The most common vehicles seen on Indian Road are two-wheelers. While they are a nuisance to those around them, those who ride their bikes are comfortable, cutting through traffic and getting more mileage for their fuel. While most upper-middle-class families prefer the luxury of their cars, members of the lower-middle-class sector require good, durable, and affordable motorcycles. Large corporations like Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj, Honda, and TVS cater to these families and offer two-wheelers at great prices. The TVS Sport, a sleek looking Indian motorcycle, is priced at just Rs 40,000. It comes equipped with a 12-liter fuel tank and telescopic hydraulic forks for the front suspension, and a 5-step adjustable rear shock.
Japanese giant Honda launched a new two-wheeler called the CD 110 Dream. It costs a little over 41,000 rupees and has a 110cc engine. The tubeless tires are equipped with drum brakes and while it also has the telescopic hydraulic fork like the TVS, it is equipped with a spring-loaded rear suspension. The bike offers prospective buyers the same strength and comfort as the Dream Yuga or Dream Neo, but is priced much lower, making it much more attractive to the masses. The bike was introduced in competition to the Bajaj Platina, TVS Sport, Hero HF Deluxe and Mahindra Pantero, which are priced similarly. Hero MotoCorp’s HF Deluxe is also priced at just over Rs 40,000 and has the same features as the CD 110 Dream and TVS Sport. The only difference that can be seen is in the rear suspension. The HF Deluxe has a swingarm with a 2-step adjustable hydraulic shock absorber. The Baja Platina, which is priced at around Rs 38,000, has telescopic-type hydraulic suspension at both the front and rear. In all other respects, it is almost identical to the other bikes mentioned.
Apart from a few minor differences, the bikes that are marketed for the everyday consumer are almost exactly the same. Some bikes offer a longer seat, while others offer slightly better suspension. When it comes to competitively priced bikes, it is difficult to pin down what makes one bike better than the other. All new Indian bikes are built to the same features, with minor tweaks added to make them more attractive to different people. At the end of the day, the average user will see what makes them comfortable and which vehicle gives them the most value for their money. For those who simply enjoy bicycles, money is not an issue, and this can be seen by the number of Royal Enfields and Harley Davidsons seen on the roads of India.
