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DGR 2022 on ROYAL ENFIELD
in New York City
meeting new enfield people on my Interceptor
Here we go again. It's may, it's Sunday - the 22nd to be exact. And if you are a biker, you know what to do. It's the time to pull that fine suit off the hanger, put a tie on and head out to meet the other well dress crazies on two wheels who meet for a common good - to ride at your local Distinguished Gentleman's Ride event, aka the DGR.
The DGR (copied from their website) unites classic and vintage style motorcycle riders all over the world to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health.
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I did this few times before, I have to say it leaves a lasting impression on you. In NYC - the number is around 1000. It's said they topped off the registrations around 1000 riders because... well imagine 1000 bikes riding through NYC on a Sunday :))))) If you cannot, you are in the same situation as the drivers and tourists and locals who are going about their day, wanna cross a crossing, get on another side of this or that street and - out of blue a member of the blue - NY cop will zip by on a motorcycle and stops you from driving, bicycling, walking across the road and then - 1000 bikes rides by :D I have to say, it must take a while till all of us pass by. Lot of people enjoyed it, took videos, photos, waved - but there were some not so amused individuals lol. Ah yay, it's only once a year, it's all good.
OFF WE GO, DIEGO IS HERE!
Buddy Diego lives the furthest :( He agreed to wake up the earliest and start the 'pick each other up' ride. 7.30am at my place, dressed great to match that white GT. I dig his 'sense' to match the bike. Not many people have that or do that. Diego is synced with his machine :D
He picked me up, we rode there under the shade of the J,M,Z subway - I love it. It's very Brooklyn, very off-road (potholes and cracks size of moon craters)... just love it.
First time ever - well second time ever - I organized a little meetup with new riders even to me.
New faces that started to pop up on Instagram with their new beautiful shiny versions of the twins. My two friends with Himalayans were away on trips so we missed those cool machines in our group.
But our group was amazing - not one 'copy cat' :) Different bikes with different paintjobs, what a beautiful gang. As you can see.
After the early morning meet up, hand shakes, few coffees and photos - it's time. Kickstands up and we are heading to the location of the DGR start. It was at/around the beautiful Grand Central Station in NYC. Nobody was sure where exactly. Right in front of it? 1000 bikes? HOW! Lol or like last time on the viaduct. That was the more possible option but we didn't know, who cares, let's go.
I had to lead - which I hate to do lol BECAUSE - then I cannot take photos of my 'flock'. All motorcycles ride behind me so as the first goose of the flock - not much photos there. Only here and there when we stopped and I had the chance to turn around :) Judge it for yourself.
Ride was super, wasn't that busy but what must be said - temperatures of that day went out of the roof. It was 35C aka 1,000,000F. What is the most strangest thing ever - I don't remember a day when it wasn't like this. The Saturday before? Beautiful day! Breezy, nice, lovely. THE DGR SUNDAY? SCORCHING PLANET. And the day after the DGR? Breezy, nice, lovely day!
I. WILL. NEVER. UNDERSTAND. THAT.
Such a nice day, early morning, Sunday and then - traffic on the Williamsburg bridge :)) People please!!! It's 8am Sunday! WHAT HIS HAPPENING! WHY! I was imagining our group will blast through the bridge with wind in our hairs, with the amazing view on the city... We had the view but we blasted nothing lol. We were crowling 10-20mph, sweating. I should have learned by now how the city traffic is but - hope dies last as they say :p
Rest of the 'trip' to the Grand Central Station was lovely. The arrival was impressive. NYPD crew
lined up, waved us in onto the 'bridge' and you ride in between hordes of bikes left and right. Pretty impressive to have the spot for this... pretty impressive.
After the early morning meet up, hand shakes, few coffees and photos - it's time. Kickstands up and we are heading to the location of the DGR start. It was at/around the beautiful Grand Central Station in NYC. Nobody was sure where exactly. Right in front of it? 1000 bikes? HOW! Lol or like last time on the viaduct. That was the more possible option but we didn't know, who cares, let's go.
I had to lead - which I hate to do lol BECAUSE - then I cannot take photos of my 'flock'. All motorcycles ride behind me so as the first goose of the flock - not much photos there. Only here and there when we stopped and I had the chance to turn around :) Judge it for yourself.
We had about an hour to walk around, check out the bikes, talk to people, mingle. Then one interesting thing happened lol. The police officers grabbed their notepads and started to walk around the bikes. If you think that every biker has all the registration done, the new sticker on their title... think again :D As sad as it looked - if you stood next to your bike without those VERY visibly missing 'markers' - and admitted that it's your bike - you gave the nice officer your digits and you get a mail.
Our dear organizers gave the crowd a nice welcome, did a little speech, what to do, what not to do - and it was really the time to go. So many bikes starting their engines together - what a symphony lol.
The moment is here, nothing more to do but - start the DGR, start your engines, distinguished gentlemen and ladies.
The ride was great, the gentlemen from NYPD blocked off everything in our way. There was no stopping for nothing, it was our day, bikers go :D
That's impressive IN New York. That is very impressive. Few of our Enfield group did this ride the first time and the excitement was visible. I would not believe anybody who says it wasn't a great day. (HOT)
