re: Honda Activa 3G Launched at Rs 48852/- along with 4 more two wheelers

i dont get what the complaints are all about. Honda has said there will be an onslaught of 8 refreshed models along with 7 all new products this year in continuation of their 4 bikes every quarter policy till 2016.
Good that they launched 5 refreshed models first. That leaves 3 more updated models and 7 all new bikes later on. One of them is a 125cc bike launched internationally. The other 6 includes 650f, 300/250r and most likely the 500r since overdrive reported it. A new scooter will definitely be in there.

The reason the 650f and 300 is delayed is because they're clearing backlogs since their plant production capacity is full... im pretty sure 650f will be pushed to next year because of this.

re: Honda Activa 3G Launched at Rs 48852/- along with 4 more two wheelers

Fact is INDIA is never a Priority market for Japs . Whether honda or Yamaha , they are happy when they can sell their discarded junks here and we indians are more than happy to lap them up .

Bussiness logic , If i am able to sell some 10,000 units of a punny 100 CC bike, making a neat profit of some 1000 rs why would i be interested in selling a 500 CC bike for half the margin . Moreover volumes will be nothing to write about. cherry on cake is that Junk is selling like hot cakes with factories struggling to meet up the demand.

Compared that to matured market like Europe / US where you just cannot dishout any XYZ model like here .

Re: Honda Activa 3G Launched at Rs 48852/- along with 4 more two wheelers

Some Pictures from today's launch -

Re: Honda Activa 3G Launched at Rs 48852/- along with 4 more two wheelers

Fun factor and excitement apart, I think folks need to get one thing right, Honda is in fact on the right track, considering the way Yamaha is currently, hunkering in the market. It a no-brainer that Honda has taken too long to react for market demand, perhaps they understand something better than us. But, if you'll delve a little deeply, scooters and E-segment motorcycles were of more priority for Honda than the super-sport segment, and it has a good reason. Volumes? Check. Margins? Double check.

Here in India, anything that's above a 250 and has a bright fairing is considered a luxury, now if you compare that to a mature market, that's a beginners' motorcycle and for a good reason. Japanese manufacturers get more than their fair share of the market pie in all the countries except India, and they do sell a good number of all the sports, super-sports and hyper-sports. Now to be on top of the earnings ladder, you don't need area, you need volume, and that's exactly what the Japs are doing, with their least priced offering here in India.

Personally I reckon in 5 to 10 years, the Indian motorcycling arena is definitely gonna see a remarkable change in the way motorcycles are experienced, manufactured and sold, and the needles are all pointing in the right direction.

We've held on to it so long, why not give just a few more months.

Yamaha is peeking behind the doors, Bajaj is far ahead and grinning wide open, TVS is out for a vacation, Suzuki has been deported, Honda is warming up! Just look at the signs!

You gotta understand, good things are coming.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: Honda Activa 3G Launched at Rs 48852/- along with 4 more two wheelers

I agree with the above post. Having said that, I still feel that some might rightly feel this as the age old story of old wine in new bottle.

Re: Honda Launch: Live Updates

I really hoped Honda brought out Telescopic front suspension,A More Softer and Comfier Seat and also a Younger look.I guess its just the same with some better design.Honda is clearly playing with Indians that they will still go for Activa Blindly

Re: Honda Launch: Live Updates

I would buy the Dio in a heartbeat if I was looking for a gearless scooter... No doubt it's the most beautiful one right now.

Re: Honda Launch: Live Updates

The Yuga now looks like Passion with those graphics, Activa's rear now looks like Activa 125's. Shine's tail Lamp now looks like CB Unicorn 160.
Everything looks like something else(Except Neo-I still wasnt able to spot the difference).
Why waste money on the launch of these things? Could have got it done it with the Uni 160 Launch itself. Should have used the money in R&D and gave us NEW bikes sooner.

Re: Honda Activa 3G Launched at Rs 48852/- along with 4 more two wheelers

exactly what i said ... they are getting volumes and profits by selling crap. Why worry for middle or higher end of the segment when lower end is doing wonderfully. Yes, We might see some thing maturing in 5-10 years but that is far fetched at the moment IMO with their current product plans .

Re: Honda Activa 3G Launched at Rs 48852/- along with 4 more two wheelers


They are selling "crap" because they didn't launch what you want them to launch or it doesn't fulfill your requirements?

Secondly, what do you infer when you say "mature market"? Do you mean that in 5-10 years people will stop buying 100cc motorcycles and such motorcycles will disappear? Or perhaps selling these 100cc motorcycles is a child's business or immature by any means?

Re: Honda Activa 3G Launched at Rs 48852/- along with 4 more two wheelers

Precisely. And if you'll go back to my posts, we Indians love a flashy, glossy, minimalistic bike with maximized proportions, case in point take the Bajaj series, they know how to to sell a same stuff with different packaging, like Krishna pointed out, old wine in a new bottle. That's not all. The attitude that we have plays a big role in the way manufacturers tend to roll out products. I've used the word "luxury" and this quite honestly is the sweet-spot for companies to cash in on the lower spec models.

The manufacturers don't think we're still not upto owning a "TRUE" super-sport machine (now I may lose some brownie points here) but as long as we love minmalistic inside, maxima outside, it's gonna take time before we get thoroughbreds, at least what my opinion would be.

But let's say, we are heading in the right direction.

P.S. @.sushilkumar, please edit your posts accordingly, it doesn't make sense to use the term "CRAP" as a general term across-the-board, people will and might find it going off-the-line, I personally do. Edit your post!

Cheers!
VJ

Re: Honda Activa 3G Launched at Rs 48852/- along with 4 more two wheelers

Complaints aside (because I have none, Honda is here to do business and earn profit, who isn't BTW?), 2 pointers:
1. Where are the telescopic forks in the Activa? Why have they gone missing?
2. Does Shine have NISSIN calipers? Means costly brake pads if NISSIN. Would a 125cc owner want costly spares?

Re: Honda Launch: Live Updates

Same here. Though I'd also give the Yamaha Ray-Z a look too.

Re: Honda Activa 3G Launched at Rs 48852/- along with 4 more two wheelers

I think Shine is having NISSIN discs for quite some time. My neighbor's 3 months old Shine is having NISSIN disc setup.

Re: Honda Activa 3G Launched at Rs 48852/- along with 4 more two wheelers

That is quite nice thing for a 125cc bike.