Folks, To you; this article is written in Freestyle English - a mixture of Indian and American influences (visible in this article that is). I have tried my best to make this article **"Easy on your eyes"
*Structure of this article:
*Legend: HH = Hero Honda, the Manufacturer
My Back Ground
The HH Phenomenon & Consumer Market Changes
Pros and Cons
What’s next?
About my current tastes
Conclusion
APPENDIX NOTES
My Background:
I live overseas. I have seen enough pictures of the new HH Karizma FI to be declared as a "Bike Limbo Artist". Yet nothing compares to actually living in India, smelling the paint on a new Hero Honda high-end product, enjoying the exclusivity, (Remember the "Haath Math Lagaana", the Blue CBZee ad about a decade or so ago?) and the real physical feel of the new Karizma FI or whatever the code name it is assigned by the HH Group.
The Hero Honda Phenomenon & Consumer Market Changes:
The HH group does certain things that are very exclusive; market driven to success for its business objectives. But with Bajaj, TVS, Yamaha bringing out lesser-priced, comparable and even BETTER, GREAT stuff in the sub 250cc range; Hero Honda has lost that USP. That being said - there is still no honest review at the time of this writing on Hero Honda Karizma NEW (3rd Iteration?). Changes by HH are reactive as opposed to Proactive. This is not a leader’s statement, since Indian consumers in certain age segments have "Mixed tastes" as opposed to "Conservative" in the 80s, 90s.
Because, HH --- Technology today has gone off of the scale. Your potential Indian consumer knows as much about technology as you do and they are discerning, sober, educated, sharp and smart.... This is not the 80s; where HH can say/do something and get away with it. Just check out what HH did with the 100cc engine that they had on the CD 100 and how they predicted it would outshine 2-strokes for mass production in the long haul. Too bad; others have gotten better than HH in the overall product category.
Saving grace:
HH still produces stable products, expensive or otherwise.
Pros and Cons:
As much as the latest HH Karizma shines and bellows out its latest technology; here are the Positives and the Negatives.
Pro:
Honda values of Brand, Quality and hence reliability
Retaining a certain standard
Delivering products to an exact market based on Research
Implementing its own plan for consumers and succeeding to a large extent
Fans of HH will lust this over a Ninja or a potential TVS 200cc with same
power or more
Con:
High Price for the HH brand, quality when others are offering similar for less
HH tag that Quality comes for a Price is "gone for a six"
Check out TVS, Bajaj, Yamaha and even Enfield products
Wake up, HH and smell others’ coffee
HH "puts a price" on parts and the Motorcycle per se
Ninja if priced in the same ballpark ; may smoke Karizma away
to smithereens
What’s next?
HH may provide a true blue 250cc if Yamaha Fazer 250, Kawasaki 250 Ninja and maybe TVS 250cc are new horses. Then again, the Munjals may say that India is a cost-conscious market. What’s your say? Please write a review. Maybe when I land in India; ride a new HH Karizma; I’ll post an update to this article.
Until then - this is a Review for a Review. Am I begging one? No, I’ve read the works at:
https://vicky.in/forums/topic/herohonda-karizma-zmr-fi-pictures#post-1112/
So feel free to post a genuine one, I’ll twiddle my thumbs, wait for a second set of eyes. And oh, yes, positive feedback welcome, thanks for your time!
About my current tastes:
For the record; I ride motorcycles like a 650cc Twin engined mid-size Road-Bike and an occasional Cruiser like the Triumph 750cc. My dream currently overseas is to ride the New Yamaha 950cc Twin Engined Cruiser and the proven large Honda 1300cc Cruiser.
I would love to test drive the new HH Karizma FI; or whatever that is officially addressed as.
Conclusion:
HH may have produced a potential winner. HH will learn like many car manufacturers, in the final analysis that the Indian consumer and customer is the "King".
Father Time spares no one, not with new age Motorcycles ready to treat the Indian consumer as "The King"
Get Pampered, Folks!
APPENDIX NOTES
-TVS Victor in the 100cc range is path-breaking;
-Yamaha’s stunning international class offerings in the 150cc category.
-Truth is, outside India, a 150cc motorcycle is for overgrown kids; unknown to have half as many features except - if they do - these features may exist on a 600cc+ motorcycle like the Suzuki 600 or the Honda CBR400 may compare with like features
-Point is: Indian motorcycle consumers are offered the best of all biking worlds; pampered beyond a point!