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Alas, It Still Is a Bleak Scenario

Uncertainty continues to haunt the economy as COVID-19 cases keep mounting with more than 90,000 cases being reported daily. Going by the fact that the government of Maharashtra is enforcing Section 144, it looks like a long haul before we can see some sort of normality returning and, by the look of it, the vaccine seems to be quite some distance away.

Most people have taken a salary cut; I would say the lucky ones still have a job and the unfortunate ones have lost their jobs and their means of livelihood. There is no sign of a stimulus package in the near future and, to make matters worse, fuel prices continue their northward trend, thus making the ordinary citizen the worst-hit as they have to shell out more for the daily commute and for all the essential commodities.

With Bharat Stage VI norms coming in, we have been testing all the new BS6 variants and what we have found is that most bikes have suffered a drop in performance even in spite of some manufacturers increasing the engine capacity to make up for the decrease in performance.

The ban on import of goods has resulted in a shortage of tyres for the high-end bikes. As one of the manufacturers said, they do not have a stock of tyres for most of the big bikes.

The sale of entry-level two-wheelers has gained some momentum over the last couple of months as people prefer to use their own transport rather than relying on the inadequate public transport system.

The bike we are looking forward to is the all-new Royal Enfield Meteor. It will be a 350-cc single- cylinder motorcycle and its engine has been derived from the 650 twins. It will have a four-valve cylinder-head and it should be a refined powerplant. Since the 650-cc Royal Enfield twins have set the bar high, our expectations are also just as high and we are looking forward to riding the Meteor next month.

 

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Looking Forward to Festive Momentum

The festive season is round the corner and manufacturers are looking forward to it to regain the sales momentum that has been eluding them for the past 10 months. With things heading back towards normality and the supply chains getting completed, we may expect an increase in the number of new two-wheelers being sold.

With the restrictions on import from China, two-wheeler manufacturers are going to face difficulties in production as well as costing because many of them source components from that country. Particularly with the BS6 norms in force, most of them import fuel-injection systems from China. In this context, there is a question that we need to ask ourselves: why is it cheaper to import components from China than manufacturing them here in India? You don’t require rocket science to manufacture components in India; it is all the hurdles and restrictions laid down by the authorities that make doing business a tough proposition.

If a ban on Chinese goods comes into force, most of the electric two-wheeler manufacturers will have to shut shop since most of the critical components such as batteries and motors are imported from the Land of the Dragon.

The strict enforcement of the rule regarding wearing masks is laudable, but I wish the authorities would enforce traffic rules in the same manner. Rules such as wearing a helmet, not more than two persons astride a two-wheeler, and not riding down the wrong way. In doing so, we would also save a lot of lives that are lost in road accidents. In the Koregaon Park area of Pune, for instance, we see the police apprehending people for breaking a traffic signal, which is good, but they turn a blind eye to those riding or driving down the wrong way, which is sad. This anomaly needs to be addressed forthwith.

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Let’s Look at the Positive Side

This month Bike India completes 15 years. The magazine, dedicated only to bikes, has gone from strength to strength over this period of time.

As we all know, the Indian economy has been showing a decline for the past couple of years. COVID-19 struck in March this year and it resulted in a further decline in the sales of two-wheelers, what with the country going into a lockdown for three months. The partial “unlock” has seen some growth in sales figure, but, at the same time, manufacturers are facing difficulties in the supply chain because some of the vendors are located in containment zones.

Well, enough about the doom and gloom. Let’s look at the positive side. Two-wheeler sales have shown signs of recovery. Royal Enfield posted their best sales figures in the month of June 2020. The feather in the cap for Royal Enfield is that the Interceptor 650 was the best-selling motorcycle above 125 cc. It is a big achievement to be number one in a market like the United Kingdom. It shows that people want pure, unadulterated motorcycling at an affordable price. The Interceptor 650 has enough power and performance to satisfy most riders and the only electronic aid on the bike is ABS for safety. Indeed, this is a proud moment for the Indian automobile industry because an Indian motorcycle manufacturer has achieved this.

This month I would like to welcome Adam Child ‘Chad’ to the Bike India team. Adam will be a regular contributor to the magazine. In fact, he has started his innings with the cover story on the Ducati Superleggera.

On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of Bike India I would like to thank all our readers and the manufacturers for their support. I would also like to thank the marketing team and my editorial team for their support and hard work in bringing out this magazine month on month.

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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The Slow Crawl to Normality

The country is limping back to normal life ― or, at least, a semblance thereof ― after being shut down for nearly two-and-a-half months. However, even now there are a lot of restrictions on how many people there can be in an office, shop or dealership at a given time. Decent sales numbers still seem a distant prospect.

The prevailing social distancing norms should promote the sale of two-wheelers, for people would prefer to travel in or on their personal mode of transport rather than be packed like sardines with total strangers on a local train or a municipal transport bus. Nevertheless, the manufacturers will still have to struggle to sell their two-wheelers because the government is not being helpful in any way, be it reduction in the GST or a tax break in personal income-tax for the salaried middle class. To make matters worse, they have increased the price of petrol, diesel, and LPG (cooking gas) when the global crude prices had hit rock bottom. Fuel prices are critical not only in the matter of daily commuting but also in the transport of all the essential commodities and this hits the ordinary citizen. Another worrisome deterrent is that people are no longer sure about their jobs. While some have taken a pay cut, others have already lost their jobs. The sentiment is far from sanguine throughout the country. The only good news is the withdrawal of the five-year mandatory insurance for new two-wheelers, which should bring down their on-road prices.

During the COVID-19 lockdown one debate has been settled: that about the print versus digital format. Most of our readers have written in, asking us when we will be printing the magazine in the usual hard copy format as they are fed up with reading e-magazines on their iPad or Kindle. Many of them said that they only got as far as the introduction before moving on to the next story. It has now become clear that it is by no means the end of the road for the print media. They are here to stay. Take care and stay safe.

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Normality Still Elusive

Not much has happened in the two-wheeler world on account of the nationwide lockdown in the wake of the pandemic outbreak. Some of the manufacturers have started limping back to production activity after being allowed 30 per cent of their workforce. Allowing the manufacturers to start activity is like allowing a part of the chain to function. The rest is still under lockdown and it does not make sense if they cannot get the components to complete the bikes. Even if they do manufacture bikes, they cannot sell them because the dealerships are still under lockdown.

Admittedly, we are not experts on economy or health, but what is happening during this lockdown is that it looks as if nobody knows the direction in which we are headed with the number of COVID-19 cases on the rise by the day. It appears that we are going to be under a permanent lockdown if this number keeps rising. As of now, no one knows when the government is likely to lift the lockdown.

The economy was already heading south before the virus hit us and now we are headed towards a recession. Rajeev Bajaj is the only industrialist who has the courage to call a spade a spade on the national television. I wish we had more industry leaders like him.

By the time the government decides to lift the lockdown, most small businesses will have to shut shop and the relief package has nothing for the auto industry or to promote sales by reducing the GST. What sense does it make to classify two-wheelers as luxury goods and slap 28 per cent GST on them?

During the fourth lockdown we were supposed to see a certain easing of the restrictions, but no such luck so far. In fact, Pune is still under a full lockdown. Even after eight weeks there is still no relief for the migrant workers. It breaks my heart to see all the poor people ― men, women, and children ― walking hundreds of kilometres towards their native villages in this scorching summer heat.

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Coping with Difficult Times

Although we have been under a countrywide lockdown for the past
month and a half, we have made an attempt to keep you abreast of whatever little is going around the world. There has been bad news in the last month, starting with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The world of motorcycle racing lost Tony Rutter, a seven-time Isle of Man TT winner and four-time world TT-F2 champion.

The pandemic has thrown the whole world out of gear with most countries going into total or partial lockdown. That means no production and no prospect of sales. The manufacturers will be able to survive this lockdown but the vendors and dealers will find it difficult to sail through on account of the financial crisis. After all, they have to pay their employees’ salaries and rent for their premises, etc. In the absence of production and sales, things are going to be extremely difficult.

There may be a silver lining to the dark cloud once the lockdown is lifted. The way we live will change with social distancing becoming a way of life. People will have to stop using public transport where, for the most part, they are packed like sardines and start relying more on personal transport. This will boost two-wheeler sales.

The government needs to support the manufacturers by allowing a reduction in the GST as well as by allowing them to sell all the BS4 stock. If this is not done, there might be a lot of repercussions. The industry was already in the throes of a slowdown even before the virus struck.

This month we will not be printing the magazine; it will come to you only in the digital format. Even if we were to print the magazine, it would not be possible to circulate the copies in the present situation. As of now, please stay at home and stay safe.

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Worldwide Repercussions

THE INDIAN ECONOMY IS IN A SLOW-DOWN AND, TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, NOW the world is facing the threat of the coronavirus. It is taking a further toll on the Indian two-wheeler industry. In the days gone by, a virus in China would not have affected the Indian two-wheeler manufacturers because all the components were sourced locally. Today, in this age of globalization, manufacturers are sourcing cheap components from across the world and especially from China. There is a problem with the supply of components from China and this has had an adverse effect on the production of two-wheelers. The switch to Bharat Stage VI is also going to be a problem since most fuel-injection components are sourced from China.

The EV manufacturers across the world are going to face difficulties due to the virus because more or less all the battery and 90 per cent of the components are sourced from China.

The Husqvarna brand was launched at the India Bike Week in December 2019 and now they have entered the market with two models, the Svartpilen and Vitpilen, both 250-cc. The Huskies are using the KTM engine and frame with different body work. We will bring you first ride reports of both the bikes in the next month’s issue.

This is a good time to travel on your bike as you don’t know who is going to sit next to you on a bus, train or aircraft. The MotoGP season has taken a big hit with the Qatar round only running the Moto2 and Moto3 classes following a ban on Italians from entering the country. Moto2 and Moto3 went ahead as they were already in the country for testing. At the time of going to press, the Thailand, Argentina, and US rounds have been postponed to a later date.

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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It’s Value for Money That Counts

WE WITNESSED THE AUTO EXPO LAST MONTH AND, SO FAR AS THE TWO-WHEELER industry is concerned, it was quite a let-down. Only two mainstream manufacturers, Piaggio and Suzuki, took part in the show. However, quite a few electric two-wheeler manufacturers were present with a number of e-bikes on display. It seems that motor shows are losing their sheen and more and more people are moving away from them.

The organizers did a good job by making sure that it was only journalists and photographers, so that it was easy to do one’s work, though the usual problem still persists: you only get to see the backsides of Delhi photographers! Talking of EVs, we did a first ride on the new Bajaj Chetak and its build quality, ride, handling, and performance give the impression that it is a proper scooter and not an electric toy.

The annual Bike India Awards were also presented at a ceremony held last month. As a dedicated bike magazine, it is our duty to appreciate the work done by the manufacturers in the previous year, especially in such difficult times. There were quite a few contenders for the Bike of the Year Award, starting with the Bajaj Pulsar 125 and going all the way up to the BMW R 1250 GS. It is not necessarily the best bike that wins the award, because value for money is very important. If one builds a fantastic motorcycle and prices it exorbitantly, then it does not make sense because it goes against the principle of value for money. This time the Bike of the Year Award went to the Hero XPulse for its unique approach, versatile performance and good bang for the buck.

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Jumping on the e-Bandwagon

ELECTRIC TWO-WHEELERS SEEM TO BE ATTRACTING A LOT OF ATTENTION NOWADAYS. Every other day we hear of a start-up getting into the manufacture of electric scooters or motorcycles. This is courtesy of the Chinese component and battery manufacturers who supply lithium-ion batteries and electric motors.

Most, if not all, of the people getting into the manufacture of electric two-wheelers seem to be unaware of the kind of performance these bikes need to deliver. Take, for instance, a scooter fitted with fancy dual-piston calipers for the disc brakes when the scooter can barely exceed 50 km/h. Instead of spending on expensive brakes, the manufacturers can improve the overall quality of the bike.

This month we tested the Gemopai Astrid Lite electric scooter and the speedo error was an alarming 25 per cent. When the actual speed was 52 km/h, the indicated speed was 72 km/h. For a bike with a top speed of less than 55 km/h, drum brakes can provide sufficient braking power. Instead of making the scooters look snazzy, the manufacturers should concentrate on the basic engineering and improve aspects such as ride, handling, utility space, and overall fit-and-finish, so that the end product is reliable and does not catch the rider unawares by breaking down in mid-journey.

Even though there are fewer working parts in an electric scooter as compared to a regular IC engine scooter, the former tends to be more expensive than the latter. One of the biggest issues the country is facing is the traffic situation that is going from bad to worse by the day. People do not seem to bother about anybody but themselves. Thus, they would happily put their lives as well as other people’s lives to risk and not go that extra 50 or 100 metres to take a U-turn, preferring instead to ride down the wrong way because it is easier and more convenient. Such people who go down the wrong way not only get aggressive and belligerent with the citizens who follow the rules, but, at times, they even come to fisticuffs with the police.

It is our humble request to all our readers: please follow the traffic rules and ride with care, for your loved ones are waiting for you at home.

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Swedish Flavour

This is the first editorial of 2020 and we have a new brand of motorcycles launched in India in the form of Husqvarna. The Swedish brand is owned by KTM and will be sold through KTM dealerships.

The India Bike Week (IBW) was held on the 6th and 7th of December and drew a record crowd.

It is that time of the year when the Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) is held and the jury consists of all the leading motorcycle and auto magazines and websites. Unlike last year, when we had a runaway winner in the Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor, this time the competition was closely fought and the winning margin was just one point and the winner was Hero Xpulse 200. It is not just about making the best motorcycle, but it also has to be value for money. The Jawa motorcycles were launched in December last year and now, after one year, we have still not been able to get our hands on the bikes for a road test. One wonders why it took so long to give us the bikes for a road test. Had it not been for the IMOTY jury round on the 2nd of December, we would not have got the bikes. That apart, copying the old Jawa to such an extent as the stance of the motorcycle — the tall front end and squat from the rear — restricts the suspension travel and that forces them to go for a stiff suspension set-up. On the positive side, the low stance at the rear makes for a low saddle height, thus making it easy to manoeuvre the motorcycle. It is easy to ride the bike in city traffic thanks to its low seat height along with low gearing and strong low-end and mid-range performance. However, if you compare this motorcycle with the Suzuki Gixxer 250, which was on test simultaneously, then it falls short in all departments.

Aspi Bhathena
Editor