15 Buying Guide 2010: Best Entry Level - Budget Bike/Motorcycle in India

Best Entry level - Budget bike/motorcycle in India in 2010- my Top 3

What an Entry level – Budget bike?

An entry level – budget bike as the name suggests is one that you can buy for the lowest pric tag i.e if you are on a tight budget. It also goes without saying that one naturally expects these budget motorcycles to be also delivering good fuel efficiency as well.

In terms of pricing (in 2010), one can say that motorcycles priced around the Rs.35,000-Rs.40,000 (on road) mark can be categorized as entry level-budget motorcycle in India.

All the models listed below should normally return a fuel efficiency of at least around 60-65 kmpl. A "merciful" right wrist and regular and proper maintenance of the motorcycle might also fetch you fuel efficiency of around 70 plus Kmpl.

The only issue that I see with these entry-level budget motorcycles:

"The mental block of being seen on a C-H-E-A-P motorcycle"

In India the price tags for these entry level motorcycles currently start at around Rs. 35,000 ex-showroom (Rs. 40,000 on-road). The best part is that being cheap doesn’t mean that you can’t have access to features like alloy wheels and electric start.

Yes sir, in 2010 you can get models like the Hero Honda CD Deluxe with electric start and alloys as an option and the Bajaj Platina 125, where these features comes as standard fitment.

It’s not too difficult to choose an entry level – budget bike in India as the list of option is not too long. Posted below are my top 3 entry level – budget motorcycles that you can buy in 2010 in India.

(Prices mentioned below could have undergone revisions. It is advised to personally check out for the lastest prices).

1. Hero Honda CD Deluxe (100 cc):

35 How petrol pump attendants cheat you..!!

How some petrol pump attendants in India try to cheat.. and how not to get cheated

After reading this article, I am sure many in India would get a deja vu.

Modus Operandi: Distract and Cheat

Thanks to the billion plus population of our country, there seems to be a waiting line for almost everything. From buying of kindergarten admission forms for your kids to mundane activities like filing fuel in your bike, its guaranteed that in India you’ll have to queue up for it.

Some petrol pump attendants sometime try to take advantage of this queue and try to cheat you in 3 simple steps,

(Photo used for illustration purpose only)

Step 1: If the guy before you has filled up 1 liter of fuel and say you want to fill 2 liters, the petrol pump attendant sometime don’t reset the meter to zero reading

Step 2: They’ll ask for the quantity that you want and then try to distract you

Step 3: And if they are successful in distracting you even for the slightest moment, they will start to fill fuel in your vehicle without setting the reading to zero

So you end up paying more for less.

10 Suzuki Slingshot 125 cc: First Pics

Photos of new 125 cc for India from Suzuki named "Slingshot'..

Posted below are photos of what seems to be a new 125 cc motorcycle for India from Suzuki. The photos were shot in a Suzuki motorcycle showroom in Mumbai.. The motorcycle carries the named "Slingshot" on its side panels.

The word is around that the production of the 125 cc Suzuki Zeus has been stopped. Although the details have yet not been made public, its very much possible that the "Slingshot" could get the same 125 cc engine of the Zeus.

[Original Source of the Pics: Team-Bhp.Com]

Why this unconventional name?

18 Memorable (Indian Motorcycle) Advertising Tags - My top 5

My top 5 memorable motorcycle ad tags..

Before I list out my top 5, let’s clarify a few things.

What is a tag line?

What comes to the mind when one comes across the lines, "Just do it"?
Most of us would instantly say, Nike. "Just do it", is probably one of the most famous tag line to be associated with a brand.

What does a tag line do?

A powerful tag line provides instant recognition to a product in a crowded market place. It makes the product stand apart from its rivals by clearly bringing out its USP (Unique Selling Proposition).

In case of Nike, the brand stands for / is positioned (in the mind of customers) as personal athletic achievement. Nike just wants you to go out and "just do it". The tag line also has to bring out the positioning of the product/brand.


My Top 5 Memorable Motorcycle Tags..

No.5. "More smiles per hour": TVS Victor

When the 110 cc TVS Victor was launched in August 2001, this particular tag line made the TVS Victor stand out among other models like the Hero Honda Splendor/Passion, Yamaha Crux and Bajaj Caliber

6 Expect KTM models (currently code named X-Street) in India by mid 2011

India would also get the KTM Model being developed for Europe by mid 2011

..the same news of the 1 lakh plus price tag for the small capacity KTM model is being flashed on other amateur sites/blogs as breaking news..!!

KTM is a name synonymous with high quality off road and adventure motorcycles. KTM also makes motorcycles meant for street use like its Supermoto models, the Duke 690, Super Duke 990 and the Superbike RC8.

But the smallest of these street models start at 450 cc (the 450 SMR Supermoto). Also unlike its off-road range, KTM till date doesn't have a 125 cc street to take advantage of the European licensing rules and the entry level learner's market.

KTM 125 X-Street:

For this very purpose of putting together a 125 cc entry level motorcycle (being called as X-Street on KTM's website) for European markets, KTM had joined hands with Bajaj.

According to KTM's website:

"The 125 cc street models, developed in cooperation with Bajaj, will be produced and launched (in Europe) at the end of calendar year 2010."