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Normality Still Proves Elusive

Life was just about regaining normality after the pandemic when the war between Russia and Ukraine gave rise to a global crisis with energy shortage pushing up the price of fuel and gas. The semiconductor shortage seems to be easing now as manufacturers start increasing production. Two-wheeler sales, however, are yet to regain the pre-pandemic figures and the economy is yet to recover fully. The combined upshot of all these is that all the essential commodities are becoming more and more expensive and this naturally hurts the ordinary citizen, who is a two-wheeler buyer, the most.

This month we have tested a variety of two-wheelers, including two 300-cc scooters by Keeway and two 350-cc Hunters by Royal Enfield. The Keeway scooters come in a retro and moto scooter design. To date Royal Enfield motorcycles were made mostly for laidback cruising and riding, barring the Continental GT and the Himalayan. While the GT is a retro café racer, the Himalayan is an off-road touring bike. Now the company seeks to attract younger riders with the Metro and Retro Hunters.

The authorities in Gurugram (formerly Gurgaon) have increased the fine five-fold for driving/riding on the wrong side of the road, for it is one of the biggest causes of road accidents. As has been discussed in these columns time and again, the traffic situation in our country is moving from bad to worse by the day. People tend to show blatant disregard for traffic rules, whether it is traffic signals or cutting a road-divider to make a right turn or driving/riding down the wrong way. Last month I was driving up from Mumbai and was horrified to see a police SUV being driven down the wrong way between Lonavala and Khandala on the Expressway. If the custodians of the law start braking traffic rules in this manner, what can one expect from ordinary citizens? We look up to the Army for setting standards of discipline, but today one comes across even Army personnel breaking traffic rules. We need to take drastic action now, otherwise the situation will deteriorate into one of free for all.


Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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A Route Less Travelled

This month Bike India celebrates its 17th anniversary. In 2004, a new publishing house, by the name of Next Gen Publishing, was founded. It was funded by the Shapoorji Pallonji Group and HDFC. When Next Gen decided to start an automobile magazine, it would have been very easy for them to take the tried and trusted route of launching one that covered both cars and two-wheelers. However, the core team decided to take a big risk by launching two separate magazines: Car India and Bike India. To date, Bike India remains the only dedicated bike magazine in the country.

The team at Bike India would like to thank our readers and manufacturers for their support over the past 17 years and look forward to it in the future as well. The magazine has gone from strength to strength. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the unsung heroes of the Bike India team whom you never get to see or hear about: the marketing team, the office staff, and the design team who are not in the limelight and put in a lot of hard work month on month to bring out the magazine.

Last month I rode the new Triumph 660 Tiger and was pleasantly surprised by the bike. It is a mid-size motorcycle that does everything you want. The compact size of this bike makes it easy to handle when you are not on the move and easy to navigate through city traffic and, at the same time, it has enough performance to do long-distance touring. One wonders whether one really needs a 1,000- or 1,200-cc adventure sport bike to do long-distance touring.

Once again, I would like to thank our readers and manufacturers for their support. Please wear your helmets and be considerate to others on the road and ride with care.

 

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Need to Get Priorities Straight

Since 2020 life has become very unpredictable as one does not know what is round the corner a couple of weeks down the line; whether we will get another wave of COVID, or if Putin goes to war. Due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, the fuel prices have gone beyond the Rs 100 mark and this has hit the common man the most. The two-wheeler owners have to put their hand in their pockets to pay for petrol and this is one of the major reasons why the sales of new two-wheelers has taken a hit.

Last month, we were invited by Bajaj for the opening of their new assembly line of the all-electric Chetak at Akurdi where the original petrol-engine Chetak used to be manufactured. The new assembly line takes up a fraction of the space of the huge building with a lot of space for expansion to increase the capacity as and when needed. The new assembly line is sleek and modern but what impressed me the most was when we were taken for a walk of the new R&D facility. The battery testing facility is placed remotely to keep any fire hazard away from the main R&D building. Though we had limited access to the R&D centre, I must say I was really impressed with the new R&D capability of Bajaj Auto.

The Mumbai Police are making it mandatory for pillion riders to wear a helmet. Yes, it is incontinent to carry a extra helmet but let me say that a pillion rider is just as much or even more vulnerable to getting injured or losing their life in an accident as the rider. Many a time I have seen a rider wearing a helmet and their wife, girlfriend, or friend without one. I stop and ask the rider, “Don’t you care for your partner’s life?” Moreover, three—even four persons—on a bike is a big no.

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Rest in Peace, Zal

This month’s editorial is being written in a very sombre mood for we lost one of our former colleagues, Zal Cursetji, in a road accident. We keep talking about the pathetic traffic situation in our country, but it is not until it affects one of our own that it hits us hard.

It was in the wee hours of a Saturday that Zal was returning home after dropping off a friend when tragedy struck. A car took a turn from the opposite side without indicating and hit Zal head-on. The impact was on the left side of the car and the accident occurred in the middle of the square. The car driver did not use the turn-indicator nor did they give Zal the right of way.

Road safety is a big concern today and the root cause of the problem is lack of proper riding and driving schools. The driving and riding test is a joke; most people who obtain a licence to ride or drive do not have a clue about driving a car or riding a two-wheeler. It is high time we devised a stringent driving/riding test so as to preclude those morons on the road who are a hazard to others and themselves.

Drunk driving is another issue which needs to be addressed with a proper breath-analyser test and not, as is the current practice, with a policeman poking his nose into the rider’s/driver’s face, trying to make out whether they are sozzled.

This editorial is dedicated to dear Zal. We have lost you, but we will keep fighting to make our roads safer. Let us hope we can make a difference and try to educate people about road safety.


Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Disheartening Scenario

One calamity after another keeps disrupting the automobile industry. We were just about recovering from the debilitating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic after two years when Russia waged a war on Ukraine and now China has been locked down due to the pandemic. This has disrupted the auto components supply chain, causing delay in production and increasing the waiting period for buyers.

The lockdown in China will have an adverse impact on electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers also, because most of the electric two-wheeler components are supplied by that country.

Last month I happened to visit the Dainese store in Bengaluru. It was a sad sight that no AGV helmets were on display owing to the ban on the import and sale of foreign-made helmets. In our opinion, it is the most ridiculous ban. It is understandable if the intention of the authorities is to protect the local manufacturers against cheap imports from China, but it is ludicrous to ban the import of all helmets. It is dangerous, too, because the ban practically denies individuals the right to protect themselves as they see fit while riding a two-wheeler.

On the one hand we want to promote motor sport in India, but, on the other, a rider cannot buy a helmet to take part in a race because Indian-made helmets do not meet the stringent safety standards required for racing. If a helmet meets international safety standards, then its sale should be allowed in India. Some of the helmets made in India are so pathetic that I would not recommend them even to my worst enemy!

Today everybody is talking about the transition from internal-combustion (IC) engine bikes to EV and zero tailpipe emissions, but nobody talks about how much CO2 is generated while making an IC engine bike and how much goes into the making of an EV. Furthermore, let us not forget how much coal is burnt to generate electricity. When you look at the whole picture well, it becomes apparent that an EV is not as “green” as it is touted to be.

 

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Recognition for the Meritorious

The Bike India Awards were presented last month. Even with all the headwinds in the automobile industry, we had a strong field of two-wheelers contending for the coveted Two-wheeler of the Year Award. Incidentally, the premium bikes launched last year outnumbered the entry-level commuter bikes. The Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) Awards were also given away last month.

The adventure sport motorcycle segment is gaining considerable momentum with more and more people opting for these bikes because they are quite easy to ride during their daily commuting as well as for long-distance touring, with good off-roading capabilities thrown in for good measure. In the beginning this segment was limited only to high-end motorcycles until the Royal Enfield Himalayan was introduced at an affordable price. We pitted the Yezdi against the Himalayan to see which one is the better all-round motorcycle.

The economy is just about recovering from the after-effects of COVID-19 and now we are witness to the Ukraine war which is affecting global economy.

The party is over for us Indians because the elections are over. An increase in fuel prices is the daily order now, with petrol costing in excess of Rs 114 per litre.

The safety of electric bikes is becoming a big concern. A father and daughter died due to an electric scooter catching fire during charging. Another case was that of a scooter catching fire in Pune. Everybody seems to be jumping on the EV bandwagon to make a quick buck, endangering people’s life in the process. Without proper testing, these products are made available in the market in a hurry.

There is a lead period of nearly four years for an internal combustion engine bike from the drawing board to the showroom. The EV is a new ballgame altogether, so the manufacturers need to be more careful and undertake rigorous testing to make sure that their two-wheelers are safe before marketing them.

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Light at the End of the Tunnel?

It looks like we are finally going to witness the end of the dreadful pandemic with life gradually coming back to normal. However, the sales of new two-wheelers still continue to be below the pre-pandemic levels. This sorry state is further aggravated by the high cost of fuel and the poor state of the economy, especially the rural economy, which continues to be in a bad shape. Naturally, all these factors have an adverse effect on the sales of new two-wheelers.

The last round of the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup was held last month and, after four weekends and eight races, the first champion of the GT Cup was crowned. The winner of the inaugural GT Cup is Anish Shetty, followed by Allwin Xavier in second place, and Anfal Akdhar in third.

The outstanding performance and reliability of the Royal Enfield Continental GT650 was one of the highlights of the championship: not a single DNF due to mechanical failure during the entire conduct of this event. Such 100 per cent reliability under racing conditions when motorcycles are being red-lined in each gear non-stop for 10 laps is unheard of in motorcycle racing. The bikes are still performing in as fine fettle as they were at the first race and their engines sound the same as they did during round one.

This month Bike India is proud to present to you the 200th issue of this magazine. On this occasion I would like to thank all our readers and the manufacturers for their continued support. To celebrate the 200th issue we have some special stories for you and the theme is “200”.

Incidentally, I happened to speak to a number of motorcycle riders during the aforementioned last round of the GT Cup and all of them had only one request to make: please do not stop the import of helmets because it is a matter of safety and, unfortunately, the Indian helmets do not meet the safety standards for racing.


Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Obstacles Aplenty

The economy was just about recovering and now we have Omicron playing spoilsport with the number of those affected soaring and restrictions being reimposed. All this has taken a toll on the economy as a whole and two-wheeler sales in particular. However, it is not only the aforementioned factors that have adversely affected two-wheeler sales; the perpetually soaring fuel price is also a major deterrent for those desirous of buying a new two-wheeler. It seems that people have now got used to paying over Rs 100 for a litre of petrol, for nobody talks about the high cost of petrol any longer.

Today most people want to make a quick buck, whether it is in one’s career or in the matter of making a new two-wheeler. The normal lead time for making a new bike — that is, from the drawing board to being put on sale in the market — is between four-and-a-half years and five years and this includes extensive testing. A manufacturer tests a new bike for component failure, which is also known as “destruction testing” wherein the problem areas are identified. The testing done by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is for certification; they are not responsible for endurance testing and reliability of the bike.

A manufacturer who has been in the business of making two-wheelers for over a decade knows what the problems are while making, say, a new motorcycle. When people with no prior experience get into the business of making bikes, they will experience a tough learning curve before they can get a product right.

In the process, it is the buyer who is going to suffer, because they are going to be the guinea pig doing the testing that the manufacturer was supposed to do before marketing a reliable two-wheeler. The truth always hurts. When someone points out the problem, say ‘thank you’ and resolve the issue instead of slamming them. They are actually doing you a favour.

Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Separate the Wheat from the Chaff

The year has gone by under the dreadful shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic as I write this first editorial of the year 2022.

In the olden days, you had to have some basic knowledge of automobiles to get a job with an automotive magazine to test bikes and write reviews. Today all you need is a smartphone to put up a video with a “first ride review”. The other day, I was told that the days of printed magazines are over; now you have to do videos. I am not averse to that, but what about credibility and accuracy of content? A number of videos and a lot of information are available online, but, unfortunately, most of that is rubbish.

One of my juniors attended a first ride. A journalist with more than a hundred thousand online followers was there as well. His feedback made no sense at all. That was when the junior said to me, ‘Sir, you have only 2,000 followers, whereas he has more than 1,00,000.’ This seems to demonstrate that it does not matter how much knowledge one has; what matters is how one sells themself.

In the past, we had about 10 to 12 motorcycle manufacturers and, on average, they would launch two or three new products every year. Now I get an email every day seeking to apprise me of the launch of a new e-scooter or an e-motorcycle. I do not think anyone has a count of how many EV manufacturers we have in the country. Even today, the manufacturers who have been in the business for more than three or four decades sometimes struggle to get the bike right. How are manufacturers without any experience of producing bikes going to make bikes that are faultlessly sorted?

We at Bike India wish all our readers a happy New Year. Ride safely and stay safe.


Aspi Bhathena
Editor

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Rider Safety is the Main Issue

The authorities have banned the sale of imported helmets in the country. The reason being cited is that the Chinese are dumping helmets of a poor quality in our country. That is a valid reason to ban non-ISI helmets. However, we cannot ignore the fact that some of the Indian ISI-certified helmets are pathetic — they are more likely to cause harm than offer protection to the rider. The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) does not allow ISI-certified helmets for racing. The helmets that are allowed for racing in India are ECE Snell and Jis.

Under the new rule, it is illegal to sell imported helmets. Anyone caught selling imported helmets can be arrested. In such a scenario what does one do if one wants to buy a helmet for motorcycle racing? This new rule seems to be taking us back to the time when perforce we had to import everything. One solution is to ban the import of helmets that cost less than Rs 5,000. This will filter out the Chinese helmets of a cheap quality and also protect the Indian helmet manufacturers from cheap imports. The import of expensive helmets will not affect the Indian manufacturers, for a majority of Indian helmets are priced below Rs 5,000. This will also allow people to better protect themselves.

The fuel prices have been showing a northward trend for the past couple of months and, finally, there was a reduction of Rs 5 which is miniscule compared to what we pay for petrol.

With everybody wanting to jump on the electric vehicle (EV) bandwagon, we get an e-mail every day saying a new start-up is making an e-bike or e-scooter. It is understandable if an existing two-wheeler manufacturer forays into the manufacture of an electric bike or an e-scooter; however, an entity that has no prior experience of bike or scooter manufacture spells trouble. What this will result into is we will be left with a huge pile of junk.

 

Aspi Bhathena
Editor