YES provided the Government sharply increases the tax structure on these style statement icons like bikes and cars. In parallel, the insurance premia for these bikes should be at a much higher rate (% wise) than for other normal bikes. Otherwise, these icons are UNFIT for Indian roads - both the quality of the roads and the fact that there is not too much road sense here
By
V. Srinivas, Freelancer, Information Technology
| 02 28 2011 04:07:16 +0000
Yes its a style statement & India has really high numbers of High Networth Individuals (HNIs) who are willing to splurge on bikes & cars to show their status.
By
Akash , International Marketing Shabro
| 02 22 2011 17:04:04 +0000
With Bugatti Veyron planning to make its way into India, I think the roads are gonna get better and with so much spendable income with all our IT guys, they'll surely go for it. Not my confidence in the politicians leading India, but the faith in the financial advisers of such huge companies as Bugatti and Harley Davidson compelling their management to start in India would have taken time to research about the roads at least!! Besides, for many, it's sheer passion- they revere Harley for what it is! We are going to buy it- out of passion; just to show off; for its comforts; or to stay ahead in the neighboring competition! :)
By
Anantha Shayana. D, CTO/CIO, RAYSITI
| 02 21 2011 17:18:26 +0000
yes, there are many passionate harley fans out here, and more over its not just another bike to ride on,,, over years Harley has established itself as a vehicle of serious bikers... obviously we cant expect it to compete with the Hero Honda's, Harley has huge market in India otherwise...
By
Pramod Sharma, Marketing Manager, Purple Swarms
| 02 21 2011 14:56:00 +0000
People with money to burn, people who want a status symbol yes. In the USA these bikes are also not sold to everyone - you need some physical fitness standards to handle such a heavy bike. You dont have it and the Indian Company sells it to you, it will land in accidents. Also, no Indian City Road is fit for the 0-60 in 3.5 sec. So more accidents. But still to show off that "I" own a 6.5 Lakh bike (not withstanding my other cars) while "You" are struggling even to buy a low end car, people will go ahead.
By
V. Srinivas, Freelancer, Information Technology
| 12 24 2010 14:00:24 +0000
Yes, We will be able to see them on the road for couple of reasons. First being the legendary brand appeal harley's come with. Second is the lets not forget that each one of us is a brand too and are always looking for promotion our selves & differentiation among the existing brand ( Humans) is the key and one way to achieve it is by associating with some thing most people which has the WOW value associated to it. There are other arguments thats the roads in India are not built for the a Harley or the conditions are not right , but let me ask you we do see a lot of Merc in the car segment in India too? Its just come's down to money and the need to be different and the brag value that's all. and a Harley has all of it and more the riding comfort.
By
Shashidhar Parameshwaran, Marketing Manager, IBM India Pvt Ltd.,
| 12 24 2010 01:15:13 +0000
Harley has an iconic status among serious bikers and is an "Aspiration" for many. They are focusing on a very niche segment of HNIs who have both the money and the passion to go for this bike. It also addreses their need to be "different". Harley can be comparable to expensive cars, which have less volumes but generate a lot of interest and usually do well in terms of addressing the HNI segment needs
By
Moumita Pramanick, Srategy & Business Planning, Uninor
| 12 23 2010 07:29:52 +0000
Harley Davidson is focusing on a specific market which is known as a Niche Market they know people will buy this product buz of the brand value of Harley and they also know that this product will belong to HNI customer
By
sonal singh, INTERNET MARKETING EXECUTIVE, ONSIS INDIA PVT LTD
| 12 23 2010 04:52:20 +0000
yes... Its not about roads its not about its segments. Its about Passion... Harley Davidson bike is for those who are passionate about biking...They like it, so they will buy it just like Hyabusa/R999/R2....etc. many examples are there, and Harley also gives you an option of EMIs. So its a win-win situation in near future...
By
Mayank Dubey, Product/Brand Manager, Kennis Group
| 12 22 2010 11:44:05 +0000
Yes because of globalization now people in India are becoming more brand conscious and they low to have Icon brand Harely bike even young boys those who are working in the range of 25 to 30 years range definitely will go for it very crazy about the bike for long drive and enjoy it in team
By
ANIL J PATIL, Planning and Cost Estimation , Amba Industries
| 12 15 2010 15:49:41 +0000
Its passion & improvisation in auto industries See our(indian) manuf. will compare it and make model and it will success only money matter for this bike but once indian starts producing naturally cost will reduce. ex. we had hero puck or tvs 50 or bajaj m50 now CBZ,Unicorn,Pulsar etc power bike are the outcome due to such bike introduce in indian market
By
nitin , Asst. Manager, a b c
| 12 15 2010 13:22:19 +0000
Oh yes....any bike enthusiast will know what Harley bikes are all about, Its like the Foreign version of Indias very own Royal enfield, and Harley davidson bikes are the best out there...and the feel which one gets riding these bikes is awesome and people who are really avid bikers will like to have a Harley in their collection. Harley davidson is like the mother of all bikes out there in the moto world. So, yes people will go for these bikes even if they are very costly..people who can afford will never think twice when they are going for this bike.
By
Mridula Maity, Product Development Manager, Rugel
| 12 15 2010 12:25:41 +0000
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Do you remember??? Not very long ago did BMW tried to market its much touted bikes in this country and failed???? The fact remains that the availability of spares even today for some of the international remains distant and difficult to get, forget the cost. Even the commercial capital of our country-Mumbai has dealers ready with spares for such bikes and cares. So you have to depend on their Indian Dealer who might not necessarily have all the spares readily available with him-So what are you going to do then??
By
Venkatraman , Sales Executive/Officer, Magnum Enterprises
| 02 27 2011 01:15:16 +0000
6.5 lacs plus is too high a price one will be paying for a two wheeler-Secondly, the maintenance of such bikes as Harley Davidson is surely going to be high and beyond the reach of even the select rich ones in this country- The point is the manufacturer is not looking at volumes but niche market where the rich will consider as passionate to own a Harley Davidson label-As otherwise, I see no need for such high spending at a time when fuel is sky rocketing every other day. But don't be surprised if positive sales results are announced by the company-After all, only recently has Mercedes Benze reported an astonishing improvement in sales of around 39% even in this crisis period. Indians are not averse to seeking better vehicles ahead of costs-You now see lots of Audi-A8/BMWs/Outlanders/LandCruizers/Lexus etc plying our roads very often these days.
By
Venkatraman , Sales Executive/Officer, Magnum Enterprises
| 02 22 2011 00:32:46 +0000
there r only few privlgd one in india who can buy harley davidson at whooping price of 6.5 lakh.people have money but only few have it in white so those who have it in form of black will not be going 4 it.moreover keeping ever incrsng petrol prices in mind only few will go for it.
By
Abhimanyu Chauhan, Manager H.R.(Recruitment), Siddhivinayak Corporate Services
| 02 21 2011 12:22:38 +0000
Nope... maybe a very very small segment.. Firstly it is too expensive for Indian standards, secondly, there are no proper roads where these can be utilized to full effect ... So I dont think this would capture the major segment at all .. Indian mentality is still budget oriented ...
By
Prateek Jain, Principal Consultant, SAP Labs India
| 12 17 2010 09:48:47 +0000
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