Mataf nearly empty as entry to Makkah restricted to Hajj visa holders    Cinema revenues account for SR845.6 million in 2024 17 Saudi films among 504 films screened    Will US tariff hikes affect Saudi Arabia? Kingdom largely insulated as oil exports remain exempt and non-oil sectors gain a pricing edge    Expat arrested for immoral act at a massage center in Jazan    Saudi Transplant Congress discusses scientific advancements and innovations on organ donation and transplantation    Mawani and Alissa Universal Motors sign agreement worth SR300 million to establish Logistics Zone at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam    Al-Khereiji at BRICS: Saudi Arabia a reliable and neutral partner in endeavors for de-escalating tensions    Saudi market shows resilience in Q1 2025 despite global volatility: Report    Saudi Arabia urges India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions    Trump congratulates Canada's Carney as they agree to meet in 'near future'    Sánchez vows to uncover reasons behind massive Iberian power outage    Guterres warns two-state solution is 'near a point of no return'    Al Ahli stun Al Hilal to reach AFC Champions League Elite final    4 Chinese nationals arrested in Makkah for promoting fake Hajj campaigns    SR200,000 reward for each player of the Saudi club winning AFC Champions League title    William and Kate celebrate anniversary on Isle of Mull    HONOR KSA expands its presence with new flagship Experience Store in Riyadh HONOR's first flagship store in KSA provides visitors with a premium experience, exciting offers and free services    Rock & Roll Hall of Fame picks Outkast but not Oasis    Duran leads Al Nassr past Yokohama Marinos into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Al Ahli cruise past Buriram into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Big motorbikes rev up again in Iran
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 02 - 09 - 2015

DUBAI — The joy of riding big Japanese and American motorbikes was just one of the pleasures taken away from Iranians after the country's revolution.
But three decades on, to the delight of enthusiasts, there are signs of restrictions being eased. This month a dozen bikers on pre-revolutionary and newer models were allowed a strictly regulated ride in Tehran.
It was still a far cry from the open highways of “Easy Rider”.
Special permission is needed to ride just one weekend per month and the cruise is limited to specific streets during daylight hours. Women are still prohibited from ridng bikes.
It fits in, however, with other developments as Iran opens up to the West again under reform-minded President Hassan Ruhani.
The ban outlawing motorcycles with engines above the size of 250 cubic cm was introduced in the early years of the revolution to halt drive-by killings of Iranian officials by the opposition.
It was also part of an effort to eradicate vestiges of Western lifestyle that had prevailed. Women were barred from riding motorcycles.
Motorbikes with big engine power were used exclusively by the Basij, the government's plain-clothes security force, which often paraded on them around Tehran in a show of power.
Under the reprieve, authorities select members of the Tehran Motorcycling and Car Racing Association to license for street riding after running them through security checks, the association's manager Mehrdad Hemmatian said.
Police and Interior Ministry agents monitor the riders while they are on the road.
“We are hopeful that the restrictions on full-sized motorcycles will be revised and lifted,” Hemmatian said. “The restrictions are outdated.”
The government-linked association is also lobbying to bring down import tariffs on sports bikes to 6 percent from 100 percent.
People involved with the government are mostly behind the demand for motorcycles as it is easier for them to obtain special permission and they are better able to afford the expensive American-made Harley Davidson motorcycles.
Bikers who are not from the elite can manage to afford cheaper Japanese sports bikes for use on race tracks.
RUHANI REFORMS
Under reforms initiated by Ruhani, who successfully concluded an accord with world powers on curtailing Iran's nuclear program in July, life could become a bit easier for some Iranians as trade sanctions are lifted.
Marginal advancements in allowing Western culture to seep into Tehran are mirrored in other ways, for example a knock-off version of fast food chain McDonald's called Mash Donald's in a posh neighborhood of the capital.
Many Iranians now also have luxury Japanese and European cars as some of the policies instituted after the downfall of the Shah are relaxed.
American dealerships for Harley or General Motors have been absent from Iran but a sanctions deal would open the gateway for such manufacturers to have a local presence.
Businesses worldwide want to get into Iran, home to some 80 million people and with a sizable middle-class craving international brands. In a sign of its reconnection to the international world, Britain and Iran reopened their embassies in their respective capitals last week.
DUBAI'S DESERT HIGHWAY
While the motoring association is trying to have the ban fully lifted, Iranian bikers have found other ways to satisfy their passion.
Symbolizing the love for US-made Harley Davidson motorcycles, local bike manufacturer Tondar Shahab makes replicas with street-legal engine of 250 CC as opposed to the usual range of 883 and 1800 CC.
Some ship in Harley parts from Dubai before assembling them in Iran — sometimes just to display the bike in a prominent place in their homes.
Dubai is a main source for international brands that are barred from having official stores in Iran, such as Apple electronics.
Often these are loaded onto small ships or dhows, which sail across the narrow Arabian Gulf to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas and eventually make their way to Tehran.
Dubai is also where some Iranians spend their holidays and indulge in their love of riding US- made motorcycles. There are scores of Iranian Harley owners in the city.
Shabab, an Iranian enthusiast who lives in Dubai, often rides with his friend Shahbol on their Harley Ultras from the city to the desert resort of Bab Al Shams, a popular sheesha and drinks stop for riders.
“At the end of the day, when you have a passion you will find a way to ride whether it is in Dubai, in Europe or the United States,” Shabab said. “And someday also in Iran.” — Reuters


Clic here to read the story from its source.