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Aug 22, 2007

12 "The Bike Chronicles of India" celebrates its First Anniversary..!!

"The Bike Chronicles of India" has completed its first year..!!

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." -- Confucius

The first post appeared in “The Bike Chronicles of India” with these very words and today on August 22’nd 2007, this journey has completed its first year.

1'st Anniversary of The Bike Chronicles of India

"The Bike Chronicles of India" has already become the Most Viewed Indian Two Wheeler Blog

Lets go into a flashback mode and summarize how the first year has shaped up for “The Bike Chronicles of India”

  • Total Number of Posts Published: 187 (Including this one)


  • Total Number of Page views: 7,98,730

It has come as a pleasant surprise to me (and I have reason to believe) that in the very first year “The Bike Chronicles of India” has become the Most Viewed Indian blog dedicated specifically to “Indian” Two wheelers.


Here is a snapshot of the highlights of this eventful First year:






Special thanks to the readers of "The Bike Chronicles of India" for their continuous support and encouragement.


Without your support this journey would not have been possible


We hope this journey leads us to new and exciting times.




Special thanks to the readers of "The Bike Chronicles of India" for their continuous support and encouragement. Without your support this journey would not have been possible. We hope this journey leads us to new and exciting times.







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.




Aug 20, 2007

1 Pulsar 220, Pulsar 200 and Karizma Compared in August 2007 Issue of Bike India Magazine

The August 2007 Issue of Bike India takes the Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi and the Pulsar 200 DTSi for a shootout along with the Hero Honda Karizma

India's only two wheeler magazine, Bike India has completed two years. The August 2007 issue is its second anniversary issue. Along with other delightful articles and pictures, "desi" bike enthusiasts would love the comparision of the Pulsar DTS-Fi 220, Pulsar 200 DTSi and the Karizma.

There is also a free poster of the Pulsar DTS-Fi 220 along with the August 2007 issue.

Bike India August 2007 Issue

Pulsar DTS-Fi 220 Poster along with August 2007 Issue of Bike India



Along with the Pulsar 220, Pulsar 200 and Karizma shootout, there is also an article on test ride of the TVS Apache RTR along with the cover story of the new Suzuki Hayabusa.

The opinion of Bike India on the Best "Performance" Bike of India has made me very happy man because in a few weeks time, I am going to be one of the proud owners of the Pulsar DTS-Fi 220.


The Best Performance Bike in India according to Bike India


Want to read about the test results..?? Well then go out and get the 2'nd Anniversary issue of Bike India. You will also get a free poster of the Bajaj Pulsar DTS-Fi 220 for free..!!






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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.




Aug 19, 2007

15 Booked the Beast (Finally)..!!

I finally book the Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi..

Yesterday (18'th Aug, 2007) I got a call form Bajaj Probiking Showroom. I was told over the phone that I could come down to their showroom and book the Pulsar 220. Yes, I had to be invited to book the Pulsar 220.

Taking the Pulsar 220 for a Test Ride


>> So far around 60 Pulsar 220's has been sold in Bangalore

>> One of the first Pulsar 220's sold in Bangalore was even backed by a "political" recommendation (revealed by the showroom guys)

>> The waiting period has come down to around 60 days (max) from the earlier 5 months as stated by them previously

In fact as of today, anyone who wants to book a Pulsar 220 in Bangalore has to enter his/her name in a list maintained at the Probiking Showroom situated at Kasturba Road and then wait for his/her turn. The list contains the contact details of those who had inquired about the Pulsar 220 even before it was available in Bangalore. My serial number in that list was 215 and I had to wait for 1 month before I could book the Pulsar 220 for myself.


So I went to the showroom in the evening and paid the booking amount of Rs.5000 for a Red Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi. The showroom guys assured me that I should get the bike within the next 30 days to 60 (maximum) days.

Looks like it’s going to be a long and patient wait.

Checking out a Red Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi

That's me checking out a Red one..






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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.




Aug 15, 2007

2 Readers vote The Bajaj Pulsar as the "Bike which Defines India's 60 years of Independence"

Readers of "The Bike Chronicles of India" vote the Bajaj Pulsar as "the Bike which defines 60 years of India's Independence"

Bajaj Pulsar Wallpaper

Wallpaper of the Bajaj Pulsar along with the Indian flag colors as the background



Opinion PollREsults Details of Opinion Poll Results:

    >> Total no. of votes: 230

    >> Maximum number of votes have come from India

    >> Second highest number of votes have come from USA


It must be stated that the results of the opinion poll represents only a very small percentage of the population. Moreover since the Bajaj Pulsar is the current flavour of the new generation of bikers, it isn't surprising that it has received the maximum number of votes.



Here are my thoughts on the bikes featured in the poll..


Bajaj Chetak Scooter:

    The “Hamara Bajaj” TV Ad in the late 1980’s summarized the essence of the Bajaj Scooter. During those years the Baja Chetak Scooter was virtually the family vehicle and the symbol of the Indian middle class.

    Piaggio of Italy provided the technological knowhow to Bajaj during the intial years. Production began in 1961 and the Chetak was the Indian version of Piaggio’s Vespa. The “license raj” that existed prior to economic liberalization (1940s-1980s) in India did not allow foreign companies to enter the market. Local Manufacturers were subject to a very stringent capacity licensing process, and imports were tightly controlled. This regulatory maze created a seller’s market, with customers often forced to wait 12 years just to buy a scooter from companies such as Bajaj. All these ensured that Bajaj auto remained the numero uno two wheeler maker of India for more than three decades.

    During those years motorcycles in India meant big capacity bikes like the Enfield Bullets, Yezdis and the Rajdoots. It isn’t surprising that during those years the scooter was more popular than the motorcycle as it was easier to handle and maintain them. Scooters were also extremely utilitarian. It could carry your wife on the pillion seat and your little kid along with your weekly groceries on the floorboard as well.

    "The Bajaj Scooter was responsible for putting the Indian middle class on roads. It therefore remains a very important model in the two wheeler history of India."





Hero Honda Splendor:

    Hero Honda Splendor

    In 2001, Hero Honda put India on the Manufacturing world map by becoming the largest manufacturer of two wheelers in the world. The Splendor, launched in 1995 also went on to become the largest selling model in the world during the same time. The Splendor spearheaded the change of popular mode of transportation of the common Indian from scooters to motorcycles.

    During the mid-eighties the Japanese big four bike makers were allowed to enter India via Joint Ventures with Indian companies. Kawasaki-Bajaj, TVS Suzuki, Escorts-Yamaha and Hero Honda formed Joint ventures and started manufacturing small capacity 100 cc motorcycles. Among them only Hero Honda started their innings with Four Stroke motorcycles. These new Indo-Japanese motorcycles were more reliable than the bigger capacity Enfield Bullets or the Yezdis. They were also easier to maintain and more fuel efficient. But it wasn’t till the late 90’s that motorcycles overtook scooter sales.

    Soaring fuel prices and pollution norms sounded the dealt a death knell to the two stroke motorcycles and scooters in India. All the bike makers now turned their attention towards cleaner and efficient four stroke engines. The Switch from scooters to motorcycles also marked a change in the attitude among the Indian two wheeler customers. The Indian two wheeler buyer was getting younger and the scooter was now considered passé. The 100 cc Hero Hondas engines were and still are among the best in India. Hero Honda cashed on this opportunity and has gone on to become the largest two wheeler manufacturer in the world replacing Bajaj Auto in the process.

    "The Splendor spearheaded the motorcycle revolution in India and gave birth to a new generation of Indian bikers. It therefore remains a very important model in the two wheeler history of India."




Bajaj Pulsar:

    If the Bajaj Chetak Scooter was the symbol of the Middle Class India during “License Raj” days and the Hero Honda Splendor represented the emerging India post economic liberalization (1991), the Bajaj Pulsar embodies the spirit of the Confident, Global and Young India of today.

    Bajaj Pulsar
    The Pulsar was the bike responsible for the rebirth of the performance oriented bikes. Hero Honda was in fact the first manufacturer to come out with India’s first 150 cc 4 stroke, the CBZ in 1999. But it was the Pulsar (launched in 2001) which actually went on to set the benchmark of a 150 cc 4 stroke motorcycle.

    The Pulsar developed indigenously by the R&D dept of Bajaj has been the model which has marked the emergence of Bajaj into a major motorcycle manufacturer of India. The Pulsar has dominated the 150 cc segment since its launch in 2001. During the initial years the Pulsar did suffer from a few quality issues. But over the years Bajaj has been continuously improving the quality and adding new and innovative features n the Pulsar.

    The Pulsar coincides with the emergence of India as an important economic power. Apart from dominating the domestic sales charts and the hearts of the new breed of born again Indian bikers, the pulsar has also made the “Made in India” tag proud on foreign shores. The Pulsar is a very popular two wheeler in countries like Colombia and Mexico. Recently Bajaj made its foray in the Indonesian market with its 180 cc Pulsar.

    "Apart from helping Indians graduate from 100 cc to 150 cc bikes, the Pulsar also marks the emergence of a Confident India which is now ready to make its mark in Global Markets. Therefore is earns its place as a very important model in the two wheeler history of India."




Royal Enfield Bullet:

    The Bajaj Chetak Scooter, The Hero Honda Splendor and the Bajaj Pulsar represent revolutionary models which have made a deep impact in the two wheeler landscape of India at different time periods. The Royal Enfield Bullet has been the lone two wheeler model which has survived the test of time. The “Bullet” commands the same respect today as it had enjoyed five decades ago when it landed on Indian shores from its original factory situated in the U.K
    Royal Enfield Bulet

    According to me it is the Royal Enfield Bullet which captures the spirit of India’s 60 years of Independence. I list a few points justifying my choice of the “Bike which Defines India’s 60 years of Independence”, The Royal Enfield Bullet.

    • Like the English language and the game of cricket, the Royal Enfield Bullet Represents India’s colonial legacy


    • After independence, India has been able to carve a place for itself on the world map all by itself. Similarly Royal Enfield has survived in India even its parent company shut down in UK.


    • India was stubborn to change for a long time; similarly the Royal Enfield Bullet didn’t change much for over five decades.


    • Today India is slowly but surely changing for the better. Similarly in the last few years, the Royal Enfield Bullet has improved in quality.


    • Like the timeless beauty of India the bullet has retained its charm over the years.


    • Royal Enfield Bullet have given birth to "Real" Bike Lovers and the “True” Bike Aficionados of India.





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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.




Aug 10, 2007

11 New 125 C.C Bajaj "Exceed" with "DTS-Si" Engine launched

Bajaj Auto launches its Splendor Killer.. The 125 C.C "Exceed" with new "DTS-Si" technology

The new 125cc engine with DTS-Si technology will give a mileage of 109 kilometers per liter under ideal test conditions, says the Pune-based company

>> There is a buzz around that this is the particular bike with which Bajaj Auto will try to break the monopoly of Hero Honda on the 100 cc market

>> So far Bajaj has left no stone unturned and has tried every trick in the book to take away the crown from Hero Honda

>> One thing which might already be in favor of the “Exceed” is the current trend of decline in sales of the 100 cc bikes

That's what Bajaj has to say about its new 125 C.C motorcycle at the launch its "Engine". “Exceed”, that’s the name of the next 125 CC offering from Bajaj on which the new 125 cc engine will sit on. On 9'th August 2007, Bajaj Auto launched an all new 125 cc engine, which it has christened with the "DTS-Si" technology. The acronym stands for “Digital Twin Spark – Swirl Induction”. This in very simple terms means that along with having Two Spark Plugs for the single cylinder engine (similar to the Discover, the Pulsar and the Avenger engines), the new engine will incorporate a new feature called “Swirl Induction”.

Bajaj Chief, Rajiv Bajaj during the launch of the 125 C.C "DTS-Si" Engine


The new engine has been developed completely by the Bajaj R&D. By “Swirl Induction”, the combustion inside the cylinder is further improved by generating high turbulence for the fuel-air mixture. According to Bajaj this very technology would revolutionize the Indian Two wheeler industry with the most fuel efficient bike in India.

Here is what Amit Nandi, General Manager (Marketing) had to say,

"Bajaj will offer customers a value proposition much superior to the currently overpriced and underperforming 100cc products with the launch of an all new bike with the DTS-Si engine next month. 100cc customers will upgrade to this 125cc bike that gives superior mileage and superior power"



In order to outsell Hero Honda 100 cc bikes, the new 125 cc "Exceed" also will have to match the Reliability of Hero Honda 100 cc bikes

There is a buzz around that this is the particular bike with which Bajaj Auto will try to break the stranglehold which Hero Honda has on the Indian two wheeler market thanks to its 100 cc bikes.

80 percent of bike sales of Hero Honda come from its 100 cc bikes. Hero Honda enjoys around 47 percent of the Indian Two Wheeler market. So if Bajaj wants to regain its number one crown, it has to find a way to outsell the 100 bikes from Hero Honda. This is exactly what the new 125 cc platform from Bajaj has been designed to achieve.

So far Bajaj has left no stone unturned and has tried every trick in the book (or maybe some not found in any book) to take away the crown of the number one bike maker of India from Hero Honda. Just recall how Bajaj has tried to attack the Splendor and its 100 cc cousins with its own 100 cc models namely the Boxer, Caliber, CT100, Platina, Discover (not to mention the iterations among these various Bajaj models). In spite of all the aggressive moves by Bajaj, the 100 cc bikes from Hero Honda still manages to outsell the competition by quite a comfortable margin.

Only time will tell if Bajaj will be able to pull this off. But in order to become number one again the “Exceed” has to achieve three things for Bajaj

  • Deliver consistent mileage which should at least equal to what Hero Honda 100 cc bikes deliver

  • Cost no more than the Hero Honda Splendor

  • Match the reliability of Hero Honda 100 cc bikes

Bajaj has already made claims of 109 Km/l for the new “Exceed” under “Ideal Conditions”. In real life conditions this figure certainly won’t be possible to achieve. Bajaj had also claimed 77 Km/l under ideal conditions for the Pulsar 150 once. We all know that the Pulsar 150 delivers around 50 Km/l in real life conditions. Accordingly if we subtract 30 km/l for the real life mileage for the “Exceed”, then it should give around 75-79 Km/l..!!

Print Ad of the Pulsar claiming 77 KM/l (under ideal test conditions of course)


Even if the 125 cc Exceed is able to deliver around 75 Km/l in real life situations and is priced close to the Hero Honda Splendor, Bajaj would have just have to match the reliability of the 100 cc engine from Honda. One of the reasons why the Hero Honda 100 cc bikes have sold more than any other bike in India is because of the bullet proof reliability of the Honda engine along with the consistent high mileage.

The new 125 cc DTS-Si engine is rumoured to develop 9.5 bhp along with 10.85 Nm of torque. These figures are well above any India 100 cc motorcycle available right now.

One thing which might already be in favor of the “Exceed” is the current trend of decline in sales of the 100 cc bikes. Recently the 100 cc segment saw a decline by 16 percent while the 125 cc and higher capacity segment saw an increase in 21 percent in its sales. Although auto analysts have attributed the recent decline in 100 sales due to rising interest sales according to me it’s just s matter of time before Indians graduate towards 125 cc bikes.

Maybe a new 125 cc bike might kick start this new trend but for that to happen, that particular bike has to “EXCEED” the expectations of the normal customer looking for a 100 cc bike.


Enough of Speculation and Hype..!!
Over to you Bajaj..!!






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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.




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