The Hindu Business Line : Bike-makers line up upgrades

AFTER offering cheaper variants of upgraded bikes in the 100cc+ bike segment, the latest trend amongst the top four two-wheeler manufacturers seems to be to offer upgraded versions of the cheaper, entry-level 100cc bikes.

The Indian bike buyer is so varied and complex that any number of permutations and combinations within the same product profile still seems to be capable of attracting at least a small segment of the market.

With intense competition, bike makers are taking product variants and market segmentation to an extreme, by attempting to cater to every conceivable buyer expectation and whim.

The first to come out with an upgraded (or the now popular Deluxe) version of its entry-level bike for the benefit of that indefinable, slightly more aspiring, economy-bike buyers was Bajaj.

The Bajaj CT 100 was (and is still) clocking extremely good sales numbers when the Pune-based two-wheeler manufacturer decided to launch a spruced up version called CT 100 Deluxe.

Focused originally at catering to specific regions and markets, particularly in the South, the CT 100 Deluxe featured a square headlamp set within a Caliber-style bikini fairing.

The reworked headlamp, fairing and instrument cluster combination made the new Deluxe version look more complete compared to the more naked, bare-bones feel that the `fairingless', round-headlamped CT 100 exuded.

The Deluxe variant also gave this highly focused entry-level economy bike the design lines of the Caliber 115, whose production, by then, had been discontinued.

The next manufacturer to follow suit was Hero Honda with its CD Deluxe, an upgrade to lure potential CD-Dawn customers.

The new version with a face-lift remains the same in every respect compared to the CD-Dawn, except for the frontal appearance and the snazzy new decals on the bike's body panels.

The CD Deluxe will also feature the same 97.2cc engine, double tubular cradle frame and suspension set-up of the CD-Dawn.

The changes that Hero Honda has given to the Deluxe variant include the new rectangular headlamp with a halogen bulb set in a multi-focal reflector and clear-lens type glass.

The bike also gets a bikini fairing and a translucent visor, compared to the plain-Jane, round-headlamp looks of the cheaper CD-Dawn.

Other changes are the more colourful decals on the body side panels and the larger rear panels housing the square tail lamp.

Overall, the CD-Deluxe and its changes seem to visually allude to the design of the Hero Honda Splendor.

With the Splendor+ being the only version of the best seller currently available in the market, the CD Deluxe could fill the gap at a cheaper price for bike buyers looking for a bargain bike with Splendor looks.

Priced at about Rs 34,000 (ex-showroom), the CD Deluxe is priced about Rs 3,000 more than the base variant CD-Dawn.

In comparison, Bajaj's CT 100 Deluxe is priced at about Rs 1,500 more than the base variant.

Another two-wheeler maker that has launched an upgraded variant is Yamaha Motor India, which has rolled out the Crux S — a new variant that features new, brighter body colours, more appealing body graphics and decals, a slightly reworked fuel tank and tail lamp design and (unlike the others) a round head lamp with chrome `lipping'.

The Yamaha Crux S' 106cc engine and exhaust mechanism have also been fine-tuned to ensure that the bike meets new, more stringent emission norms.

Not to be left behind, TVS Motor also recently introduced a Deluxe variant of the TVS Star — the company's entry-level bike that replaced the two-stroke TVS Max 100R just a few months ago. The Star Deluxe is a visually more refined version of its cheaper sibling.

Changes in the uplifted version include new, redesigned body panels and graphics, a new tail lamp, sleeker design for the accompanying panels that house the rear stop lamp.

There is also a new, better designed grab handle at the rear and a fibre mudguard, instead of the previous metal version.

The new Star Deluxe has been priced at Rs 33,000 (ex-showroom), about Rs 2,000 more than the lower priced, `non-deluxe' variant.

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