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Questions & Answers – Round 8 (General)
Thank you all for such an encouraging response. We receive many questions in a week and its not practically possible to answer each one of them individually. Hence, we try and club similar types together and answer them as one. However, we would urge you to be as elaborate as much as you can in your questions so as to enable us to understand your needs more clearly. Here are the answers to this weeks Round. Hope you find them helpful. We urge everybody to leave comments in the Comments section to ensure that you have got your answers. This encourages us to help you with a new zeal. Happy reading 
1) Hi, I have planned to buy a 150cc bike & I stay in Bangalore. Which one will be a better buy among Pulsar 150 and Yamaha FZ-S. Also mention the mileage in cities for the both the bikes. — RAHUL
BikeAdvice: Hi Rahul, both the bikes are fantastic in their own regards. While Pulsar is more of a commuter type, FZ is made to look sporty. With a price difference of 8-10k between these two they hardly seem comparable and it all boils down to your preferences. If you want to look different from the crowd, own a Yamaha with a huge road presence and ready to pay for it than FZ is the bike for you whereas Pulsar is the bike suitable for all the practical purposes and it does them with aplomb. Expect Fuel efficiency of FZ to be in the range of 40-45 kmpl and Pulsar to return anything around 50 kmpl. Our choice would be the FZ since it is new, has a distinct appeal and is more torqy (would require lesser gearshifts in crowded cities).
2) I am a 5.6? 65 kg man. I own a Honda unicorn & I want to upgrade to Pulsar 220 Dtsi. Will it fit me? Which bike will you suggest me in the range of 85k. I want good handling, Power & mileage. Apache’s don’t look distinct, Yamaha’s feel untrusty to me. — KUNWAR URJASWIT
BikeAdvice: Hi Kunwar, Pulsar 220 DTSi is one of the best bikes in the country currently and with a dirt cheap price tag it is probably India’s most Value for Money bike. Its blistering performance leaves everyone and everything stunned and it is surprisingly fuel efficient too. We would suggest you to take a thorough test drive of the bike and feel your own comfort level and make sure your feet are properly grounded. If you do not feel comfortable than we feel Apaches would be the best bikes for a person of your physique and Apache 180 is one fantastic and distinct looking bike (especially in white).
3) Currently I own a Bajaj CT-100 and I weigh 102kg and I am looking for a maintenance free and a fuel efficient bike. According to you sir which bike is best Apache RTR 160, Pulsar 150 or splendor according to my health and built. — BYJU VARGHESE
BikeAdvice: Hi Byju, considering your physique we recommend you to look out for a powerful bike and leave splendor out. Among the other two we feel Pulsar would suit you more because of a more friendly seating posture and adequate power. However, if you can broaden your criteria than Suzuki GS150R would probably be the most suited bike for you. It’s a lovely combo of power and mileage along with a fantastic torque (which helps in pulling weights effortlessly). It has 6 gears and one of the best looking digital consoles. So if sales and service of Suzuki is not an issue in your area, GS150R from our side!
4) a) I own a CBZ Extreme ATFT and I am planning to buy a new bike in Jan or Feb and I am trying to decide between the R15 or the new Pulsar 220 DTSi. I am 5’ 7” and I like R15 but sometimes I am not that sure, I am a college student mileage and cost is not a factor – AVINASH
b) I am from Kolkata and my height is 5?6 and am 65 kgs, have a broken left elbow. Which bike should I go for? My options are Pulsar 220 and yamaha R15, I do a little bit of cruising and loads of city riding, want a hassle free bike with a good engine. I own a Karizma right now but the f-efficiency and spares are worth a killing and the lights are not too bright at night– UDAY RAMCHANDARAN
BikeAdvice: Hi All, since you mentioned loads of city driving, we would straightaway strike YZF R15 out of the list because of its extremely lazy performance below 6k rpm (wherein your bike would be running mostly in cities). That leaves us with the Pulsar 220 and with 21 horses under its belt, it would ensure you do never run out of steam be it the crowded cities or long freeways. It comes equipped with India’s only and best projector headlamps which ensure ample amount of lighting during nights. And at 30 grands lesser than the Yamaha, it’s a steal at the price it is being offered.
5) I want to buy a bike, I like yamaha, so i was planning to buy one, well after seeing i liked FZ16, but my parents like GLADIATOR type RS(blue), they were saying its both fuel efficient and economical also, one way or the other i too liked that, now i am confused! Would you please let me know the exact mileage, price and your suggestion for me of both the bikes? – KAMAL KUMAR
BikeAdvice: Hi Kamal,
1) Yamaha FZ 16 – Expect fuel efficiency figures to be 40 kmpl and above in cities and 45+ on highways. It is priced at 73k on road Pune and is an extremely fantastic bike.
2) Gladiator RS – Its smaller sibling, Gladiator RS is priced at ~ 54k (OTR Pune) and returns fuel efficiency figures in the range of 60 kmpl in cities.
Gladiator is one of the best 125cc bikes in India currently and with its huge size it almost feels like a 150cc. The RS version looks distinct and appealing especially in typical Yamaha blue color while the FZ is a bigger bike and definitely less frugal and expensive.
6) I want to sell my Yamaha fz-16. It had run only 3000 kilometer and is only 6-7 months old. I want to sell it now. how much money will it get? – SAGAR G.C.
BikeAdvice: Hi Sagar, considering that your bike is scratchless and in mint condition and you bought it in around 70-73ks, it would be appropriate to sell it at anything in the range of 60k (+- 3k). BTW why do you want to sell off a fantastic bike so early?
7) Hi, I am planning to get my first bike in a few weeks, and I have the Yamaha YZF R15 in my mind… . But I wanted to confirm whether my choice is right on the following fronts. 1)Does the bike have a long life, something similar to the bullet? 2) How well does it perform on the maintenance front ? 3) Is this bike fine for a person who is buying his/her first bike ? 4) Is there any new variant of the R15 coming in the near future? 5) and how long is the waiting period (if any) for it ? hope to hear from you this time. -KARTHIK
BikeAdvice: Hi Karthik,
1) Every bike has a long life if serviced and maintained properly.
2) Maintenance is on the costlier side as is obvious because of the heavy technically advanced parts it comes loaded with.
3) Yes, nothing wrong with that. In fact, with a fantastic handling it would be one of the best bikes to start your biking life with.
4) Probability is very much ripe and we do expect a new variant of the bike in few months from now.
5) For waiting period you would have to check with your dealer in your respective city. In general, R15 doesn’t have a long waiting period.
8.) Hi, I want to buy a sporty-looking bike. Speed is not what i am looking for. Just good looks, mileage and low maintenance. I love d looks of stunner, but am turned off because of its small engine. Can u give some pros of d stunner as compared to other bikes in the same price range so that i don’t regret later. And if u r suggesting me not to buy the stunner then would the Apache 180 be a correct choice? — Susmeet Khaire
BikeAdvice: Hi Susmeet, Stunner, as you also said, has everything right just that the heart is very small considering its size and immensely sportly looks. We would not say don’t go for it but since you have mentioned you have kept Apache as an option that why not go for it. It (Apache) is one of the finest machines in India. Though you might not get that refined engine; fantastic performance, killer looks, good fuel efficiency and a low price tag are its positives. Well, since you are more inclined towards looks, why don’t you consider the super sexy Yamaha’s FZ series of bikes? We feel they are the best suited for your kind of a person.
9) a)Hi, I want to buy a cruiser bike such as Bajaj avenger or anything good in this type.Can you please give me suggestion on this.And also i heard about Kawasaki eliminator 2009.Please give your comments in this also. — Sathyan
b) I want to buy a cruiser bike. I want to know how Avenger is? What other bikes I can look at in this segment and how they fare against avenger? — Suvash,
c) Sir i have to buy a bike next month. As i love biking on long distances i am really confused which bike to buy Bajaj Avenger or Yamaha Fazer. Sir could you please help me find a solution to my problem and suggest me a better bike if you think there is apart from these two for travelling long distances or cruising? — AKSHAY
BikeAdvice: Hi all, we would discard the Fazer off that list because essentially it is derived from a street bike (FZ) and remains one, still. Addition of a fairing doesn’t make a bike a tourer! Avenger is a cruiser and pretty good for long distance rides especially because of its upright and comfortable posture. Its low ground clearance and huge rear tyre ensures that you are grounded and safe all the time. The bike now comes with a 200cc oil cooled engine which is a direct lift from the Pulsar 200. Karizma R and ZMR are the other bikes you can consider. With their (Karizmas) proven record of being super efficient tourers they might also need your attention. So basically it boils down to your choice between these two (three!). It’s a matter of choosing between a cruiser (Avenger) and a sporty tourer (Karizma brothers).
Sathyan, Suvash There is no Kawasaki Eliminator 2009. A search for other bikes in this category would lead you to the world of Royal Enfields which are a different creed and taste. So if you are not aware of them much, that means that you might not want to go for those type of bikes. Avenger would best suit you as you are looking for such a bike. Royal Enfields are huge, thumpy, lazy, torque monsters which can munch miles with ease but have a distinct sect of followers.
10) I have read your articles and also your answers to bikers, they are really good: keep going. Need your thoughts on a question I have.
I have been riding a Yamaha RX-100 for 4 years and a Yamaha Gladiator for over a year. I m looking to get another bike (within 150-200cc) which needs to be powerful & sporty, with a decent mileage. I m looking for a bike with price INR 70-85k. — PREM
BikeAdvice: Hi Prem, the two most powerful bikes in this price category are the Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTSi and TVS Apache RTR 180. Both the bikes are immensely powerful with the Pulsar being the fastest and quickest bike produced in India currently. Both are sporty and return pretty decent fuel efficiency figures. Test drive both of them and you might find your worthy next bike. Our choice: Pulsar 220 DTSi.
11) I am staying in Surat. I want to purchase Access 125 Scooter. I am Unable to find out showroom/dealer in Surat city. Please provide me address of this access-125 in surat city. – ANANT PARGHI
BikeAdvice: Hi Anant, Suzuki has one dealer in Surat, Dharmraj Automobiles, address is mentioned below.
DHARMRAJ AUTOMOBILE Pvt. Ltd. 55 Ravindra Park Society, Nr. Surat Nagrik Sahkari Bank Ltd., Adajan Road Surat – 395009 Gujarat – West Tel.: 09825757427, 0261-2785533, 2785534, 9925740000
12) a) Hi, I was interested in the new pulasar 220 DTSi launched recently. Checked it out at the showroom as well. But the sales guy gave a very strange comment that you cannot ride the 220 beyond 100 odd kms at a stretch…but in 150cc you can do it easily. Does this comment have any importance? — Shashidhar
b) Currently i have Bajaj Discover 112 cc,but i am planning to go for a powerful bike. I selected P220, HH Karizma R and Yamaha Fazer. I went through all their reviews and got confused. Although P220 and Karizma are more powerful, beautiful bikes than Fazer but they don’t have a killer looks like Fazer but Fazer is just 150cc. Please help me out. — Amrit Kumar
c) I am confused between 3-4 bikes in range of 70 to 75k.
1st is Yamaha Fazer
2nd is P220
3rd is RTR 180 and
4th is KArizma
so plz tell me which one to go for. Everywhere i can read that it depends on ur need but u hav to answer this.. so plz answer generally as keeping in mind the need of common guy who drives in city, want attraction from others for his bike and sometimes for fun go to highways… — Pranav Nigam
BikeAdvice: Hi Pranav, Amrit and Shashidhar, Read below our opinions about the respective bikes
a) Yamaha Fazer – India’s best looking bike and probably has the most road presence. But that’s about it! This bike is overpriced for a 150cc engine. R15 is technically miles ahead than anything in India but Fazer is essentially the regular 150cc offing. With Yamaha promoting it as a tourer, this bike would probably be the last machine we would take on tours amongst all the above mentioned ones. So if you want an out and out looker, Fazer probably might be the one for you.b) Pulsar 220 DTSi – The fastest and most powerful bike produced in India currently (Enfields not counted). At an on road price of 80k it is a steal and has almost everything a biker wants in his bike. Though you might have to suffer on the service front of Bajaj. Has loads of road presence too
c) Apache RTR 180 – With a fantastic power to weight ratio, this bike is surprisingly faster than even some bigger more powerful machines in India and at a price tag of 73-75k on road along with a super slick engine and engineering, this bike is one of the best mix of city driving and highway touring and it does both of them with sheer aplomb. Negatives include a harsh engine which makes itself evident especially at higher RPMs with vibrations creeping in from every nook and corner of the bike.
d) Karizma R – The old horse from Hero Honda still is one of the most loved bikes in the country. With a fantastic torqy engine, this bike is regarded as one of the most reliable in India. Captioned as “the best tourer”, it does mile munching with ease and style. Negatives include heavenly priced spare parts and that “old” feeling attached to it. And with the introduction of new ZMR this bike has lost some of the limelight as well.
So, we hope, now you understand how it depends upon ones own priorities and preferences and how one bike differs from the other. Anyway, Fazer for those who want style and more style (compromising on the performance figures) and Pulsar 220 for those who want to own the best of both the worlds (have to live with very bad Bajaj service).
Shashidhar, whatever that sales guy had in mind was baseless and crap. Ignore his comment and go ahead and buy the beast.
13) a) Hi, I am planning to buy a bike in 150 CC segment. I am looking for a bike which has good style, Comfort Maintenance Free. I used to drive 30 KM in the city on weekdays and about 100 KM on average during weekend mostly highway. I have Yamaha Fazer on my mind but the high price tag is holding me back. Is it value of money to go for Fazer or can you suggest me a bike of your choice— Bharath
b) I want to buy a newly launched yamaha fazer 150cc. But my problem is its mileage. Can you please tell me its mileage in busy cities. Also which is better among Pulsar and CBZ Extreme? — Sankar
BikeAdvice: Hi Sankar and Bharat, as you already must have read, at above 80k (OTR Pune) Fazer would be India’s least Value for Money (only after Stunner PGM-FI) probably! If you are keen on going for a Yamaha than go for FZ 16, it is the same engine as Fazer and performs a little better and with its distinct naked looks and a huge radial rear tyre, hold a different command on the road. Among other 150ccs you can consider
1) Suzuki GS150R – One of the finest Indian motorcycles with 6 gears and a fantastic digital console. Looks a bit staid and plain but is one of the most frugal engines when it comes to fuel efficiency. Pretty smooth as well.
2) Pulsar 150/ 180 – The king of the segment still holds the same old craze. With a very efficient engine, fiery looks and added gizmos, it is India’s best mix of looks, power and mileage.
3) CBZ Extreme/ Hunk – Upgraded to more power, these are the same engines which Unicorn sports and remain one of the best in the business currently. Very good looks and fuel efficiency figures make them a hot favorite amongst the masses.
Our choice would be the FZ, if you can spend the extra money on outright purchase and on lesser Fuel Efficiency figures (than 150cc competition); Suzuki GS150R, if you can compromise slightly in the looks department; CBZ Extreme/Hunk if you want to own flawless and reliable performing machines; Pulsar 150/ Pulsar 180 if you want a complete package with every little thing packed into it.
Kawasaki Ninja 250 Review
It has been quite simply the most awaited bike on Indian soil, the Kawasaki Ninja. A thoroughbred in every sense of the word, over 25 years of evolution has culminated in this beauty of a machine. We managed to get an up close and personal look at the machine.
As speculated earlier, the bike features a twin cylinder, 250cc fuel injected engine that produces 33bhp which is mated to a six speed transmission. Top speed is claimed to be somewhere around 175Kmph. The bike is imported in parts and assembled in India by Bajaj, which helps in keeping the costs lower than what it would have been to import it as a completely built unit. The on road price stands at around 2,95,000 Rs which happens to be quite a lot, but considering the fact that Bajaj have managed to sell about 170 of these machines since its launch, it has been quite a success.
It features several advances in engine technology such as direct valve actuation and thick pistons along with a Denso radiator which ensures that the engine performs consistently during hard riding. Two catalytic converters are used in the exhaust system, and automatic cam chain tensioner is integrated into the engine that avoids looseness and chain slack hence lowering mechanical noise. The six speed gearbox uses a clutch damper that reduces jerks at low speeds and offers a smoother pick up.
It has a diamond-style frame made of thick steel tubes which translates into high stability and stiffness at high speeds, this frame has been a tried and tested model that has evolved from over twenty years of existence, it carries on with an improved feel over the previous iteration along with new improved materials for light weight and rigidity. The engine with the parallel dual cylinder setup centralizes the bulk of the mass which improves handling.
The front features an inverted shock absorber that has a travel of 4.7 inches and a Uni-Track rear mono-shock that travels 5.1 inches which also happens to be adjustable. The brakes are massive with petal discs for the front and rear. A 290mm disc does the job up front while a 220mm takes care of things at the rear. A slight disappointment would be the lack of colour choices available for the bike, you could coose from Midnight Black or Lime Green and that’s about it. The US market gets to choose from 5 different colours, so we are not sure if Kawasaki will introduce more, but for now these are the only two on offer.
The fuel tank has a 24 litre capacity. One flaw that you may notice is that this bike does not have a fuel gauge, There is, however a low fuel warning light so if you happen to see it lit up, you better be heading to the nearest gas station. You would find two hooks under the rear seat that allows one to anchor or tie anything on to the bike with the help of a cord; also the rear seats feature an elastic band that makes it easy to quickly fasten something on.
The instrument cluster unlike most new bikes in India is a fully analogue one and does quite a good job in representing all the numbers that really matters. It houses the tachometer, speedometer, trip meter, temperature dial and warning lights. A shift indicator can also be found residing on the top of the rev counter.
On the whole, it is a great overall package which happens to be practical; the fuel efficiency is on the low side with Kawasaki claiming around 20 to 25 Kmpl. The 2009 version which is on sale here features some minor changes over the 2008 one, the most visible one being the silencer which is now matt black with a chrome tip instead of the full chrome finish. So, a Maruti Suzuki Alto or the Ninja 250? You decide…
ThunderBird TwinSpark – A 10,000 Km Report
Blackbird, as I call it fondly – has been more than a two-wheeler for me and my family. In fact, it has become a part of my family. Even when I’m not around, my parents take care of it – My neighbors love it and it has been my pride where ever I ride it to. I have covered about 12,000 fun filled kilometres on my bike till now which I bought it on 31-January-2009. There were both Ups & Downs owning the Bike, but overall it has been more of smiles than sad endings. I will take this moment to review the interesting 10,000 Km’s on my ThunderBird TwinSpark. The review is solely in my perspective of how I see things and what I feel about my Bike – It is bound to vary for others.
Looks (9/10): The Bike looks Sturdy, Macho and makes head turn where ever you go. Keep it shining, and it will shine up your day! The Nice Big Fuel tank, comfy sofa’ like seats, bigger tyres, relaxed high lift chopper style handle bars make the bike look the best. The Bike comes in three colours, I personally liked & favoured Black colour all the time – Also Silver and Red are other two wonderful variants for the ThunderBird.
The Instrument cluster is that of a Twin Pod comprising of Speedometer and Trip meter in one side and The RPM meter and Fuel Gauge on the right end. I’m content with the odometer designing, it looks classic, not too flashy and that it gives required details clearly.
The Rear-View-Mirrors (RVMs) are of immense use, But the view ability is not top-notch. It happens so that you end up bending up to get a clear view of who is behind or sometimes, you just won’t get proper view of who is behind you. If you are a regular Highway rider, I suggest you change it to that of Bajaj Avenger, Which not only adds better looks to the Bike, but also gets you more view of what’s behind you!
Engine, Power & Refinement (8/10): The Bike has a 350cc Engine, powered with Twin Spark feature which enhances quicker starts and better pickup / acceleration. It has Automatic Hydraulic Tappets, which helps in efficient combustion, optimal valve timings and not to forget the noise free engine!! Also, The Engine is fitted with an Automatic De-Compressor, which enables us to start the engine without any fuss.
Overall, the engine is stress free, relaxed and pulls away like a wild bull. I have personally ridden 250+ Kilometres / 4 – 5 hours non-stop. There were no signs of engine getting very much over heated or breaking down. Though, the engine does get heated up – That’s normal for a Bullet and once you got used to it – It will never fail you!
The power delivery is crisp; Throttle response is quick and was never sluggish – Not even when I rode a 12 hour ride in rain from Chennai to Coorg last Monsoon. The vibrations are plenty after you hit 4000 RPM and till then it just eases away! Also, try to run in your bike during every long trip – do not just hop on and start milting 100+Kmph. Run in gradually increasing the speed and change the gears at proper RPM levels. Vibrations are normally less once you run the bike constantly increasing the speed from 60 to 80 to 90 than hitting 90 right away.
Top speed was never in my thought and it just vanished away after buying ThunderBird TwinSpark. I bought the bike for relaxed touring and not for high speed runs. I always try to keep it around 4000 – 4500 RPM and the maximum speed I was able to obtain was 115 KMPH on the Speedo @ 5000 RPM, Not to mention the vibrations that you would have to incur speeding away at 5000 RPM.
About the technical details: The Bike powers a 350c Engine, Cranking out a nice 19.8 BHP @ 5250 RPM. And for the torque, which always is a backbone of bullets – The TBTS has 28Nm @ 4000 RPM. The engine Gear-Box is equipped with five speed transmission (One Down – Four Up) favourable for mid-range torque!
Main Advantages & Features:
- 350cc Unit Construction Engine with Twin spark
- Engine: Single cylinder, 4 Stroke, OHV, Dual spark ignition engine, air – cooled
- Power: 19.8 BHP @ 5250 RPM and Torque: 28 Nm @ 4000 RPM
- 280mm disc-front brake and 150mm drum-rear brake for instant stop
- Rear gas filled shock absorber
- Fatigue Free Riding
- Comfortable Sofa’ like seats
- Chopper like Handle Bars
- Front Disk Breaks
- Powerful Halogen 55W Bulb offering better visibility at Night
- 19” Tyres –Useful for both off-roading / touring
- Higher Mileage because of UCE Engine – More than 40 KMPL
Disadvantages & Problems:
- Breaks aren’t effective as they could have been.
- Oil Leakage is a Big issue for all New TBTS Bikes.
- At least for the first 1000 kilometres, the engine gets heated up pretty quickly and engine gets a bit noisy.
- The Bike is heavy, and for those thinner ones like me – It takes two to lift up a fallen Bike!
- Not so very easy to manure in the dense traffic.
- Rear-View-Mirrors could have been designed for better view ability
- The price seems a little costly, But for the dominance of Technology – which again holds good for both advantages / disadvantages!
My Verdict (8/10): The ThunderBird TwinSpark is overall an amazing bike. It covers almost all of the newer technological aspects, has stricter emission norms, gives you incredible mileage and has less or very much little maintenance issues comparing to the older Bullets. For a touring freak like me, there is no other bike which gives me a comprehensive package like that of a ThunderBird TwinSpark and happy that I bought one and will always recommend for my friends to buy one. Why wait? Leave Home, on a ThunderBird TwinSpark!
Bajaj Registers 52% Growth In October 2009!
Countries second largest two wheeler manufacturer, Pune based Bajaj Auto registered 52 percent growth compared to the corresponding month last year. Since the start of this year, Bajaj has been on a roller coaster ride advancing further with each passing month. With the sales declining last year, Bajaj was struggling to keep pace with the competition. Last month Bajaj declared the second quarter as the best ever for Bajaj and things look even better this quarter with the way Bajaj has kicked off this third quarter.
During October 2009, Bajaj managed to sell 2,49,974 two wheelers which comprised of 2,49,681 motorcycles. Last October these figures were 1,65,477 and 1,63,850 respectively. This is the second month on the trot in which Bajaj has managed to sell close to 2.5 lakh two wheelers. Last month Bajaj sold 2,49,795 two wheelers. Similar to the previous month, Bajaj sold 55,413 Pulsars and 95,139 Discovers which caters to the company’s policy of yielding maximum from its sales by selling more profitable bigger and sporty bikes in majority.
Bajaj sold 127 units of the flagship Kawasaki Ninja 250R which was launched on 7th October 2009. Along with these Bajaj also sold 30,481 three wheelers which were 16 percent more than 26,363 units sold in October last year which takes the total tally of vehicles sold in October 2009 to 2,80,455 units. Out of these, exports formed 84,012 units which were 12 percent more than last October and were also the highest ever for Bajaj.
With the festive season over, a lot needs to be seen in the coming months as to how would Bajaj perform. But currently, there seems to be nothing stopping Bajaj.
Honda Labour Issue Finally Resolved
In 2005, an agitation at the HMSI (Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India) plant in Gurgao created huge ripples all across the nation when the company workers were mercilessly beaten up in a lathi charge by the police, everything under the management’s eyes. Similar situation arrived a few days back when the company workers refused to work citing numerous demands and grievences.
As many as 40 permanent and 100 contractual workers were not working which created a halt of the third assembly line in the Gurgaon plant. Honda lost immense money to the tunes of 250-300 crores, production was down by more than 50 percent and as a result waiting period for their 2 wheelers increased manifold, people started canceling their bookings and going for other company products after waiting for eternity and the workers were just not ready to show some respite. Rumors were ripe that if the problem persisted, Honda might shut its Indian operations or shift to a different state. HMSI even petitioned the Punjab and Haryana High court for relief.
The last time the issue was settled when a long term wage settlement was signed by both the parties in September 2006 which was valid for three years. Those 3 years expired on 31 July this year. The labor was hard stuck on formation of a new wage structure, better facilities and good behavior from the management while the company cited the demands as unreasonable. HMSI said that its backlog has touched 1.4 lakh units due to this agitation. The company also stopped taking fresh orders for a few of its models from the dealers and the production of spare part vendors was cut to half because of the non working of the majority of its workers.
However, on 27th October HMSI issued a statement announcing the settlement of the ongoing dispute over wages with the labors. According to the company the ongoing negotiations with the labor union progressed well. Another 3 year long term wage settlement (LTS) was signed on 28th October by the management and the workers union in the presence of the Labor Department. The company agreed to start a performance reward scheme and other benefits for all the workers which would benefit them in many ways. Company also stated the incident as unfortunate and feels that after the resolution of the issue, everything would be back to normal and things would go full gear to achieve the production targets set for the current financial year.
On Wednesday 28th October the newly installed third assembly line was resumed to boost production to an annual figure of 15 lakh per annum and to clear the waiting period of the customers. The third assembly line would produce around 500 units daily initially and soon HMSI would take it to 1000 units per day within some weeks. Recently HMSI also launched an upgraded 110cc Aviator as well. All those who have been waiting for your booked Hondas, the wait might just not be much long.
Honda Launches New Aviator With a 110cc Mill
It was just a matter of time you saw this news. Since the launch of the new revamped and bigger 110cc Activa, speculations were ripe of a new Aviator and finally HMSI (Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India) has launched their premium scooter, Aviator with a new mill replacing the older 102cc to a bigger 110cc borrowed straight from the (new) Activa. Honda is already the segment leader in scooters in India with the largest selling Activa as their flagship model. Aviator is the youngest scooter in the family and is becoming big time popular because of its fantastic looks and some innovative features pegged onto it. Aviator, probably is the best looking scooter in town and with a new potent mill, the game has just begun.
The changes in the new model include:
Masculine Styling: The scooter has been given some fresh tidbits here and there which make it look even more appealing and luxurious. The scooter has an elegant chrome plated front cover, body colored grab rails and garnished instrument panel along with the alloy wheels which make it a stunner to look at justifying its tagline “Live Your Style”. Sadly, all these are limited to the Deluxe version only.
Bigger Engine: The scooter gets the fantastic 109cc mill directly lifted from the Activa which produces a peak power output of 8.1 Ps @ 8000 rpm and 0.9 kg-m of torque @8k rpm. This simply implies that the scooter is now more nimble, zippier, can pull loads effortlessly and the best part is it is more fuel efficient as well. Honda has claimed a 15 percent increase in fuel efficiency with this engine.
COMBI BRAKES System: Again a direct lift from the Activa, the scooter also has an innovative Combi Brakes system feature. Two wheelers come equipped with two brake levers for front and rear separately. Majority of the riders in India apply rear brakes only and do not apply front brakes fearing a skid or fall. However, for an effective braking both front and rear brakes should be used to stop safely and at the desired point. Combi Brakes system is a technique by which, both front and rear brakes get activated jointly in right proportions. The rider need not worry about effective stopping, as both the brakes would be applied in the correct amount automatically when only the rear brakes are pressed. Added to this, people also have an option of a 190mm front disc brake (with 3 piston calipers). Though the sad part is that both these features are available only in the Deluxe version.
Viscous Air Filter: The scooter also gets a new viscous air filter which is more efficient in catching dust particles, impurities in turn enhancing the life of the filter which means that the maintenance costs are also decreased as the filter requires no cleaning and is a long lasting part as well.
Maintenance Free Battery: Latest edition of the scooter also gets a 12V 3Ah maintenance free battery. Say NO to frequent top ups and leakages as the new battery is safer and lasts longer than the conventional batteries. It also ensures that you never run out of power in stop and go traffic under sudden stops and starts.
New Colors: The scooter will be available in five fresh colors for every kind of taste – Monsoon Gray Metallic, Rebel Red Metallic, Orange Metallic, Pearl Heron Blue and our favorite Pearl Black.
Two Variants: The scooter is available in two variants, Standard and Deluxe. While the Aviator standard comes at a price of Rs. 45,180, the Aviator Deluxe is priced at Rs. 50,410 (both) ex-showroom Mumbai. The prices are definitely on the higher side and with the addition of road taxes and other payable stuff the on road prices for the scooter would be almost half a lakh in every city (with the Deluxe version costing in excess of it) which definitely makes it on the expensive side but with a plethora of new additions, telescopic shock absorbers, Puncture resistant tube, comfortable ride, fantastic looks, Honda’s reliability benchmarks considerably reduces the justification question. And with some stiff competition in the form of Rodeo and Duro from Mahindra and Access 125 from Suzuki, selling such a expensive product might turn out to be an Achilles Heel for Honda!
Bikes Sale Figures for September 2009
HERO HONDA: Cashing in on the festive season, the market leader continued its dominance over the market selling a whooping 4,01,290 units in September 2009 as compared to 3,85,262 units last September registering a growth of 4.16 percent. This is the second month on the trot where Hero Honda has managed to register more than 4 lakh units in a single month. Splendor and Passion have been the most selling bikes from the stables. Hero Honda witnessed a grand 95 percent growth this quarter (July- September) over the same period last year in turn marking the highest quarterly earnings of Rs 597.14 crores in Profit after Tax (PAT). The company sold a record 11,83,235 units this quarter with the total turnover growing to highest ever of Rs. 4059.44 crore from Rs. 3202.05 crore recorded during the second quarter of the previous fiscal which marks a growth of a healthy 26.8 percent. The company launched the Fuel Injected sibling of older Karizma, the new Karizma ZMR PGMFI which has been received pretty well by the biking aficionado of India.
The company recently hosted the 2009 Indian Open Golf championship in Gurgaon. They will also sponsor the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup next year in Delhi. Hero Honda was awarded the “Most Preferred Two Wheeler Company” at the recent CNBC Awaaz Consumer Awards whereas Mr. Pawan Munjal, MD & CEO of the company, was awarded the “CNBC TV18 Man of The Year”. Hero Honda was adjudged the “Company of the Year” by Economic Times Corporate Excellence Awards 2009 along with the “Most Trusted Brand” 2009 (Two Wheelers category) by Brand Equity, “Trusted Brand” 2009 (Motorcycles) award by Reader’s Digest magazine and the Dun & Bradstreet, Rolta Corporate Awards. Hero Honda plans to concentrate more on the entry level segment and would revamp their existing 100ccs.
BAJAJ AUTO: Rising from the ashes, Bajaj appears to be on a song. This month saw Bajaj at its best growing 14 percent in sales of two wheelers and three wheelers. Bajaj sold 2,49,795 two wheelers as against 2,18,494 units sold during the same month last year. Further dividing the figures, Bajaj achieved a 15 percent growth in motorcycle sales over the last September. The newly launched 100cc Discover DTS-Si is doing wonders for the company’s fortunes and sold a whooping 71000 units this month whereas its bigger sibling Discover 135 managed to sell 23000 units. Bajaj also managed to sell 56000 Pulsars which includes the revamped 2009 model Pulsar 150, Pulsar 180 and “The Fastest Indian” Pulsar 220 DTSi. According to Bajaj, 60 percent of the companies motorcycles sold belong to the more profitable category of “Bigger and Sportier” Pulsar and Discover flagship brands. Adding to the positive news, Bajaj managed to best its figures of highest exports at 80,681 units which were 18 percent more than the 68,572 units exported in September 2008. The quarter also saw Bajaj beat its own records. For more info please click (http://bikeadvice.in/bajaj-registers-quarter/)
TVS MOTORS: Chennai based TVS Motors also recorded 4 percent profit in September 2009 selling a total of 1,42,553 units against 1,37,246 units sold during the same time last year. Domestic sales registered an impressive 11 percent growth at 1,32,281 units as compared to the 1,19,017 units sold in September 2008. Scooters also recorded an impressive 11 percent growth registering sales of 29,984 units against 27,108 units sold in September 2008. However, motorcycle sales saw a decline and stood at 60,718 units compared to 71,278 units sold in September 08. Exports also continue to be affected with sales of 10,272 units of total 2 wheelers against 16,201 sold during the same month last year.
TVS has been posting continuous growth for the past six months in a row after the black clouds of downturn. The company posted a healthy growth of 9.25 percent in the second quarter (July to September) registering total revenues of Rs 1129.9 crore over 1034.2 crore recorded during the second quarter of the last fiscal. Profit after Tax (PAT) for this quarter stood at Rs 24.6 crore against Rs 10.4 crore achieved in the corresponding period of the last year. During the second quarter TVS posted total sales of 1,55,492 motorcycles which were lower than 1,80,964 units sold during the second quarter of previous year. Scooters recorded a 12 percent increase selling 86,389 units against 76,853 in the previous year’s second quarter. Exports have consistently been showing negative trend and continue to be affected this quarter as well. Total exports stood at 35,080 units against 52,249 in the corresponding quarter previous year.
The infamous patent dispute between TVS Motors and Bajaj Auto has also been ruled in favor of TVS on 16th September by the Supreme Court of India and after obtaining all the necessary certifications TVS plans to commence selling the twin spark plug 125cc bike Flame. During this quarter, TVS Scooty brand also won accolades for the “The Scooty Institute” which has trained over 3.9 lakh women to ride a Scooter. TVS plans to launch a new bike in the executive segment and a scooter probably based on the same Scooty platform.
YAMAHA: The Japanese technology major was the biggest gainer in India this month. The sales rose a massive 160 percent at 26,394 units majorly contributed by the FZ series of bikes. Fazer which is priced at a premium is also a hit in the market. Previous September Yamaha managed to sell 10,142 units only. With the introduction of YZF R15 and the FZ series, Yamaha has been on a roll, dishing out profits month after month. If rumors are to be believed Yamaha plans to introduce two new bikes very soon but the company officials are tight lipped about it. Customers have gladly accepted all the new products launched by the company which has encouraged Yamaha to go for better technology laden products. September also saw the launch of the massive and huge monster VMAX which costs 20 lakh Indian rupees. The company is expanding its dealer base in India taking the total to 550 all across India. Yamaha also launched the “Win – Win” campaign to boost sales which offers gifts to all customers who visit the company showrooms.
SUZUKI: SMIL (Suzuki Motorcycles India Limited), the youngest player in India also witnessed a fantastic month registering a profit of 25.61 percent. The company sold 15,719 units this month against the 12,514 units sold during the same month previous year. The major contributor to the tally was the 150cc premium bike GS150R which has many firsts in India. Access 125 also received a good response in the scooter segment. Suzuki is looking at enhancing their penetration in the Indian market and are working at expanding the dealer base all across India rapidly before they set all guns blazing.
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