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Superman and the everyday hero come together. Magic happensBy:Aneesh Shivanekar |Published :March 08, 2011  Big bikes are it. They simply have everything it takes to put that spark in your everyday existence, to sway that magic wand and turn even the most bloodless of souls into the swift, life-inducing joy that is a yellow butterfly on a sunny morning. Ride a powerful set of two wheels even relatively fast and your whole sense of what’s what in the automotive food chain and just ‘how fast is fast’ changes as quickly as the snap of the fingers. However, all said and done, those manic examples of horsepower excess are way beyond what most of us can use, much less exploit. The upgrade in performance is as drastic as handing a caveman a light sabre and a water cannon, all to take on the hapless bunny merrily chomping away in the shrubbery. So, then, what I’m going to propose to you in the following lines might sound a bit unadventurous at first, maybe even boring and sluggishly practical, but you won’t deny by the end of it that it’ll make good sense.

I want those fairings on a motorcycle. I want that 200 horsepower liquid-cooled monstrosity that will effortlessly pull arms right out of their respective sockets. I want that race-tuned chassis that Ben Spies slides around effortlessly on Sunday afternoons. I want it all. It’s as natural as wanting Catherine Zeta Jones. And why not, when you can put down that wad of greenies on the table and ride one home? The bike, I meant. (Zeta Jones? You wish!) But take a look at this one. If the Gixxer Thou is Zeta Jones, the Bandit is the sweet girl that lives next door. What we have here is not exactly supermodel-material, but lovely enough to question the need for one. She has her priorities sorted for the real world. So,while the stunning piece of eye candy will eventually throw a massive tantrum outside the shop over that Swarovski diamond set, slap you for not making enough to afford a Riva yacht and call you a loser for the hours spent on the Playstation, our real-world charmer will let you have all the fun with almost none of the niggles. Sounds like a deal?

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Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has offered to rectify a problem in the gearbox of some of its 110cc Stallio motorcycles.By:Swaraj Baggonkar |Published :March 02, 2011

Automaker Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has offered to rectify a problem in the gearbox of some of its 110cc Stallio motorcycles. The Stallio marked the entry of the maker of utility vehicles and tractors into the highly competitive motorcycle market.

Responding to a query on problems with the Stallio gearbox, M&M in a statement said: “We... are aware that certain parts of the bike require some fine tuning and adjustment in a small proportion of the product. We are proactively addressing the same.”

However, the company did not furnish any details on how many motorcycles have a gearbox problem and need to be rectified.

Since its launch in September 2010, M&M has sold over 5,135 Stallios until January this year. However, average sales of the Stallio during the last two months have been less than 400 units a month. In comparison, the country’s leading two-wheeler makers like Hero Honda, Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor and Honda sell an average of over 100,000 bikes a month in the 75-125cc segment.

While recalls, repairs and retrofits are fairly common in the passenger car industry — recent domestic instances include Honda’s recall of some versions of the City and Tata Motors’ retrofit of the Nano — there have been very few cases for motorcycles.

M&M has also encountered delivery problems with the Stallio. Its two-wheeler dealers have been asking potential buyers to wait for at least a month for delivery. The bike costs Rs 52,300 (on the road in Mumbai). The company maintains that demand for the bike has been very strong since launch, and that it has been unable to meet it because of inadequate supply of parts by vendors.

“When we launched the Stallio, the response we received was very positive and we had significant demand. However, today we are faced with certain supply-chain related constraints of some critical components. This is a short-term phenomenon and will be sorted out latest by June 2011,” M&M stated.

The company is trying to resolve supply-side issues by ramping up production at its facility in Pithampur near Indore. Brakes have also been applied to plans to add new dealers, particularly in areas where the brand has a strong pull, because of low volumes.

Most of M&M’s stable of two-wheelers includes automatic scooters such as the Rodeo, Duro and Flyte. Motorcycles are more popular in semi-urban and rural areas, as is evident from the success of models belonging to Hero Honda and Bajaj in those areas.

We finally get acquainted with the Mahindra StallioBy:Kyle Periera |Published :March 21, 2011 

Aamir Khan endorses it and it also happens to be the first motorcycle from Mahindra 2 Wheelers. Yes, it’s the Stallio and here is our first impression of the motorcycle. The styling of the Stallio is par for the course, to be honest. To me, it’s a decent looker, but not stunning enough to leave a lasting impression. On the other hand, I think the bright yellow paint job of the specimen handed to us made it stand out on the road as well as in the parking lot. Note to reader: if you’re buying a Stallio, don’t forget to pick the brightest of colours.

At first glance, the sloper engine seems very familiar – the CD 100 comes to mind. The 106cc motor puts out 7.2 bhp@7500 rpm, with the torque figure rated at 0.8 kgm@5500 rpm. The specs aren’t pathbreaking and are more or less on par with the competition.

On the roll, the Stallio holds its own, with power coming in early. However, the motor begins to get vibey at about 4500 rpm and keeps climbing. At about 6500 rpm, your tooth fillings are rattling and the pegs are sending you large clumps of tingles through your feet. A good thing? Er, unfortunately not.

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Honda to launch upgraded scooters in the 100-125cc segmentBy:Swaraj Baggonkar |Published :March 25, 2011 

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), the leader in the automatic scooter segment, is preparing to launch a bigger capacity scooter.

Honda, the maker of Activa, India's largest selling gearless scooter, will tap the customer base which seeks upgraded versions of the available 100-125cc engines.

Shinji Aoyama, President and CEO, HMSI, said, “We will introduce a bigger displacement scooter in the coming period. There is a need for a more powerful product in that segment”.

The company currently sells the Activa (110cc), Aviator (110cc) and Dio (102cc) in the scooter segment and five motorcycles — Twister, Shine, Stunner, Unicorn and Dazzler. Scooters will contribute nearly 55 per cent to the company's sales this year, which is expected to stand at 1.65 million units.

Although power scooters are popular in some overseas developed markets, manufacturers have been conservative in introducing them in India due to their higher price tags. Pune-based Kinetic Motor Company, once the market leader in the scooter segment, had launched a 165cc engine power scooter, Italiano Blaze, for nearly Rs 50,000. The demand for the Blaze was high due to its superior performance, but Kinetic wasn’t able to provide the service and back-up parts. Kinetic eventually decided to wrap up its business and sold its assets to Mumbai-based conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra for Rs 110 crore in 2008.

Although there was no clear indication on what the new scooter from HMSI will be, market experts believe it would have an engine of around 130-150cc. The move towards a bigger engine is also triggered by the buoyant demand seen for the Suzuki Access 125. While a small capacity scooter of around 100cc carries a price tag of Rs 41,000, a bigger engine scooter by HMSI will ideally be priced at Rs 50,000-55,000, say market analysts.

The India scooter market has seen scorching growth so far this financial year, with sales of 1.88 million units, an increase of 44 per cent in the domestic market. HMSI currently has a market share of 43 per cent in the scooter segment with annual sales of 813,000 units.

By:Kyle Pereira |Published :February 01, 2011 

Mahindra 2 Wheelers Stallio:

 - Sloper engine displaces 106.7cc and puts out 7.3 PS@7500rpm of power with 8.0 Nm@5500 rpm of torque.

 - Styling is youthful and aggressive. Some lines don't gel too well, though

 - The engine is rather rough and unrefined. It begins to get very vibey above 4500 rpm.

 - The gearbox is extremely sticky and finding neutral while at standstill is rather cumbersome

 - The ride quality, especially over broken roads is what the Stallio excels at.

 - Handling is wallowy, especially while cornering - a trade off for plush ride quality, thanks to the soft suspension setup

 - Ergonomics are good for a commuter but the handle bar curves inward - something that can be a pain in the wrist on long rides.

 - Build quality not as superior as the Splendor NXG.

 - Price: Rs 41,119 (ex-showroom, Mumbai, spoke wheels model)

Hero Honda Splendor NXG:

 - Also a sloper engine, this motor displaces 97.2cc and makes 7.8 PS@7500 rpm of torque with 8.04 Nm@4500 rpm of torque.

 - Styling is very conventional and nothing that will make you stand up and notice.

 - The engine is tuned to be gentle but is ample refined too.

 - The cogs in the four-speed gearbox shift near-effortlessly.

 - Ride quality is fair but not as plush as the Stallio

 - handling is adequate but one must remember that this is no race-spec machine.

 - Ergonomics are typical commuter-like

 - Good build quality

 - Price: Rs 43,664 (ex-showroom, Mumbai, spoke wheels model)

Harley-Davidson has an additional reason to be annoyed at the Budget spanner in the works of its assembly plant in the countryBy:Swaraj Baggonkar |Published :March 28, 2011 

Iconic American motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson has an additional reason to be annoyed at the Budget spanner in the works of its assembly plant in the country.

The company had started to accept bookings for two models - Iron 883 and SuperLow - produced locally after assembling parts brought into the country in a completely knocked down (CKD) set. While a formal launch of the two models is yet to happen, deliveries of a few units have been made, according to a company spokesperson.

The problem is the Budget change to the earlier rule of a concessional 10 per cent duty on CKD assembly. The Union Budget has changed the definition of CKD and engines, transmissions and gearboxes not made in India would now attract a 30 per cent duty (the original proposal, modified on industry protest, was a 60 per cent rate). Says Anoop Prakash, managing director, Harley-Davidson India, "We respect the fovernment's decision, even while we had shared our view that the increase in duties at this time may affect the development of the leisure motorcycling segment."

Adding: “Regardless, we remain committed to the Indian market for the long term and will now evaluate whether we invest in adapting our operations to the new CKD standards or manage our business to the higher duty rate." Meaning, the assembly plant could even be put in reverse gear.

What irks Harley more was that it had taken the extra precaution, before deciding on a CKD assembly unit in India, of approaching the authorities to formally clarify that they would get the concessional duty.

Last year, it had approached the Authority for Advance Rulings of the finance minsitry on the issue. The AAR is meant for this purpose, to clarify and get binding opinions before a decision, in order to save both the government and the taxed entity later dispute and allied legal and other expenses.

And, in July last year, the AAR gave a favourable ruling (the application was made by H-D Motor Company India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson Singapore)on the proposal to import motorbikes as dismantled units. Harley had cited the case in 2006 of the premium German car maker, BMW, whereinrein the latter was allowed to operate as a CKD operator even though some individual parts were to be imported in semi-knocked down condition.

Harley, therefore, argued to the three-member panel headed by Justice P V Reddi that it, too, should be eligible to claim the concessional rate of duty applicable to CKD kits.

Due to the new upward revision in duties, it is now reviewing whether to proceed with its CKD plans in India or not. A 10 per cent customs duty allows premium manufacturers who do not wish to set up a full-fledged manufacturing facility in India to price their products competitively without importing these. If they did the latter, it doubles the price of the vehicle.

Can?t wait for the KTM-Bajaj to hit our roads? Here?s something to chew on until then!By:Alan Cathcart |Published :April 01, 2011 

Don’t dismiss the new KTM 125 Duke just because it’s ‘only’ a 125 street single. Because this motorcycle, launched at Intermot 2010, might actually be the most significant and important new motorcycle launched on planet Earth in this century. Here’s why.

The new downsized Duke is the first fruit of joint labour between the second-largest motorcycle manufacturers in both India and Europe. On April 16 this year, Bajaj brought its shareholding in KTM up to a total of 35.67 per cent. By any standards, that makes the Indian company – the fourth-largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world – a key influence in the future direction taken by KTM under its majority owner, Cross Industries. East meets West.

‘In my opinion, the biggest single challenge for today’s motorcycle manufacturers is this: how can we direct our future products towards a younger customer?’ says KTM president Stefan Pierer. ‘One way is the Zero Emission segment, our electric-driven off-road competition bikes, which could attract new, young customers. But the first and most important thing for us is the 125cc class, so let’s make cool, affordable, entry-level bikes which display the brand image, and that’s what we’re doing in conjunction with our partners, Bajaj, in creating and marketing the 125 Duke. If this also lets us expand globally by approaching emerging markets, that’s a bonus. But the main thing is to get young people on motorcycles for the first time and then to keep them riding, preferably with KTM, as they progress through life and up the capacity scale.’

That summarises KTM’s strategy with the 125 Duke, but there’s a key word in there: affordable. The contribution of Bajaj to this strategy can’t be overestimated, after it was decided in 2008 that KTM would engineer the motorcycle, their close allies, Kiska Design in Salzburg, would design it, Bajaj and KTM would jointly develop it and Bajaj would manufacture it in their vast modern factory in Pune. ‘Our design brief was to produce a lower-priced KTM made in India, which still delivered what the customer expected from us in quality and performance,’ said Robert Prielinger, KTM’s head of R&D for the 125 Duke project.

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If its fun you're looking for, these top 8 motorcycles deliver it in truck loads!By:BSM |Published :April 30, 2011 

No. 8 -> The Bajaj Pulsar 200/220
They might not be the most refined on the block but if its bang-for-the-buck you're looking for, few come close to this one. A long time stunter favourite in India, it has sufficient grunt, good looks and a price tag that’s hard to argue with.

Review said - ‘The P220 is one of the fastest Indians, overall quality is decent but could have been better and of course, the looks are as uninspiring as your old girlfriend/boyfriend. Nonetheless, I still think it's the best-looking Pulsar ever made.’

Bajaj Pulsar 220 & Yamaha FZ16 - Fight Club

Fastest Indian - Pulsar 220 vs RD-350

Hero Honda Karizma vs Bajaj Pulsar 220 - The big huns

Who's at No.7? Find out on the next page ->

Comes at Rs 1.51 lakh for standard version and Rs 1.77 lakh for the ABS variantBy:Kyle Pereira |Published :March 22, 2011 

Honda, in light of the recent tragic events in Japan, have called off the official launch ceremony of the CBR 250R. Instead, they chose to reveal the motorcycle to the Mumbai press and auto magazines today at a very quiet event which also was the farewell ceremony for the outgoing President and CEO of HMSI, Mr Shinji Aoyama.

The price tag for the CBR 250R are pegged at Rs 1.51 lakh for the standard version and Rs 1.77 lakh for the C-ABS variant, both prices being ex-showroom, Mumbai. We have ridden the motorcycle in Thailand for the world launch and at that time, the CBR 250R was shod with IRC tyres. However, the CBR250R which will be sold in India will roll on Continental tyres which will be identical in performance and specifications to the ones sold in Thailand. Another addition noticeable were the brackets that will hold the saree-guard on the left rear flank of the motorcycle.

With such an aggressive pricing structure and sheer market potential of this motorcycle, Honda plans on selling about 30,000 CBR 250Rs in the very first year. Although bookings have already begun for the CBR250R, deliveries will be in full swing by the 31st of May.

FOR A COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE CBR 250R CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK:

http://bsmotoring.com/storypage.php?autono=3034

Kyle swings, er, walks over what could possibly be the world\'s fastest Indian... BulletBy:Kyle Periera |Published :March 21, 2011 

Pain. A sensation that riddles my arms, my feet and pretty much all of me. My eardrums are just short of imploding within my skull and my knees cry out for some relief. Yet, I keep at it, like a masochist out for his daily fix. And beneath all of that torment, hidden behind the helmet is the broadest grin in the recent history of Kyle-kind. At low revs, the push-rod motor splutters and complains like a rabid pitbull on a leash. A very short one at that. Once the revs spin past about 2000 rpm, that leash snaps, unleashing the beast and all the fury pent up within. It lunges forward and I imagine my face going white. The painted lane markers turn into a seamless line, my helmet fogs up, my sense of self preservation is flung into a dark cranny somewhere in my cranium where it ceases to be heard and my right wrist twists back. I’m already clocking a hundred kilometres an hour, with a couple of thousand revs to go before the redline. And it’s only in second gear, with three more cogs in store. Oh Lord, I’m coming home. With a rigid rear end and a rexine encapsulated sheet metal job that functions as a seat, the very concept of ride quality is non-existent. While doing the runs, every ripple on the road sends tingles up my spine and reduces my chances of raising a family by half.

But all of that is a small price to pay for the manic rush that this machine provides. The tarmac skims a few inches below my knees, threatening to grate them like Swiss cheese if I try something stupid. The loud blat of the unsilenced exhaust pipe ricochets off the median and it keeps growing louder and louder till it drowns even the Sukhoi Su 30 that’s taking off from the nearby Lohegaon air force base.

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Company sold over three lakh units in AprilBy:Press Trust of India |Published :May 02, 2011 

The country's second largest two-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto today reported a 16.71% jump in its motorcycle sales for April to 3,22,235 units.

The company sold 2,76,095 units in the corresponding month last year, Bajaj Auto Ltd (BAL) said in a statement.

BAL recorded its highest ever exports last month at 1,58,422 units, compared to 1,13,911 units in April, 2010, a growth of 39.08%.

The company also witnessed its best-ever sales figures for three-wheelers last month, at 45,074 units, as against 37,350 units in the same month last year, translating into a jump of 20.68%.

Total vehicle sales of the company stood at 3,67,309 units last month compared to 3,13,472 units in the same period a year ago, a growth of 17.17%, the statement said.

Anti-lock Braking System makes its production debut on an Indian motorcycleBy:BSM |Published :March 11, 2011 

We've been waiting for the TVS Apache RTR 180 with ABS for a while now and it's finally here! TVS has gone and launched their flagship bike with Anti-lock Braking System. The bike will come priced at Rs 78,880, ex-showroom, New Delhi. The company has declared that this is only the introductory price of the motorcycle, so prices are subject to change, soon. The RTR 180 ABS comes at a premium of approximately Rs 9,000 over the regular 180.

The bike is available only in white colour and comes with differentiating orange decals.

TVS has also declared that if the bike is successful, they will come out with an ABS variant of the Apache RTR 160 as well. The company's plans for a 200cc + motorcycle also continue, but they haven't announced a timeline for it yet.

For our TVS Apache RTR 180 ABS review, click on the following link:
http://bsmotoring.com/storypage.php?autono=3268

Japanese auto maker Honda is open to offering its motorcycle platforms to the Hero group even after the technology pact between the two ends in 2014.By:Swaraj Baggonkar |Published :March 25, 2011 

Japanese auto maker Honda is open to offering its motorcycle platforms to the Hero group even after the technology pact between the two ends in 2014.

Honda and the Hero group have ended their joint venture. However, they have signed an agreement under which Honda will give technology for new and upgraded bikes to Hero in return for royalty till June 2014.

“The fee charged for use of Honda platforms and engines is valid only till 2014. But if the Hero group wants to continue using them, and wants our new platforms, we will charge a one-time fee instead of an annual royalty after that,” said Shinji Aoyama, president and CEO, Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India Ltd (HMSI).

Hero does not have a full-fledged research and development centre and has been depending on Honda for technology.

“The intellectual property rights (IPR) of both new and old engines and platforms which will be used by the Hero group are held by Honda. Even if Hero wishes to continue with our platforms, the ownership and IPR will rest with us. We can look at sharing platforms with Hero Honda”, said Aoyama.

HMSI is making an aggressive bid to enter the mass 100cc mobike segment. It is looking to treble its output to above 6.6 million over the next six-seven years from 2.2 million at present. This, the company hopes, will take it close to market leader Hero Honda, which is expected have annual sales of eight million units by that time.

HMSI’s two plants in Haryana and Rajasthan can produce 2.8 million units a year. The company is looking to make build a third mega plant, which could come up in western or southern part of the country.

“In six-seven years, we can have sales comparable to the market leader, and we can hopefully surpass that to become the leader four years after that. The average growth rate should be a minimum of 10 per cent”, said Aoyama.

To expand and make products more affordable, HMSI is keen to bring its finance arm into the country. The arm will be registered as a non-banking finance company. It was to debut last year but could not due to the stake-sale process. HMSI is yet to approach the Reserve Bank of India for a licence.

HMSI has around 1,200 sales outlets in the country compared to Hero Honda’s 4,000.

Dates, venues right here - don\'t miss it!By:BSM |Published :March 11, 2011 

If you missed it the first time, here's a second chance. Red Bull is getting Chris Pfeiffer back to India for his second pan-India tour. If you know motorcycles, you should know stunting. If you know stunting, you should know where Chris Pfeiffer sits in that food chain - dangerously close to the top. One of the most famous and accomplished motorcycle stunt riders, Chris Pheiffer, is here in India to drop jaws with his stunning display of tricks (stunts) on a variety of motorcycles. On everything from a trials bike to a special edition BMW F800R stunt bike, his stunt show is guaranteed to blow the part between your ears.

City: Kolkata
Date: 21st March
Venue: Milan Mela ground, Science City, Dhapa
Timing: 3-5pm

City: Jaipur
Date: 24th March
Venue: Gaurav Towers, Malviya Nagar
Timing: 4-6pm

City: Delhi
Date: 26th March
Venue: Ansal Plaza, Khel gaon marg
Timing: 4-6pm

City: Chandigarh
Date: 27th March
Venue: TBD

City: Coimbatore
Date: 29th March
Venue: Codissia Trade Fair, Avinashi Road
Timing: 4-6pm

City: Ahmedabad
Date: 31st March
Venue: Karnawati Club, NH 8C
Timing: 3-5pm

City: Pune
Date:1st April
Venue: Pancard Club, Baner Hills, Baner Road, Baner
Timing: 6-8pm

City: Mumbai
Date: 3rd April
Venue: Inorbit Mall, Malad
Timing: 4-6pm

City: Cochin
Date: 4th April
Venue: Marine Drive Helipad; Landmark: Rainbow bridge
Timing: 4-6pm

City: Bangalore
Date: 6th April
Venue: Palace Grounds, Raj Mahal Vilas Extension, Armane Nagar
Timing: 4-6pm

The above is a tentative schedule of Chris Pfeiffer’s 2011 India tour.

Here's a video of Pfeiffer doing what Pfeiffer does best - 

Joshua\'s off riding in Cambodia, the nutterBy:Joshua Crasto |Published :March 10, 2011 

It’s been two hours on the busy highway 6 and it’s almost mid-day. Small wooden huts that line each side of the highway peddle all kinds of paraphernalia - fruit, vegetables and cooked food as well. Good option for a quick bite to calm the pangs in my stomach, I thought, as I pulled over near one such hut and got my English to Khmer phrase book out. 'What do you have to eat?' I ask as indicated in the book, only to be greeted with a wide smile and some giggles. I look around before I find mounds of bananas sitting in a bamboo basket in the corner. I proceed to point out to the bananas, indicating I’d like two. The young lady and her husband look at each other and laugh uproariously before trying to hand me two stems-full. I gesture that I want only two, to which they shake their head in disagreement.  Okay, so I’ll settle for what appears to be freshly fried banana fritters (which I usually hate) for the moment.  500 reil (about 10 cents US) for a pile of six big fritters is a bargain. I settle down besides my motorcycle and hungrily bite into them.  Rather crunchy for bananas, but I dismiss it as the Cambodian style of doing things. The taste is masked by the batter, but it’s not bad. I glance at one, only to realise my so-called banana fritter has a little black hairy prong sticking out of it. Detailed investigation reveals that banana fritters on Cambodia’s menu cards equals batter fried Tarantula. I stare at my fritter in disbelief, as the locals fall about laughing. Funny - very funny.

The ride to Siem Reap, a 311 km journey, was a touch under four hours including a brief food stop and doing the thing I usually do, run out of gas. Highway 6, which connects Phnom-Penh to Siem Reap, is a single-carriageway black-top that is the centre of all activity for villages that dot the sides of this road. It is also the village market, local playground, grazing fields and every Cambodian’s dream of an expressway. So while I’m trying to make good time to Siem Reap, dodging cattle, kids and the pedestrians sauntering across, I get buzzed by speeding Chrysler 300Cs and Bentleys. Nothing different from the riding conditions I’m used to back home, except this is in fast forward as the Honda XR250 I’m straddling is maxed out at about 104 kph and the knobby’s are really starting to show how much they hate tarmac.

The motorcycles will come with gearboxes made in India by Hero MotorsBy:Sharmistha Mukherjee |Published :April 29, 2011 

Signalling the coming of age of Indian auto component makers, Hero Motors has bagged a contract to become the sole international supplier of gearboxes for BMW’s motorcycles for both domestic and global markets. Gearboxes are one of the most critical parts in an automobile and involve high-end engineering.

Hero Motors is part of the $4.5-billion Hero Group.

Pankaj Munjal, managing director, Hero Motors, said, “We have developed the gearbox ourselves. Usually, components such as engines and transmissions are made by the company itself, as they involve advanced technology. We have achieved the expertise. BMW Motorrad will source gearboxes from us for products it sells globally.” The agreement would be for five-eight years depending on the transmissions sourced for different products by BMW Motorrad.

The deal was closed on Tuesday. “That Europe is the best place for sourcing automobile components is not necessarily correct. The landscape is changing. Our transmission business, for one, has been growing over 70 per cent a year for the last few years”, said Munjal.

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Honda has now revived the 600F and we hope it spells just as much everyday usability as the original numberBy:BSM |Published :March 08, 2011  Honda's popular CBR600F is back and we have images to show! The CBR600F was a '90s middleweight favourite and ruled the roost for as long as one can remember. Honda later shifted focus, dropping the 600F in 2006, to their more hardcore CBR600RR with the 600 Hornet catering to the mild-er hearted.

However, Honda has now revived the 600F and we hope it spells just as much everyday usability as the original number. It is essentially a Hornet with a full fairing and we think that's not a bad thing at all! Going by the images, the CBR600F has taller 'bars which will no doubt result in a slightly relaxed riding position. That's a plus for the new F then. Also, the older F was no slouch and the new one with its 599cc, 100 bhp motor surely seems like it won't be one either.

The styling, while Honda-perfect, is a bit to uninspiring for our tastes. It's not ugly by any measure but is just way too safe for our liking. Heck, we're told it looks better in the flesh so we'll just wait then, twiddling thumbs, et al.

We sample the latest from TVS ? the Apache RTR 180 ABSBy:Kyle Pereira |Published :March 11, 2011 

Two wheels – nothing surrounds them apart from air and the passing scenery. Still, unpredictable roads and idiots galore are things that motorcyclists live with every day. Everybody who’s ever climbed aboard a motorcycle will vouch for the fact that riding over a surface allergic to the tyres’ grip is a terrifying experience. With half the gripping surfaces as compared to a car, a motorcycle on a slippery road can lead to catastrophic results. Not, however, if TVS has a say in the matter. They’ve roped in Continental to develop an Anti-lock Braking System (popularly known as ABS) for the Apache RTR 180, but it took much more than a spanner and some elbow grease.

This ABS system has been developed in Germany, but it was fine-tuned in India. For one, this thing is calibrated for Indian conditions and habits. Take, for example, the fact that the software has the ability to adjust braking pressure when one wheel encounters a pothole and the other’s firmly planted on tarmac. Or the fact that since the majority of Indians purely use the rear brake, the ABS system works around this habit by providing a higher threshold at the rear than the front. All of these factors contribute to the fact that the Continental engineers have had to make this ABS system very durable indeed. All of that sounds peachy, but I needed to put the system to the test. The chaps at TVS were so sure of their product that they made the WAPCO TVS proving ground available to us.

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Currently carrying out test runs of about 50 electric scooters across IndiaBy:Press Trust of India |Published :March 11, 2011 

Chennai-based two-wheeler maker TVS Motor Company today said it will re-enter the Indian electric scooter market with some existing and new models in the next fiscal.

The company is currently carrying out test runs of about 50 electric scooters across various towns in the country.

"We are working on introducing electric scooters and these are being experimented for the launch. By some time next fiscal, it will come (to the market)," TVS Motor Company President (Marketing) H S Goindi told reporters here.

About 50 electric scooters, comprising some of its existing and new models, are being tested across the country, he added.

"We will launch only scooters in electric mode. The products will initially run on lead acid batteries and later we may develop some other technology also," Goindi said.

The company will produce these new products at its Mysore facility, he said.

When asked about the electric two-wheeler market, Goindi said: "Business in India picked up few years back and also dropped because of variety of issues. Now, subsidy has also been offered, but still it is very sketchy. We feel, business will again pick up."

Earlier, TVS had launched electric scooterette 'Scooty Teenz Electric' in April 2008 with high hopes of selling around 40,000 units per year. However, it stopped the production in May 2009 as it received a lukewarm response from the market.

The company had also shelved its plans to launch electric three-wheelers. "We have an electric three-wheeler, which we had planned to introduce but there is no market for such products. So we don't have any plans to launch it now," Goindi had said in June 2010.

The Budget for 2011-12 proposed to set up a National Mission for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles to encourage manufacturing and selling of alternative fuel-based vehicles.

It also proposed to cut excise duty on development and manufacturing of hybrid vehicle kits to 5% from the existing 10%, besides fully exempting customs and counter-vailing duty on import of special hybrid parts.

In November last year, the government had announced a Rs 95 crore incentive package for the electric vehicle makers for the remaining part of the 11th plan.

With big motorcycle marques queuing up to launch their products in India, it was only time before the more boutique brands made inroads into the countryBy:Kyle Pereira |Published :March 29, 2011 

Now this is a bug you won't mind being infected with! Vyrus Motorcycles, famous for their association with Bimota to develop the Tesi bike, is based out of Italy. They produce extremely low numbers of two models, namely the 984 and the 985. Both these motorcycles are powered by Ducati engines and the cycle parts constitute the best money can buy. Not surprisingly, the performance is spectacular and the prices, well, lets just say that they are for the well heeled motorcyclist.

And motorcycles, although most of them being two-wheeled, have various genres within them. Just as Vyrus caters to the sporting millionaire, Hollister Motorcycles is a company in Germany that builds custom-looking bikes around the venerable V-twin torque laden motorcycle. Chrome, billet, raked out front ends, fat and chunky rear ends - they have it all and source parts from the best in the business.

Both these brands will soon be available in India, courtesy InterGlobe Enterprises. Prices for the Vyrus range of bikes start at  about 22 lakh rupees, excluding applicable duties.

The voluntary withdrawal of one of India?s most long durable and trusted names is an extraordinary step ? and one that begs deeper examination.By:Santosh Desai |Published :January 25, 2011  First, Bajaj decided to stop making scooters and now it is dropping the Bajaj name from all its other products, including its three-wheelers. The voluntary withdrawal of one of India’s most long durable and trusted names is an extraordinary step — and one that begs deeper examination. For this a brand that has represented not only itself but an entire generation of the middle class and the values that it held dear.

The Hamara Bajaj campaign was one of those rare instances when advertising crystallises wisps of beliefs, memories and behaviours into a shock of recognition. Yes, that it is us, that is who we are, that is what it means to be Indian, was the middle-class consumers’ response. We could even argue that the use of the middle-class as a self-descriptive label was enabled by this one campaign as it struck a deeply resonant chord by gathering what was hitherto unarticulated sense and presenting it in a manner that made one’s reflection more desirable.

As the focus shifted from the scooter to the motorcycle, the values represented by Bajaj needed to be updated. The second edition of the Hamara Bajaj campaign (Badal Rahe Hain Hum Yahan) is at one level, a reflection of India as it strove to reconcile tradition with the rapidly accelerating forces of modernity while at another, it reveals Bajaj’s contentious relationship with its own past and its increasing desire to cast it off in its endeavour to chart a new future.

Its decision to drop scooters from its product line may have been led by business considerations alone, but this decision to remove the brand from its other products is in some ways an attempt to shrug off the baggage it perceives as being part of the Bajaj legacy. It is not as if there are no other auto manufacturers that lead with their brands rather than their company names, but in Bajaj’s case, something else seems to be at work. It would appear that in the internal calculations of the company its name has become synonymous with everything about the past that it wishes to disengage with.

From an outside perspective, it is not easy to understand why Bajaj should choose to see itself in this way. Discover and Pulsar are well established as product brands, but they hardly enjoy the legitimacy and trust that other auto manufacturer brands do. In this category, the role of the mother brand is key, as it outlines the larger belief system of the brand and gives consumers an overall point of reference with respect to what they can expect from its products. It also makes it much easier to launch new products and gives the company flexibility in aligning its portfolio to changing market and consumer preferences. To voluntarily forego that advantage seems unnecessary and while in the short run, it is unlikely to have any repercussions, in the long run, it might just become a handicap. What it will mean is that the individual brands will need to move beyond connoting a combination of benefits and becoming richer, deeper brands.

But the larger question that this decision throws up is whether iconic brands can harness their past, or must they, every time the world changes, seek to abandon it?

Santosh Desai
MD & CEO, FutureBrands India

HMSI today said it will continue to introduce more gearless scooters in the domestic marketBy:Press Trust of India |Published :March 22, 2011  Two-wheeler maker Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) today said it will continue to introduce more gearless scooters in the domestic market, as it sees a higher growth in this segment.

"We are the market leader in gearless scooters. With demand for gearless scooters to grow in the domestic market, we are upbeat on this segment. Going forward, HMSI sees 40% business from scooters and 60% from motorcycles," HMSI President and CEO Shinji Aoyama told reporters here.

"Demand for gearless scooters will be more in Tier-II and Tier-III cities. We will continue to manufacture more scooters to meet demand in the domestic market," he said.

The company plans to ramp-up its dealership network to tap the rural market.

"Currently, we have around 1,200 dealerships and we plan to add 100 more by FY12," he said.

Aoyama, who will leave the Indian firm after serving for four years to join the parent Honda Motor Company from April 1, said HMSI aims to be numero uno in India in the next decade.

"We are very happy for the support from the people (in India). We need the same support to be No.1 in the next decade in India," he said, adding, "the recent calamity in Japan has not affected our two-wheeler industry much."

The company aims to sell 21 lakh units in 2011-12, as against 16.5 lakh units in 2010-11. It also aims to export 1 lakh units in 2011 and 1.7 lakh in 2012.

"Our products are more in demand in the domestic market. Currently, we have 2.6 lakh waiting customers and plan to increase the capacity to meet market demand," he said.

HMSI plans to start production of its second facility at Tapukara in Rajasthan in July this year. Its initial annual capacity will be 6 lakh units and later it will be expanded to 12 lakh units per annum.

"We will soon expand the capacity to 12 lakh units per year to meet the demand. We have invested around Rs 1,000 crore in the facility," he said.

The company today introduced its global road-sport motorcycle -- CBR 250R, priced at Rs 1.51 lakh (ex-showroom in Mumbai), which will be available in the market next month.

"CBR 250R will be available by April-end at our 400 exclusive dealerships pan-India. We plan to sell 30,000 units in the first year," Aoyama said.

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India is tweaking its portfolio to make a serious pitch for the motorcycle market in IndiaBy:Sharmistha Mukherjee & Ranju Sarkar |Published :March 15, 2011 

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India is tweaking its portfolio to make a serious pitch for the motorcycle market in India

When the Hero Group terminated its 26-year-old joint venture, Hero Honda, with the Japanese auto major Honda Motor Corporation (HMC) in December last year, the decision did not spring a major surprise. Reports of friction between the JV partners had been doing the rounds since HMC decided to enter the Indian market through its wholly-owned subsidiary Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) in 1999.

Post the split, the two companies are free to follow their desired growth path. So while the Hero Group is working out a new brand strategy, HMSI is preparing to step on the gas and corner a larger share in what is ranked as the second largest two-wheeler market in the world.

But that, to use a cliché, is easier said than done. Scooters currently are the mainstay for HMSI — it is the No. 1 player in the segment in the domestic market with 43.2 per cent share — and to compete effectively in the two-wheeler market in India, the company needs to make an imprint in motorcycles, a segment where it is No. 4 with a share of 7.4 per cent. (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers data for April-January )

The Honda management knows how the odds stack up. Says Shinji Aoyama, president and chief executive officer, HMSI, “Whatever we did not have in our product portfolio we are in a hurry to fill up. Introducing inexpensive models is a crucial area for us. While we will not disturb existing Hero Honda customers, we will concentrate extensively in beefing up our line-up in the country.”

Read on. Next Page >

The GP125 put through its paces by riders Danny Webb and Marcel SchrotterBy:Press release |Published :February 23, 2011 

Mahindra Racing’s official bike, the GP125 took to the track for the first time in its corporate colours today at the final day of testing at a predominantly wet, windy and cold Estoril circuit in Portugal.

The Indian team was present with riders Danny Webb and Marcel Schrotter as well as Team Principal Mufaddal Choonia, who made the trip from Mahindra Corporate Headquarters in Mumbai to see the bike in action.

The GP125, designed and built by Mahindra’s own Italy-based Engines Engineering, ran for only a handful of laps in its silver and red livery before the team switched back to plain black for testing duties.

Speaking on Mahindra’s participation in the MotoGP Championships, Mr. Anand Mahindra, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra Group, said, 'It is a matter of great pride for us to be the first Indian motorcycle manufacturer to participate in the world’s most prestigious motorcycling event. MotoGP is the ultimate test in motorcycle racing and an immensely popular event with an extremely loyal fan following. Mahindra motorcycles will compete with the best in the world and it will be an ideal opportunity for us to showcase our strengths in the engineering and IT domains.'

Bookings to begin from next monthBy:Swaraj Baggonkar |Published :March 26, 2011 

Korean bike brand Hyosung will launch 250cc performance and cruiser bikes next year for under Rs 200,000 each, to compete directly against the best seller in that segment, the Honda CBR 250.

Hyosung, which sells cruisers and sports bikes, is presently setting up a completely-knocked down (CKD) assembly facility in India for two models, the ST7 and GT 650R, along with partners Garware Motors of Pune. The Honda CBR 250, priced at Rs 151,000 (ex-showroom, Mumbai) has garnered total bookings of around 3,000 units since January from across the country.

Like Honda, more companies are keen at starting local production of such high-performance bikes in India after gauging the demand generated by the Kawasaki Ninja 250 launched by Bajaj Auto and priced at Rs 269,000.

Diya Garware Ibanez, managing director, Garware Motors, said: “We are discussing with SNT Motors (owners of the Hyosung) to see how the volumes work out for our two models. We will follow the launch with the naked version of the GT 650R later in the year, followed by the 250cc models next year.”

Adding:”With regard to pricing of the 250cc, we have to be right up there with the best selling models like the (Honda) CBR 250. Other models of Hyosung could also follow, as there is a big portfolio of models to choose from.”

Garware will open bookings for the ST7, priced at Rs 600,000, and the GT 650R, priced at Rs 550,000, on April 21, with deliveries to start by May end. The company will accept bookings at 10 dealerships which will be opened shortly, followed by an additional 10 outlets to be opened later in the year.

Although engines, transmissions and gearboxes for the Hyonsung bikes will initially be imported into the country from Korea due to the low volumes projected during the first year, they may get locally made in due course if demand improves substantially.

Garware is expecting sales of around 2,000 units of the two models in the first year.”We may have to go in for local production of engines to benefit from the lower tax duty if there are enough volumes supporting it,” stated Ibanez.

By the revised rules of the finance ministry, all imports of pre-assembled engines, transmissions and gearboxes will have to pay a customs duty of 30 per cent as against 10 per cent levied last year.

The company is in talks with distributors of neighbouring countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for sales of Hyosung bikes. Hyosung had recently appointed a distributor in Nepal, which is keen on procuring the bikes from Garware due to lower duties.

The company is spending Rs 20 crore towards the CKD facility being built at Wai in Maharashtra. It has acquired 25 acres, which can be used for expansion, said executives.

Americana on two wheels. What does the big H plan in India?By:Kyle Pereira |Published :February 08, 2011 

In a country where eight million motorcycles were bought between April and November 2010, about 250 motorcycles sold in the entire year may not be a significant number. But, with the average price of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle hovering at Rs 12-15 lakh, that is a big number indeed.

To anyone who is remotely interested in motorcycles, the name Harley-Davidson is familiar. The Japanese Big Four — Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki — are already here with their superbike offerings. Not the ones to be left out, exotic brands are making inroads into the country as well. Ducati arrived a couple of years ago and Aprilia made it to the Indian shores this year. But the efforts of all these players pale in comparison to the muscle the American manufacturer is putting in.

The difference with Harley is that while everyone has the machinery to sell, Harley-Davidson will go further and sell you a lifestyle as well. Sanjay Tripathi, director-marketing, Harley-Davidson India, says: “We are not a motorcycle company. We are a culture on two wheels. And we want to convert dreams of owning a Harley into a reality for Indian motorcyclists.” It helps Tripathi's cause that Indian demographics are tilted towards youth while we have a strong motorcycling culture already. Harley is simply bringing alive the experience of ownership to more and more Indians.

World over, Harley owners ride along with people who share a common affection to big shiny V-twin engines — groups that call themselves the Harley Owners Group (HOG). Initially, these rides in India were coordinated by the company, but now, with five dealerships already operational and three more to come by the end of this year, these events are coordinated by dealers themselves. To bring together even more riders, another initiative called the Rock Riders mates music with Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Why? Well, ask any thoroughbred biker where his tastes in music lie and invariably the answer will be just one word: Rock. The Indian customer, as Tripathi says, belongs to a state of mind rather than a particular demographic profile.

Another departure from the other high-end motorcycle offerings today is Harley’s eagerness to let you sample its bikes. While certain manufacturers will gladly sell you their superbikes that would set you back in excess of Rs 10 lakh, just don't ask for a test ride, because they won't give you one. On the other hand, with their Boot Camps, Harley-Davidson invites you to come and taste life aboard its thick two-wheeled slice of Americana. Each and every one of its current line-up, a wholesome total of 14 models as of now, is up for grabs to the potential Harley owner. Also, for those who want their Harley to be truly theirs, the customisation programme will help make their bike as unique as can be. Whatever is available to Harley owners abroad in terms of accessories and customised parts is also available to the Indian buyer.

That apart, the American marque has taken India pretty seriously. Instead of simply stocking a few dealerships with their products like the other manufacturers, Harley wants to make their motorcycles more accessible to the Indian motorcyclist. The introduction of the Superlow 883 and the Iron 883, which cost Rs 5.5 lakh and Rs 6.5 lakh, respectively (both ex-showroom, Delhi), points to this fact. But the real seriousness with which Harley-Davidson is looking at India is its upcoming assembly plant in Gurgaon, only the third one on the globe, after the US and Brazil. This will only serve to bring the prices of their models even lower.

Judging from all of these moves, it’s clear that Harley has an India-specific model up its sleeve as well. It could displace a lower capacity than the 883, but it will certainly have unadulterated Harley genes. A cheaper Harley is bound to get many takers. Clearly, Harley-Davidson India has seen something in the country that the others haven’t.

After parting with Hero, says it wants to be in top three for all segmentsBy:Ranju Sarkar & Sharmistha Mukherjee |Published :March 07, 2011 

Honda, the market leader in two-wheelers globally, is to get aggressive in India after its exit from Hero Honda, its joint venture with the Hero Group. Honda Motorcycle & Scooters India (HMSI), its fully-owned arm set up in 1999, plans to launch two new motocycles every year, expand its reach and bring in a new mass market 100cc bike.

“Honda always wants to be in the Number One position. Right now, we are in the fourth position, not very far from the third player. We want to be among the top three players (in India), and very close to the No 2 player,’’ said Shinji Aoyama, President & CEO, HMSI, in an interview to Business Standard last week.

“The short term plans will not be driven by events at Hero Honda but long term, there will be a huge difference. Single-mindedly, the world leader will think differently. Things will change dramatically,’’ said Naresh Rattan, head of marketing & sales, HMSI.

Till now, Honda Motor Company was operating in India through both Hero Honda and HMSI. A joint working group decided on the line of models for both. The ventures were not to disturb each other, but play a complementary role, so that together Honda enjoyed a 60 per cent market share. ‘‘That horizon will change. Honda will bring in more core products now,’’ said a senior Honda executive.

Aoyama said Honda would like to fill the gaps in its portfolio. ‘‘Whatever we didn’t not have in our product portfolio, we would like to fill. For instance, we would like to enter the inexpensive product segment, and bring in a core product in the entry-level 100cc segment. This product will make us really aggressive (in the market),’’ he said. It has a 110cc bike in the Twister, but it’s a niche product targeted at urban youngsters. It is clear that Honda is looking for a more mass market bike.

However, Honda doesn’t believe the time is yet right to get aggressive. Its priority would be to address the huge backlog in orders. None of its bikes are available off-the-shelf and have waiting period from two to three months. Honda’s second factory will come up at Tapukara in Alwar district in Rajasthan by July-August. Aoyama says it will take Honda at least two years to ensure supply matches demand.

Despite its technological strengths—many in the industry believe Honda has the best four-stroke technology—it won’t be easy. It will have to contend with well-entrenched brands like Hero Honda’s Splendor and Passion, and now Bajaj’s Discover. Honda, however, believes it can overcome these with better quality of products and distribution. ‘‘In a decade, we can change the entire market situation,’’ said Aoyama.

He believes the real demand for its products is much more but the short supply makes his dealers miss potential sales. ‘‘We are selling 700,000 units of the Activa a year. If we didn’t have production constraints, we could easily sell a million units. We are selling 300,000 units of the Shine a year, which we can easily double,’’ said Aoyama. HMSI has about 400 dealers and an equal number of service centres. He now plans to add 200 dealers or service centres every year.

HMSI will push exports from India to markets which show a preference for India-made bikes that combine style, mileage and performance. Besides neighbouring countries, it includes markets in Latin America, where Chinese bikes are not preferred. Last year, it exported 75,000 bikes and this is expected to rise to 100,000 bikes this year, 150,000 next year and 200,000 the year after. For now, Africa is not on its radar or mandate, where Bajaj Auto has made significant inroads.

Believes HMSI runs the risk of being labelled just a scooter makerBy:BS Reporter |Published :April 01, 2011 

Rajiv Bajaj is an aggressive mood and thinks Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), the country’s fourth biggest two-wheeler maker, faces the risk of being labelled just a scooter maker in India.

Nearly 55 per cent of HMSI’s sales come from scooters even though the company has more motorcycles in its portfolio. The company has a market share of 43 per cent in the automatic scooter segment and sells three models under the category. But HMSI has seven motorcycle models, which account for 45 per cent of sales.

Bajaj says “there is a growing perception that Honda can make scooters only. Customers go to Honda for scooters and come to us for bikes. The perception is that Honda cannot make motorcycles and we should maintain that perception”.

Bajaj was explaining the expected increase in competition in the domestic two-wheeler market following the break-up of the 26 year old joint venture of Hero Honda. Honda now has more headroom for expansion as it is now free to enter the bike segment. That is where it will compete with Bajaj Auto.

Bajaj Auto moved away from scooters a little more than a year back after sales of its automatic scooter, Krystal, started to decline. The company has said it does not plan to re-enter that segment.

Bajaj saw sales rise by 38 per cent during the April-February period at 2,194,522 units as against 1,586,984 units reported in the same period a year back, according to SIAM data. HMSI on the other hand saw sales of 600,000 units of motorcycles during the same period, a growth of 53 per cent.

HMSI is unable to satisfy the burgeoning demand for Activa, its top selling automatic scooter. The present waiting period on the model is extending to nearly 10 months in some markets, according to sales representatives at dealerships.

Honda?s latest concept motorcycles - the Slammer, the Switchblade and the Furious! By:Kartik Ware |Published :February 22, 2011 

Think Honda makes boring motorcycles? This trio should make you think twice. These three motorcycles are what you get when Honda gives three young designers from Honda R&D Americas, South California, three motorcycles based on the 2010 VT1300 motor (namely, a Stateline, a Sabre and a Fury), a limited budget and tells them to go nuts. The only two rules - the bikes should be fully running motorcycles, not extreme-looking standstill models and secondly, they must stay true to ‘the core of the production vehicle’. If you ask us, we don’t know how these bikes manage to do that! Anyway, these bikes made their debut in December 2010 at the CA International Motorcycle Show and will tour the Americas in 2011, dropping jaws wherever they go. Go on, feast youreyes. And pray that Honda makes them and brings them to India!

THE SLAMMER

The Honda Stateline transmogrifies into the Slammer. And it’s all about those swooping lines! Designer Erik Dunshee’s interpretation of the bagger style of cruisers, the Slammer looks like a creature of the night, almost like Batman’s weekend getaway bike! The bodywork is a fully custom job coated with a two-tone satin metallic black and pearl black finish, while the front wheel is a 23-inch piece. Looking at those long and low lines lend this bike a flow we will gladly beg to see in motion. And in spite of the overall minimalistic look, the Slammer boasts fully adjustable air-ride suspension, a multimedia head unit with satellite navigation and GPS speed display and a 500-watt sound system with a 10-inch subwoofer. We thought Honda said ‘limited budget’ somewhere...

BMW S1000RR, HP2 Sport, R1200GS Adventure, R1300, the mammoth K1600...all in India! [Super awesome videos included!]By:BSM Team |Published :April 16, 2011  BMW Motorrad is finally here, although most might have forgotten that the Bavarian bikes aren’t so new to India after all. Not too long ago, the F650 Funduro was sold in the country, but it sold in very small numbers owing to its prohibitive price tag. And before that, in the 1950s, when Goa wasn’t a part of India, many BMW singles (the R26 and the R25) were pressed into service as motorcycle taxis, now popularly known in the sunshine state as ‘pilots’. No known examples of these specimens survive as taxis, though. Yes, BMW motorcycles aren’t new to India at all.

This time around, BMW wants to do things differently. It has brought in all the motorcycles that exceed 800cc from its international range, a must in order to skip the lengthy and expensive homologation procedure in India. We expect the lower capacity BMW motorcycles to make it into the country at a later date, though.

Prices? Read on - Click Page 2 ->

India's second largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Bajaj Auto, which has currently a market share of 27 per cent, is expecting to get hold of one third of the total domestic bike market over the next couple of years.By:BS Reporter |Published :April 23, 2011 

India's second largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Bajaj Auto, which has currently a market share of 27 per cent, is expecting to get hold of one third of the total domestic bike market over the next couple of years.

“We are aiming around four per cent increase in market share by the end of this financial year, so this will be over 30 and from thereon we will be having one third share of the total domestic bike market soon,” S Sridhar, President, Motorcycle Business, Bajaj Auto said on Thursday on the sidelines of the launch of its new Discover 125 cc bike here.

However, Sridhar mentioned that the company had already one third of the market share if export is taken into account. Bajaj exports around 80,000 bikes monthly to some of the African and South American countries apart from its exports to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal where it is the largest exporter.

Bajaj which is a market leader with almost 50 per cent market share in sports bike segment, is now also planning to focus on mid-level commuter deluxe segment which accounts for the 66 per cent of the total motorcycle business to achieve the target of one third market share.

“There are three segments in bike – sports, commuter deluxe and entry level segment. We are at the top of the sports segment with Pulsar and want to focus on that segment. Now we are also concentrating on mid-level commuter deluxe segment which accounts for the 66 per cent of the total bike business with products like Discover,” he said.

Sridhar also pointed out that the company had experienced huge growth in the mid-level bike segment in last two years.

“Two years back we were having only about 7 to 8 per cent of the market share in the mid-level segment, now this is over 20 per cent and will be around 24 per cent at the end of this fiscal,” he added.

He also said that, Bajaj KTM which develops high-end bikes for the Indian market, would launch their bikes by the end of the financial year.

Speaking on the company's venture into the entry-level segment, Sridhar said, Baja will be re-introducing entry level commuter bike, the Boxer with modified feature in the domestic market in the second quarter of this fiscal.“The Boxer will be re-launched in the second quarter of this financial year. But this time it will not be a 100 cc bike, but will be a more stronger one and will offer good mileage too,” he said.

Two proper Harley-Davidsons for hatchback money. Game?By:Aneesh Shivanekar |Published :March 22, 2011 

I can see it in people’s eyes, every time a Harley-Davidson rolls by. There is something in the purest form of American motorcycling that has universal appeal – be it a gold merchant in Dubai, a steel worker in Kuala Lumpur, or a banker working in South Mumbai – the magnetic pull is all-encompassing, primal and about as strong as the infamous Bermuda Triangle. Sure, people can and will think up a million not-so-nice things to say about them, but that is only until they properly experience one.

So, let’s get down to the best part first – the price. The one factor that separates the haves from the have-nots. Meet the Harley-Davidson SuperLow, your ticket to the stereotyped world of beer bellies, loud pipes, lots of ugly leather frills and one where bathing and shaving is outlawed. Stereotypical Sturgis notions aside, it’s your entry into the world of the big H-D. And short-changed you aren’t, as this is, in its essence, a proper Harley-Davidson.

For the relatively affordable sum of Rs 5.5 lakh, you get a machine which sounds impressive, has enough punch to satisfy most, gleams with chrome and deep coats of paint and to top it off, feels well worth the money. An offshoot of the 883 Sportster family, the SuperLow has been built to not intimidate you. (So much for the big, bad, bearded biker image of HD, eh?) Front-end geometry and riding ergonomics have been tweaked with easier turn-in, flickability and city-speed stability in mind, and the results are quite impressive. First-time motorcyclists or those coming back to motorcycling after decades of trading stocks and selling African timber will appreciate it no end. With some practice, even wifey will be able to ride it.

MORE ON THE NEXT PAGE>>

HMSI today said it will hire about 1,500 people for its second plant at Tapukara in Rajasthan,By:Press Trust of India |Published :March 21, 2011 

Two-wheeler maker Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) today said it will hire about 1,500 people for its second plant at Tapukara in Rajasthan, which will commence operations from July-August this year.

Besides, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Japanese auto major Honda Motor Co will announce setting up its third manufacturing unit in India very "soon".

"We will start production at Tapukara from July-August, with an initial capacity of 6 lakh units annually. We plan to hire 1,500 people, including permanent and contract workers," HMSI President and CEO Shinji Aoyama told reporters here.

The capacity of the facility is expandable up to 12 lakh units annually and HMSI will have a total workforce of 3,000 people at Tapukara then, he said without giving any timeframe.

HMSI has invested Rs 600 crore on the first phase of the Tapukara plant.

Aoyama said the total investment will come close to Rs 1,000 crore in the second phase, when the overall capacity will be expanded up to 12 lakh units.

The company has so far cumulatively put in about Rs 1,300 crore in India, he added.

HMSI currently has a plant at Manesar in Haryana which can produce up to 16 lakh units every year. It employs a total of 7,000 people, including contract labourers.

Aoyama, who will be leaving India after a four-year stint to join the parent Honda Motor Co next month, said under his tenure HMSI was able to bring down the number of unpleasant instances arising due to labour issues.

"I believe, we can somehow manage the issues as we are not squeezing people. Still some issues are pending. Workers will never stop demanding and management will never stop listening to them," he added.

About 2,500 casual labourers went on a 2-day flash strike in December last year after one of them was "manhandled" by a security staff, thus resulting in production loss of over 5,000 units.

In 2009, HMSI suffered a loss of over Rs 300 crore after workers went on a go-slow strike, which had resulted in an output dip of over 50 per cent for nearly three months that ended in October. In 2005 also, the firm witnessed a violent strike by workers that rocked Gurgaon-Manesar industrial belt.

HMSI today said it is targeting to dethrone Honda's erstwhile joint venture with the Hero Group from the No 1 two-wheeler maker position in India within the next 10 years, with focus on the rural areas and plans to introduce its first 100cc bike next year.

Big displacement, not so big price. Ignore Hyosung?s second coming at your own peril! By:Kartik Ware |Published :February 25, 2011 

Reincarnation has always been a hot topic with us Indians, no? However, when it comes to motorcycles, the concept of reincarnation hasn’t really worked in India. You’d have better chances of bringing back the dodo than motorcycles that have kicked the parts bin... er, bucket. Like the Comet streetbike and the Aquila cruiser. Which is why Hyosung’s comeback with Garware Motors as their partner is all the more important.  

So what we have here are the Hyosung GT650R and the ST7, Hyosung’s twin hopes of a successful re-entry into the Indian motorcycle market. These will be followed by other models as well, but more on that later. For now, the first impressions of these two motorcycles are impressive. The GT650R is what I was naturally inclined to and I must say I liked what I saw. It’s just the right size - a full-size motorcycle without being too imposing or unwieldy. Thanks to the fairing, the substantial tank, the swoopy tail section, the upswept exhaust and the chunky rubber, the proportions are near-perfect too. What I can’t make up my mind about is that Ducati 999-, MV Agusta F4esque front end styling, though I do appreciate the fact that at least it’s not a safe and conventional design. On the whole, it does look tempting enough for a sportsbike nut.

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Can Bajaj Auto stay away from scooters? Chairman Rahul Bajaj doesn’t think so.By:Kyle Pereira |Published :March 01, 2011 

Scooters: you either adore them or you abhor them. Either way, they are here to stay. But Bajaj Auto did not think so. In 2009-end, Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj announced that Bajaj was exiting the scooter business. In January 2010, they pulled the plug on the Kristal, their last offering in the segment.

In India, the scooter craze was given a shot in the arm more than two decades ago by the Kinetic Honda. Sales of geared scooters, mainly the Bajaj Chetak and the LML range, had dipped, then plateaued and then came the Kinetic Honda that started selling like hot cakes. It reigned supreme till the advent of another legend -- the Activa in 2001 -- which also happens to be a Honda, albeit with no connection to Kinetic.

What Honda saw was serious potential in the market and they put their ears to the ground. They realised that people still wanted the virtues of a scooter – ample space to load up the groceries and relatively good weather protection (when compared to a motorcycle) – but they also wanted added convenience. While the Honda Eterno’s sales hardly took off, the Activa’s numbers shot through the roof – proof that the new scooterist wanted the convenience of an automatic twist-and-go scoot and not the clutch/gear ritual of the older geared scooters.

Honda’s Activa has done so well that if you look into the second-hand market, it’s very difficult to come across a good specimen for sale. Even if you do sight one, most certainly it won’t be a steal. And if you decide to buy one brand new, there is a waiting period in excess of six months. Honda sold a total of 7,46,501 scooters in 2010-11 – 1,29,395 more units than the motorcycles they sold in the same year. Growth is a healthy 24 per cent over the last financial year.

N K Rattan, Operating Head - Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycles & Scooters India, says “We entered the market with scooters and it is the scooters that have driven our growth rapidly and brought us brand recognition. We have removed the dated image of scooters in the minds of people by updating them with technology and efficiency. Thus we have proved that scooters do not have to be lesser than motorcycles. We will continue catering to our scooter customers as we do to our motorcycle buyers. In fact, we will be launching a new scooter sometime this year.”

'Our production is high, but demand higher'By:T E Narasimhan |Published :June 04, 2011 

Royal Enfield Motors, the oldest motorcycle brand, is a niche player and has huge “fan following”. The company, which has been struggling to sell 24,000 vehicles a year, has now set a target of 70,000 units. However, there has been dissatisfaction among customers over the issue of delivery period and the quality. Agrees Venki Padmanabhan, who has recently taken over as the chief executive officer. He talks to T E Narasimhan about his vision and challenges. Edited excerpts:

How was the last year in terms of sales?
We sold 52,574 units, compared to 51,955 a year ago. This year we have set a target of 70,000 units, an increase of 33 per cent. It will be a very very exciting year. Remember, there were days we even struggled to manufacture and sell 2,000 vehicles a month.

Were you able to meet the demand then?
No. The more we make, the more we fall behind. Despite increasing our volumes to 6,000 a month from 4,000, we could not match the demand, and our waiting period is still higher. While the demand is for 7,500 vehicles, we could manufacture only 6,000 vehicles. For instance, the waiting period for a Classic 300, one of the top-selling models, is six-eight months.

What are the bottlenecks and how do you plan to address these?
There are three concern areas — quality, supply-demand constraint and selling our products overseas.

As for the quality issues, there were complaints about the engines, which we have fixed. There were also some concerns about the clutch failures, ridding and handling issues. Our customers’ expectations are growing, especially after the launching of the Classic 500 in November 2009. The model is bought by car owners whose expectations are much higher.

We are also looking at the mis-match between the demand and supply. This was due to manufacturing constraint.

We are planning to increase our capacity to 150,000 lakh next year and to 250,000 lakh in three-five years through both greenfield and brownfield expansions. The company is looking for land in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The suppliers’ capacity is the other challenge. Recently we have started importing batteries from Italy, which is not only price-competitive, but helps address the quality issues.

The third focus area is reach, both domestic and overseas. In India, we have 180 dealers. We are planning to add three-four dealers every month for the next three years. Overseas, we are establishing our presence in the UK, France, Italy, Spain, USA and other countries.

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Fresh capacity for scooters that are coming nextBy:Sharmistha Mukherjee |Published :May 18, 2011

India Yamaha Motor is planning to set up a third plant in an effort to garner a larger share of the world’s second-largest motorcycle market. The company, which sold 250,000 motorcycles last year, is targeting a 10 per cent share of the domestic two-wheeler market over the next four years.

“We are serious about our targets and would have to look at fresh capacity to achieve them,” said Roy Kurian, its national business head. The company is expected to soon scout locations for the new facility.

Kurian declined to comment on the new plant’s capacity and investment requirement.

Last year, as many as 11.8 million two-wheelers were sold in the country. The segment is expected to grow at 12-14 per cent this financial year. Even at the current sales numbers, Yamaha would have to sell over a million units to gain a market share of 10 per cent in the two-wheeler industry.

“In Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, Yamaha has 20 per cent market share. In Indonesia, we sold 3.5 million motorcycles last year, as compared to 0.35 million units expected to be sold in the domestic market here in this financial year. The potential to grow sales is huge,” said Kurian.

The company has facilities at Surajpur in Greater Noida and at Faridabad in the National Capital Region. The Surajpur plant can roll out 600,000 motorcycles a year, which can be expanded to one million units.

The Faridabad facility can manufacture 700,000 engines, besides other components.

To strengthen its presence in the two-wheeler market, Yamaha is gearing up to foray into the fast-growing scooter segment.

The all-new product that its parent company, Yamaha Motor Corporation, is developing specifically for India, is expected to hit Indian roads next year.

Additionally, Yamaha is also considering introducing two new motorbikes this year, which may include possible upgrades.

Yamaha is looking at selling 500,000 motorcycles (domestic sales and exports) this financial year, an increase of over 31.6 per cent over the 380,000 units sold in 2010-11.

It sells 15 products through a network of 400 dealers across the country.

We have got the inside dope on the next version of India's largest-selling performance bike!By:BSM |Published :June 01, 2011 

It’s true - the new Pulsar is around the corner! And don’t ask us how we know, but we’ve got all that you want to know before the reincarnated Pulsar is launched! In order to coincide with 10 years of the Pulsar brand, the new one will be launched with two engine variants, just like the first one - history repeats itself! Now, on with the details.

First of all, the looks: the new Pulsar has got a complete redesign and makes a departure from the look of the older series. What it will do, is build on and upsize the design language of the Pulsar 135 and borrow a few design cues from the KTM Duke 125. Since the existing Pulsar already sports clip-on handlebars, alloy wheels, digital instruments and LED lights, with the P220 also sporting a projector lamp, it’s safe to say that these details will continue on the newer ones too, albeit with refreshed and more contemporary styling and materials. Proper machined rear-sets will add the cool quotient, while the pillion footpegs will be located on a separate subframe, allowing for a clean look. The bigger Pulsar, rumoured to be a 200cc variant will get differentiating details like a stepped seat, for example. Also, since the engine is KTM-based, we won’t be surprised if the exhaust ends under the engine (just like the Duke), leaving the rear end to be dominated by fat rubber. A skimpy rear numberplate bracket will round off the package - we just hope that Bajaj doesn’t stick on an ugly rear mudguard like the P135’s! However, overall, you can expect a full-size, sharp looking motorcycle along with great colour options.

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HMSI today said it will not be chasing to match Hero Honda's production capacity but would rather focus on improving products and service quality to become a market leader in India.By:BSM |Published :June 02, 2011 

Two-wheeler maker Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) today said it will not be chasing to match Hero Honda's production capacity but would rather focus on improving products and service quality to become a market leader in India.

"My target is not the numerical positioning but (improving) products quality and service quality. Otherwise, it is not so easy to be number one by 2020," HMSI's new President and CEO Keita Muramatsu told PTI here.

In March this year after Honda finalised breaking off from Hero Honda, Muramatsu's predecessor Shinji Aoyama had said HMSI was aiming to be number one in India in the next decade.

Admitting that there is a huge gap in the production capacity between HMSI and Hero Honda, Muramatsu said: "I don't think we will be looking at (matching) the capacity of Hero Honda but what we are looking at is the growth of the market and we have already opened our second plant."

HSMI's second plant, which was opened here today, will have a total annual capacity of 12 lakh. It is investing a total of Rs 860 crore on the plant. The firm's current plant at Gurgaon has an annual capacity of 16 lakh units.

Besides, the company will also invest Rs 1,000 crore to set up a third plant in Karnataka that will have an annual capacity of 12 lakh units by 2013.

On the other hand Hero Honda's annual capacity is 61.5 lakh units as on April this year.

Muramatsu said there is good business prospect in the long term in India and HMSI is looking to improve its position.

"Currently we are at number four, we have high possibility of improving. Our focus area is on addressing the dissatisfaction of customers like back orders and service quality," he said.

Commenting on the significance of HMSI's second plant, Honda Motor Co President and CEO Takanobu Ito said: "Our new plant is not only important for India but very significant for the whole global operations. India is a very important market for us."

The plant will employ around 3,200 people in total. It will start production by July with the rolling out of scooter Activa and 110cc bike CB Twister.

Muramatsu said with the third plant in Karnataka coming up the company will be able to cover the vast Indian market, along with the two plants in Haryana and Rajasthan.

Plans to launch motorcycles with Kawasaki in order to expand footprint overseasBy:Press Trust of India |Published :June 08, 2011 

Automobile major Bajaj Auto (BAL) today said it is trying to expand footprint into overseas markets by launching motorcycles with its Japanese partner Kawasaki, with an aim to be leaders in the two-wheeler segment, similar to their position in the Philippines.

"We both are actively discussing to take it [two-wheeler expansion] to other markets. Discussions about this are going on," BAL Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj told reporters at the launch of the Kawasaki Ninja 650R bike here.

He, however, declined to disclose the target nations, saying "It would be premature to name any country now."

"As far as Indian market is concerned, we will continue to bring more bikes with Kawasaki," he said.

The company, however, has no plans for the next three months to open new showrooms in the country, Bajaj said.

BAL and Kawasaki have an agreement to sell the probikes in India, Nepal and Bhutan. However, the Indian auto major is yet to open a dealership facility in Bhutan.

On the company's plans to set up facilities in other markets, he said Kawasaki and Bajaj share their facilities in order to remove any "duplicity of investment or efforts" since both firms would profit from that strategy.

The Ninja 650R has been priced at Rs 4.57 lakh (ex-showroom). The on-road price would be below Rs 5 lakh. BAL already has three other bikes -- Pulsor 220, Avenger 220 and Ninja 250 R -- in the probiking category.

On the reason to launch 650R in India, Kawasaki Motors Managing Director (Designate) Yoshiro Segawa, said, "Many customers had expectations for a new product. The purpose of Ninja 650R is to establish the presence of the Kawasaki brand as a premium sports model in India."

Bajaj said the previous model, Ninja 250R, has sold 1,500 bikes so far, and hopes to be a market leader in the premium biking segment. He did not divulge any specific sales target for the latest product.

"We have tried very hard to reduce our cost and as a result, we are launching it at this price," he said, adding, Kawasaki was ensuring quality despite the "lower" value of the new model.

BAL said they had to pay 30% duties as the engine is not assembled in India, but added it will not pass on the burden to the customers for the Ninja 250R and had already taken into account the custom duties while pricing the 650R.

The company also said the "substantial disruption" caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan had created supply-chain problems.

"The waiting period for 250R is 60-70 days because of the tsunami [creating supply-chain problems]. We are expecting that in two months' time the vendors will be back to normal and the waiting period comes down," BAL President (New Products) Eric Vas said.

On the production capacity to roll out the Ninja 650R, Vas said the assembling kit had just arrived and the company has assembled 10 bikes so far. It is currently producing 35-40 Ninja 250R bikes a month.

BAL said launching the KTM model is next on the agenda but did not give any timeframe.

Great bike, great price ? will this be your next motorcycle?By:BSM

Kawasaki-Bajaj has announced the launch of the Kawasaki Ninja 650R or ER-6F (in some countries) for the Indian market and the price is very competitive indeed – Rs. 4.57 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi.

For your money, you get a proper 649cc liquid-cooled twin cylinder motorcycle that aims to balance sportiness with every-day ridability and long distance comfort. The highlights of the latest Kawasaki are as follows –

*Liquid-cooled, DOHC, eight-valve fuel-injected twin cylinder engine with focus on ridability and is also equipped with a 180-degree crankshaft-driven balancer shaft.

*Motor tuned for 91 octane fuel

*Sold only in Lime Green colour through ProBiking centres in 30 cities

*Serviced through Bajaj Probiking outlets

*Power - 71 hp @ 8,500 RPM. 6.73 kgm torque @ 7000 RPM

*Six-speed multi-plate clutch

*178 kgs dry weight. 15.5 litres fuel capacity

*High-tensile strength steel trellis frame

*41mm front forks and an offset exposed preload-adjustable laydown shock look cool and do the job well

*Friendly ergonomics with an upright seating posture

*Dual 300mm front petal-shaped disc brakes with twin 27mm piston front brake calipers and a single 220mm rear petal-shaped disc

*Multi-function instrumentation includes a fuel gauge, digital speedometer, clock, odometer, dual trip meters and a bar-style digital tachometer

LOOK FORWARD TO A RIDING IMPRESSION ON BSM!

Click next page for a Kawasaki Ninja 650R video! -

Yamaha?s de-specced FZ16 gets a disc. We break, er, brake it By:Ruman Devmane |Published :May 20, 2011

Not fair. This is what you call retro-engineering. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the Yamaha SZ-R, essentially the SZ-X with a disc brake. Personally, I wouldn’t base my buying decision on tank extension panels, and how much do bar end weights (with a replacement handlebar) cost anyway?

My problem, you must understand, is with the incorporation of the disc brake. Why create a fuss over something that should have rightfully been there in the first place? Yamaha’s fortunes in the country took an absolute U-turn thanks to two fantastic motorcycles – the R15 and the FZ16. They owe their success to these extremely well-sorted products and to the Indian buyer, who respected all the kit that was made available to them.
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production capacity for motorbikes in India to 4 million units by the first half of 2013, including through the construction of a third factoryBy:BSM |Published :May 27, 2011 

Japan's Honda Motor Co's Indian bike unit will nearly double production capacity for motorbikes in India to 4 million units by the first half of 2013, including through the construction of a third factory, to meet the country's rising demand.

India is the second fastest growing auto market in the world after China and domestic motorbike sales grew by a scorching 30% in 2010, powered by strong economic growth, an expanding middle class, and easy financing options.

Honda, the world's biggest motorcycle maker, said the third factory is expected to be operational in the first half of 2013 near Bangalore and will have a capacity of 1.2 million units.

The company, which competes with Hero Honda Motors and Bajaj Auto in India, also said it would double capacity at the unit's second plant, currently under construction in Rajasthan, to 1.2 million units by March 2012.

Honda is in the process of exiting its Indian joint venture, Hero Honda Motors, after more than 26 years to reap profits on its own through wholly owned unit Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India. The joint venture was India's largest motorcycle manufacturer with more than half the domestic market.

In March, Honda's Indian bike unit said it expects to sell 2.1 million units in fiscal 2012 that started in April and will spend Rs 2000 crore ($441.2 million) to boost production and expand capacity.

Unlisted Honda Motorcycle, which made its entry in the popular 100cc bike segment in 2009, will launch a low-cost motorcycle in India soon, the company said earlier this year.

HMSI annual production capacity

IMT* Manesar, Gurgaon District, Haryana

Tapukara Industrial Area, Alwar District, Rajasthan

1.6 million units (as of the end of May 2011)

 0.6 million units?@(initially), 1.2 million units (at full capacity) 

1.2 million units (at the start of operation) 

Production models

(Plans for second and third plants) 

Motorcycle:  CB Unicorn, CB Shine, CB Twister, CBF Stunner

Motorcycle: CB Twister, CB Shine

Motorcycle: CB Twister, CB Shine

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Home Cars Bikes Travel Gallery Blogs Magazine Web TV About us Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.

Here is exactly why they are planning an assault on the Indian scooter marketBy:Sharmistha Mukherjee |Published :June 07, 2011 

The Indian two-wheeler market comprises about 12 million units per annum, of which over 75 per cent is constituted by motorcycles. So why is India Yamaha Motor revving up to enter the scooter market in India?

Point to note, Yamaha is not the only one. Two-wheeler market leader Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) is also firming up plans to launch a new product in the category this fiscal.

So what gives?

Simply put, strong double-digit growth. While scooters, at present, account for about 18 per cent of the sales in the overall two-wheeler market in India, the segment has posted strong growth numbers with sales increasing by around 41.79 per cent last fiscal to log 2.07 million units. Many contend rising petrol prices were the beginning of the Indian scooter surge. Whatever the reason — nostalgia or sheer prudence — this sudden growth has prompted new players to look for opportunities in the category. So there is India Yamaha Motor which is gearing up to foray into the segment with an all-new product that parent Yamaha Motor Corporation is developing specifically for the country.

As things stand, the top four two-wheeler makers — Hero Honda, Bajaj Auto, TVS and HMSI — together account for around 93.5 per cent of the sales in the domestic market leaving five-odd players — Suzuki Motorcycle, India Yamaha Motor, LML, Mahindra Two Wheelers and Royal Enfield — to battle out the remaining 6.5 per cent. Technically speaking Yamaha today is the sixth largest two-wheeler maker in India. The company has a marginal share of 2.35 per cent in the domestic market.

HMSI, which has three scooter brands — Activa, Dio and Aviator priced between Rs 39,820 and Rs 50,020 — is the largest maker of two-wheelers accounting for 43 per cent share in the domestic market. HMSI sold 893,335 scooters last fiscal.

On its part, India Yamaha Motor is looking to invest $10 million by 2012 in capacity expansion as well as in new products, revving up its market share to about 10 per cent from the current 2 per cent. Roy Kurian, national business head, India Yamaha Motor, says, “We were studying the Indian market intensively over the last two years to gauge the requirements of customers here. We decided we needed a new product. The product is in development at our R&D centre in Japan, which would be introduced in the country shortly.” Kurian, however, declined to specify a definite timeline and technical specifications of the scooter.

India-specific
Yamaha has scooters such as the Neo, Fino, and Spark in its global portfolio which it sells mostly in South East Asian countries. Kurian explains, “Unlike in the 1970-80s, over 60 per cent of scooter users today are women. The riding conditions here and the very profile of the target group necessitated that we develop a product specifically for the Indian market.” Industry sources say it is likely to be a gearless scooter and will contend with best sellers such as Honda Activa and Hero Honda Pleasure.

But it won’t hit Indian roads before the end of next year. The company is conducting post product development studies to evaluate strategies to enter the new category and the positioning of the product. Yamaha would focus on selling scooters in the southern and western markets of India where per capita income is comparatively higher. “The four states in the south, as well as Gujarat and Maharashtra are good markets. This has a direct co-relation to education and awareness levels in these places. A lot more women are working (outside the home) in these places. Delhi too has a lot of potential,” Kurian says.

Yamaha is looking to sell 500,000 motorcycles (domestic sales and exports) this financial year, an increase of over 31.6 per cent over the 380,000 units sold in 2010-11. The company has 400 dealer outlets across the country. Over the next three to four years, Yamaha hopes to cross over to double digit share figures with new products and improved distribution. Kurian says, “We want to consolidate our position in India. This year, we expect to grow by at least a third and then on double the growth rates recorded by the overall two-wheeler industry.”

In Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, Yamaha has 20 per cent market share. In Indonesia, it sold 3.5 million motorcycles last year, compared to 0.35 million units it expects to sell in the Indian market this year. “The potential to grow is huge”, adds Kurian.

Yamaha, which prides itself on the technology its products offer, has adopted a top down approach for boosting sales in the Indian market. “Our products are known for their technology. And we will continue to introduce top-end products in India. We want to reach out first to the educated urban buyer who is aware of what we stand for. Once we succeed in establishing our brand firmly in urban markets, sales would automatically filter in from rural areas. The rural buyer wants a proven brand.”

THE MOTORCYCLE MAJORS
Market share for sales in domestic 
market (2010-11)

Honda Motorcycle and 
Scooter India

Strengthening portfolio

Besides foraying into scooters Yamaha is also looking to rev up its motorcycle portfolio. The company is looking at introducing two new motorbikes every year, including upgrades. Also on cards is an electric scooter. “We have electric scooters. We will examine how the market for such products develops in India. If there is demand, we can come out with a product.”

Industry experts, however, raise concern over Yamaha’s weak presence in the 100-110 cc mass commuter segment that contributes as much as 60 per cent to overall motorcycle sales in the country. Yamaha has two products — YBR110 and Crux — in the 100-110 cc segment but sales are significantly lower than those of Hero Honda Splendor which sells over two million units annually.

Kurian says, “It is not that we are ignoring the mass commuter segment: we do have products in the 100-110 cc category. But the 150-cc segment is a growing market. Now we are seeing demand for 150 cc bikes coming from even B and C category towns.” India Yamaha Motor today has 15 models in its portfolio, with as many as six positioned in the 150 cc segment. The FZ series is Yamaha’s largest selling brand in the country with sales amounting to around 20,000 units per month. The company had 14 per cent share in the category last month and is expecting to capture a fifth of sales in the segment by the end of the current fiscal.

The 10 per cent share Yamaha is eyeing in the Indian market calls for fresh investment in creating additional capacity. Last year, as many as 11.8 million two-wheelers were sold in the country. The market is expected to grow at 12-14 per cent this financial year. Even at the current sales numbers, Yamaha would have to sell over a million units to gain a market share of 10 per cent in the two-wheeler industry.

To this effect, India Yamaha Motor is planning to set up a third facility in the country. Kurian confirms, “We are serious about our targets and would have to look at fresh capacity to achieve them.” The company declined to share details of the capacity it is targeting and the investment Yamaha proposes to make to that end, but indicated that that the company will begin the search for a new location to set up the new plant soon.

The two other facilities that India Yamaha Motor has today are both located in the national capital region — one in Surajpur in Greater Noida and the other at Faridabad. The Surajpur plant can roll out 600,000 motorcycles a year, and can be expanded to one million units. The Faridabad facility can manufacture 700,000 engines, besides other components.

Last year, the company had said it would focus more on the Indian market with more investments and better products. Its scooter foray may well be a sign of things to come.