The Stuntman: Biju Throttlerz

Biju Throttlerz may not use his real surname, but that’s okay. He’s the one who started the group, The Throttlerz and today while performing stunts all over the country, he sends crowds into a maddening frenzy. It’s not an easy task, but a penchant for stunts is something he was born with.

Roaring engines, smoke created by screeching tyres and wheelies done effortlessly – no it's not a shoot for Dhoom 3. Instead it’s The Throttlerz making their presence felt. The stunts performed by them are fast, dangerous and come with a warning – These stunts are performed by professionals. Don’t try them at home. “Whenever my team is doing shows on the road or at an event, we always announce that one shouldn’t try them out,” informs Biju.

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But how did he learn these dangerous moves? "I started doing stunts in 6th standard, especially wheelies. It’s my favourite till date," he states. "I was a racer in college and after finishing on the podium, I would entertain the crowd by doing wheelies. That's how I got into it," Biju adds.

Now a professional, his team organises shows or are called to perform at events like the TVS Auto Expo. "The first time I participated, I was all alone, however my school friend joined me after I taught him a few stunts. At present, we are 60 dynamic stunt bikers," he proudly tells us.

In India, a stuntman faces a lot of flak and negativity. They are even accused of teaching life threatening stuff to impressionable kids, but this doesn’t worry these enthusiasts as they take all precautionary measures. However, after several broken bones and bruises, their parents don't support them... “(Laughs) my parents, no way! They don’t support me at all. It is a tricky sport and what’s worse, here it’s not even considered a sport. Some people encourage us, but others hate it.”

Drifting away from the topic with hope that one day his effort will be applauded by one and all, he enthusiastically tells us about his three bikes. “For stunting practice, I either use a Pulsar 220 or a Hero Impulse, whereas for the main days I use a Hero Honda Karizma. Only the hand brakes have been modified as per international standards,” he says.

From New Delhi to Pune to Coimbatore (their hometown) – the Throttlerz have travelled everywhere, performing freestyle stunts (in the air), stopies (rear wheel up), semi-podiums and highchairs (front wheel up) to screams of “We want more”. They’ve also performed with the best stuntmen from all over the world trying to learn from them and get recognition. “Internationally there are platforms and championships for the same. Here, it’s different,” Biju confesses. “To organise shows for public, sometimes we get sponsors, but sometimes they’re not interested thinking it’s not safe. But let me tell you, we’ve performed with the police also. Not for fun, but to encourage the use of helmets,” he informs.

As of now, these stuntmen are preparing for the auditions of XDL Sport Bike Freestyle Championship 2013, for which they practice five-to-six hours everyday. “One win and we might be travelling abroad,” Biju ends by showing us his favourite stunt called Captain America.

The Rally Biker (Words – 470)

Manan Patel is a rally biker who wanted to take part in the Himalayan Odyssey for seven years, only to make it happen this year. His 6 feet 6 inch physique is perfect to ride an Enfield on the most uneven surfaces...

Being a part of Indie Thumpers, he is one of the fanatics who loves to occupy his holidays by either rallying or setting off for long rides halting only for a cup of chai. “Since I was 5, I was in love with bikes and cars,” he says. “As I turned 18, I told my dad I wanted only a Royal Enfield. Keeping in mind my height and build, there was no other bike (in India) for me,” Manan recalls.

He was the youngest biker in the club, Indie Thumpers, and it’s here he learnt formation riding, highway riding and hand signals, apart from riding in the rain, mud and ghats. “The sound of a Royal Enfield is called a thump and that’s why the name. With this group, I went for my first long ride, Mumbai to Hyderabad in 2008. Some 70 to 80 bullets set off from Mumbai covering a distance of 980 kms in just 22 hours. Believe it or not, we just stopped for chai and snacks and even nature’s call,” he tells us.

One trip led to another and soon there was no looking back. After completing a two year course in the Indian Navy, he currently works as a Sales Manager for Harley Davidson. On the question of loyalty, he quickly replies, “On duty I’m all Harley. Off duty, Royal Enfield is my love (laughs).”

Today he’s a proud owner of three Royal Enfields (2008, 2009 and 2010 Machismo with 500cc engine), on which he has crossed more than 1 lakh kms stretching from one corner of the country to the other. His favourite trip from his countless expeditions was the Himalayan Odyssey 2012. After a wait of seven years, he finally made it this year, and it turns out that he was one of the best bikers on the trip. “It was the most challenging rallies I’ve ever taken part in. The mother of all rallies! When we started from Delhi, we experienced extremely hot weather. Temperatures were touching 40 degree, but still it was an experience.”

“As we reached Shimla, it got cold and muddy. We stayed in tents, rode three feet in the mud and sand. Not to forget, we had accidents and punctures too, but as a group we helped each other and kept moving on,” Patel narrates excitedly.

To keep his obsession alive, he along with other equally crazy bikers organise the Republic Day and Independence Day parades in Mumbai. “I knew how to ride a bike from a very young age and it is that madness that you see now as well. Rallying is my passion and I make time for it once or twice month,” he finishes by mentioning that his next trip is just round the corner.

From the September 2012 issue of FHM India.