Religare Capital Markets has concluded in its India Auto Urban Consumer Survey that two-wheelers have now emerged as the most preferred mode of transport for the lower income group.

The survey covered 1,500 respondents from Tier I & II cities across the country. It was conducted across age, income-groups and gender.

Some interesting findings:

• Convenience and cost effectiveness vis-à-vis public transport (savings of around Rs. 400/month) is the key factor which is driving demand for two-wheelers in India.

• Two-wheelers are viewed as a necessity, rather than a discretionary purchase

• Brand incumbency persists with Hero (motorcycles), Honda (scooters) and Maruti (cars) in the clear lead.

• New buyer budgets upward of Rs. 55,000-plus for two-wheelers, indicating premium aspirations.

• 65% of survey respondents have cited the daily commute to work as the main reason for buying a two-wheeler. On the other hand, cars are popularly used for both, office commute and weekend travel.

• Scooters continue to make a comeback.

• 55% of potential scooter buyers are first-time shoppers (compared to 26% for bikes), thereby implying strong growth prospects for the segment. In fact, the change in preference is already reflecting as scooter market share has risen from 15% in FY09 to 28% in FY15.

• The segment of women has emerged as a key focus area for two-wheeler companies with 62% preferring the vehicle for their daily commute, and a whopping 65% of these favouring scooters.

• In terms of brands, Honda reigns supreme with a thumbs-up from consumers across income strata, while Bajaj Auto is a clear laggard with no presence in the segment.

• Despite losing the Honda tag, Hero remains one of the most preferred motorcycle brands amongst consumers (especially lower income buyers), topping the charts on mileage, after-sales service and resale value.

• The survey also notes increasing aspirations for Honda, Royal Enfield and higher powered bikes in general. Royal Enfield, Shine and Pulsar are preferred by potential buyers (in that order).

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. has launched updated versions of the CB Shine, Dream Yuga and Dream Neo motorcycles and Dio scooter.

CB Shine:

For 2015, the 125 cc motorcycle gets new graphics, side panels, a new visor, tail light, a restyled fuel tank and redesigned allow wheels. The bike also gets Honda's Combi-Braking System (CBS).

The Shine is powered by a 124.7 cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, air-cooled engine that puts out 10.12 bhp @ 7500 rpm and 10.54 Nm of torque @ 5500 rpm. The engine is equipped with Honda Eco Technology (HET) and is mated to a 4-speed gearbox.

The CB Shine will be available in four colours - black, geny grey metallic, maple brown metallic and imperial red metallic from March 2015.

Dream Yuga:

The motorcycle gets cosmetic changes such as new stickers and graphics on the front cowl, side panel and fuel tank and a red Honda logo on the engine.

The 2015 Dream Yuga will be available in three colours - black, black with heavy grey metallic, black with candy glory red from the end of February 2015.

There are no mechanical updates to the bike. It continues to use the 110 cc, single-cylinder engine, 4-speed transmission and suspensions from the outgoing model.

Dream Neo:

The bike gets new body graphics, a red Honda logo on the engine and a lockable side cowl. The Dream Neo will be available in black with violet stripes, black with red stripes from the end of February’15.

Like the Dream Yuga, the Neo does not get any mechanical updates.

Dio:

For 2015, the scooter will be offered with new stickers, side panel graphics and a sporty logo. The Dio will be available in new dual tone colours - jazzy blue metallic, sports red, candy palm green and black by end of March 2015.

The Dio does not get any mechanical changes. It retains the 109.2 cc, single-cylinder, 8 bhp engine from the outgoing model.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India has introduced the 2014 edition of the CB Shine motorcycle with two new body colours and graphics.

The CB Shine now comes in Pearl Amazing White and Dual Tone Red and Black in addition to the existing Black, Geny Grey Metallic and Rebel Red Metallic colours. The bike comes in the new colours without any additional cost.

The CB Shine is the best-selling motorcycle in the 125 cc segment with over 30 lakh units sold since its launch in 2006. It has also gone on to become the number one selling motorcycle across Honda's global operations for the first time in 2013-14.

Powering the CB Shine is a 124.7 cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, air-cooled, carburetted, BS-III emission norm-compliant engine that puts out 10.12 bhp @ 7500 rpm and 10.54 Nm of torque @ 5500 rpm. The bike has a 4-speed gearbox and comes in three variants - kick drum spoke, self drum alloy and self disc alloy.