Life beyond advertising: Akash Das

(Life beyond advertising is a weekly feature, where we feature advertising’s interesting people; people who do crazy, creative things after working hours. We try and understand their passion and drive for what they do, what makes them tick and what it takes to wear multiple hats.

If you fit the above description to the tee and would like to be featured, write to us at mukta.lad@web18.in .)

This week, meet Akash Das, executive creative director at Lowe Lintas and Partners. When not at the office, Das does something pretty rare – making motorcycles. In fact, his own ride, the Dodo Motorcycle, has been custom-made by him. Firstbiz caught up with Das to understand his passion for bikes, what goes behind making one from scratch and why he enjoys it so much.

Have you always loved biking? When did the idea to make the Dodo Motorcycle take shape?

I have loved riding for a very long time now. I always felt the need to have a great, classic bike and all I wanted was a modern bike with a classic look. Triumph hadn’t launched in India back then, which in a way was great; I would have just bought myself a Triumph and none of this would have happened.

I wanted to own a classic bike that would last for longer rides. ArebuildBSA or a Norton don’t sustain over a very long ride; there is no one to fix them if they break downon anobscurehighway, for instance. That is when I decided to make the Dodo Motorcycle. You can call it a ‘steam punk’ - it has the modern Royal Enfield engine with the sort of classic look I love.So I basically have a classic-looking bike that is fit for long rides!

DodoMotorcycle-closeups from akash on Vimeo .

Do you make your own version of motorbikes regularly? Do you make them for sale?

Time is the biggest consideration here. The one I have made took me all of eight months to make!I am also working on the second one, but I really can’t say when I will be done with it for sure. This one has a Royal Enfield engine, too, but otherwise is a completely different bike. The metal work is complete and it is currently being painted. It is for a friend, and not for sale.

Do you ever see yourself ever taking this up full-time?

Not really. I don’t see myself doing just this. Igot a fewoffers for designing, but I couldn’t take them up because of time constraints. Since the second bike is for a friend, there are no deadlines per se. I have been working on it for over a year now, but I obviously won’t be able to take so long if I start taking orders as a business. Right now, I have the luxury of working on this when I can make the time.

What is it about this long, meticulous process that you enjoy the most?

The designing part is the most enjoyable.The execution, though, is laborious and physically straining butIwork withShamim welder at nagparawho is fabulouswith his craft.I go to him with my designs and we work together towards a vision,beautifully.

What about it is most off-putting?

I wouldn’t say it is off-putting, but sourcing the perfect parts is really tedious. For instance, I may be looking for only a certain kind of tyre or the perfect electrical components to suit my design. Sadly, India isn’t a very developed market for such things. You have to really hunt for the perfect parts, and even then, you have to compromise a lot because you just may not find what you are looking for. Everything is so regular and mediocre. This significantly adds to the overall time of production.Having said that, I found things more to my liking this time around, so maybe the market is opening up to newer things, after all.

What is your biggest drive when you begin making a new bike?

Learning. I take up anything that helps me learn something new. It’s the same even with making a motorbike - I learn so much at every step of the way, coupled with my love for being around creative people. For instance, I learn so much just by watching my welder at work!

If you had to give one piece of advice at anyone who wants to take up custom bike-making, what would it be?

I just have one thing to say - don’t make this a business when you have a full-time job. If you are taking it up, do just this since it takes up a lot of time and energy. Or just takeitup as a hobby, where you are doing it only for the love and there are no deadlines.

How do you find the time to keep at your passion despite a full-time job and a personal life?

It does get difficult sometimes withworkingMondaytoFridayand making a bike over weekends.Thankfully, my wife is very supportive which is why I could even finish the first bike and begin the second one!

Photos of the Dodo Motorcycle:

Liked ‘Life beyond advertising’? Read about the people featured previously, here.