very important chapter of your motorcycle diaries.
[Editor Note: “masala” is a Hindi word that roughly translates to “spice blend”.]
Maral Yazarloo out on a ride on her Ducati in a distinctive helmet
