I have recently received a comment from Payeng on my previous post “150cc segment heating up”. While replying to that comment I realized that it had become a bit too lengthy so I decided to make it a post since it will be more productive this way. No offence intended Payeng or any one else, it’s just that different people have different opinions and outlooks, please feel free to reply regarding this post.

Here was the comment made by Payang

“yes, the Indian customer is indeed demanding more from the bike manufacturers… and why not..??�

If there is someone who can give them more for less.. their expectations are bound to rise..

Its not like the pre 1990’s anymore.. where the manufacturers could dictate terms… The customer is the King now..!! Bikes makers can ignore them at their own peril.. The internet forums are a good source of information for the bike makers… they should learn to leverage its potential”

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You are right in a way, however bashing a motorcycle just because there were rumors spread by a few individuals that it will be a higher capacity motorcycle is not some thing that is productive or would bring any results from a company.

I have been active in one-two many biking forums for years now I have seen how good a source of information they can be for manufactures. I have met a lot of “bikers” who crib there aren’t enough high capacity motorcycles available in India and then get up and go back to their Pulsar 150’s (no offence to any 150 owners). I mean if you love power and speed that much then why buy a 150, when Pulsar 180cc and Karizma 223cc are available in the market?

The reason behind it is the truth that Pulsar 180 and Karizma not only cost more to buy, they also cost more to maintain, a fact which raises the total ownership cost. This is one of the truth that many “bikers” like to ignore and go on talking about motorcycles which most will only dream to own, nothing wrong with it. However it becomes an issue when any one who doesn’t agree with this mentality is frowned upon. Most people believe that bashing a low capacity motorcycle is their god given right and do so without acknowledging the fact that it is still the highest selling segment in the Indian market. Something that we can afford to ignore, motorcycle companies on the other hand can’t!

Motorcycle manufactures are there in the market to make profit and if they see the opportunity that they can sell a higher capacity motorcycle which will have higher profit margins then the existing motorcycles, do you think they will wait?

Unless we as consumers start putting money where our mouths are and show the motorcycle manufactures that we are genuinely interested in purchasing higher capacity machines, they won’t be interested in launching them. A testament to this fact is the sale figure of Bajaj Pulsar 180, compared with Bajaj Pulsar 150. Today Bajaj is exporting more 180’s than it sells in India! You still wonder why they are not interested in launching higher capacity motorcycles in India?

Today Karizma is not selling because it is the fastest or the highest capacity Japanese motorcycle available in India, it is selling because for most of its owners it is a style statement more than any thing else! Do you still wonder why Hero Honda detuned it before it launch? Also it wasn’t until Hero Honda decided to cut prices by Rs. 10000 which was a whopping 12% of the original cost of the motorcycle that we started seeing more karizmas on road!

I think we should first start looking at our own action before criticizing motorcycle manufactures for not launching/delaying/postponing the launch of higher capacity motorcycles…