Synn

Apologies if anyone thought this was about the Scorpions’ song. It’s not. Rather, this one’s about the Indian motorcycle market. Yes, we’re finally up there with the rest of the civilized world. OK, not yet at UK/ USA/ Germany levels, but certainly a cut above Cambodia/ Philippines etc. which were our “Equals” just a li’l while ago.

So what changed?

For one thing, a coupl’a super bikes are legal. With more on the way. But more importantly, Mr. Joe Average now has an alternative, up there with anything else in its class, world over. Yes of course, I’m talking about that pesky little R15. Yes, the same “150 CC only special” that has bruised many an ego in the short while that it has been in the market.

Now we’ve discussed, debated and hell, pulled each other’s hair about the performance of the R15 vis-à-vis the alternatives in these very pages. Hence, it’s safe to say that everyone and their grandma has a fair idea by now about what the motorcycle can and cannot do. But this rant is not about that.

Over the past few months, I’ve been reading comments and even columns about how the “150CC market” has witnessed a major change and how the “250 cc market” and so forth will hopefully see something similar in the future and so forth…

Bollocks.

Judging a motorcycle by a cubic capacity yardstick is like judging a female by her bra size. The latter can prove to be a dud in the bed despite a D-cup and the former may very well do the same on the road, no matter what the “CC” is.

It’s not about how big it is, its about how you use it. Cubic capacity, that is.

World over, Cubic capacity is used to classify motorcycles for two purposes: Staged licensing and motorsports. Fortunately or otherwise, the former is a non-issue for Indians. The latter is still in a nascent stage and it’s gonna be a while before the majority of potential owners factor this into their shortlist. Then pray, why are we still judging our bikes by the volume of air-fuel mixture induced per cycle?

The prime sign of a mature motorcycle market is customers choosing their rides based on their capabilities and overall package rather than paper specs. This is why a supersport fan will never choose an FZ1 over an R6, even though the former sports “higher CC and Bhp figures”. Because that’s not what he’s looking for.

Let’s be frank here. Up until now, everything we had in the market are basically the same formula wrapped in differently shaped plastic, save the Bullets. Our severe lack of options forced us to classify them as “Street fighters”, “sports tourers” etc. etc. Well, we don’t have to anymore.

If anything, the Indian motorcycle market is famous for the “Me too”, approach. I.e. One manufacturer introduces a certain trend which proves popular and the rest follow suit. Black engine trim and LED/LCD thingamagigs for example. Assuming that the R15 will prove to be a hit (And I’m taking a leap of faith here, I’ll admit), specialized application motorcycles will be the next trend.

More likely than not, India, shortly will see proper sport bikes, tourers, cruisers, endures etc. in the showrooms. As and when that happens, make your decision wisely. E.g. If dropping mom to the office and buying groceries are a major part of your daily “motorcycling experience”, kindly do not opt for a sport bike. And so forth.

Choose the type of motorcycle that best identifies with your mode of motorcycling. Not because of “superior” paper specs. Unless you’re into “Being the fastest in a straight line”.

In which case, let paper specs be your guiding star. You’re not gonna appreciate the motorcycle for what it is anyway.

View this article on Hard Torque

ken cool

Hello Sandeep,
Good to read your short crisp and to the point article. These days it seems that quite a few of us are responding to the changes brought about recently (yet again by Yamaha). This was bound to happen seeing the way the change has come about. R15 has become the reference point. And in the fracas we are relegating the still other important players in the background, notably the excellent performer the p220, the old work horse, the Karizma, people still swear by it and will keep doing so and we are tending to forget another brilliant bike, the RTR, such has been the impression created by the arrival of the R15. People suddenly have sat up and noticed, oh my god, this is motorcycling. What have we been doing till now.

A change has been ushered in. I have mentioned certain aspects in my introductory column. You have made a quick precise point. I expect you to come up with a similar good article, detailed the way we know you to be, something that has always woken people up from their stupor, made them sit up and take notice.

The times they are a changing…

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The Wheel was a great invention; Two Wheels with a Motor in between was even better!

mac187

Great write up synn... totally agree that one has to choose a bike that fulfills his requirements....

I have also seen the discussion right here at xbhp, were people ask for "More". Like the latest discussion on FZ16,
- Only if it had a FI
- Only if had more power

- Only if Katrina could act!!!

each bike is trageted to a different segment.. if one expects something more in it, then probably you are looking at the wrong place!!!

mithun.08

Great write up synn

satyenpoojary

Already read it and facebooked it on day 1 of Resurrection

Some member seems to have his signature inspired from your comparison

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Don't worry about the future, or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra
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Oh so the ignore user option exists

payeng

The only thing "Constant" in this world is "Change"..

...but how fast or how slow is the change and for what exact reasons is a different topic for debate.

Synn

Thanks all for the kind words. Have been terribly busy with work, hence the absence. But rest assured, more of the same is on the way.

shadez

synn: i get back with nickleback. nice writeup mate. wonder how i missed reading!
hey, i see the indian consumer as still a small kindergarden boy in a candy shop. he wants the biggest he can get with a rupee. and he doesnt want dairymilk, no. that melts down too fast. he wants the candy/gum which stays for hours. seriously, how many of the aam aadmy can actually understand what you have said? and how many take it? a nod here maybe, but after a couple of hours, people get back to dream of a bigger 'cc' machine mate.

people are still undergoing change; getting to understand what machines are, what they are made of, what safety gears are, whats good/bad bout bikes.
i have seen people (4strokers; 2strokes is almost automatic rollon ) look in awe at the rollon wheelie. 'you just wrig throttle and thats it?'. and all thats processing in their head is wish they had a higher cc bike to do that.
and frankly, even today people laugh at you if you are geared up for a decent city/highway ride.

i say, give indian market more time. we have been seeing big changes. busa and intruder joined the club yesterday. when taxes come down, when people see a super/sport/thumper etc every other day on the road, then they understand more of what you are trying to say. to 'see' is to 'understand'.
and then someday, poser diaries (our fav fun thread ) and bigger cc high headed attitude would fade... maybe!
till then... you gotta be somebody to buy these 10+lk machines. coz thats big money. until then its bollocks!

augusta

...and im still waiting for your book synn bhaiya!
people are now actually starting to wake up about motorcycling here in India!..even the R15 poser kid is trying his best to groom his skills these dayz!

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My bike doesent leak oil,,,it marks its territory!!!

julianpaul

I would like to point out that one of the biggest signs that people are breaking away from the more (cc) is better norm is the number of buyers that chose a smaller rtr fi over a bigger, similarly priced p200 simply because they thought the rtr offered a better package than the bajaj.