CBF – Honda’s new 125!

The 125cc segment is fast changing. The idea now is to give these bikes a distinct identity rather than positioning them as more expensive, less fuel efficient and a bit more powerful wannabe 100cc bikes.
125s are now taking on a sporty image. The Flame was the first to jump in. However, its power figures were a let down.
Bajaj was next to jump in with the XCD Sprint, and has given some respectability to the concept of sporty 125s by making significant changes to the XCD engine. There’s now a 4-valve head in place instead on a 2-valve cover as on the older bike and the power rating is up too - 12.5bhp.
Honda is next. The company had announced launching a sporty 125 to appeal to the younger crowd sometime last year, and the CBF concept shown at the expo is a teaser of what we can expect.
Unlike, what most others are saying, I don’t think the CBF is a concept based on the Unicorn; it is in fact based on the Shine. And the obvious give away are the twin shock absorbers at the rear.
I know what you might say, Honda can always make that change on the Unicorn platform. Sure, it can. But it won’t!
You see, when every one around said monoshock wasn’t the way forward, Honda shouted that it was. It can’t possibly go back on that, after all it’s a question of its standing, not just in the industry, but among buyers as well.
Speaking of cycle parts, I think Honda has done a superb job on the concept, especially on the Racing version, putting on thin USDs on the front along with a large petal disc, besides an aluminium subframe, gas charged dampers and an underseat exhaust at the rear. Superb. The Sports version meanwhile, which is much more a production reality, though not as sexy as Racing, is still decent with the stepped seat and an aggressive rear mud guard.
But what about the CBF Sports’ drivetrain, will it use the Shine’s engine in a higher state of tune with a 5-speed box to go along with its focused looks?
I would love it if the company did. But going by what Honda has achieved with the Aviator, sticking to the same drivetrain with upgrades made just to styling and a few cycle parts against the Activa, I am inclined towards believing, it will retain the Shine engine, and in the same state of tune.
I would however, love Honda to prove me wrong, when the bike goes on sale later this year. And it might, if it takes cue from the Bajaj’s Sprint.

Bajaj’s new XCD, the Sprint

The recently unveiled XCD based Sprint is a classic example of Bajaj’s product strategy; the company’s way of thinking, and execution.
You see, Bajaj thinks cycles ahead; so when it launches a product, let’s say like the XCD 125 it already has the next two or three iterations of the product ready, which ideally would surface every two years.
Now, you might argue that most manufacturers think on the same lines, and you are right about that, they do, but where Bajaj races ahead, is in having production ready iterations already sitting pretty on the shelf when the first product makes its debut, while the others, mostly, have it on paper.
The advantage – if the first iteration loses steam earlier than planned, or worse fails altogether, the company is in the position to support the earlier product and bring in an updated, more appealing one without losing time and sales.
We have already seen the same in the 100cc segment – Bajaj launched the CT 100, soon after introduced a fairing version, and then brought out the Platina when the CT began losing ground. The end result – it not only arrested falling sales in the segment, it in fact, increased Bajaj’s share in the pie!
The Sprint therefore, is here to lend support to the XCD, which according to sales reports is hovering around the 40,000-45,000 unit mark on a month-on-month basis, falling significantly short of the 75,000 unit mark Bajaj had in mind.
The Sprint though has more significance than being a mere support aid for the XCD and Bajaj’s 125cc campaign - it is squarely aimed at blowing out TVS’s Flame. This sportier, more powerful version of Bajaj’s attempt to show the 100c customer a better life, is also a pre-emptive move to Honda’s sporty 125 due this year. Honda’s CBF concept displayed at the Expo is actually a teaser to the product.
Meanwhile, Bajaj XCD 125 DTS-i Sprint, as the bike is christened, promises a lot.
At first, it sets aside XCD’s short comings in the styling department thanks to a new, better executed front fairing and a new tank attachment. But more importantly, the new tail piece design, and particularly the revised tail lamp now lend the XCD a wide ranging appeal. The bike in fact, outdoes the Flame in terms of appeal!
It also promises to take care of the older fuel efficiency conscious engine’s reservations towards performance, thanks to a potent engine (at least on paper) – the bore x stroke config remains unchanged of course, but Bajaj has slapped on a 4-valve head and along with other internal tweaks (which I don’t know of, at the moment), the unit now makes 12.5bhp.
But for those who did not like the Sprint too much, don’t fret, there’s already another iteration waiting at the factory gates…

Brands: why bike makers need to build them, and break them…

Building brands isn’t as easy and straightforward as it might read. There’s lots that goes behind building a brand, and then breaking it.
My take is, a company continues to build a brand till it’s successful, and breaks it, if it’s a failure. Let’s take Bajaj Auto as an example -

The Pulsar, you’d agree is probably a case study on how one needs to build a brand, and than, take it to a new plane.
The P150 (and the P180) started it all, driving the CBZ into oblivion, much to the horror of both Hero Honda and the bike enthusiast. And how Bajaj managed it, is a well know fact now – cheaper pricing, better styling, but mostly, better fuel efficiency. Indians we were (and are); and our fetish for fuel efficiency is almost murderous, to put it lightly.
Not surprising, we embraced the Pulsar like I would a million dollar lottery!
Bajaj also rewrote a few rules. It upgraded the Pulsars sooner than a testosterone pumped man would grow stubble. More importantly, it stayed away from introducing the bike under a different brand, and it only used subtle monikers to show the upgrade.
Introducing DTS-i in its bikes was a beginning, and now with the P200 and the P220, Bajaj is propelling the Pulsar brand further.
However, there’s a counter argument to building the Pulsar brand.
The bikes look almost identical, then be it the P150, 180, 200, or even the 220. Yes, the styling is a tad different, but it’s very minor indeed. It therefore, leaves Bajaj very little leeway to sell these bikes under separate nameplates.
Adding to this is the fact, that the company hasn’t followed the same philosophy in other segments, particularly, the entry level. It had the Boxer, then the CT 100, and finally the Platina. So if Bajaj was so conscious about brands why didn’t it follow the same here?

Cause it all boils down to success, and this where breaking a brand helps. Bajaj, as is well known, has failed to break Hero Honda’s stranglehold in the entry level. It, as a result tried giving more – more features, better styling etc, all the things that made Pulsar a success – for less. And it tried doing it with a new brand each time; so that consumers would appreciate that an all new motorcycle had come their way, even though the truth was far from it. Take the Platina – she had the CT 100 under pinnings, and the Wind’s clothing. We, of course, continued to lap up Hero Hondas.
As a result, now the XCD sees the light of day, and with her, Bajaj is playing a completely new game. But, not without a safety net. Rajiv Bajaj quite categorically stated at the engine’s unveiling that the new DTS-Si platform can be both upgraded (read 150cc) or downgraded (read 100cc) depending on the need.
So it will begin building the XCD as its entry level brand which will have bikes ranging from 100cc to 125cc, and maybe even a 135cc variant.
Where does this leave the Discover then? The Discover will move up the ladder as well, and she will do so with revised, more kickass styling. She will sport 135cc and 150cc powerplants, displacing the Pulsar 150 in the bargain.
The Pulsars then, will only be a performance brand with P200s, 220s, 250s, 300s etc etc, while the XCD will be the bastion of fuel efficiency, and Discover, well, if the XCD takes off, maybe Bajaj will kill the Disco. Otherwise, it will break the XCD, introduce yet another brand, and also rework the Discover, all over again.

125s: the saga continues…

Back in 2003 there was a spurt of 125s that hit the Indian market. There was the LML Freedom Prima, Yamaha Fazer, TVS Victor 125, Bajaj Discover etc etc.
The logic of bike makers behind the same, I guess, would have been – that’s how it works the world over – 100s, then the 125s, then the 150s and so on and so forth - and the same should hold true for India as well. But what they over estimated was our need to upgrade.
“If I want a fast bike (in relative terms of course), I’d buy a 150. And if its fuel efficiency I want, I’d rather stick with the 100s.”
The end result – the 125s never took off. Fast forward to 2007-08 and bike makers are taking keen interest in the 125cc segment all over again. The difference this time round is – unlike in 2003, the 100s are witnessing a slow down in sales, while the 125cc plus segment is growing at double digits. That the difference in the sheer volumes of the two is mammoth, is something bike makers aren’t really talking about. Particularly Bajaj.
Bajaj has just launched the XCD, a bike it hopes will make the 125 the new entry level. And it seems to have played the cards right too – giving the bike brilliant fuel efficiency, and at a price that is anything but expensive. Then there is the features list which should have the style conscious, cash strapped individuals swooning over her.
But not every bike maker thinks on similar lines. Here we have Honda, which will in early 2008 showcase its take on the 125s – a stylish, youth oriented, and most likely better performing motorcycle than the Shine will hit showrooms. The new Honda 125, I am sure will not redefine the entry level, and Honda would not be hoping to do the same either.
Then we have the Flame. TVS’ 125 which should be out before the end of this year. She is a stylish looking motorcycle, and brags of some innovative features as well. And unlike the XCD promises both good low end and top end performance. And with the new CCVT blah blah tech, which uses a three valve head for better swirl at low engine rpm and better filling of the cylinder at high rpm, she should not be very poor on the efficiency front either.
The point of all this? We have two very different lines of thought here. As an enthusiast, I’d like Honda and TVS to succeed. Imagine the two companies packing in 150cc rivaling performance in smaller, less expensive bikes? Won’t that be brilliant. For little else, but the fact, that segments above it will move up on the performance scale too!
I don’t mind Bajaj succeeding either, cause knowing with the Discover 135, it is already trying to do the same. And with a new Discover in the wings, which might also come in 150cc guise, hence replacing the Pulsar 150, enthusiasts have little to worry about.