A dream manifested – living the ultimate KTM life
For Roysten Rodrigues, better known as Roysten “RedBull” within the motorcycling and biking communities, buying a KTM was not merely a dream – it was the fulfillment of a dream years in the making, full of passion and dedication. Goa-based, Roysten is a biker at heart, spending nearly 15 years balancing his marketing profession, running his family business, and flying drones on the side – all for living the dream of motorcycling.
A Journey That Started Early in Life
Roysten has had his motorcycle passion as far back as when he was just a toddler, sitting on the front of his dad’s scooter as he vividly remembers. “I was fascinated by bikes, pretending to be ‘Speed Racer’ whenever I sat on one,'” he describes. By the time he was 14, Roysten was cruising along on a scooter, running errands for his father’s catering business. He fully knew the risks he was taking, but his interest in motorcycling developed more and more as he traveled to deliver goods.
Finally Owning a KTM
While Roysten’s career was taking shape, so was his dream of having a KTM. “Having a KTM was a dream,” says Roysten, but it was not all that simple. In his college days, he could not even think of having one, but after entering the corporate world, he made his dream come true. “I paid my first paycheck as a booking amount, and lived for the next two years with 75% of salary paying back the loan,” he remembers. The KTM 390 Duke had all that he wanted in his eyes – power, light weight, excellent handling, good brakes, and low maintenance costs.
Living The Dream
Roysten’s KTM experience has been a dream come true in every sense of the word. From buying his first 390 Duke to coordinating hand in hand with the KTM India team and leading rides, it has been all passion for him. “From the bike itself to the people I have met, it is all pure passion,” he continues. The bike has been a part of some of the most precious moments of his life – weekend rides, touring, and even those evening spins with close friends.
With nearly 1 lakh kilometres on the clock already, Roysten’s Duke has seen it all. “I would ride the bike on rare occasions, more so in the initial days when I could hardly manage to make both ends meet. The EMI gulped most of the income, but I somehow managed,” he states. His KTM has been with him through all his ups and downs, even being India’s most powerful road-legal 390 Duke, as RaceDynamics at Dynowars demonstrated at India Bike Week 2019.
KTM ProXP: A Game-Changer for His Riding Journey
Roysten’s interaction with KTM did not end at the purchase of the bike. He has participated in several KTM ProXP activities, such as the RC Cup, Offroad Trainings, Day Rides, and IBW Ride Outs. These have contributed significantly towards improving his skills as a rider. “KTM ProXP events were structured to make KTM customers more skilled riders. Basics through advanced certification, KTM did it all,” states Roysten.
The politeness, training, and camaraderie environment at the events has been the highlight of the year for him. These events have turned him into a better rider and helped him to forge lifelong friends nationwide, thanks to them, he says. For Roysten, KTM’s development of the community environment has been worth a million dollars. “These events have fostered a sense of family among the KTM riders, and one that transcends riding,” he says.
A Dream Fulfilled
Roysten’s KTM experience is a reflection of the strength of want, will, and chasing a dream. From diligent work to raise money for his bike to having Rok Bagoroš himself personally kit his motorcycle, each milestone has been a personal achievement. “The emotional connection I have with this bike is impossible to put into words,” Roysten looks at how far he has traveled. His KTM experience is a reminder to us all that with perseverance, dreams can actually become real.
Follow the BikeDekho WhatsApp channel to get instant updates from the automotive world.