Intolerant Bikers: Mumbai Vlogger Beaten Up For Criticising Bike

Bikers beat up a Vlogger for criticising the treatment meted out to a customised Kawasaki Z800 at India Bike Week.

The customised Kawasaki Z800 of Ajit Murkute (in photo) with the Instagram post by Saurabh Mayekar, a Mumbai-based Vlogger. 

(Photo: Facebook/altered by The Quint)

A Vlogger from Pune was allegedly beaten up and forced to apologise for criticising a bike on social media. Saurabh Mayekar, a Mumbai-based biker and Vlogger, had posted a comment about a Kawasaki Z800, which was on display at the India Bike Week in Goa, on 24 and 25 November.

In his post, he had called the Kawasaki Z800 “The Most F***ed Up Z800 of India... RIP Engine, Clutch Plates etc”. The Kawasaki Z800 superbike is apparently owned by Ajit Murkute, a Pune-based biker, who took offence to the post.

Here’s the post that started it all:

This was the post that Vlogger Saurabh Mayekar shared on Instagram that the owner took offence to. (Photo Courtesy: Rushlane)

Mayekar says he apologised to the owner, Ajit Murkute, and took down his Instagram post within half an hour. However, the owner and his friends called him to the venue, humiliated him and made him apologise to the bike. However, even after he had done that, a couple of men still beat him up.

Here’s Saurabh Mayekar’s version of events. He is obviously shaken and is refraining from naming the people in this video.

And here is a video clip of what happened at India Bike Week. Security at the venue apparently reached the spot much after the incident.

India Bike Week organisers have apparently banned the bikers involved in this incident from taking part in the event henceforth.

Ajit Murkute, the owner of the Kawasaki Z800, seen riding the bike in Pune (without a helmet or any protective gear). (Photo: Facebook)

While the Vlogger is entitled to his opinion and criticism of a bike, it does not justify violence. The owner of the Z800 claims Mayekar’s post will affect the resale value of his bike.

The Kawasaki Z800 that caused the controversy has a custom paint job. (Photo: Facebook)

Mayekar claims he did not like the way the bike was being revved at the event. Many bikers rev the bikes to their limits when stationary, or even do donuts and burnouts, which take their toll on the engine, piston rings, clutch plates and tyres. While owners are free to do what they want with their bikes, this is not how anyone who loves his or her bike would treat it.

Check out this video by auto journalist Tushar Burman last year, with some advise for young bikers attending India Bike Week!

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