Why Bajaj beat Hero Honda
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| Bajaj Pulsar |
10 years and on, the legend continues. The Indian motorcycle was very different way back in 2001. Dominated by Hero Honda, nascent in nature, childish in behavior and conservative in needs, motorcycle market was on completely different planet back then. But something radical happened in mid-2001, a scooter maker decided to transform itself and market. We all know what happened thereafter.
It was Bajaj, in its true sense who transformed the motorcycle market. Fuelling with more power, impeccable style and unbelievable price. The introduction of Pulsar range to market was a gamble by Bajaj and it did pay them off. Hero Honda in the meanwhile stuck to the commuter segment and Bajaj took over the niece segment. What Hero Honda did not knew, was today’s niece segment is tomorrow’s commuter segment.
The pulsars always had a raw appeal of power, style and economy. Marketed as mean machine with tagline “Definitely Male”, worked wonders for them. But the question remains where the Bajaj beat Hero Honda. The answer is simple. While Hero Honda has many bike portfolios, Bajaj had only one and they promoted it very well. Hero Honda bikes are smoothest in market but the raw power of Pulsars appealed more to young Indians. Soon Pulsars became most talked about bikes in colleges and carved a cult status in hearts of young generation. And Hero Honda did not have any competitor in their garage.
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| Hero Honda Hunk |
They surely tried to tackle with Ambition but it was a huge flop for them, and then came the rechristened CBZ but once again god did not favor them. But the once mighty emperor of Indian Motorcycle market did not gave it up, they fought back with Hunk. This time they did made a fling but again the Pulsar’s cult status shadowed it down.
The problem with Hero Honda is they try to club all the good things in a single package, this makes the overall package an average in market. We all know buying an Hero Honda product would give us less blood pressure in long run, but we ignore this fact and give preference to more adventurous machine. The reason Pulsars have been undefeated rulers of Indian roads is they have never compromised in power and price. Look at any Pulsar, in its segment they are powerful of the lot. They have been pioneer in latest technology and implementing customer specified feedback.
The supremacy of pulsars can only be challenged by introduction of a very advanced bike which has all the spices to indulge Indian youngsters and with great price point.
The pulsars till date remains king of Indian roads and has entered CNBC Overdrive Hall of Fame. With presence in more than 13 countries, the ruler remains unchallenged.
