the profits of the CBUs are same because the cost of these bikes in India is multiplied by the factor of 2.2 of the US prices and if you try to import these bikes from US it will cost the same i.e. the profits which these bikes are giving to the manufacturers will be the same in both the scenarios...

regarding the launch of Kawa's 650 and plus this time its not a blogger or a journo this time the launch was hinted by the company itself in an interview with a magazine... i cannot find the link right now...

the duty on spare parts from japan is 43% and the ex showroom price of ninja is 2.6 lacs = 1.4*3999$*45

Just read up this thread from top to bottom. A few things I would like to type about:

Agreed with deadman23 about one R1 on the street as an ad and translating into the sales of a shitload of R15's. Also agreed that the Europeans will try influence the govt to jack this move coz they would face some stiff stiff competition here from the Japs if they break loose here.

And I would like to add to the point of Ninja 250R being assembled here and being talked of a flagship model of Kawi - the 250R to Kawi is prolly what a Splendour is to HH. its just that the scale of prices is a lil different. All over the world, the 250R is an entry level bike, and here there are a precious few bikes above it that most ppl can afford. The Ninja is the be all and end all of affordable performance biking here.

Also think for a minute, so many of us here would be capable in say 5 years from now to buy these monstrous powerplants. Can we -- as a nation of under-maintained and overlooked roadworks for the most part, with a driving sense that would scare the Boogeyman himself, random jaywalkers and cattle crossing the roads -- afford these (eventually, if at all) low prices? We are not fed on a diet of fast bikes and hence, do not have the general sense (no offence to the pro's.. I'm talking about the general lot of ppl) of controlling them well. I for one have not seen any driving school that teaches riding fast bikes where the risks are significantly higher than driving a cage. In the west u can see people riding 0bhp bicycles wearing helmets and elbow + knee guards. Seen those here?

Low priced Superbikes + our infrastructure = one scary road-accident rate.

While I was salivating when I got this news, I also started wondering whether we are actually ready for it. Sure, it opens up new horizons for the enthusiasts, and I myself would like to say here that I want a CB100R like crazy (I could prolly sell one of my kidneys for it ) but we just dont have the place to run them in. Not in the way the sales are gonna rise in 10 years if the tariff actually goes to 0 by that time.

I also do feel for the current owners of sbks. Imagine owning a pricey nifty phone for 20K and then suddenly after a few months, the price for the exact same model drops to less than 10K. Good thing they are going to pull the tariff down over a period of 10 years.

And shame on the current line of Indian manufacturers for being so lazy and not going for bikes above 20 odd PS of power. Just hop over to the thread about Munjals working over a new branding strategy for Hero and see the venom flying from the entire biking community. The Indian govt had initially kept that 800cc rule for protecting the indigenous manufacturers from high quality phoren stuff so that they had a chance to introduce higher capacity bikes of their own and be able to compete and thrive. And what did they all do? They got carried away in a wave of lethargy and kept to the bread and butter 100cc while pumping money in a shitload of R&D for getting a mill ready which is 20cc higher than the last one. Yea. Nice thinking.



Enough ranting. I just hope we can handle the paradigm shift. And Indian manufactueres: Pull ur goddamn socks up!

Exactly, the growth of our motorcycle industry has so far been lateral rather than vertical. Im sick of these re-dressed, re badged 150-180cc motorcycles. On the other hand, its so hard to digest the gap between the Ninja 250R and the next imported machine, its almost 5 lakhs over the Ninja's price.

About the infrastructure and maturity of riders, you are right. It scares me sometimes to imagine the same R15 wielding helmet-less youngsters on more powerful motorcycles. They are a threat to themselves and other road users. For me its all about having shit loads of power as reserve rather than trying to max out at every possible road. Most think its all about buying a good helmet while completely disregarding the need for other protective gear. I have seen SBK riders wearing a DSG jacket but im sorry, you are riding a 10 lakh + motorcycle and cannot afford a proper jacket? :-S

There are fantastic roads in india to ride powerful motorcycles but what do you do when a stray dog or a lazy cow decides to pop in front of you when you are clocking around 160-180kmph?

Also, the cost of a maintaining a SBK is no piece of cake. most of us middle class boys will somehow manage to buy a SBK. We are willing to spend half our salary paying EMI but then what about the money needed for fuel and other nitty gritties where one litre isnt going to get you more than 15 kilometers and one tiny fall will cost you an arm and a leg? We are fortunate that our insurance system isn't like western countries. most of us would go broke paying insurance. I had a 5yr old CB500 during my college days abroad and that cost me more than my fuel cost per month to insure.

The Japs should introduce the sub-400cc bikes instead and assemble them here, that would be a perfect thing for us but then Rajiv Bajaj wont be a happy man. His lobbying managed to ensure the 800cc rule comes in place while hasn't managed a bike with over 220cc yet.

I dont think we should be giving any more reasons to the Indian Governement for not waving off the duty.....

No one can do anything about dumb bikers who dont wear protective gear....
I tried to convince a few of friends to at least wear a helmet and one of them was convinced but only after an accident....

as far as the dogs and cows those are omnipresent and will remain omnipresent even after a century while driving I usually take them into account but yeah not everything can be predicted....

the whole point is I want an SBK's price to go down to 7.5lacs....

yeah that day hell will freeze over but sadly till we have a shit croupt govt i dont see sbk at 7.5lac(ltr-class)

A very good discussion going on here.

A present sbk owner in India doesn't give a damn whether we (middle class) enthusiasts get to ride a superbike or not. To him everything is fine and dandy. Because he can afford it.
Also even if the owner has no experience or passion whatsoever, he will buy a 1300cc bike and enjoy it for years. Maybe change it. While we will be still saving for it,riding small 150cc bikes.

With no offence to anyone, if you have got money, get a superbike and if you don't, kill your passion.

In France,I see how easily people ride such good motorcycles. And go home happy souls.

Our government and our manufacturers don't give a damn.

Our govt started these regulations so that the local manufacturers can at least get a chance to come up with their products but even after 20 years of liberalisation they are there where they were before.... till now their is hardly any indian bike which can catch upto the rx 100 or 135 forget the rd350 in acceleration.... right now i think that the indian manufacturers have taken these laws for granted and nothing else...

So anyways.. any further news post 26/10? I googled a bit but it was mostly vague. No details available anywhere :-/

Anyone has anything to contribute about what the exact terms are for importing automobiles?

not much details available about the CBU imports but the duties on parts is going to come down by march 2011.... but how much no one can say now...

You're right. Only Indian manufacturers have the guts to sell us machines which vibrate at mid range rpms, lose paint & gain rust over time, have drum brakes, obsolete chassis, slippery tyres, etc.
I don't want to name "those" machines or manufacturers, but when it comes to quality, our Indian manufacturers are always behind their counterparts in other countries.

Hope this duty reduces so atleast we get a practical & viable alternative. Paying 200% cost and still getting only a limited range on sale, is not a practical & viable alternative.

just a thought can we redirect ours and jap's pm to this community or the thread?? it should have some impact

some update on the dream of owning an SBK in less than 10lacs...

India and Japan will ink a comprehensive market opening pact within a month, amid indications that both sides had sorted out differences on contentious issues.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said this would be a move in the right direction for enhancing trade ties and reduce/eliminate tariffs on over 90 per cent of the goods traded between the two countries. The treaty that was slated to be signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Tokyo last month but the formal singing could not take place as both sides were not able to sort out their differences on some issues. “Formally the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) will be signed in a month or so,'' Mr. Sharma said at a function here. The free trade agreement is likely to boost bilateral trade, which stood at around $11 billion in 2009-10.

The Hindu : Business / Economy : India, Japan to sign CEPA soon

but the other problem is that some of the website are quoting that the duties will be reduced to zero in the coming 7 years.... although they are hoping that duties on parts will be reduced substantially in the coming 1-2 years.... according to me it mean the companies will be benefitted by a huge margin if they start assembling these bikes in India itself...

moreover Honda has already announced plans for a new unit may be they are thinking of bringing in the big babies just my opinion or speculation...

I am dreaming of sbks in 7-8 lac onroad. Hope they would still be running on petrol by then. Can u imagine going for a better battery pack or fuelcells instead of akras and yoshis. Nightmare!

FTA between India and Japan has been signed yesterday

India, Japan sign landmark trade deal - The Times of India

The FTA does seem to include clauses for automobile and automobile parts. But cannot find anything in detail.

Also taxes will be reduced over then next decade!

Anyone got any details on this?