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**Sunny** · 11-10-2008, 10:04 PM

Hard Torque Approved

**pudix** · 11-10-2008, 10:32 PM

Nice, its always fun to read your articles

But I was about to strongly disagree with you when I read this:

Originally posted by ken cool View Post

There has been commendable work done by Bajaj. But I reckon that seeing where the industry is going, it is too late for any manufacturer to bring in home grown products. Be it RTR or Bajaj, I am not sure either have the financial clout or the necessary R&D data base to bring about performing multi-cylinder machines with fairing based on wind-tunnel tests that will truly excite the consumer and give the incoming competition a run for their money despite being priced way below.

But towards the end you mention this:

Originally posted by ken cool View Post

Coming back to my original question and dilemma and the source of my woes, what could have been… R&D and original good home grown products with good service network, is this a realizable dream. Is there still time, money and passionate will for Bajaj and RTR to do something on this front? My take on this front is this; it will take a lot of courage to go into such a venture. But in the long run, the person investing in R&D and good products will hear the cash registers ringing for a far longer time

So, I cant disagree.

I believe that cheap motorcycles which give 100 kays to the litre have become a lifestyle in India, so much so that when the average Joe sees a faired motorcycle or something out of the ordinary(in India), he is forced to ask the mileage she returns. But this has come about due to the single minded pestlience of producing mal-nourished motorcycles, and can only be cured by a revolution, and this could take same time; 10 years, 20 years or maybe more, depends on who first gets the vision and has the acumen to implement it. But I would disagree with someone who said that the Indian manufacturers do not have the resources at hand to do this: as I said, it could take some time, but to deny the possibility would be to understate the significance of the Indian 2-wheeler industry in the global context.

**Puneet1** · 11-10-2008, 10:53 PM

Originally posted by pudix View Post

..................., he is forced to ask the mileage she returns. But this has come about due to the single minded pestlience of producing mal-nourished motorcycles, and can only be cured by a revolution, and this could take same time; 10 years, 20 years or maybe more, depends on who first gets the vision and has the acumen to implement it.

yaar in 10-15 years we would be driving hydrogen or battery powered Pulsars n Apache's

maybe even solar powered

**pudix** · 11-10-2008, 11:05 PM

^
hehe, yeah I know man. But think of it: how many people would not be apprehensive about buying a 600 mill produced indigenously by, say HH? Already we have tags of lame post sales service and poor RnD associated with them. People would be far more comfortable splurging 3-4 times the money to get a Japanese motorcycle instead. Indian manufacturers are tried and tested in the lower capacity segment but to build up the same confidence in their customers in the higher segments(if at all they venture into it) they'll need sometime. And I am not talking of competition between HH and Bajaj, its a hypothetical open field which I speak of with all the big marques coming in and competing against us.

**L.P.** · 11-11-2008, 10:21 AM

Originally posted by ken cool View Post

R&D and original good home grown products with good service network, is this a realizable dream. Is there still time, money and passionate will for Bajaj and RTR to do something on this front? My take on this front is this; it will take a lot of courage to go into such a venture. But in the long run, the person investing in R&D and good products will hear the cash registers ringing for a far longer time

@ken.Da... What you seem to say is true..and even I strongly agree to you and i wonder the same,However what the problem seems to be is likely to be the mindset of the custmer's and the people who are going in to purchase a bike..
Today if some one is planning to buy a Kawasakki NINJA 250cc,the first question he asks is..
"Bhai,isski average kitni hogi.." OR "What mileage would it give..??"..
Then comes to other things,CC, BHP,TopSpeed.. Then comes question like.. Looks,Accelartion,Manuvering etcetra..
KenDa.. until and unless the people's thinking change..It would be realy Difficult to say or comment anything..It might take 5years or may be a Decade..Or TWO...
and by that time u Might even take a Sanyaas From Biking..

,may be even Me also..

^^ Juz Kidding..

**maxratul** · 11-11-2008, 01:07 PM

the fundamental reason for this, IMHO, is that bikes are regarded here as a cheap commuters, for those who cannot afford cars. In the western world, it makes more sense to buy a car for commuting and bikes are regarded as a lifestyle statement... This is helped on by the appalling and ridiculous fuel prices we have in India.
That is why I have such high hopes from the Nano. Once people gets a viable, cheap alternative to, ahem, the splendours (NXG - R)

and the CD-Delux (Sports)

, all these 100cc 'mileage bikes' will start disappearing from the roads, along with most autos

. Then the industry will be forced to reorient themselves and bring out some good machines.

**augusta** · 11-11-2008, 04:43 PM

absolutely agreed till the last word......but let HH read this...

**prabhubravo** · 11-11-2008, 05:18 PM

I strongly disagree that it will take a 5 or a decade or two for the common to "drool" on the higher CC/bhp machines.

ya there ppl in the petrol bunks ask wats the milage. But when I say the max speed(ya its just 160km for the comet), the entire thinking changes. I this change I have noted 9/10 times. I was shocked when a mech in a village in TN was able to tell the bhp and a few more things of my comet. So the market is ready for high powered bikes and YES the first who makes a 400+CC bike will win the market.

EDIT:
I not saying that bikes will not be considered as cheap means of transport anymore. They will be considered so. Mileage will be a important criteria for the commuter segment. But NOW, there is a notable % of bikers looking for high powered bikes.

**Technocrat** · 11-11-2008, 05:37 PM

Nice Article Ken

Btw you have umentioned RTR where I belive you wanted to say TVS

**ken cool** · 11-11-2008, 06:32 PM

Originally posted by Technocrat View Post

Nice Article Ken

Btw you have umentioned RTR where I belive you wanted to say TVS

True, the name RTR comes naturally to the mind because of their performance orientation.

Originally posted by prabhubravo View Post

I strongly disagree that it will take a 5 or a decade or two for the common to "drool" on the higher CC/bhp machines.

ya there ppl in the petrol bunks ask wats the milage. But when I say the max speed(ya its just 160km for the comet), the entire thinking changes. I this change I have noted 9/10 times. I was shocked when a mech in a village in TN was able to tell the bhp and a few more things of my comet. So the market is ready for high powered bikes and YES the first who makes a 400+CC bike will win the market.

Market is getting educated and matured. It will move "faster" from now on, that is for certain. I wish one could predict... but I see a lot happening in less than a decade!

@LP: I do not intend taking a sanyas from biking so soon unless I get physically maimed!

**sam92** · 11-11-2008, 06:37 PM

were is HH .. let them read this first

**L.P.** · 11-12-2008, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by ken cool View Post

@LP: I do not intend taking a sanyas from biking so soon unless I get physically maimed!

Neither We want you to...

... May you learn to ride 2 R1's Simultaneoulsy by that time..

**desideep** · 11-12-2008, 11:11 AM

Originally posted by L.P. View Post

Neither We want you to...

... May you learn to ride 2 R1's Simultaneoulsy by that time..

You can say may you Become Ajay Devgan

**L.P.** · 11-12-2008, 11:12 AM

Originally posted by desideep View Post

You can say may you Become Ajay Devgan

You Got that Ride Budddy...

GOOOOOOLLLMAAAAAAAALLLLL...

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