Greasing the Wheels | A Heart-To-Heart With Melvin Sehgal, Founder of Young Kid Customs

A teenager once confused with the ways of life decided to opt out of the all engulfing rat-race and make his own path as his instincts and passion for bike building made him one of the most sought after bike customizers in Delhi! Melvin Sehgal shares his story - read on to know more!

Give us a sneak peak into the life of the young kid as to what served as your motivation to get into bike customizing? 

My motivation was and still continues to be my father. He always had the love for bikes and building them. He gave up his Yezdi because of a financial crisis. My goal was to bring the same bike back to his life. So I took scraps of an old rotten yezdi and turned it into a proper, reliable one. I wasn't even aware then that this is what they call customization and people even earn from this talent. Vijaybhai of Rajputana customs has been my teacher as I grew up watching his videos and getting inspired ever since.

How long has been the journey of Young Kid Customs from initiation to present day? What challenges did you face on your way?

I started with Young Kid Customs in 2014 and it's been quite a journey. We have built 8 beauties till now and there are more to come. Facebook served as a great platform for publicizing work as I created my very first page 'Young Kid Customs' when I was 19. I have experienced a lot of criticism when I started. Many said, "He's just a kid, what can a kid do. He doesn't even know what the world is yet", but there were some who said "What if he's a kid, let's give him a chance.”

What sets your work apart from others who offer similar services?

The thing that sets YKC apart from others is we give our precious time and effort in customizing one's bike as making money isn't our primary motive but learning through experience is. I don't treat my client's bike as theirs, but work on them like they're mine. So if one were to ask how we stand to differ from others, our customized bikes are the answer.

What are the pros and cons of being the youngest kid on the block?

Being a custom builder is not a 9 - 5 job. It requires your time, dedication, passion, love, knowledge and hard work. This job has given me the fortunate opportunity to be friends with the most amazing bike enthusiasts who are a great source of knowledge and motivation. I try to see every obstacle as an opportunity. Pros and cons go hand in hand, but the thing to remember is how you choose to look at it.

Do you take long biking trips?

Generally, I ride upto 1000-1200 km. I'm planning a ride to Goa to experience the most famous biking festival in India, the India Bike Week from 19th - 20th February. I'll be riding my babe ‘Bumblebee’ Bullet 350cc. It's gonna be 2000 kms of fun!

Which ones according to you are the best biking spots in Delhi?

I've seen many bikers generally plan out a ride and go to various places but I refrain from doing the same as my main aim is to explore. There are many spots in and around Delhi you could bike around in:

1. Throttle Shrottle at Gurgaon-Faridabad highway is a good place to visit riding bikes. 
2. You can also go to Manesar McDonalds on week days.
3. Murthal is another spot that’s good for biking purposes mostly because the road is clear and you can ride with ease.

What do you think makes Delhi “So Delhi”?

This is one place where we have diversity and wide variety. You can find amazing food and crazy experiments that you probably can’t even think up! And, of course, Delhi is the one place where you find biking craze touching new heights, so that makes Delhi ‘So Delhi’.

Any special message for our readers and riders?

Don't let go of your passion. In life, you'll meet different people everyday who will either inspire you, learn something from you or discourage you. Look for something positive in every day, even if some days you have to look a little harder. Nobody will be there for you, be your own inspiration!