22 Segmentation of Motorcycles in India (in 2012)

Segmentation of "made in India" motorcycles as seen by me..

Ever thought of how motorcycles of India are segmented?

Someone might quip: "Simple, we have 100 cc bikes for commuters, the 125 cc segment for those who need power & fuel economy. The 150 cc bikes are performance models and then the 200 (+) cc are premium bikes".

Hmm.. really? Just for the record we now have a Boxer 150 (cc) as a basic entry commuter, a Discover 150 (cc) as another simple commuter bike and the Yamaha YZF R15 (150 cc) which is currently considered as a premium model in India. Therefore segmentation by engine cc? Nope... doesn’t make sense.



Posted above is the segmentation of “Made in India” motorcycles in 2012 as seen through my eyes.

But why are all “desi” motorcycles segmented as commuters here?

10 Bike History/Timeline: Hero Karizma (2003-2012). Is the Karizma getting outdated?

Is the bike which started the trend in India of desirable bikes slowly losing its desirability?

Losing it’s "Premium" sheen?

Launched in 2003 the Karizma was the first so called made in India “Premium” motorcycle. No surprises that Hero (Hero Honda back then) pasted a decal on the bike which proudly declared “Premium Sports”. With just the Pulsar 180 as competition, the Karizma without any doubt was indeed a made in India “Premium” motorcycle.

In 2012 the list of made in India motorcycles read as: Yamaha YZF-R15 Version 2.0, KTM 200 Duke, Honda CBR250R and the soon to be launched Pulsar 200NS.

There should be little doubt that the Karizma the no longer as “Premium” as it used to be in 2003.

16 Buying Guide: Motorcycle Riding Jackets in India

A quick guide to choosing the right motorcycle riding jacket in India..

Why wear a Motorcycle Riding Jacket?

1. Because in case of a fall the jacket will provide a crucial few seconds of protection from getting one’s skin scraped off.

2. Motorcycle riding jackets have protective armor built in to them which protects the arm and shoulder joints from getting battered.

3. Additional Chest and Back protectors can be inserted in some jackets

15 Pulsar 200NS: Story of it’s evolution in sketches

Design sketches that show how the Next Gen Pulsar (200NS) was styled by Bajaj Auto..

Creating an automotive legend/cult is itself a rare event in history. But when it comes to upgrading an established automotive icon to the next level, it becomes an even tougher (and even a risky) task.

Posted below is the story of the evolution of such a cult motorcycle brand "Pulsar" in it's latest next gen avatar, the Pulsar 200NS.

“Well begun is half done” goes the popular saying. Even for automobiles/motorcycles the saying holds true in the form of “styling”. Get the styling correct and selling becomes superfluous. But the real challenge comes when one needs to upgrade a brand which becomes very popular. The manufacturer faces the dilema whether to go for an evolution (and risk playing it too safe) or for a revolution (and risk messing with the original design).

7 Honda CBR150R soon to clash head on with the Yamaha R15

Moto GP Champ Casey Stoner in the TV Commercial for the CBR150R.. alarm bells for the Yamaha India's R15 V2.0..??

Nearly 5 years back I had made a post on this blog that why doesn't Honda launch the CBR150R (sold in Thailand back then) in India too? [Click here to visit that post] Finally Honda (India) is going to launch the latest version of the CBR150R in India by most probably March 2012..!!

"Live to Race", that is the tag line Honda is using for the CBR150R. Honda has also made a TV Commercial for the CBR150R featuring Moto GP Champ and currently a Honda rider, Casey Stoner in that video. I guess one doesn't need to further clarify as to how Honda wants us to see the CBR150R as.

Honda CBR150R TV Commercial [Featuring Casey Stoner]

Honda CBR150R Vs Yamaha R15: