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The New Era of Speed and Style
 There
was a time when, if we wanted to buy a bike, we had to first
apply for the advance booking and wait for nearly six months for
the delivery.
There was a time when the choice was simple; need a power bike,
go for Yezdi; need a seedha-saadha scooter, go for a Bajaj;
need a moped, go for the friendly Luna. That's it. There was a time
when we bought a bike, we asked for mileage and durability. Nothing
else really mattered.
Then came the Japanese automobile invasion and the era
of liberalisation. Now ask anybody about a bike and the answer is
quite different. "I want some power in my bike. And it should
look stylish and sleek. Of course, durability is very important,
but who cares for the mileage!" This was the opinion of a bike sales
girl in the recently concluded Auto Expo- 2000 organised
by the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry
(FKCCI).
Gone are the days of mileage and utility. Today's trendy generation
wants tremendous power and stylish looks. One look at the exhibits
displayed in the Auto Expo made it obvious. The dazzling display
of the Planet Bajaj stall had their 'Eliminator' model prominently
placed on a revolving platform. With an incredible power
of 16bhp output given by its enormous 173cc engine, this hunk of
a bike will be a traffic stopper when it hits the street. Competing
closely with it are the Hero Honda CBZ, Bajaj Pulsar, Suzuki
Fiero and Yamaha YBX with their equally macho looks and aerodynamic
body structure.
 At
present, CBZ from Hero Honda seems to be leading the pack
with much higher sales than the rest. Its sleek design and matching
fuel efficiency has attracted the young yuppie generation.
Also, it was the first off the blocks to enter this competitive
market and has naturally taken the initial lead. But now the entry
of Suzuki's 'Fiero' with its world class front suspension
and double cradle frame has come as a challenge. The Bajaj Auto
is not lagging behind in this 4-stroke power war. Their 150-200
cc Pulsar has the power to beat other bikes in this sector
when it is released later this year.
Going by the reaction of visitors to the dazzling 'Planet Bajaj'
stall, it is easy to predict who will be the king of the roads.
The Eliminator has that drop dead gorgeous looks of a Harley
Davidson and mileage of an average Indian bike. With its cool
cruiser looks, it will surely win every serious bike lover's heart.
But its exorbitant price and bulky body might not make it a common
man's utility vehicle.
 Scooters
have always been branded as the common man's utility vehicle,
catering to the needs of a milkman and a marketing executive. But
the new series of scooters that are being unleashed on the roads,
will certainly shatter all the myths in our minds. Just look at
the new 'Cagiva' and 'Fusion' that are being released by
Bajaj later this year. These futuristic looking aerodynamically
designed scooters will also have the power to beat the bikes in
their own game.
After all is said and done, we Indians might still stick to good
old tilt and kickstartwalla gaadi!
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