Bike Chronicles of India

Mar 5, 2008

10 TVS Flame TV Ad/Commercial. [Thumbs up from me..!!]

Found a TV Advertisement of the yet to be launched TVS Flame on YouTube.. I liked it.

Update: July, 2010.- Surprisingly this particular TV Ad was never aired on TV.

I have just come across a TV Advertisement of the yet to be launched 125 cc TVS Flame on YouTube. I don’t think that the TV Ad has yet been aired on any TV channel so far. Also the bike itself has been taken for a "Heart Surgery" and should take a few more weeks before it can be launched nationally.

This is not the first time that a video of a TVS product has appeared on YouTube just before the launch of that particular model.

Prior instances have been the Promotional video of the TVS Apache RTR 160 and that of the TVS Flame (promo video) itself.

I think the advertisement should work because it adresses the foremost concern of Indian auto consumers..

i.e. "Mileage Kya Hai..??"

Probably even this time the video has found its way out on YouTube with the prior knowledge of TVS Boffins. If this indeed happens to be a calculated strategy, then I'd say that it is not a bad marketing strategy at all. Uploading videos on the internet doesn’t cost a thing anyway and there are always blokes like myself who are ready to dig out such videos and make it accessible to the target audience.

Have a look at the 30 second TV Advertisement. To sum it up, I liked it...

[Those who can't see the video, Click here..]

With every new launch, companies invest crores of rupees in advertising. And if the advertisements are not able to generate interest about the product then it is as good as dumping the crores of rupees down the drain.

As I has said in the post on the TV Advertisement of the XCD, "The main functions of a Good Advertisement" are..

To secure attention

To arouse interest

To bring about conviction

To produce action

To impress the memory

Basically an Advertisement must give you reason to watch it and in the process educate and generate interest in the product.

In case of this particular advertisement:

# Although the above TV Advertisement uses that same old (Ghisa-Pita) "Mileage/Fuel Efficiency" mantra to make its point and sell the bike, I liked the 'Cheeky' style of narration.

3 Valves of the TVS Flame
# Also in the process to bring about conviction, the short clip also shows off the "3 Valves" and the "CCV-Ti" engine of the TVS.

# TVS also shows off as its U.S.P (Unique Selling Proposition) the "Mileage Indicator" housed in the Digital Display of the Speedometer which shows the expected mileage that you can expect if you keep riding in that particular fashion.

# The TV Advertisement has a "Sticky Quality" to it and lingers in the memory for sometime.

Mileage Indicator on the TVS Flame

[I remember the Fuel Injected 125 cc Hero Honda Glamour "PGM-Fi" also had a similar "Digital Mileage Indicator". Now did Hero Honda apply for a patent for it as well..?? Hmm, I guess not.]

In my opinion, the advertisement should work because it adresses the foremost concern of Indian auto consumers, i.e. "Mileage Kya Hai..??" (What is the average fuel consumption..??)

Maybe for a 150 cc and above segment bike, generating excitement about the product is more important. But for a 125 cc and 100 cc bike, fuel efficiency still happens to be the "Holy Grail" which consumers want.

But like my boss puts it: "In India, even Diesel engined Mercedes models sell more than the Petrol ones."

TVS to relaunch the 125 cc Flame with a Single Spark Plug

TV Ad/Commercial of the New 150 cc Hero Honda "Hunk" motorcycle..

The New TV Commercial of the 125 cc Bajaj XCD DTS-Si

TVS Apache RTR 160 TV Ad and Official Wallpapers

New Bajaj Pulsar DTS-Fi 220, TV Advertisement..!!

Pulsar 200 TV Advertisement. (Video)

Indonesian Bajaj Pulsar 180 DTSI (UG III) TV Commercial/Advertisement..!! (Video)

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.

Mar 4, 2008

8 Royal Enfield "Rider Mania 2008"

Hyderabad plays host to Rider Mania 2008..

The other day I happened to stumble upon an article on Rediff.Com. The topic of the article was "Can India have cult brands?".

The best definition of "Cult Brand" in that article was provided by a professor of marketing from Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (from where else can you expect?). The professor defined a "Cult Brand" as:

"One with focused, committed target customers

with high degree of reverence for the brand,

who are willing to put extraordinary effort to acquire and use the brand and

are willing to publicly demonstrate their love for the brand in an extraordinary manner."

From what I could make out, the opinion at the end of the article was:

"So far there hasn’t been a cult brand from India and there are doubts about whether India could churn out a cult brand of its own."

Well, what do you make of the following then..??

(Got the bike, got the attitude..
what about the Helmets dudes..??)

"Rider Mania" is a National annual event hosted by the members Royal Enfield clubs spread across the country.

Royal Enfield has been doing its part by sponsoring it.

Rider Mania 2008 was held in the city of Hyderabad on January 18'th and 19'th 2008.

Venue of Rider Mania meets so far.

2003 : Goa

2004 : Goa

2005 : Panvel

2006 : Chennai

2007 : Nagpur

2008 : Hyderabad

[Visit R.E Website for more info on Rider Mania Meets..]

Events @ Rider Mania 2008

The 2008 rider mania saw around 350 Royal Enfield riders congregate in the City of Hyderabad. Riders from places as far a Mizoram came for the annual event, which has become kind of a pilgrimage for a Royal Enfield rider.

Royal Enfield Chopper @ Rider Mania 2008

I think that I can see at least one brand which might probably be inching towards attaining that "Cult Brand" status in India.

What do you think..??

Watch a short documentary about the Rider Mania 2008 on You Tube: Click Here..

[Photos posted with permission from Aadarsh's Flickr Rider Mania 2008 Set]

Auto Expo 2008 Coverage: Royal Enfield

"Fuel Injected" Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Electra EFI: Pics/Photos/Images & Technical Specifications

Life Cycle of a "Desi" Biker..

New Royal Enfield Thunderbird with "Unit Construction" Engine [Scoop Pics]

New Royal Enfield Bullet Machismo 500 LB

New Royal Enfield Engine Platform (Pics/Images/Photos)

Women Bullet Riders of India..!! (Video)

Disclaimer:

Mar 3, 2008

18 Fat Rear Tyres: Need Vs. Want

Do we really need fatter/wider rear tyres..?? or do we just want it..??

Correct me if I am wrong but it seems like Indian bikers/consumers seem to prefer a bigger/wider rear tyre on their bikes.

One doesn’t have to look beyond the modifications that guys/"desi" bikers carry out on their bikes. Fitting a loud exhaust and a wider rear tyre always happens to be among the favourite ones.

Actually fitting too wide a rear tyre also has the following negative implications.

Decrease the performance and fuel efficiency of the bike by increasing the "Rolling Resistance" and adding additional weight.

It can also adversely affect the handling of the bike.

"Give bikers what they WANT and they would move Heaven and Earth to get it."

Even if "Average Kya hai..??" (What's the average mileage..??) still happens to be the national anthem among "desi" bikers, surprisingly they also seem to prefer a wider rear tyre. So why do we seem to prefer a wider rear tyre..??

Reason #1: Aesthetics

Most of us who have seen a Super Bike are always in awe of the impossibly wide rear tyre that those exotic bikes possess. Who wouldn’t like to dream of riding a similar machine someday? So while we work towards that transition, we may want to ride something which shows off to the world that we are indeed riding something powerful (Whether what they ride is really powerful or not is a different matter altogether).

Reason #2: Safety

Normally a wider tyre at the rear gives the feeling that while taking sharp turns and while braking, such a tyre would provide with more contact patch and therefore would be a safer one as well.

But the other day a particular guy put forward his point of view on this..

"Most of the braking load is on the front tire and thats as thick as it needs to be. Shall i say it again, already tested and proven on the race track. You dont brake or corner half as much as that on the street".

Actually is it true. About 70-80 % of the braking in a motorcycle takes place on the front wheels. That’s exactly the reason why the front brakes are made more powerful on motorcycles.

Ok I understand.. But I would still say that a wider rear tyre is a "Psychological" need and maybe an "Emotional" need as well.

In the end it all boils down to what Bikers "Need" and what they actually "Want".. and I can safely tell you that "Give bikers what they WANT and they would move Heaven and Earth to get it."

Come to think of it, even Honda (HMSI) has to increase the size of the rear tyre of the New Unicorn from it earlier size 3.00 (inches) to size 100 (in mm).

Personal Experiences:

It is not just the size that matters but also the compound of what it is made of:

This is speaking from a personal experience of mine. I have a Yamaha RX100 (which my brother rides in Bangalore right now) and recently I went in for a rear tyre change. This time instead of going in for a tyre with fancy racing pattern, I went in for one with a simple pattern but which was made of "softer compound". The brand of this new tyre was "CEAT" and the tyre is called "SECURA".

I went for this tyre on the recommendation of my mechanic and boy was I impressed with the tyre..!! Although the "CEAT SECURA" did not have any fancy patterns, the grip from that tyre was very impressive.

Fitting an Wider aftermarket rear tyre:

This is speaking from my brother’s experience. My brother used to ride a Hero Honda CBZ (Original) back in Assam. After a few years he decided to replace the stock 100 section rear tyre with a 120 section tyre.. the bike did look cool from behind but according to his own words, the handling all went for a toss.

So the learning point here is that its better to stick to the stock tyre size. Going up one size (2.75 to 3.00 or 100 to 110) is should be ok, but going up more than one size would do more harm than good.

What "desi" bikers Want (& Need)

Disclaimer:

Feb 27, 2008

22 TVS to relaunch the 125 cc Flame with a Single Spark Plug, Royal Enfield tread carefully with its U.C.E model (with 2 spark plugs)

TVS Motors to launch Flame with a new 125 cc engine in March 2008.. Royal Enfield to tread carefully with its U.C.E (Unit Construction Engine) which also has two spark plugs..

After having to wait for 3 months, TVS Motors has finally decided to launch the 125 cc Flame with a new engine. The new engine will now have a single spark plug instead of the earlier two spark plug design.

The earlier CC-VTi engine had two spark plugs and three valves (one outlet, two inlet). At low RPM’s only two valves were functional and the third valve (inlet) became functional at high RPM’s. It was this because of the use of two spark plug for its single cylinder configuration, TVS was asked by the Madras High Court to stop selling and producing the 125 cc Flame. According to Bajaj Auto this was an infringement of their patented DTSi (Digital Twin Spark Plug Ignition) technology.

According to MoneyControl.Com, the Flame will now feature a new engine developed, patented and licenced by AVL, Austria. Actually even the earlier CC-VTi (Controlled Combustion Variable Timing Intelligent) engine was developed with the help of AVL. The new Flame with the new engine should be out by the third week of March 2008.

Also according to Moneycontrol.Com, TVS has lost around 120 crores of rupees in the last three months in sales because of the delay in launching the Flame. TVS Motors had also invested about 50 crores of rupees in developing the now defunct CCVTi engine.

Here are a few statements made by Mr. Venu Srinivasan, Chairman and MD TVS Motors (taken from Hindu Business Line).

"There is no injunction against selling the 'Flame' motorcycles," Mr Srinivasan pointed out that the injunction was only against the use of the engine with twin spark plugs.

Mr Srinivasan said the company was shocked over the judgment because "we never expected we will lose the case".

Bajaj getting a patent for the use of two spark plugs in the cylinder, he says, "is like me saying that I have a patent for pneumatic tyres".

"I was talking to somebody in Honda (the inventor of the twin spark plug technology). He said, only in your country something like this can happen."

Payeng Says: "Many things can happen and do happen in India.. the Japanese obviously have a lot to learn about us.. but we should know better, shouldn't we..??".

By the way TVS Motors have appealed against the verdict.

Royal Enfield decides to tread carefully with its twin spark plug design.

Royal Enfield U.C.E (Unit Construction Engine) with 2 Spark Plugs Taking a leaf out of the Twin Spark Plug Controversy between Bajaj Auto and TVS Motors, Royal Enfield has decided to play safe with its new U.C.E (Unit Contruction Engine) platform.

The new U.C.E model has a 500cc engine, and is the first engine of the company that will have an integrated gearbox. Another feature that is under the scanner now is the twin spark plug technology on the UCE model.

Royal Enfield is learnt to be now discussing with its legal counsel if its engine technology infringes upon the twin spark plug patent held by Bajaj Auto.

According to MoneyControl.Com, the new U.C.E model is slated to be launched during the April-June 2008 (probably for the Export markets initially).

RL Ravichandran, CEO, Royal Enfield says,

"The company is more focused on developing a new engine platform. The major difference is its integrated gearbox and the electronic fuel injection. It is a lean burn engine that will initially be used for exports in a new model. We are not concerned about one spark plug or two spark plugs"

Payeng Says: After the recent TVS Vs Bajaj face off, I bet that they are concerned.

Court asks TVS Motors to stop Making and Selling the 125 cc Flame.

Bajaj Auto Vs. TVS Motors: "Yeh Patent Ka Mamla Hai..!!"

"Fuel Injected" Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Electra EFI: Pics/Photos/Images & Technical Specifications

New Royal Enfield Thunderbird with "Unit Construction" Engine [Scoop Pics]

New Royal Enfield Engine Platform (Pics/Images/Photos)

Disclaimer:

Feb 25, 2008

25 More Pics/Photos of the Yamaha R15 clicked at the "Yamaha Bike Station"

More pics/Photos of the 150 cc Yamaha YZF-R15 from the "Yamaha Bike Station" at MGF Mall, Saket, New Delhi..

Last Saturday, I met Sajal (Regular reader of “The Bike Chronicles of India”) and both of us went to MGF Mall at Saket, New Delhi. The mission was to visit the Yamaha “Bike Station” to see the Yamaha YZF-R15 which was kept there on display and also click a few photographs.

Posted below are the Pics/Photos of the Yamaha YZF-R15 clicked by us.

Sajal, checking out the Yamaha YZF-R15

Yamaha branded Biking Gear on display (& for sale) along with the Yamaha YZF-R15

Clips ons and Digital Speedometer of the Yamaha YZF-R15

Clip on handlebars, new set of switches, digital speedometers

Close up of the Digital Speedometer of the Yamaha YZF-R15
(check out the 11,000-12,000 redline..!! This will a high revving bike..!!)

The extended visor on the front fairing

The design of the windscreen/visor doesn't quite gell with the rest of the fairing.. also a tinted visor instead of the colorless one would have looked better.

The (100/90 section) rear tyre

The rear tyre on the Yamaha R15 is also quite curved, resulting in very little contact patch with the road. Less contact patch with the road means "rolling resistance" and therefore should help in achieving High Speeds..the curved portion should come into play while cornering.

The cheap looking rear tail light of the Yamaha YZF-R15

The rear light assembly on the Yamaha R15 looks like it has been bought from one of the after market shops. Even if the rear lights doesn't feature LED's, a better design wouldn't have gone amiss.

Sajal Checking out The Bike Chronicles of India @ Yamaha Bike Station

You can even browse the Internet at Yamaha Bike station

Thank God..!! I am not 6 ft tall..!!

The Knee Recess on the tank of the R15, makes for a perfect fit for my size (5 ft 5)..!! Looks like "The Best things in life comes in Small packages..!!"