Indian Two Wheelers that flopped

anjan_c2007 · 15th August 2009, 15:12

The Ford Edsel was a car which was much hyped before its launch and it failed in the market miserably (1957-59).As its name is synonymous with market failure in the world of automobiles, we would like to discuss our own Edsels from here in India as far as the two-wheeler market is concerned.

The Peugeot Sportif a 65cc moped launched in 1985 by M/s Chamundi Mopeds, Mysore failed in the market as it was ahead of its times. The price tag was Rs 6.5K with a battery, self start, indicators, alloy wheels and so on.

Automobile Products of India Ltd - These people made the Lambretta Li150 and later the Lamby 150, based on the Inocenti design, which sold well in the 1960's and 1970's. In the early 1970's they launched a 175cc Mac 175 version on this design which failed to pick up sales wise.

Bajaj Auto - Bajaj Auto has had a very successful innings in our market with its Piaggio designed two wheelers for decades. Deviations from the main design sometimes proved costly for them.The exceptions were the very successful 125 cc Bajaj Cub and the 12 V electronic ignition Chetak of the 1980's, to name a few.

Their failures started with the Bajaj Rave that they promoted as a step-through design for the m80 sometime in the early 1990's.

Next came the Stride that was a more plasticky Chetak. Not exactly a failure' but the poor quality plastics fell off or became whitish grey and the lost lustre gave a poor look to the Hamara Bajaj.

The Bravo too was derived from the Chetak but did not go well with buyers. Again the launched the Legend which was a four stroke version of the Chetak but it miserably bombed. Next in line, was the Chetak 4 Stroke which again failed.

In the bike segment their much hyped model Byke was advertised as a 100 kmpl, 100 cc bike but that concept failed after the initial sales due to the market hype.

Kinetic Engineering- this company has a whole list of failures as apart from the Luna TFR, TFR Plus and Kinetic Honda they did not find commercial success and popularity with most other models they launched like the Luna Magnum, Luna Super,Kinetic Nova,Luna Super Star,Kinetic Safari, Kinetic Zing and Kinetic Honda 4S to name a few.

TVS- The TVS Spectra, their first foray into the four stroke scooter market in the mid 1990's was a disaster.

Indian Two Wheelers that flopped-spectra.jpg

image cartradeindia website

anjan_c2007 · 15th August 2009, 16:28

The Lamby Polo launched by Automobile Products of India in 1985, to succeed the Lamby 150 was an utter disaster. The company was in financial trouble and with sales failing to take off API collapsed shortly thereafter. It made three wheelers for a few years till the late 1980's before finally hanging the boots.

agspins · 15th August 2009, 16:55

Some more examples that bombed are:

Narmada scooters : PL 150 Scooter
Sooraj diesel bike
Royal Enfield explorer bike
LML Beamer,Adreno,Energy fx bikes and trendy Scootrette
Monto motors Cosmo blaster
can we count Pune based Kanda motors Bikes...

anjan_c2007 · 15th August 2009, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by agspins

Some more examples that bombed are:

Narmada scooters : PL 150 Scooter
Sooraj diesel bike
Royal Enfield explorer bike
LML Beamer,Adreno,Energy fx bikes and trendy Scootrette
Monto motors Cosmo blaster
can we count Pune based Kanda motors Bikes...

Oh God! Thats a nice addition agspins. I would also like to add a few:-
Digvijay from Rajasthan government, based on the Vijai design.
Enfield Silver Plus 65cc moped
Enfield 22cc moped of the 1980's.... forget its name?
The famous BSA Bond of the early 1980's. This 50cc motorbike was made by Broke Bond India (tea makers) and Feroz Khan was shown around in advertisements driving the BSA Bond
A 4 stroke moped called Cadila that was out in the 1980's but sold only a few thousands and failed
Kelvinator 150 cc scooter from the fridge maker in the 1980's based on the Vijai Super design.
Avanti Garelli moped from the 1980's.
Toro Jazz moped in the late 1980's from Escorts Ltd.
PL 170 Vespa from Andhra Pradesh Scooters Ltd

Live To Jive · 15th August 2009, 17:25

Kawasaki Bajaj Enduro SX, Wind 125
Hero Honda Ambition, Joy, Street
Yamaha RXG, Crux, Libero
Yezdi 175, 350
TVS Champ, Star
Suzuki Heat, Zeus
Bajaj Saffire
Kinetic 4S, Nova, Blaze

Ajaybiz · 15th August 2009, 19:33

Add Enfield Mini Bullet, Fury, Fantablos, Yamaha Rajdoot RD-350, Rajdoot Rajhans AKA Runabout, Eliminator, Vespa XE(it was 100CC).
Anyone knows the 80CC 4 stroke moped launched in 1985 or 86 which use to claim 70KMPL and Hero Honda came in with 80KMPL and wiped the market.
Anjan i think so you gave me the answer, confirm if it was 80CC as still i know one guy in my native who is havig this moped.

anjan_c2007 · 15th August 2009, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

Enfield 22cc moped of the 1980's.... forget its name?

Racked my brain a lot and the answer is the Enfield Mofa 22cc. Alongwith I would also mention the 35cc Luna Wings from Kinetic and the sub 50 cc (don't know how much exactly?) Atlas Solex made by Atlas Cycles Ltd, Sonepat, Haryana, in the late 1970's.
The Enfield Mofa and the Atlas Solex (French collaboration with the makers of carburettors and mopeds) had small engines on the front mounted above the front wheel. The engines used to turn alongwith the handlebar while turning.

And the greatest punchline now! None of these needed a RTO registration or licence to drive as they were below the designated cubic capacity for RTO formalities.

Gansan · 15th August 2009, 22:29

The TVS Champ and the Vespa XE were not flops.

The ones that really flopped:
Leo Girnar scooter from GNFC (or was it GSFC?)
Avanti scooter from Kelvinator India.
The Supra Motorbike from TVS.
The BYK from Bajaj.
The SX Enduro from Bajaj.
There was a 50 CC four stroke moped called Cadi, don't remember the mfr.

aaggoswami · 15th August 2009, 22:36

The list from my side is :

1) Bajaj Kawasaki Caliber ( 7.7 hp one, the original ).
2) Bajaj Wind 125 ( I believe this was best engine in case of refinement and gearbox was good, which is quite nice considering gearbox as bajaj's Achilles heel ).
3) Kawasaki Eliminator ( was good with that smaller Kawasaki engine ).

Suzuki heat and Zeus deserve to fail. This is from a Zeus owner.

neotraveller · 16th August 2009, 00:20

Add to list of failures:
Hero winner
Panther .. bade paiyon ki badi shaan ...

Hey, TVS champ was not a failure. So is TVS 50XL. They were hit models!

rageshgr · 16th August 2009, 02:04

Oh man! My uncle had a Stride and boy it used to vibrate so much even at 50 kph that your hands would fall off, even if you are a pillion!

These days the two wheeler market is so volatile, it is a great risk buying a new model. You never know it may not even last 3 months. A new model which is more or less some old model with new graphics and shape comes up every few months. We do have exceptions though

iraghava · 16th August 2009, 02:26

LML Supremo anyone? I remember it having a heady price tag for the day and ridiculous FE claims!

rageshgr · 16th August 2009, 02:40

Your post reminds me of the LML Adreno and Energy. I don't think these two fared too well either. Then comes Kinetic Aquila.

Rennjit · 16th August 2009, 18:07

Thats a big list, so many flops? Can we have a picture of each. Would be helpful for those like me to figure out how those looked.

anjan_c2007 · 16th August 2009, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Live To Jive

Kawasaki Bajaj Enduro SX, Wind 125
Hero Honda Ambition, Joy, Street
Yamaha RXG, Crux, Libero
Yezdi 175, 350
TVS Champ, Star
Suzuki Heat, Zeus
Bajaj Saffire
Kinetic 4S, Nova, Blaze

The Yamaha Enticer can also be added to the list of failed Yamahas.Perhaps all their models but for the RD 350, RX 100, RX135 and now the FZ 16, FZS and maybe the Fazer were not successes. Even the R15 is losing its sheen now!

15th August 2009, 15:12	#1
anjan_c2007 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 8,331 Thanked: 20,650 Times View My Garage	Indian Two Wheelers that flopped The Ford Edsel was a car which was much hyped before its launch and it failed in the market miserably (1957-59).As its name is synonymous with market failure in the world of automobiles, we would like to discuss our own Edsels from here in India as far as the two-wheeler market is concerned. The Peugeot Sportif a 65cc moped launched in 1985 by M/s Chamundi Mopeds, Mysore failed in the market as it was ahead of its times. The price tag was Rs 6.5K with a battery, self start, indicators, alloy wheels and so on. Automobile Products of India Ltd - These people made the Lambretta Li150 and later the Lamby 150, based on the Inocenti design, which sold well in the 1960's and 1970's. In the early 1970's they launched a 175cc Mac 175 version on this design which failed to pick up sales wise. Bajaj Auto - Bajaj Auto has had a very successful innings in our market with its Piaggio designed two wheelers for decades. Deviations from the main design sometimes proved costly for them.The exceptions were the very successful 125 cc Bajaj Cub and the 12 V electronic ignition Chetak of the 1980's, to name a few. Their failures started with the Bajaj Rave that they promoted as a step-through design for the m80 sometime in the early 1990's. Next came the Stride that was a more plasticky Chetak. Not exactly a failure' but the poor quality plastics fell off or became whitish grey and the lost lustre gave a poor look to the Hamara Bajaj. The Bravo too was derived from the Chetak but did not go well with buyers. Again the launched the Legend which was a four stroke version of the Chetak but it miserably bombed. Next in line, was the Chetak 4 Stroke which again failed. In the bike segment their much hyped model Byke was advertised as a 100 kmpl, 100 cc bike but that concept failed after the initial sales due to the market hype. Kinetic Engineering- this company has a whole list of failures as apart from the Luna TFR, TFR Plus and Kinetic Honda they did not find commercial success and popularity with most other models they launched like the Luna Magnum, Luna Super,Kinetic Nova,Luna Super Star,Kinetic Safari, Kinetic Zing and Kinetic Honda 4S to name a few. TVS- The TVS Spectra, their first foray into the four stroke scooter market in the mid 1990's was a disaster. image cartradeindia website Last edited by Mpower : 17th August 2009 at 20:43.
	() Thanks

15th August 2009, 16:28	#2
anjan_c2007 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 8,331 Thanked: 20,650 Times View My Garage	The Lamby Polo launched by Automobile Products of India in 1985, to succeed the Lamby 150 was an utter disaster. The company was in financial trouble and with sales failing to take off API collapsed shortly thereafter. It made three wheelers for a few years till the late 1980's before finally hanging the boots.
	(1) Thanks

15th August 2009, 16:55	#3
agspins Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: MH-31 Posts: 1,653 Thanked: 508 Times View My Garage	Some more examples that bombed are: Narmada scooters : PL 150 Scooter Sooraj diesel bike Royal Enfield explorer bike LML Beamer,Adreno,Energy fx bikes and trendy Scootrette Monto motors Cosmo blaster can we count Pune based Kanda motors Bikes... Last edited by Mpower : 17th August 2009 at 20:47.
	(1) Thanks

15th August 2009, 17:25	#5
Live To Jive BANNED Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 698 Thanked: 89 Times	Kawasaki Bajaj Enduro SX, Wind 125 Hero Honda Ambition, Joy, Street Yamaha RXG, Crux, Libero Yezdi 175, 350 TVS Champ, Star Suzuki Heat, Zeus Bajaj Saffire Kinetic 4S, Nova, Blaze Last edited by Mpower : 17th August 2009 at 20:46.
	() Thanks

15th August 2009, 19:33	#6
Ajaybiz BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,440 Thanked: 320 Times View My Garage	Add Enfield Mini Bullet, Fury, Fantablos, Yamaha Rajdoot RD-350, Rajdoot Rajhans AKA Runabout, Eliminator, Vespa XE(it was 100CC). Anyone knows the 80CC 4 stroke moped launched in 1985 or 86 which use to claim 70KMPL and Hero Honda came in with 80KMPL and wiped the market. Anjan i think so you gave me the answer, confirm if it was 80CC as still i know one guy in my native who is havig this moped. Last edited by Ajaybiz : 15th August 2009 at 19:39.
	() Thanks

15th August 2009, 22:29	#8
Gansan Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 4,535 Thanked: 5,561 Times	The TVS Champ and the Vespa XE were not flops. The ones that really flopped: Leo Girnar scooter from GNFC (or was it GSFC?) Avanti scooter from Kelvinator India. The Supra Motorbike from TVS. The BYK from Bajaj. The SX Enduro from Bajaj. There was a 50 CC four stroke moped called Cadi, don't remember the mfr.
	(1) Thanks

15th August 2009, 22:36	#9
aaggoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vadodara Posts: 4,982 Thanked: 2,931 Times	The list from my side is : 1) Bajaj Kawasaki Caliber ( 7.7 hp one, the original ). 2) Bajaj Wind 125 ( I believe this was best engine in case of refinement and gearbox was good, which is quite nice considering gearbox as bajaj's Achilles heel ). 3) Kawasaki Eliminator ( was good with that smaller Kawasaki engine ). Suzuki heat and Zeus deserve to fail. This is from a Zeus owner.
	() Thanks

16th August 2009, 00:20	#10
neotraveller BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 739 Thanked: 0 Times	Add to list of failures: Hero winner Panther .. bade paiyon ki badi shaan ... Hey, TVS champ was not a failure. So is TVS 50XL. They were hit models!
	() Thanks

16th August 2009, 02:04	#11
rageshgr BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chennai/Vaikom Posts: 549 Thanked: 551 Times View My Garage	Oh man! My uncle had a Stride and boy it used to vibrate so much even at 50 kph that your hands would fall off, even if you are a pillion! These days the two wheeler market is so volatile, it is a great risk buying a new model. You never know it may not even last 3 months. A new model which is more or less some old model with new graphics and shape comes up every few months. We do have exceptions though Last edited by rageshgr : 16th August 2009 at 02:08.
	() Thanks

16th August 2009, 02:26	#12
iraghava Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhaiyyaland Posts: 8,033 Thanked: 265 Times View My Garage	LML Supremo anyone? I remember it having a heady price tag for the day and ridiculous FE claims!
	() Thanks

16th August 2009, 02:40	#13
rageshgr BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chennai/Vaikom Posts: 549 Thanked: 551 Times View My Garage	Your post reminds me of the LML Adreno and Energy. I don't think these two fared too well either. Then comes Kinetic Aquila.
	() Thanks

16th August 2009, 18:07	#14
Rennjit BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Namma Bangalore Posts: 668 Thanked: 166 Times	Thats a big list, so many flops? Can we have a picture of each. Would be helpful for those like me to figure out how those looked.
	() Thanks