The motorcycle made its appearance in India in the early years of the last century. But as India was not independent and the people were generally poor, bicycle use was limited to a privileged few, including some maharajas and wealthy Indians. However, the bicycle was favored by British expats who worked in the police or on tea plantations. No motorcycles were made in India and all bikes were imported from England, which was then called the mother country. However, some bikes were also imported from Europe. Therefore, a variety of bikes like Triumph, Norton, BMW and Enfield came to the Indian market. As road conditions were poor, bicycles were of great advantage to police officers and managers of tea estates in Assam and North Bengal, where the roads were only dirt tracks. However, with the dawn of Independence, the motorcycle industry began to advance. But again progress was slow as the economy stifled by socialist rhetoric did not allow free hands or market forces to determine the need for motorcycles. It was a controlled economy and the government at the time enforced a Raj license permit. In such a restricted setting, the Indian government in 1954 ordered some 800 motorcycles to guard the border. The selected motorcycle was the Royal Enfield Bullet, a 350 cc four-stroke motorcycle from the United Kingdom.
License was granted for manufacture to Royal Enfield who started making 350cc Bullet and also to Bajaj who joined Italy’s Vespa for scooters and Lambretta. Both vehicles were huge successes and as production was limited, it resulted in a waiting list of over 5 years for a Bajaj Vespa assignment.
The Royal Enfield has remained in production to date as a bullet for the army and police. Recently this bike has been exported to England where people who are nostalgic for this bike are savvy buyers. Enfield also produced a 500cc bike but it was not a success. However, the Czech Jawa 250cc bike was an incredible success. With its twin mufflers, the bike looked “modern” and there was a high demand for this bike. But the bike faded and is now just part of the story.
The 1980s and 1990s saw the command economy slowly give way to the market-oriented economy. It had its effect and Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki entered. But most of the bikes marketed were from 98cc to 125cc and were generally light bikes. Honda in particular collaborated with the local Hero Company and the bikes that had 4-stroke engines were a huge hit. In a country that was basically poor, Honda motorcycles, which did an astonishing 65-70 km on a liter of gasoline, were consumed as fast as they were produced. The heroic company known as Hero Honda is currently the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world. But its forte is light bikes. But heavier bikes were still not available from any manufacturer except Enfield. Only Yamaha in collaboration with Escorts marketed the RD 350 double silencer on a 350 cc motorcycle. But the bike was too sophisticated for the Indian roads and it soon fell into disrepair and production was stopped.
The opening of the markets soon had a deluge of motorcycles. Bajaj teamed up with Kawasaki and marketed the 175cc eliminator bike and Honda and other bike manufacturers started making bigger bikes as well. The wheel has now come full circle with the launch of the most expensive motorcycle on the Indian market, the Yamaha IMAX 1680cc. Priced at Rs 20 lakh or $40,000, the bike is a top-of-the-line model. Yamaha has already released the 998cc YZFRI BIKE and the 1670cc NTOL. Also, Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati Motor Holding launched five two-wheelers to the Indian market last year. But the sales have not set the Ganges on fire.
The doyen of motorcycles, the Harley Davidson is set to hit Indian roads early next year. Harley President and COO Mr. Mathew Levatich is very excited about the launch and believes the motorcycle will have a ready market in India.
Bicycles in India are catching up with the world. During the 2005-06 financial year, motorcycle sales grew by 17.13%, while motorcycle exports grew by 39.36%. Currently, more than 6 million two-wheelers are manufactured in India, making it one of the largest manufacturing hubs in the world.
With the recession in the west and cheap labor in India, the big names may soon be making bikes in India. Also, with a burgeoning middle class and increased wealth, the new bikes will certainly put India on the world motorcycle map.
