I am not planning on taking someone with a Saree on my bike but is a Saree guard mandatory?

" Saree guards actually look quite silly on some sport bikes! I've seen the KTM twins and even the Daytona with a saree guard. Like someone with a saree is likely to ride on these bikes. It's mandated by law, so it comes with it, but you can take it off. No one is really that adamant about the saree guard rule. "

These are the most frequent made comments about the existence of the saree guard on a motorcycle, A rather very unpopular addition to the visuals of a motorcycle.

" Daytona with a saree guard?! Damn, that would be so cringeworthy to look at! Even the Yamaha R3 has messed up- looking saree guard. It is so unnecessarily big that you can dry your clothes on it. :P "

India has the rather dubious reputation of boasting some of the highest road accident related deaths in the world. Not something that we are proud of but it is the unfortunate truth. Thankfully the government has been taking some steps in terms of dealing with this via means of making certain accessories compulsory on every bike sold in India. The humble but mightily practical saree guard is one of them.

The central government has amended the Central Motor Vehicle rules making it mandatory for all motorbikes to have handholds and footrests along with protective devices on the rear wheel serving as 'saree guards'.

Industry sources said the changes would require the altering of the designs of luxury bikes, which do not have these safety features.

Most motorcycles which are made in India, or even assembled in India from completely knocked down (CKD) kits do have saree guards, but there are no hand grips in the middle of the seat, between the rider and pillion to hold on; motorcycles so far have been brought in as full imports, as completely built units (CBUs).

The latest Supreme Court order making saree guard mandatory for all motorcycles will largely impact those manufacturers which were dependent on mostly imported bikes which were being sold in India.

Saree guards make excellent cargo bays Safety is important, but so is cargo loading space. The saree guard can be used to tie down heavy sacks, cargo loads etc. You can even use it to tie down livestock like chickens & goats. The saree guards will not only protect the rider, but also the the cargo from being pulled into the rear wheel.

Saree guards can be used as radio transmitter : )

Picture this, your stuck in traffic coming back from your daily commute ,and your phone has run out of charge so you have no way of entertaining yourself while your stuck in between the BMW X1 and the Hyundai Creta who happens to be playing some pop garbage straight out of the billboard charts. Entertainment becomes an important factor to consider while trying to keep your cool. The saree guard here on your motorcycle can function as a radio antenna given its shape and construction. This can then be used to receive music stations on the FM frequency. This music can also be used as a means of spreading the love by playing it loud and bringing a smile to the other fellow commuters stuck in the same traffic.

Do we need a saree guard in today's age? (Strictly An Opinion only)

There are certain motorcycles which may not require a saree guard since it would be nearly impossible for a pillion wearing a saree to sit on the tiny pillion seat that all high spec motorcycles offer. To some extent you could say that the saree guard was an important safety feature back in the 70s and 80s when majority of the women population would wear a saree and sit pillion. But what's the point of the saree guard when the pillion's is not wearing a helmet. I mean the saree guard seems to be a half hearted effort in saving the pillion's dress rather than the head.

The smart rider knows just how important safety is and takes every measure to be safe. The saree guard is an important albeit local piece of ingenuity to help loose & flowing clothes from getting tangled in the rear wheel. There have been numerous events where female pillion riders have ended up with injuries because the saree or dupatta they were wearing got pulled into the rear wheel resulting in fatal accidents

So be smart, use your head & protect your fellow rider from injuries. Ride Safe.