Indian Navy and Bajaj Auto set off on a pan Maharashtra ride

Team OD Updated: March 23, 2016, 05:11 PM IST

The Indian Navy and Bajaj Auto have embarked on a pan Maharashtra ride, astride the recently launched Bajaj V15. A team of 15 Navy personnel will ride the motorcycles across 23 forts that were under the command of Chattrapati Shivaji, a revered Maratha warrior king. Through this ride cum trekking voyage, the Indian Navy wants to motivate the youth of the nation, to join the Navy. The team will visit schools and colleges along the way. They'll interact with students, spread awareness of what the Indian Navy does and how to join.

Indian Navy partners with the Bajaj V for an Invincible Ride

The ride was flagged off today, which also happens to be World Martyrs Day. Speaking about the initiative, Rear Admiral S N Ghormade, Nausena Medal (Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area) of the Indian Navy said, "We would like to attract enterprising Indian youth to join the Navy. On the occasion of Martyr's Day our team has set out on a Motorbike cum Trekking Expedition to 23 forts in honour of Chattrapati Shivaji. We felt that the Bajaj V was the ideal vehicle for this initiative as it contains the invincible metal of the INS Vikrant and V also stands for victory."

Indian Navy partners with the Bajaj V for an Invincible Ride (2)

The ride was flagged off from the Kohli Stadium in Navy Nagar, Colaba, Mumbai. The team will cover iconic forts such as Shivneri and Raigad.

The Bajaj V is made using metal from the INS Vikrant, an iconic aircraft carrier that served the nation during the 1971 India-Pakistan War. The war ship was converted to a museum, after it was decommissioned from service. Sadly, the Indian Government as well as the Navy failed to maintain it and sold the ship to scrap metal dealers. That's when Bajaj decided to buy it and utilise it in production of the V. The 150cc engine in the V produces 12PS at 7,500rpm and 13Nm at 3,000rpm.

We've ridden the Bajaj V and here's what we think of it.