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Oct 27, 2007

15 I’d rather ride a 250-400 cc slowly through a pothole, than “Day Dream” of riding the R1 on the Golden Quadrilateral..!!

Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki might bring in their big bikes in India soon.. good times ahead "for my kids".. amen

Yamaha R1

Yamaha India has made public its plans to bring in its MT01 and R1 by this year-end. Not to be undone, both Honda and Suzuki have also announced that they are also looking at the feasibility of getting their big bikes for India.

Great..!! Isn’t it..??
A testimony to “India Shining”, Right..??


Superbikes..?? Hmmm.. for whom..??

I have to get married, buy a house, have kids, save for their education, buy a car and save for my retirement..!! From where the hell can I afford the 10 lakh needed for the R1..??

These 600-1000 cc beasts will most certainly be brought in as CBU’s (Completely Built Units) or in simple parlance, as direct imports. Which means that, anyone willing to sign his/her checkbook for these exotic beasts will probably end up with around a million (10 Lakh) Rupees lighter bank balance.

Among the 1 billion plus Indians, there should definitely be at least a few hundred prospective Richie Rich types who are grinning from ear to ear in anticipation..

So in order to afford that kind of money you either got to have a rich dad or a rich kid yourself. And unfortunately I don’t seem to fit in either of the categories. Moreover I have to get married, buy a house, have kids, save for their education, buy a car and save for my retirement..!! From where the hell can I afford the 10 lakh needed for the R1..??

But maybe, just maybe.. I could give the Maruti Alto a miss and plump in for a 2-3 lakh 250-400 cc “twin” if somebody promises me one in the next 2-3 years.



Superbikes..?? Hmmm.. Why??

Why..?? It will boost the image of these Japanese brands in India. And hopefully push the sales of their tiddler 100-150 cc bikes.

These speed demons need smooth roads like (as once quoted by Mr. Laloo P. Yadav) the cheeks of Hema Malini (at her prime mind you..!!)

Well, there is absolutely no dispute that the Japanese are the “Mai Baap” in the motorcycle business worldwide. And like most kids, I too have grown up by hanging posters of Japanese Super bikes on my bedroom wall. Even if the Japs decide not to bring in these speed monsters, I can still safely say that most kids would still religiously continue to hang these posters on their bedroom wall (I have grown out of it).

Honda Hornet 250

Honda Hornet 250


Better still, if I could get a 250 cc Honda Hornet/2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R in my garage before I hit 35 (right not I am pushing 30), it would fulfill my childhood dreams quite well. Thank you..!!
2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R

2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R



Superbikes..?? Hmmm.. Where??

Moreover, the road conditions along with the traffic-infested roads of most Indian cities aren’t suited for 1000 cc bikes. These speed demons need smooth roads like (as once quoted by Mr. Laloo P. Yadav) the cheeks of Hema Malini (at her prime mind you..!!) and not ones filled with potholes, cows, dogs and as Mr. John Abraham could tell you better, the friendly neighborhood bicyclist.

Riding a 1000 cc bike is no child’s play. A 1000 cc bike cannot be someone’s first bike. Even for a 100 cc rider, graduating to something like the Karizma or the Pulsar 220 isn’t exactly easy. In some western countries, one has to qualify to ride a higher cc bike and he/she needs to have prior experience of riding less powerful bikes. But where are such laws in India..??



Shouldn’t a 250 – 400 cc bike come first..??

Maybe I should make enough moolah so that I might be able to borrow my son’s/daughter’s 1000 cc bike for an occasional ride in my grand old days..!!

Logically thinking, that should be the normal progression. The best that we have got right now is the 223 cc Hero Honda Karizma and the Bajaj Pulsar 220. Agreed that these models still don’t do big numbers like the 100-150 cc bikes, but at least there is a healthy demand for these bikes now.

Considering I already ride a Pulsar 220, I think a 250-400 cc twin would be perfect for me in another two years..!!



A blogger calling himself Rearset says, “I'd rather ride an R1 slowly through a pothole than not ride one at all...”

I would like to say, “I’d rather ride a 250-400 cc slowly through a pothole, than “Day Dream” of riding the R1 on the Golden Quadrilateral..!!”

On second thoughts maybe I should make enough moolah so that I might be able to borrow my son’s/daughter’s 1000 cc bike for an occasional ride in my grand old days..!!








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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.




15 Comments:

Lost In Venus said...

Hi, was just wondering about it and bingo u have the news broken to me.
Though its justifiable that you and rearseat are preferential to baja bikes, but was wondering what will happen if the gaints started full throttle functioning in india with their different products. just visited yamaha international web site and i could find wow products in 125 scooter category not to mention their bikes. what if they decided to make atleast half of such bikes from india (just a thought) will people dump pulsars and go for them? will payeng then say i am prejudiced towards yamaha or honda or suzuki. though i would still love bajaj for it did what others were just thinking, but with international companies putting in far better products than the current one, will they loose their steam. i am not doubting indias R&D capabilities (after all its the dam same engine and same piston and bore).what do u say?

Kedar Parikh, said...

"These 600-1000 litre beasts "

Isnt 1 liter = 1000 cc ??

Payeng said...

oops typo error..
you caught me Kedar... :)



@ Venus..

Oh yes, why not..?? Bring all the Japanese good stuff on.. (please just don't price it around 10 lakh..!!) I am all for it.. In fact I am ready to quit my plans of getting an "Alto" in the next 2-3 years if I can get my hands on a Japanese 250 cc twin..!!


My only problem is that I can't wait for too long..

I am in my 30's now.. and once the wife and kids comes in.. well.. I hope you get the picture buddy.

Anonymous said...

Hi payeng , I was planning for a similar post. But you have made it better. We cant dream of liter class bikes with our roads. Any way , i think you wont mind me for lending your words in this post

Glifford said...

So you are contemplating your priorities :)

Nice!

Now that you have your 220, when are you fulfilling the next?

I mean, when are you getting married?

Payeng said...

@ Glifford..

Soon.. Very Soon..

:-)

Anonymous said...

Payeng, I'm getting married not soon too future (engaged at the moment). I dont think the woman in my life understand motorcycles the way I do. But she loves it when I ride one.

Payeng said...

@ Johnny,

"We are in the same boat brother"

Unknown said...

mmmmmm choosing between marriage and r1 i will surely go for r1 ..

i will save 10lak and sure will buy r1 within 2 years of time ...


LIVE TO RIDE...

Payeng said...

@Jonathan, I envy you bro..

:-)

Anonymous said...

Hi, my name is Harmat Gehlon and i use to live in chandigarh India. I did too grew up hanging posters of japanese bikes on my wall but when i came to the US when i was 14 i worked my way up to a R1 by the time i was 19. It is very true about the indian road conditions. These bikes do not work good being riden on slow steady throttle. These bikes are sure fun though.

Sid Soni said...

The pace of innovation among the bike manufacturers present in India can be gauged by the fact that you wrote this post way back in Oct 2007. It's May 2010! Have things changed really? Yes, Ninja 250! Do I call that a change? Not really.

They are so busy milking the Indian biker-consumer with their compromised offerings that they've forgotten innovating. Sure, R15 and now Discover 150 are good examples of value innovation, however I would say they are not even 20% of the effort that we expect from these companies, especially the Japs.

Glifford said...

So you are contemplating your priorities :)

Nice!

Now that you have your 220, when are you fulfilling the next?

I mean, when are you getting married?

Anonymous said...

why the hell are u so dterminbed to havea wife and kids?
there's no rule saying u must have a wife and kids.

Payeng said...

@above,

too late

:-)

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