Samarth 619

I say Hornet/ FZ are still far away from reality, with FZ being a bit closer. Even if we "REALLY" get the KTM Duke here, I'll be very happy! But, I like the article & I say that OEMs can really earn good by 600 in India, if they:-->

1. reduce bike cost by methods like Self Service Guide, DVD, Kit & Manual. Service the bike yourself bikers!

2. Use Alternative Service Centres: EXAMPLE, Honda can use it's Car Service Centres, as Hornet has a multi cylinder liquid cooled engine. Similar to a Honda Car! getting my point?

No extra training would be necessary to the bike mechanics & car mechanics can handle them better. They can have this tie up for common benefit. Cost Reduced!

3. Introduce Accessories & Tuning Changes by Service Centre. Say, I go inside the SC, pay them Rs. 400 and they re-gear my bike for say, highway rides. & try earning money on anything like this.

4. Market them Properly. R1/ Hayabusa are sold & serviced in 6-8 cities only?! Then they get patheic sales like 20-60 units total. I know, this is "one" reason among others too ...

What do you say about these suggestions, Ken bro? Trying with persistence, all these efforts can become a reality. and who know we might just have a 600 for below Rs. 3 Lacs ... (Personally, I would pay about 6-6.5 Lacs too.)

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@ Aryan: Good choice mentioned! I saw it's power curve, it has some 25 bhp+ even below 3000 rpm! Combine this with the undergearing, and yeah, it's a Born City Lord!

Shadowboy

Ken da,

Point taken , but I am really confused

When I made the segmentation , I thought about all the aspects hence I said 600 is something power enthusiast can go for , my personal choice R6

You said you are gunning on likes of Fazer 600 and Hornet 600

Does’t fazer 600 share the likes of R6
http://www.motorbikestoday.com/reviews/Articles/yam_fazer6_04.htm

and speaking of Hornet 600 , it to derived it’s engine from CBR 600
http://www.carolenash.com/insidebikes/bike-reviews/honda/hornet-600/

and I don’t think both of them are light weight either, besides I would not opt for Hornet coz , after driving R15 at high speeds, I clearly have understood the importance of fairing, at speeds of 120-130Kmph the R15 feels so stable, you really feel you are not going so fast, the aerodynamics of the machine ,gives you so much confidence.

Another eg:
The other day early morning on Sunday , I was coming from Nariman point back home, at marine drive at signal , I spotted F650 BMW, I know it’s an old dog, but still can run given a stick, so me on my R15 behind I could keep up with him even at 120kmph, and I think F650 passes out at 155, he didt accelerate well, so I was able to keep up.

But then I was thinking if I had a Kawa 250 same time, with 32horses compare to 48 of BMW, Kawa also does 155-160Max with 0-100 6-7Sec

I would make the BMWs extra 400cc count , I know the BMW is sports tourer but still don’t you feel good when you smoke someone knowing you got less ccs to talk about.

And then I imagine if I had an R6 what would it be?? Lol the result I don’t need to tell

Question is not what I feel??
The point is not about drag here, nor about posing, it’s about what can the performance masses afford, what does India really need??

My opinion a proper 250 parallet twin, from stables like Yamaha , Kawasaki and Honda, if not now in future. For all who are starveing for some performance- with price to afford

Else as I said earlier if you fit in the power euthisasts category who can afford a ford fiesta or Honda city, a potent 600 should do fine, Fazer600 is comfortable and not as aggressive as R6, but you all know who’s motor it shares from. Same goes for Hornet

600 of any class is still far from reach for many in India—a step up for now is definitely a proper 250cc parallel twin.

A technologically advanced 250cc of 21st century will out run 600 of past,

and a technologically advanced 600cc of 21st will out run...............lol

darkside_of_d_sun

No four stroke road going bike is doing it currently, dont foresee that happening in future as well!

My point is, to build a culture, affordability is THE BIGGEST oppurtunity/obstacle in an economy and society like India's. 600s, the race replicas or the sport tourers, are way too expensive to really bring about any significant change. I firmly believe, it has to be a "bottom-up" approach, starting with the 250cc category!

Cheers,
Shamik

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..tear the map and shoot the sign

manav

In traffic it would be harder for you to keep up with a R6, the radical riding position required much more input in terms of riding hard. A Naked will give anything a run for its money in 95% of the conditions we encounter in India. The FZ6 comes with a quarter faired model which does its job quite well. The big ones are weekend toys even for the serious enthuisast and will rarely be taken out. I would rather know I am using 80% of the bike most of the time rather then brag to my mates that I touched the triple ton on a litre on a weekend ride.

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Locking the front and flipping is the worst experience you could err experience.

jayprashanth

IIRC, there was this Kawasaki Balius-II pumping out 40 horses from it's inline 4 250cc mill. The Jap market also gets a Honda Hornet 250 that puts out 40 horses. I think, these crotch rockets can easily show a finger to our MUVs and SUVs on the highways. IMHO, these 250s, if priced sensibly will sell well and will also kickstart the leisure biking culture in a big way. 600cc motorcycles coming at 8L plus are still way too unaffordable to most of the bikers here who are primarily in the <30 age group. I vote for the 250s. Now, I'm getting a little selfish, how about a CBR400RR Honda?

moeed

Nice article there.