[imp!]

I recently met a group trying to get a Triumph dealership, their estimates for bookings are after July. I simply can not understand why Triumph does not start shipping ex-works ad sending mechanics around the country to do basic servicing as required. The market is growing and they are going to lose large numbers of orders if they can't start selling before the end of the financial year.

[ku69rd]

Originally Posted by imp!

I recently met a group trying to get a Triumph dealership, their estimates for bookings are after July.

Sigh wish they were to act with a bit more purpose and sense of urgency. The last time I heard was they were facing bureaucractic delays which is making them go slow. Lack of an Indian head is not helping them in any ways. The Harley's did require a push from as high as Mr Obama but believe Triumph is lacking that. It will be a painful wait n watch till they come in.

[Shubz]

Originally Posted by ku69rd

Sigh wish they were to act with a bit more purpose and sense of urgency. The last time I heard was they were facing bureaucractic delays which is making them go slow. Lack of an Indian head is not helping them in any ways. The Harley's did require a push from as high as Mr Obama but believe Triumph is lacking that. It will be a painful wait n watch till they come in.

This bureaucracy is going to kill many an entrants like this. I don't know what is the status of their manufacturing plant at Kolar. Talking of Indian head in the herd - I only hope they don't land up with another one like the one that landed in the Ducati stables.

[ebonho]

Industry/Government extry barriers are not always a bad thing for us bikers. Give it enough time, and let the frustration levels stew a bit, not to mention a few million sunk, and Triumph may well be on its way to selling some of its stake to an Indian company. Then we could buy Indian price Triumphs rather than high priced firang exotics!

[Shubz]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Industry/Government extry barriers are not always a bad thing for us bikers. Give it enough time, and let the frustration levels stew a bit, not to mention a few million sunk, and Triumph may well be on its way to selling some of its stake to an Indian company. Then we could buy Indian price Triumphs rather than high priced firang exotics!

Good point doc. But that could take ages! and there will be some desi or the other who would want to use political influence and get an inch off the company in order to chip off a mile off it. In general, since we know of the development (or lack of it) - the frustration levels are (or seemingly so) limited to a few who are seriously interested in the bike. But from a larger perspective of the money-wala janta - they don't care when it comes in, how it comes (desi or exotics).

[imp!]

Originally Posted by ku69rd

Sigh wish they were to act with a bit more purpose and sense of urgency. The last time I heard was they were facing bureaucractic delays which is making them go slow. Lack of an Indian head is not helping them in any ways. The Harley's did require a push from as high as Mr Obama but believe Triumph is lacking that. It will be a painful wait n watch till they come in.

True, but they will come, there's just too much business at stake for them not to.

Originally Posted by Shubz

This bureaucracy is going to kill many an entrants like this. I don't know what is the status of their manufacturing plant at Kolar. Talking of Indian head in the herd - I only hope they don't land up with another one like the one that landed in the Ducati stables.

I am not so sure about that. It will slow Triumph down certainly, but this is a market that Triumph will want to be a major player in, so they will certainly make it, also with Ducati the situation is a bit strange. Shreyans is bound to go out the door once the contract expires, things should improve greatly then.

Originally Posted by ebonho

Industry/Government extry barriers are not always a bad thing for us bikers. Give it enough time, and let the frustration levels stew a bit, not to mention a few million sunk, and Triumph may well be on its way to selling some of its stake to an Indian company. Then we could buy Indian price Triumphs rather than high priced firang exotics!

Triumph may certainly take on an Indian partner, although at this point that seems doubtful, but, even if they do, I highly doubt the prices will fall much, a boneville at 5 lac, a street triple at 6 and a Dayton 675 at 7? That's half the price of the competition and offers incredible value. I'm a diehard Ducati fan and I love the way the M796 looks, but, the lack of the 796 in the Ducati stable along with Mr AC's delivery antics not to mention the simple fact that the street triple is a future classic has kept me from even considering the stripped down 795. The good news is that KTM is going to be launching a slew of bikes in the coming year that will offer many alternatives at different price points. I'm still going to wait for the Street Triple. It's only a matter of time before it hits our shores.

[Shubz]

Originally Posted by imp!

The good news is that KTM is going to be launching a slew of bikes in the coming year that will offer many alternatives at different price points. I'm still going to wait for the Street Triple. It's only a matter of time before it hits our shores.

Not another KTM for me. Looking for more than single/double pots. And I like your optimism! Me too living on the funda "Matter of time"

[ku69rd]

Originally Posted by Shubz

Not another KTM for me. Looking for more than single/double pots. And I like your optimism! Me too living on the funda "Matter of time"

Shubhankar Sir,
Guess you have matured more with your single, suggest the next upgrade to be those triples or Inline 4's. Anything less than that does not suit you at all

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by imp!

Triumph may certainly take on an Indian partner, although at this point that seems doubtful, but, even if they do, I highly doubt the prices will fall much, a boneville at 5 lac, a street triple at 6 and a Dayton 675 at 7? That's half the price of the competition and offers incredible value.

A Street Triple at around 5 Lacs would reallly set the cat amongst the pigeons though.

The good news is that KTM is going to be launching a slew of bikes in the coming year that will offer many alternatives at different price points. I'm still going to wait for the Street Triple. It's only a matter of time before it hits our shores.

I see myself owning a Street Triplke too somewhere down the line (I am yet to digest the bug eyed headlights though from a purist angle). But equally I see another bike between now (Duke 200) and then (Street Triple) as well.

Most probably a KTM 390 "Adventure" (?) - which would be a perfect keeper for the hills.

[ku69rd]

Originally Posted by ebonho

A Street Triple at around 5 Lacs would reallly set the cat amongst the pigeons though.

ebonho.
Presume they had put the tentative prices of Street Triple as 6.5 Lakhs ex Showroom price. Bonneville was their entry level model tentatively priced at 5 Lakhs ex Showroom Price.
Highly skeptical that they would be able to launch at these prices in the present situations where the Rupee has lost out in respect to international rates.
FZ-1 did see a very sharp rise and today it costs 11.6 Lakhs Road Price due the currency fluctuations. So do image the plight of Triumph if they have to setup shop; assemble; advertise and then manage to sell them for 5 Lakhs...would say next to impossible unless they want to have a limited number of bikes for sale at that slot. Again depends on their advertising budget and if that can take a hit

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by ku69rd

ebonho.
Presume they had put the tentative prices of Street Triple as 6.5 Lakhs ex Showroom price. Bonneville was their entry level model tentatively priced at 5 Lakhs ex Showroom Price.
Highly skeptical that they would be able to launch at these prices in the present situations where the Rupee has lost out in respect to international rates.
FZ-1 did see a very sharp rise and today it costs 11.6 Lakhs Road Price due the currency fluctuations. So do image the plight of Triumph if they have to setup shop; assemble; advertise and then manage to sell them for 5 Lakhs...would say next to impossible unless they want to have a limited number of bikes for sale at that slot. Again depends on their advertising budget and if that can take a hit

That's exactly the bottom line I was alluding to earlier. There's going to be many a slip between the cup and the lip with regard to the prices (teasers) announced by Triumph now almost 2 years earlier.

There is no way they will be able to sell at that committed level if they simply bring the bikes in and sell. Not with the dollar headed to 60 rupees come 2014 election year. Not unless they absorb losses.

The only way is to go the Bajaj-KTM route.

There is no reason why our government should make it easier for these foreign marques to set shop here as independents - besides thousands of crores in backdoor lobbying being siphoned towards Swiss accounts. High time we realise the clout our market can bring to bear internationally, and twist the knife deep to get our due pound of flesh.

Simply put, we need our own companies to grow. And we need to make the regulations conducive for them to have breathing space (licensing, market sharing), tech and knowledge transfer, and strategic partnerships.

India has moved a long way since the Japs came in during the 80s. Our collective thinking needs to evolve accordingly.

Not to mention the special pleasure on gets in Indian companies buying out and resurrecting British ones.

[ku69rd]

Originally Posted by ebonho

There is no reason why our government should make it easier for these foreign marques to set shop here as independents - besides thousands of crores in backdoor lobbying being siphoned towards Swiss accounts. High time we realise the clout our market can bring to bear internationally, and twist the knife deep to get our due pound of flesh.

Simply put, we need our own companies to grow. And we need to make the regulations conducive for them to have breathing space (licensing, market sharing), tech and knowledge transfer, and strategic partnerships.

Not to mention the special pleasure on gets in Indian companies buying out and resurrecting British ones.

Sir, Am seeing this more as a revolutionary concepts, a la Che Guevara isshtyle. Do agree that we need to change ourselves; am not sure if opposing the entry of foreign companies is a good idea. Anyways that will be a good discussion if we ever get a chance to meet face to face

PS: Have purposefully kept the bigger parts of your message in my quote as I believe they carry a lot of essence. Hope the Mods agree and do not penalize me for that with an infringement

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by ku69rd

Sir, Am seeing this more as a revolutionary concepts, a la Che Guevara isshtyle. Do agree that we need to change ourselves; am not sure if opposing the entry of foreign companies is a good idea. Anyways that will be a good discussion if we ever get a chance to meet face to face

PS: Have purposefully kept the bigger parts of your message in my quote as I believe they carry a lot of essence. Hope the Mods agree and do not penalize me for that with an infringement

Well, I am a diehard nationalist. Not a jholawaadi communist or idealist socialist. And I am a biker as well. So my post is an amalgamation of both.

I am not against foreign companies coming in. In my professional life I do business with them daily, with strategic partnering and tech transfer.

What I am saying is that it is now a relationship of equals. They gain a lot in the short and medium term from access to the buying power of a middle class that is larger than the population of the United States and the top EU nations put together.

No reason why we should not look long term and ensure that we get commensurate leverage out of that. In business as in life, there are no free lunches.

[Shubz]

Originally Posted by ku69rd

Shubhankar Sir,
Guess you have matured more with your single, suggest the next upgrade to be those triples or Inline 4's. Anything less than that does not suit you at all

Right said sir. Wish there were more options in the multicylinders. For now, its just wait n watch. You are yet to let me see you and your effzee :-)

[ku69rd]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Well, I am a diehard nationalist. Not a jholawaadi communist or idealist socialist. And I am a biker as well. So my post is an amalgamation of both.

Well Sir, agree to your thoughts on the progress. We would need to ensure that we have sufficient maturity in terms of technology, cost, reliability before we embark on that journey. Question we would need to ask ourselves is are we in that stage? Going a bit OT, Mahindra has my immense respect for their rapid strides in their segment. They launched a industry standard XUV(X) and they are going great guns with solving the niggles(+1). Probably when they launch their next product they should ideally be in that X+1 stage rather than starting off from X-1.
Guess time would be the answer for this and we cannot reach any conclusion on that.

Originally Posted by Shubz

Right said sir. Wish there were more options in the multicylinders. For now, its just wait n watch. You are yet to let me see you and your effzee :-)

Shubhankar Sir, shall ensure that you will be invited to the next FZ Owner's Ride for Bangalore chapter sometime next year.