You probably heard the rumors. Or maybe you saw the frantic WhatsApp messages in your riding groups back in November. For eleven years, India Bike Week was synonymous with the salty air of Vagator and the neon-lit chaos of North Goa. Then, 2025 threw a massive curveball. Due to state elections, the "Woodstock of biking" had to pack its bags and climb into the hills.
Honestly, a lot of people were skeptical. Can you even have IBW without the beach?
Turns out, you can. And it might have been exactly the reset the festival needed. Moving to Panchgani, Maharashtra, for the December 12–13 weekend changed the entire vibe. Instead of the usual humidity and sweat, riders were greeted with crisp mountain air and the legendary ghats of the Sahyadris. If you’ve ever ridden up Pasarni Ghat, you know those hairpins are a better morning coffee than anything in a cup.
The Shifting Gears of India Bike Week 2025
The 12th edition felt less like a corporate expo and more like a massive, high-altitude campout. Moving away from Goa meant fewer "tourists" in rental scooters and more hardcore enthusiasts who actually enjoyed the twisties. The venue at Panchgani was compact but dense.
The big news? KTM stole a lot of the oxygen. They didn’t just show up; they basically took over a corner of the hill. They confirmed the KTM Cup Season 3 starts January 17, 2026, and get this—they’re swapping the RC 390 for the 390 Duke as the official race bike. That’s a huge shift in racing philosophy. It says they want people to see the Duke as more than just a street hooligan; it’s a legitimate track weapon now.
Then there was Pol Tarres.
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Watching that man manhandle a Yamaha Tenere 700 like it was a BMX bike is something I won't forget anytime soon. He did a hard enduro showcase that made everyone with a "Big ADV" look at their bikes and wonder why they struggle with a simple gravel driveway. He even joked about when Yamaha would finally bring the Tenere to India. The crowd's reaction? Pure noise.
Custom Culture and the "Garage" Vibe
One of the best things about India Bike Week 2025 was the Jameson IBW Bike Build Off. It focused on the Harley-Davidson X440 this year. Three builders were given a ₹1.5 lakh budget and a stock bike. Seeing what they did was wild. We're talking total transformations—chopped frames, custom tanks, and one that looked like it belonged in a post-apocalyptic desert movie.
The winner gets a trip to the Adventure Bike Rider Festival in the UK later this year. That’s a massive leg-up for Indian custom culture.
It wasn't just about the professional builds, though. The Collectors and Mod Bikes Show, curated by Yogi Chabria, felt like a museum where you’re allowed to touch the exhibits. There were rare vintage Rajdoots parked next to modern superbikes with six-figure paint jobs.
Why the Location Change Mattered
Panchgani offered something Goa never could: a focus on the ride rather than just the destination.
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- The Climate: It was actually cold. For the first time, people were wearing their heavy leather jackets and thermal liners without feeling like they were in a sauna.
- The Roads: To get there, you had to deal with the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani roads. They aren't perfect—plenty of broken patches—but they test your suspension and your patience in a way that the flat highways to Goa don't.
- The Exclusivity: Because it wasn't Goa, the "weekend warriors" stayed home. The people who made it to IBW 2025 were there because they love the machine, not just the party.
The Stars and the Stories
The Big Trip stage is always the heart of the festival for me. This year, they brought in the heavy hitters. You had Elspeth Beard, the first British woman to ride around the world, and Simon and Lisa Thomas. Listening to them talk about "grit" while sitting in the cold breeze of the hills felt right.
Maral Yazarloo led a mentorship ride from Mumbai to Goa (ironically, since the festival moved) via the Konkan coast just before the event. Her sessions on overlanding weren't just "look at my photos" talks. They were practical, brutal honesties about what happens when your bike breaks down in a country where you don't speak the language.
What People Got Wrong
There was a lot of talk that the big brands would pull out because of the venue change. Sure, some high-profile launches were scaled back, but the engagement was higher. Aprilia showed off new colors for the RS457, and SMK launched their Cygnus line.
But the real showstopper wasn't a bike for sale. It was the Trackhouse MotoGP Aprilia RS-GP bike. Seeing a proper MotoGP machine in the flesh, outside of a race track, is a religious experience for some of us. You realize how tiny and purpose-built these things are.
Was it Perfect?
Basically, no. The venue change was late, and that caused some logistical headaches. Accommodations in Panchgani aren't as vast as Goa, so prices spiked. If you didn't book a tent or a homestay early, you were probably sleeping in a very expensive, very basic room three miles away.
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But the music made up for it. When King took the stage on the final night, the energy was through the roof. It didn't matter that we were on a hillside instead of a beach.
Actionable Takeaways for the Next Ride
If you missed India Bike Week 2025 or you're already planning for the next one, here’s how to handle it like a pro.
1. Don't wait for the "official" dates to prep your bike.
Whether it’s in Goa or the hills, you’re going to be putting 500–1000km on the odometer in a weekend. Check your tires and brake pads at least two weeks out.
2. Gear for the destination, not just the ride.
A lot of guys rode up in mesh jackets and froze their tails off once the sun went down in Panchgani. If the festival stays in the hills, pack a windbreaker or a thermal layer.
3. Engagement over Expositions.
The best parts of IBW aren't the brand stalls. It's the Flat Track races and the Hill Climbs. This year, the Harley-Davidson Flat Track race had a ₹10 lakh prize pool. It was aggressive, dirty, and brilliant to watch. Spend your time at the tracks, not just the merch booths.
4. Follow the Chai & Pakoda Rides.
These happen in 20 cities before the main event. It's the best way to find a riding group so you aren't doing the long haul to the venue solo.
India Bike Week 2025 proved that the community is bigger than the location. It’s about the stories told over a dusty bike and the shared respect for anyone who spent ten hours in a saddle to get there. Whether we're back in Goa next year or staying in the mountains, the spirit is clearly going nowhere.