Search This Blog

Jun 19, 2007

13 Yamaha India will bring in its Superbikes..!! Are you happy now..??

Yamaha India Chief says Yamaha will bring in its big bikes in India... Should I be Really Happy..??

Yamaha India Chief T. IshikawaAutomonitor Quotes:

Yamaha Motor India (YMI) has decided to launch the 1000cc YZF-R1 and the 1670cc MT-01 in the country in this calendar...

"These bikes are not meant for business but to create an image"..

"it could be a few dozens"

The 1670cc MT-01
The 1670cc MT-01


Great news..!! Is that what I (the average "desi" biker) should say..?? Shouldn't I feel elated..??


  • Shouldn't I at least feel happy for those few dozen lucky “Desi” Bikers with deep pockets..??


  • Or should I act jingoistic and grin that it is actually a recognition of the “India Shinning” crap..??


  • Or should I believe that that the Japanese Gaint has finally woken from its slumber and is really serious with its Indian venture this time.



My answer is a Big "NO"..!!


    At around 10 lakh plus those speed demons are definitely a distant dream for an average guy like me. It might be music to the ears for those lucky "Desi" Richie Rich types. But honestly whats there for an average biker like me..?? Being happy for a rich guy who already has all the exotic toys would be like being happy for a dude with a hot chick.

    The 1000cc YZF-R1
    The 1000cc YZF-R1


    India Shining..?? I am not exactly sure about that but I would rather be proud at what my "desi" bike manufacturers produce (and sell to the rest of the world too).



    its abvious that the Japanese bikes have not really caught the fancy of our "desi" buyers..

    Get a few of your Speed Demons in India.. This will show the Bajaj's and TVS's who the real boss is.. It would restore the faith among the Indian Bikers

    Is the Japanese Gaint finally serious and means business this time..?? Well.. This would be interesting to discuss. First lets see what the Jap Bike Manufacturers Inc. have done so far.

    • The Top three bike makers in India are Hero Honda, Bajaj and TVS respectively. Which incidently are "desi" bike makers (Hero Honda is Indian with the technology from Japan)


    • The next three are Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha


    • Yamaha has been on its own in India since 2001, Honda and Suzuki have done a few years here


    • Marketshare of the top three Indian Manufacturers is roughly around 85% (refer the picture below)



    So its abvious that the Japanese bikes have not really caught the fancy of our "desi" buyer. Moreover the expectations from these Global Two Wheeler Gaints were very high and needless to state that they have actually underperformed. The frustration of the biking community who were expecting the sky from these Japanese trio are increasing by every dissappointing launch.


    But I still ask humbly and great hopes.. What's there for me..??

    So what do you do in such a situation..?? Simple get a few of your Speed Demons in India.. which rule Global Sales but also cost the equivalent of an Indian entry level luxury car. This will show the Bajaj's and TVS's what these Japanese companies are capable of and who the real boss is. It would also restore the faith among the Indian Bikers.

    Suzuki has done it by displaying and also accepting bookings for the Hayabusa along with its 125 C.C offerings. Honda is mulling over bringing a few of its Big bikes in India. Finally Yamaha, the original performance oriented manufacturer (remember the RD350 and RX100..??) is getting ready to bring in its R1 and MT-01.




But I still ask humbly and great hopes (please remember Yamaha that I still ride your RX100)...

The YZF-R1 and the MT-01 are for deep pockets. What's there for me..??







Related Posts:







Disclaimer:

This is to remind that the Views or Opinions in the blog are entirely mine unless explicitly stated. The Views and Opinions published in this blog should in no way be related to any other person or organization associated -- directly or indirectly -- with me.




13 Comments:

Unknown said...

they could have done better by bringing all there arsenal to the indian public have money take whatever u can afford to.

i would have happily taken home at 250 or a 400 cubic centimetre machine.
but its really off my budget.

may be some day i can have one.
till then people with 1000cc will have a legal bike and people like me have to import a 250cc or 400cc from grey market.

cheers
Sandeep

Payeng said...

Yep Sandeep.., quite a few serious bikers would have really appreciated a 250 and maybe might have even streched to a 400.

Maybe after 5-10 years a 400 cc twin might be a possibility in India.. but problem is that I am not getting younger by each passing day

first_synn said...

Payeng,

The way i see it, this is all about making a statement. This is Yamaha saying "Hey fellas.. THIS is yamaha. Remember all those multicolor ads..? well, you can buy the very same bikes, and then some".

And once this statement is made, and people start respecting yamaha once again, will come the "aam junta" sportbikes. And that's a sensible strategy too, IMO. Coz with the legacy of the Fazer and the Alba, launching a 250 CC right now ain't the brightest of ideas.. :-D

My advice is to watch the space. Come Auto Expo, and Yamaha will give a reason for everyone to cheer about.

Payeng said...

Synn, you do have a point when you say..

"with the legacy of the Fazer and the Alba, launching a 250 CC right now ain't the brightest of ideas..

But according to me the Japanese manufacturers do not need to worry about their reputation..

Infact the few who are still buying the Jap bikes are doing so because of the Japanese Label associated with it.

Don't you think that if Yamaha decides to bring in the Fazer 250 (which is available in Brazil) for around 90K.. the biker community wouldn't think twice before lapping it up..??

Akash said...

Ha Ha Ha!
These Japanese giants are thinking to bring big bikes to India.
First of all they cant bring out a moderate 150cc bike, and they are thinking for 1000cc bike.
Really a thing to laugh.

Only people with deep pockets would buy these and we would gasp at it while one crosses our pulsar.
Our mouth would be wide open like we hav seen a ghost.
Is that what we average Indians need(to look like fools on pulsars).
When will these Big players will learn that Indian market is a market of masses. If they really want to do some serious business bring out the Gladiator concept shown in Auto Expo'06.

Unknown said...

yamaha does not have a 150 c.c bike...thats all i need to say....they do not have a 150 c.c bike....a very popular segment right now...how do they expect their buiseniess to grow?

first_synn said...

Akash: See, replies like this are exactly what made me write the post on "The Indian motorcyclist". We have a habit of crying hoarse about the lack of SBKs in the country and when somebody does launch 'em, we suddenly shift tracks to how unaffordable they are.

The fact is, Yamaha has officially stated that their new models are in the development cycle, and you'd be seeing them in the beginning of 2008. So why not hold your horses till Auto Expo?

Think about it this way. Now they have motorcycles at both ends of the spectrum. That means that enthusiasts like you and me have a legitimate reason to DEMAND motorcycles in the middle ground. And don't think that this demand will go unnoticed.

Payeng: I have seen the Fazer 250 in action. To me, it is a seriously dated motorcycle. If Yamaha wants to make a statement nay, start a "revolution", they better be redesigning it as of now...

Sunil M said...

I live in the US and have a Yamaha YZF600R (known as the "Thundercat" across the big pond)- very sweet bike. Not an R6, not revolutionary technology (10 year old styling, not fuel injected)but still holds it's own. In fact it has more horsepower than the R6 up to 10,000 RPM.

It might have a bit more promise in India. The Kawasaki Ninja EX500 and maybe Kawasaki KLR 650 (Enduro bike would be perfect in villages if people could afford them). These are all practical bikes with a comfortable ride (for a sports bike).

The real question is - what about parts and service ? Nobody knows how to repair them and service them regularly. How much of a service network will be available to support them ?

Unknown said...

Hey, Yamaha i have been desperately waiting for the R1 to launch infact i have been going to Yamaha twice a month to know the price of the bike.As some one mentioned WHAT IS IN FOR ME? I fairly know that Yamaha is a 1000cc bike and it's going to cost a boam. I am a serious biker and i am realy realy intreasted to buy the R1. But i just want to know the price of the bike also is it going to cost loads of money. Considering the Indian market and the petrol rates hyking up everyday I just hope that the cost of the bike is taken into consedaration.If you could reply for this it will be great thanx.

Payeng said...

Hi Abhishek,


If you can afford to buy the R1 then you must be one serious biker with some serious money.. I am happy for you bro..

But guys like me would have to be content at whatever our "desi" bike makers produce.

Anonymous said...

hi,my name is sathish i am going to buy yamaha r6 original 2008 model in december and it is around 14lakhs coming including all the taxes but for me a doubt that wheter there will be engine sound or not please reply me in the same web and i want it soon yaar

radicall said...

I live in the US and have a Yamaha YZF600R (known as the "Thundercat" across the big pond)- very sweet bike. Not an R6, not revolutionary technology (10 year old styling, not fuel injected)but still holds it's own. In fact it has more horsepower than the R6 up to 10,000 RPM.

It might have a bit more promise in India. The Kawasaki Ninja EX500 and maybe Kawasaki KLR 650 (Enduro bike would be perfect in villages if people could afford them). These are all practical bikes with a comfortable ride (for a sports bike).

The real question is - what about parts and service ? Nobody knows how to repair them and service them regularly. How much of a service network will be available to support them ?

Payeng said...

Yep Sandeep.., quite a few serious bikers would have really appreciated a 250 and maybe might have even streched to a 400.

Maybe after 5-10 years a 400 cc twin might be a possibility in India.. but problem is that I am not getting younger by each passing day

Post a Comment


Your Comments are valuable as they keep the conversation alive..

But Please Comment Responsibly (for them to be published)