Street Motorcycle

A new Discover 125 joins the Discover 100 & 150.. is Bajaj confusing people with too many variants?

On March 31st (read this), Bajaj has launched a new Discover model in a 125 cc Avatar. Priced at Rs. 45,500 (Ex-showroom Delhi) this model now stretches the Discover brand across 100, 125 and 150 cc variants.

With the Discover 125, Bajaj now has the entire spectrum of the basic commuter motorcycles in india covered. Interestingly the Discover 100, 125 and 150 are currently priced very attractively at Rs. 43,000, Rs, 45,500 and Rs. 49,000 (Ex-showroom Delhi) respectively.

For the common man, the Discover 125 will be difficult to differentiate from the 100 and 150 as the Discover 125 virtually carries forward the same looks.

Is Bajaj confusing people..??

"Why is Bajaj confusing people with so many models? Wasnt the Discover a 125 cc, a 112 cc and 135 cc once?"

My brother (who used to be a bike enthusiast a few years back) said the above to me this morning, when he heard about the new Discover 125.

Discover and Pulsar..

isnt that just the two names that Mr. Rajiv Bajaj wants us to remember?

To answer him, I just asked a few questions: "Can you name the models from Bajajs current lineup"?

He replied, "The Pulsar series.. the Discover models.. and.. err.. the Platina". He had forgot to mention the Avenger, which I reminded him.

I then asked him, "Can you name the current models from Yamaha"?

He replied, "R15.. Fazer, FZ.. and hmmm...". I told him that he missed the SS125 (which is basically the rebranded Gladiator to which he had no clue), SZ/SZ-X/SZ-R, YBR 125, YBR 110 and Crux.

I went further and asked him, "Can you name the current models from TVS"?

He said, "I do not have an idea about the current commuter models, but I know the Apache RTR". I told him that the other motorcycle models from TVS are the Flame, Jive, Star City and Sport.

Knowing very well by now as to where the conversation was headed, my brother told me that he knew that the Hero Honda lineup was cluttered with too many models and also that he wont be able to recall all the models from Hondas (HMSI) stable either.

By now my brother realized with a smile what I was trying to convey.



Its actually a baggage of the past which Bajaj carries (in the minds of a few old timers)

In the past, Bajaj did put many models/brands on the road. For. eg. 4S Champion, Caliber, Caliber Croma, Caliber 115, Aspire, Boxer AR, Boxer AT, Boxer CT, CT 100, Plaitna, XCD 125, XCD 135. Most of which were eventually discontinued.

In the case of my brother it just happens that he belongs to a generation which had passionately followed the 2 wheeler scene of India a couple of years back, therefore he still carries the historical baggage of Bajaj back in his mind. Currently his interest in two wheelers is like just another normal guy/customer.

In the end, Discover and Pulsar, isnt that just the two names that Mr. Rajiv Bajaj wants us to remember? And if one can recall those two names, is there really any confusion?

Did you know:

[1] The Maruti Alto (Indias current largest selling 4 wheeler) was first launched in India with two engine options of a 800 cc (sourced from the Maruti 800), 3 cylinder engine and a 1,100 cc (sourced from the Wagon R), 4 cylinder engine

[2] The 1,100 cc engine was later discontinued

[3] Recently a new variant with a 1,000 cc, 3 cylinder engine was introduced as the Alto K-10 (currently even the Wagon R comes with the same engine)

Confusing.. would you say?

As a common guy I have got a lot many things in my mind than keep myself updated with the historical updates/changes on car models. To me the Maruti Alto is the same old, reliable brand that I have known for years.. regardless of whether it was 1,100 cc or currently has an 800 cc or 1,000 cc engine.

Related Posts

• Cant undertand Mr. Bajajs Pulsar/Discover strategy? Read this..



• Discover 150 DTS-i launched [May, 2010]



• Bajaj Discover 100 DTS-Si [Review]

This is to remind that the Views or Opinions in the blog are entirely mine unless explicitly stated. The Views and Opinions published in this blog should in no way be related to any other person or organization associated -- directly or indirectly -- with me.

First photos of the Bajaj Boxer BM150..

Dubbed as the "Bharat Bike" by Bajaj, the new Boxer 150 has been already "soft" launched in a couple of states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Now for the first time photos of this new bike has emerged on the net. This one seems to be taken in Tamil Nadu. Posted below are the first photos of the bike designed for "Bharat"/Rural Indian customer.

Expected Price: It was earlier officially stated that the ex-showroom price of the Boxer 150 would be near the Rs. 40,000 mark. So far there has been no official word on its final price or the engine specs.

Its a Herculean effort to budge rural India from its fixation from the Hero Honda (now Hero) Splendor/CD Deluxe..

150 cc engine on a basic bike



For the developed world a 150 cc is a puny engine capacity but for most Indians it is the first step towards performance/thrill biking. So when a 150 cc engine is put on what looks like a basic, utility bike, I guess most Indians would be surprised. Especially the ones who will never buy the Boxer BM150.



A 150 cc engine alone doesnt just mean that it has to be at par with a Yamaha R15 in terms of speed/KMPH. But a 150 cc engine also gives the flexibility of bumping up the "torque" (pulling capability) relatively easily.



Apart from fuel efficiency/KMPL rural folks (the target customer of this bike) also need "Torque" in a lot in the applications, like pulling "doodh/milk" cans, pulling 3-4 adults (not legal but very common everywhere) etc. There has been mention of the Boxer150 by Mr. Rajiv Bajaj as a tractor/tank on 2wheels; none of which are made for speed/KMPH but more for "Torque".





What about fuel efficiency?



The engine block on the Boxer 150 looks to have been borrowed from the Discover 150. Therefore I am expecting the Boxer 150 to return a decent (if not the best) fuel efficiency. Well you gain some and lose some.. after all one cant have the cake and eat it at the same time.





Looks,features on the Boxer BM150



The looks of the Boxer BM150 is pretty simple and basic. Nothing on the bike will excite a young enthusiast but would probably be appealing to the rural customer looking for a simple and rugged bike. The engine block seems very much similar to the ones found on the Discover 150 model but probably doesnt get the DTS-i tech. as the second spark plug is not visible in the photos.

• Flat seat



• Simple tank



• Round analog instrument console



• Round headlamp



• Spoke wheels



• Drum brakes



• Chunky looking Rear Tyre



• Steel carrier cum grab rail



• Bajajs SnS (Spring in Spring) rear suspension



• An electric starter (visible in the photos)

Will the Boxer BM150 find favor among Rural India?



Its actually nothing sort of a Herculean effort to budge rural India from its fixation from the Hero Honda Splendor/CD Deluxe. The blind trust of these Hero Honda models in Rural India has made what Hero Honda (now Hero MotoCorp) what it is, i.e. the largest maker of 2 wheelers in the world.



Therefore to expect the so far fixated with the "Hero Honda Splendor" crowd to look at the Boxer BM150 favorably would not be so easy. Like the Splendor which has proved it worth for over 16 years now, the Boxer BM150 will also have to prove itself over time.



Having seen how much recent Bajaj products have improved (current Discovers and the Pulsar 135 are proof), I am sure that the Boxer BM150 would also be a reliable product as well. Its just that probably Bajaj will have to be a bit patient with the Boxer BM150 and let the rural customer develop a trust on the product. Only then a product will transform into a brand.

Related Posts

• Cant understand Mr. Bajajs Discover/Pulsar/Boxer strategy? Read this





• Bajaj to launch 150 cc Boxer [Feb 2011]





• TVS Max 4R: First look/details (Utiliy bike from TVS) [Jul, 2010]





• Difference between Power and Torque





• How to physically visualize Torque"

This is to remind that the Views or Opinions in the blog are entirely mine unless explicitly stated. The Views and Opinions published in this blog should in no way be related to any other person or organization associated -- directly or indirectly -- with me.