SANDS OF TIME

The quest to find out if these vehicles do justice to their relation with the desert gave us more answers than we sought 

-  Manaal Mahatme

Two vehicles named after the desert… in the desert’ — now that’s a kickass story for the travel special issue, right? A Ducati DesertX with its local guide, the Mahindra Thar in the arid wasteland where few beasts and even fewer men ventured, made up for a great location, too. But it’s easier said than done, right? Yet, every year, a bunch of brave men and women with motorcycles, buggies and trucks face the desert for the most gruelling rally on the planet — the Dakar.

Anyway, the answer I was seeking through this story was — why the desert? And I got the answer the hard way. Looking at both the vehicles, I was certain that this is going to be an easy job. The DesertX’s design, reminiscent of the old Cagiva Elefant, assured that there was nothing that could stand in its way. It is a big motorcycle, but surprisingly not intimidating to look at.

Perhaps, it’s those googly eyes that give the bike that innocent look, at least to my eyes. Yet, the traffic ahead always seemed scared and gave way. Was it because the bike was taller than most cars on the road? Or was it because the DesertX had a butch friend right behind it?

I don’t know what’s the deal with the Thar, but all through the trip, people had either respect or fear in their eyes when they saw this SUV. Or sometimes, a combination of both. For me, the 1200-km ride to the desert was a breeze, even with the temperatures soaring above 40-degrees. And while I thought Kurt and Kaizad were having a relaxing drive, every time we stopped, they seemed more exhausted than me.