Opinion: A war to welcome

Take a look at the latest motorcycles grabbing headlines worldwide, and you’ll see the same trend – more power, more tech and more price. Range-topping versions of machines like the Panigale V4s and 1300 GSAs are now approaching 30,000 pounds in the UK, and it appears that we’re reaching the inevitable point where this is difficult to sustain. 

The economy in Europe has been tough in the past few years for multiple reasons, war certainly being one of them. There are now reports of multiple motorcycle dealers in the UK having recently shut shop, and it doesn’t look like the challenging times are behind us. I should be clear that I’m not saying something absurd like this marks the end for expensive bikes. Long may we continue to push the envelope of performance, and long may we continue to have awesome motorcycles to dream about. But what I am saying is that something’s got to give, and the motorcycle market worldwide cannot sustain itself on uber-premium bikes that now cost as much as cars. 

It looks like one of the leaders of the motorcycling world agrees with that. When Honda showed off its new CB1000 Hornet at EICMA last year, it gathered a pretty normal response: It should be a nice bike, and that’s about it. However, earlier this month, the company pulled off an absolute shocker, with an international price tag lower than most entry-middleweight adventure bikes – including Honda’s own XL750 Transalp. For a 1,000cc naked sports bike with very respectable levels of equipment, this price is a game-changer. In fact, there’s even an SP version with very desirable brand names on the brakes and suspension that still costs far less than any other 1,000cc rival. I barely registered the Hornet as one of the most important bikes of last year’s show, but ever since that price came out, I can’t stop thinking about it. 

Essentially, Honda is giving you everything that we have traditionally desired with a premium motorcycle, including plenty of power, high-spec components and the promise of quality that comes with a revered name badge. There really is no glaring omission on this bike, and yet, the price makes every other rival look terribly overpriced. Historically, when a giant like Honda makes a big move, others usually follow. Hopefully, this should spark off a much-needed price war that brings things back down to sane levels. 

In India, we have Bajaj to thank for already having done this last year with the Triumph 400s. Their price remains sensational, and it has forced most rivals to price their new bikes lower than they’d have liked. We have always loved a good deal here in India, but I believe the motorcycles that are designed in and for India will play a bigger and bigger role in the global scene as well. 

Made-in-India Royal Enfields, KTMs, Triumphs, and others are all already being received very well overseas. This is partly because they’re good bikes in their own right and also because motorcycling seems to be forgetting its roots of being a simple, effective and affordable form of mobility and freedom. As the cost of living continues to skyrocket around the world, the premium yet price-conscious motorcycles engineered for markets like ours will continue to grow in appeal overseas as well.

Also See: Opinion: What next for the first time big-bike buyer?