Vizag resident’s collection of classic two-wheelers
An indicator of his passion for vintage bikes is paying ₹1.70 lakh annually on their maintenance and keeping their registrations and other certificates up to date
Visakhapatnam: It is rare to see a vintage two-wheeler on a road. But owning, maintaining and riding 31 of such bikes is rarer. The proud owner is Basava Ravi Shankar Reddy, an engineer from Reddy Kancharapalem in Visakhapatnam.
Each of these vintage vehicles is maintained meticulously and runs on the road, showcasing the beauty of historic motorbikes on the move.
Ravi Shankar Reddy is a devoted caretaker. Apart from keeping all his bikes in excellent running condition, he has constructed a dedicated building to house his collection. He personally handles all their repairs.
"Taking care of 31 different types of vintage two-wheelers requires careful attention. Rust is their biggest enemy. The moment I spot rust on a bike, I immediately pick up an oil bottle to address it. Sometimes, repairing a single bike takes me four to five hours," Ravi Shankar told Deccan Chronicle.
His collection includes gems like a 1957 Jawa bike, a 1959 Lambretta scooter, a Mini Rajdoot, a Diesel Bullet, a Luna, and an Ind Suzuki. "Significantly, I have purchased all of these wonderful machines one by one from the people of Visakhapatnam," he disclosed.
An indicator of his passion for vintage bikes is paying ₹1.70 lakh annually on their maintenance and keeping their registrations and other certificates up to date.
"It is a misconception that old bikes become dysfunctional simply because of their age. These bikes can be driven on the road with pride. Occasionally, spare parts for these bikes may not be available in India. I then source them from abroad. I use every vintage bike that I own," says Ravi Shankar with pride.
Filmmakers often contact him to use his vintage bikes in their movies. However, he is protective of his collection and refuses to lend them. Through his meticulous care and passion, he is keeping the legacy of these classic bikes alive for future generations to appreciate.