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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

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Let There Be Sunshine

THE BIGGEST MOTORCYCLE SHOW IN THE WORLD, EICMA (MILAN MOTORCYCLE SHOW), was held in the first week of November. All the global manufacturers put their best foot forward with their best models for this show and this year was no exception. Honda showed their CBR1000RR-R superbike that is ready to take on the likes of the BMW S 1000 RR and the mighty Ducati Panigale V4 in the horsepower race with an output of 217 hp. The Honda CBR was only one of the many show-stoppers. KTM and Ducati also had some phenomenal bikes on display. You may read a detailed report of the show in this issue.

With the onset of winter, we look forward to some invigorating sunlight after a prolonged monsoon this year. This will also give me an opportunity to put some miles on my long-term Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor. The winter weather is great for riding, although there is one downside to it: pollution. Automobiles are considered to be the prime cause of pollution, especially in our capital city, New Delhi, but nobody is willing to consider other culprits such as construction, coal-fired power stations, and industries spewing out harmful pollutants.

The new Motor Vehicle Act and the provision of heavy fines in it seemed to have a positive effect for a few days as people began obeying traffic rules and stopping behind zebra crossings. Now, however, it is back to square one with rampant riding/driving down the wrong way, jumping traffic signals, and not caring two hoots for traffic rules in general. The traffic police need to come down heavily on the offenders and book them.

The month gone by witnessed a rise in the sale of two-wheelers due to the festive season. Now let us see if the market can keep up the momentum over the next couple of months.

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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A Beacon of Hope

THIS MONTH WE MAY SEE A SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN TWO-WHEELER SALES ON ACCOUNT of the festive season; however, the sales will not match last year’s figures during the same period. In spite of the big discounts offered by all the manufacturers, the sales of new bikes are at an all-time low. The premium bike segment seems to be doing all right but that is misleading because it is the success of the Royal Enfield 650 twins; if you look at the sales figures of the other brands, they are all struggling.

The manufacturers are going to have a real challenge in the coming months because they do not know how many bikes they have to manufacture. If they produce too many and are not able to sell everything they make before 31 March 2020, they will have to scrap the stock or offer heavy discounts to shift that stock. In the present market, if they try to sell a BS-VI bike, it costs at least Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 more than a BS-IV bike. Imagine trying to sell a Hero Splendor or an Activa at a premium of Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 in this market scenario.

This month we bring you the first ride of the all-new KTM 790 Duke and the motorcycle lives up to expectations. We only wish it were a little more affordable. We also have the first ride of the Triumph Street Triple RS from Spain and, last but not least, we have taken the Hero Xpulse to Nepal.

Always think of safety. Wear a helmet and proper shoes when you ride your bike. Please be considerate to other road-users because they may be someone’s mother, father, brother or sister. Remember, there is always somebody waiting for you at home.

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Transport Bill: A Few Ticklish Issues

The hot topic being discussed at the moment is the new Transport Bill that provides for the levy of heavy fines for traffic offences. The fines have gone up by as much as 10 times. Such heavy fines for traffic offences are welcome, but there is no need to fine someone between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 for failure to carry along original registration papers. The insistence on producing original papers is a contentious issue because if your original papers are in your two-wheeler and the vehicle happens to get stolen, then the thief has your vehicle with all the papers, thus making it easy for the miscreant to dispose of the stolen two-wheeler.

Let us see if they implement the rule of not more than three astride a two-wheeler, which includes infants and children. Today a family of three or four on a two-wheeler is a common sight and the police tend to turn a blind eye to such instances. More than two persons astride a motorcycle is dangerous; it is not easy to handle a bike with more than two persons. Some of the two-wheeler manufacturers are also to blame for making bigger seats to accommodate more than two persons. Indeed, they use it as a USP, saying that the concerned two-wheeler has the longest seat in the segment.

The Transport Bill also lays down that it is mandatory to use ISIcertified helmets and that anybody caught selling non-ISI helmets is liable to prosecution. This is ridiculous. I, for one, will not trust an Indian helmet to protect my head when I am riding a motorcycle at more than 200 km/h on a racetrack. The law should be amended to allow international brands such as AGV, Arai, and others that meet international safety standards which are higher than those of the ISI. Why should the authorities keep people from using protection of a better quality if they are willing to spend nearly a lakh of rupees for a helmet?

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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No Light at the End of the Tunnel

The Indian automobile industry is going through one of the toughest times. The sales figures are sliding month on month and there is no solution in sight; if anything, things are only going to get more difficult with the implementation of Bharat Stage VI norms coming into force from next year. All the new two-wheelers will become more expensive once they are upgraded to BS VI specifications.

For the last one year, the sales of two wheelers have been sliding and the government has done nothing to arrest this decline.

The new hefty traffic fines are meant to deter traffic violators, but, at the same time, this will lead to an increase in the rate of chai-pani. I would like to know what the hike in the fine is for two-wheeler riders riding triple seat or a mother and father riding with a child or infant in their arms and if they will even be fined. Just outside my office there are two policemen posted at the crossroads waiting to catch people breaking the signal and that is very good, but, at the same time, there are two-wheelers zipping up and down on the wrong side of the road to which the policemen turn a blind eye. I think this is as big an offence, if not bigger, than running a traffic light.

The registration fees are going to be hiked in the near future. That means when one re-registers one’s two-wheeler from one state in another, one will have to re-pay the registration fee. Why can’t we have one registration fee across the country and pay road tax on fuel? It will bring down the one-time payment burden on the buyer as also the hassle of getting a no-objection certificate (NOC) and having to re-register one’s two-wheeler when one moves from one state to another.

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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No Use Putting the Cart Before the Horse

This month Bike India celebrates its 14th anniversary and I would like to thank all our readers, manufacturers, and our supporters for being with us for the last 14 years.

There has been frenzied activity on the electric two-wheeler front for the past couple of months, including the notification from the Niti Ayog saying that all two-wheelers below 150 cc will have to be EVs from 2025. The idea may seem very futuristic, but it is a little unrealistic. To develop an internal-combustion (IC) engine bike the lead time is between three and five years. Imagine developing a bike with electric propulsion from the ground up in six years. It is a very difficult task.

The electric two-wheelers in the market are of a poor quality, made either in China or with Chinese components. We will end up with a heap of scrap because these bikes will not last for more than a couple of years. First let us get clean and uninterrupted power supply before we go electric.

For our anniversary issue we always have some special stories and this year I decided to conduct a ride at the Mecca of motorcycle racing: the Isle of Man TT course and the motorcycle of choice was the Royal Enfield Continental GT. For this ride I had two legends with me: Siddhartha Lal and Freddie Spencer. Siddhartha is known for turning around the fortunes of Royal Enfield and creating these two brilliant twins. “Fast Freddie” is three-time world champion and the only man to win the 250 and 500 world championships in the same year. What better place to put the Contis through their paces than the most demanding racetrack in the world? This time instead of me telling you how the bikes performed, it is Freddie Spencer doing the critiquing this time around. It was a pleasure to ride with Siddhartha and Freddie. For me, it was a dream ride and I would like to thank the Royal Enfield teams both in India and the United Kingdom for making this ride possible.

Once again I would like to thank all our readers and supporters.

 

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Wide versus Narrow

LAST MONTH SUZUKI LAUNCHED A 250-CC GIXXER AND AN UPDATED 150-CC GIXXER. The first ride on both these bikes was held at the Buddh International Circuit. After riding both the motorcycles everyone said that the 250 was not as nimble and quick to steer as the 150. Both the motorcycles share the same chassis with identical steering head angle and wheelbase, but one steers quicker than the other. Nobody knew why that was happening. The answer is very simple: the 250 runs on a wider set of tyres compared to the 150 and this slows the steering response. Fit the 150 wheels and tyres on the 250 and you will see that it is as quick and nimble to steer as the 150.

Incidentally, today the “expert” opinion-making journalists are able to differentiate between a slow-handling bike and quick-steering motorcycle but are unable to identify the reason for the change in characteristics.

We did a road test on the new Honda CB300R and the bike feels like a 150 to ride with a leaner power delivery. The compact motorcycle is a joy to ride as you can flick it through traffic and around corners. Though it is sold out, the price is on the high side. Would I pay nearly Rs 3 lakh for a single-cylinder motorcycle when I can buy a Royal Enfield 650-cc twin-cylinder for almost the same price?

Last month Indian motor sport suffered a huge loss with the demise of Nazir Hoosein. In a way he was responsible for kick-starting my own motorcycle racing career, for it was at the Juhu races organized by his motor sport club, IARC, in 1977 that it all started for me. May his soul rest in peace.

 

Aspi Bhathena
Editor