Custom Kraft: Interview With Samik Chatterjee Of MotoKraft Customs

Custom Kraft: Interview With Samik Chatterjee Of MotoKraft Customs

Not so long ago, there was a small window of glimmering light for the imploding world of Bike Customization in India. Companies like Vardenchi and Rajputana started enjoying well-deserved credit for their innovative and fantastic work (even against all odds) with bikes in the country and bike enthusiasts were swarming together like never before but the trend didn’t quite make it over into the territory of sustained interest.

Luckily for us, India Bike Week was conceived and helped by becoming a platform for other smaller, independent companies to showcase their work portfolios to newer audiences. 

Interestingly enough, many of them are being recognised globally by both media and enthusiasts but falling short of India’s radar. Case in point, Delhi-based Samik Chatterjee’s Moro-Kraft customs who just unveiled their most recent creation at the Delhi Biers Fest--the cafe racer based on the Hero Honda Karizma.

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We caught up with Samik in the hopes that he’s give us an insight into how he brought this creation to life. 
Read on for the full script. 
I. When did you first get seduced by biking and automobile culture?
My dad used to ride (probably still yearns to ride). He was my Superman like most kids and I knew I had to learn how to ride a moto (by hook or by crook) to embody his powers. I learned the correct movement of the clutch and race in my dreams after experiencing multiple un-intentional wheelies on the RX 100 which threw me off each time.
If you bruise/bleed once, it becomes your culture. I bled enough to make it my religion.

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II. Tell us a little about your background and the journey that made you start a bespoke customization for bikes in the country?
I’m a Fine arts graduate. I was an industrious advertising professional doing a 9-to-whatever-time job. The ridiculous amount of un-creative work that was piled on me inspired me to create something (somewhat) creative of my own.
I built my bike with little or no idea of what I was doing but it was the 90 degree learning-curve that got me hooked. And I’m still learning. 
III. Which is the first creation that came out of Motokraft and where was the inspiration derived from?
Mitternacht was the first moto on which I proudly pasted a MOTOKRAFT CUSTOMS logo for the first time. This is one of my own bikes which has evolved over the years with me and it still reads “under construkshun” in a menacing kind of tone.
The inspiration was to create something out of a humble Avenger that would behave like no other on the streets coupled with a healthy dose of attitude.IV. The karizma-based cafe racer looks unreal.  Can you tell us why you chose it and about some of the challenges you faced in the process?
to life?
The idea was to create a true cafe racer in today’s time and space. Karizma/Honda CB 230 are great engines, but that’s about it because everything else on these bikes are out-right weak; from the suspension system to the enormous amount of plastics on it. As such, we have only used the engine block while everything else has been built from ground-up
Executing the simplistic design and stance of the bike had its share of challenges but Abhimanyu Nandy (MOTOKRAFT mech-mind) ensured that every aspect of the moto was in sync for both a great ride and feel.
 

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V. What is the brand ethos of Motokraft customs and where do you see the company going in the next few years?

We are riders, and our ethos stems from the very same fact. We term our work as “functional aesthetics.” We would like to believe our work to be worthy art-works ready to roll onto the streets. Our immediate goal is to streamline operations and set processes in-place.

In a few years we aspire to gather enough time to tour all-over India and abroad on our very own built-bikes and remain inspired.

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There are way too many tracks that come to mind, but the track that truly sorts me out as a rider on the road is the sound of a free-revving engine. The depth in the lyrics of these tracks are next to none--one has to listen to the partner and respond accordingly especially on the open roads.
VII. Which are the 2 routes you would love to ride on in the country ?
Spiti-valley any day is the most unforgiving terrain--it would remain at the top of my list forever.
I also wish to ride to every neighboring country accessible by road. Burma/Myanmar is top on the list, since the route will take me through the untouched - undiscovered north eastern states of India.

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