You have expressed something which has been locked inside the hearts of millions of bike enthusiasts for years. You are truly representing the new mindset Indians need to have now. This is revolutionary.
Man it is a frustrating thought which still remains, and Shumi just vocalized that feeling. It is genuinely heartfelt and has left me in tears. 🥺#wedeservebetter
Powerdrift, ICN etc and many more started with big hopes and excitement but they all turned into something else after 2-3 yrs. I wish you continue the way you are and the way you are explaing the Indian automotive scene.
There’s a friend of mine called Arun Subrahmanya who’s 900 kms away from me. I’ve learnt his language when i got to spend a couple of years at his place. And, these are the kind of conversations we both have all the time even now. It fills my heart with great happiness to see that there are people like you out there speaking such simple yet non-trivial things and cater to a larger audience and make them think. I’ve never been this happy to get to know fellow enthusiasts like you guys. Thank you for starting this journey.❤
Wow Shumi, as a long term follower of your content - I believe that you outdid yourself. This is at a whole new level. I was really happy to see this power packed video! No words! Just what we need at this point was vocalised so impact-fully by you. Thank you❤
@@motorinc your content actually did this! I have started contemplating in other avenues of my life as well as to what am I settling for and where have I lowered my standards. This was a deep episode. Thank you for putting it in simple words.
Guys the production quality of your videos is so beautiful it's a delight to watch. Finally someone has taken care of how the images being put out there are being made. High five to your camera and post team.
I Was feeling down since morning but,the first minute of the video gave me enough motivation to go through the day. That Calm deep voice of Shumi always makes me feel Yes! I can do it too. Thanks for everything, Shumi and motoinc ❤️
Couldn’t agree more. There was a time I wasn’t given a decent welcome at any showroom because I showed up on a V15 to a Triumph/Kawasaki showroom. Today, on a Himalayan, I do get treated better - no test rides still at Rideventur though! That pleasure is only for existing Kawasaki owners. It’s the quantity mindset still. But to use world class amenities, there needs to be a sense of respect for the effort taken and a sense of “it’s mine” to not misuse/treat it badly. One classic example is the Vande Bharat train, where headphones were stolen and display scratched etc.
The brain-drain is real. Roughly 80% of my friends are moving abroad or trying to this year. And these are all well-off youngsters with good jobs. They'd rather go be in Canada or USA or UK. And I know several foreigners who want to live in my state and go through insane lengths to make that happen. What are we doing wrong? On the motorcycle front, I'm hoping to test ride the Yamaha R3 and the Kawasaki Ninja 400. Those are the only two bikes that feel like proper upgrades from my Duke 390. I doubt I'll get to though! Let the dealerships up their game, I'm waiting with my money.
This is why I am always in an argument with the people at r/Indianbikes, they blindly celebrate the Japanese brands, and I can't make them see how they are treating us as shits, only giving us water drops from their portfolio, considering us as a poor market only focusing on mass products. Even Kawasaki which doesn't sell mass market motorcycles doesn't bother to give us their best, imagine having the KLR650 or ZX4RR in India. We need to stop praising these Japanese brands and start demanding and boycotting until they start treating us fairly like they treat Indonesia.
It's not just what parts of the portfolio either. It's also the approach to what might be good enough for Indian customers. The sales numbers say they're more often wrong than not though
I totally believe in this ideology. Its something I have practiced for myself for as long as I can remember. The condescending glances we used to get at high end motorcycle stores once upon a time ago have reduced though I still see them happening. At a recent visit to a BMW Motorrad store in a fancy locality in Bangalore, I was once again subject to such a situation. I promptly walked out without a seconds thought. I visited the other one a little distance away and the experience there has been so much better.
The single most important reason to grow older is to earn wisdom. I aspire to be like Shumi one day. No nonsense, knows what he wants, calm yet motivated, disagrees like a gentleman, full of passion and knowledge... And the list goes on. ❤ MotorInc and talking cars (malayalam channel - sadly no more) are my favourite motor content destinations on TH-cam. Keep going guys. ❤ Hoping MotorInc would conquer great heights. And will you do an episode on Karthik's Hayabusa? Him talking about it in your PD episode was a delight to watch.
*_@motorinc Shumi sir Thanks for raising this point, not only in automobile industry but, we lack in almost every part of our life we don't get best quality things, people ready to pay for extra but don't get a better quality products, it's reverse the things are getting worst, qualities are not increasing, instead standards are getting lower & lower day by day, i know some may say that in india everyone want's cheap products so they need to bear with low quality but why if you build a good enough product with good quality people will buy it, & people will understand why you are charging that money for, but nowadays they are charging money but decreasing quality, hope companies might see and positive changes come in future 🤞❤✌️_*
Respect! When I first started to see or I should say when I seen one of your shorts, it's a new channel and my first impression about the video was- it's so clean, efficient and very professional and I was like wow😮 and then I started following your videos. As of today seeing this video, it's just great and very much understanding that what we deserve is way more than what we are experiencing. And the 😃😄example was great about ninja😅
Man you have just stolen the ambition that i have kept hidden in my mind . part of me wishes why there couldn't be a motorcycle of v twin or parallel twin of range 350 to 500 cc with good fit and finish of global standard with all the features . I personally think higher cc doesn't neccesarily means better .
Really great point. Let this video be a starter for the movement. Clearly one thing that Indian's got as THE BEST is Motorinc channel. It is THE BEST vehicle enthusiast channel one could ask for.
Loving it Shumi...power to the evolution of riders, may our tribe grow & prosper. Thank you ever so much for putting it out there !! am just loving this "zen" amidst the regular auto content every once in a while !!
Okay i needed glass of scotch to digest that. Why the heck are we settling for jugad? Pretty much every product companies make are downgraded versions of product that are of global standards. Hmm perhaps we being fresh civilization from where we were 50 years ago has something to with that, perhaps the ultimate answer is इतने मे इतना हीच मिलेंगा.
I definitely agree. I want to specifically talk about the test ride bit though. What are we to do when the dealerships refuse to give us a test ride? A couple of friends bought an R15 and the new NS200 despite not being able to test ride them without an employee accompanying them as a pillion and not being able to test ride them at all. Where else do we go? And if we choose not to purchase that bike because we didn't get a good test ride we end up losing out on the opportunity of owning that machine. Luckily my friends were able to ride a bike in one of their circles and were able to make an informed decision. Not all of us are lucky enough. What do we do then? Really like how this spark can be applied in almost every context and not just machines!
If you're in a tier 1 or tier 2 city, just walk out of the dealership and go to the other one. One of them will definitely arrange a test ride if not willingly,then at least upon request. If not,then it's not like you don't have options in the market. All you need to do is spend some time and effort to actually find such a place.
Well said Shumi , this is something everyone needs to hear. We are a crowd of immense passion, hope we also take stand on the standards we deserve, thanks for putting this out there guys ❤
No other channel I remember has such deep content put out with such simplicity. Am sure this format will be copied as well soon like the other Kartheek-Schumi discussions for podcasts. Never the less great concept MotorInc 👍
Awesome point...just see how Hero Moto Corp is all about, it's nothing but cut-copy-paste company....very bad...just minting money out of opportunity but never ever created anything out of their own power, they were so relying on Honda that they couldn't overcome it...only now they have done something like HD-X440 but that too in collaboration.... same with Bajaj - I am happy with their Pulsar brand - but isn't it time they come up with some other segments - what happened to cruiser segment? which was a copy paste of Yamaha Cruiser bike... Here i will appreciate TVS the most, they are true indigenous and a creative player, they have really improved over the years...so distinct bikes in different segments and everything genuinely indigenous and creative bold n beautiful... 4 wheeler segment is even more PATHETIC IN INDIA - i am really really pissed up by this situation and even GOVT. OF INDIA is responsible for this mess... 1) sub-4 meter rule - without any long term thinking or strategy, just to please a particular manufacturer - MSCIL 2) 10 year diesel rule in NCR - result of industry lobbying or to say MSIL lobbying, just imagine impact on middle class families...this single rule could have proved a big battle point for opposition parties to fight with current GOVT. but they could not utilise it as they are divided 3) MSIL, Hyundai, Honda - all cars are tins, very low quality, zero safety - nobody is bothered, just favouritism.... 4) VW group - hats off for holding their own in terms of quality and reliability but are very late in EV and other segments... 5) Ford - such a big loss for India but no-one is bothered.... THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS WORLD CLASS 4 WHEELER in India EXCEPT FOR FEW CASES...
This is very real. I'm frustrated with honda big wing/hmsi in this regard. There's not one viable product in their whole lineup for a regular dude. The CB300R has 250cc performance with 400cc pricing. The CB350 is just looking to steal a few thousand in sales from the classic and nothing more. The 500 was never priced right. 650 priced on par with the z900. The CB300f and SP160 are made for uncles(no disrespect). There's a big wing on my street and I WANT to support their business, I really do. But I just cant. The build and export CB125/150 and CBR150 from India they just dont sell it to us :)
This... Applies to everything. What is self worth... Great video as always. I know it's gonna Make me rethink how i am treated , at work place, in society later..
In the coming 5-10 years, the Indian automotive industry and automotive journalism could be divided into eras: "Before MotorInc" and "After MotorInc." This platform has the potential to address crucial issues, challenge manufacturers for better vehicles, promote responsible road behavior, and encourage personal growth. A heartfelt thank you to MotorInc, Shumi, and Karthikeya for filling this much-needed role.
When I went to test ride the Enfields at a showroom, they gave me old bikes. A few were in inexplicable, tattered condition. I was very picky in saying I need to test ride the very same bike that I will take home. And I stood my ground and came back disappointed. Surprisingly, the KTMs and Hondas always gave me their latest bikes to test ride, in mint condition. I finally bought the ADV 390 and I must say an important factor in buying the bike was not only how the test ride felt, but also the complete customer experience. I can so relate to this episode and this gives me hope that I am not an outlier. Rather, it's time to make this the norm!
I wish I could tag Hyundai, Kia , Citroen etc for intentionally giving Indians sub standard products. Even if we ignore safety aspect, Kia recently got rid of DCT transmission world wide in Seltos but for india they've continued with DCT despite knowing it is more prone to failures given our traffic conditions.
Sorry to sound pessimistic but in a country where most people use full beam in city limits (knowingly or unknowingly), the standards are going to be low. The head of maruti Suzuki also pointed this out. No airbag is going to help you out if you are driving on the wrongside instead of making U-turn just to save some fuel. We need to introspect within us first. Government can do only so much when the general public itself is ignorant.
Pessimism is just a stance. Just as optimism is, Mihir. It doesn't always affect reality is any specific or important way. Optimism just seems to make you do stuff and is a happier place to be at the very least. Remember that these same people who can't figure out low beam, were also stuck with cycles and bullock carts not that very many years ago. They've come a long way, and there's a long way yet to go. We're just saying maybe we can speed it up a bit
I 100% agree with what you said in the video, things in India have started to change and people want what's best out there but they also want it cheaper and I never thought that quality and price go hand in hand, you have to compromise in one thing to get the other. We still have ways to go but the way things are going, we'll get there.
This can be seen with car companies Example suzuki swift uses 'High strength Steel' in India Swifts while they go for 'Ultra High strength steel' for the same in European Countries
@@md-1186 yeah I don't think Suzuki makes the same quality of cars/bikes in EU or US that they make here in India, I own a baleno myself as my it's my first car and it has everything except a good chasis.
I don't think this is just about bikes, its about life. Thinking that we deserve the best in every aspect of life is how we'll manifest the best. And yes, the Universe does help. The intensity in Prof. Shumi's speech travels directly to the heart, kind of what I needed to hear today!
Great to see someone call it out . Substandard build quality and paint job, obsolete tech from past genereatons being spawned off to a new body, Indian automarket has seen it all.
Its My ritual to listen Shumi Sir whenever possible especially in mornings. I have learnt from Sir a lot. One of the best implication is about road rage. Earlier i was impatient and aggressive while riding. Now i am not that person. I ride calmly and not react in hurry whenever some mad drive makes mistake. Thanks Sir keep going❤
We idolize government posts and people who fill them rather than dreamers and entrepreneurs or risk takers so we are to blame for our state of affairs, this love affair with Babus that stretches back centuries has failed and we still take pride in our misery. Suits our mentality.
@@motorinc Eliminate as many Govt jobs as we can, automate, take serious legal and other punitive steps to guilty officers...kaala pani maybe! Abolish govt unions which would at least start the process of being able to fire Babus. This itself would be a huge step, enough entrepreneurs in India where no encouragement would be needed, all we have to do is eliminate the Babudom and simplify processes
I love these open hearted talks, this is some of the realest stuff ive seen on yt and its such a fresh breath of air.. where everyone and everything pretends to be better than it is, than put the effort to make it actually better.. bcs its just easier that way unfortunately Really appreciate it.. Thanks Shumi, Thank you MotorInc 😌
Now Govt. Banned Laptops from abroad... In laptop market we also will get low quality product. Competition is the best key to unlock the way towards quality.
In the nutshell: Indian comsumers can fail a product which seems suitable for them (best example: Tata nano)..but don't let down high quality premium products (Ather 450X).. because thats what they deserve....🔥
We are heading towards right direction. The quality thing is a price related issue and earlier Indians didnt have the purchasing power, roads and culture to spend large sum of money on motorbikes which above 150cc class is luxury item in Indian context. Now with that hunger of bigger bikes is increasing and International manufacturers have seen India's potential as a market and as an exporter they are delivering world class products and raising the standards. The likes of Kawasaki who are dumping their outdated and overpriced products exclusively in India will die out unless they accept the change and start domestic manufacturing of enthusiast bike like RE, Triumph, Harley and Aprilia are doing. The big 3 Indian manufacturers have improved their quality a lot in last 4-5 yrs. Some issue in showroom that I have recently faced is small test rides with a showroom guy as pillion and also selling test ride bikes and bikes given to TH-camrs for testing as brand new, that's why I dont watch any TH-camr whose test bikes has no speedometer numbers.
I was looking for a video where Kartikeya is reviewing a car to post my question. But then the topic of this video seems better suited for my query. If I buy the Current Mahindra XUV300 W(8) O Autoshift petrol, am I settling or am I getting what I deserve? P.S. News of XUV300 facelift are all over the internet.
💯 Instead of companies launching a product for India......and demonizing the extent of what a machine should have been (eg., from it's original version)......They should do more, Far Far more. Sadly, we are killing it. I am too subconsciously. I wouldn't even have cared or thought about my low expectation level, if Shumi and Motor Inc didn't make this video. I really have to be better at this.
I took my pulsar 135 to Khardungla Nubra and Pangong. now trying to switch, for some trips across India. I took test ride of ronin, hunter, meterior and Honda and classic 350 bullet 350. But like you had said... Nothing comes close to both 350.... (yet I didn't tried java or yezdi or Triumph)I am confused between classic and bullet. Please suggest. I think 350 with spokes doesn't have tubeless tyres which is very important in case of puncher. Both 350 doesn't have traction control, does it matter form safety point if view? Dual channel Abs is better over single channel? (My experience Front disc brakes without abs are prone to skid!!! If only disc brake then it should be in Rear)
This is a topic that gets discussed among my petrolhead circles quite often. We do get some word-class products, actually. I have own/owned two of them. First, a 2014 Triumph Daytona 675, and now a 2020 Triumph Street Triple 765RS. Both world-class you agree? But the prices we pay to get them, are higher than much of the developed world - at least North America, most of Continental Europe and Australia/NZ as well the middle-east, get a lot larger variety at a wide range of prices, and considerably cheaper than what we pay in India. In Nepal and Pakistan, both poorer than us on average, you have more options - albeit even more expensive than India - that you don't get in India at all, like say a Ford F150 if you want a nice truck or a GSX-R750 which I'd probably have bought over the Daytona 675 had it been available at similar price. The Daytona 675 was a bucket list item and a dream I had to fulfil, but then due to age/health/fitness, it did rather demanding and I ended with a somewhat more comfortable replacement, the 765RS. Since then I've also been thinking of upgrading, to maybe a Hayabusa, but then now the cons seem to outnumber the pros. The roads are horrid, the traffic gets denser and denser by the month, weather is challenging for 8-9 months a year and now we have speed-cameras and mobile interceptors on the only places where you can at least touch 3 digit speeds for more than a few seconds, so basically you're risking damage and injury from potholes, ruts crevasses and unmarked speed-bumps, speeding fines and senseless drivers/riders everywhere around, makes you wonder if paying all that taxes on imports (CBU or CKD), only to have to put up with disastrous roads, traffic that flows as fast as mozzarella cheese and speed-cams everywhere to be fined you for speeding 1km/h over the posted limit, but those doing the wrong-side driving, signal jumping and doing 20kmh in the middle of road holding up traffic never get fined. Even I did end up winning a huge jackpot to buy a Ferrari or Porsche , I'd grind my teeth every time my 812/911's underbody scrapes that speedbump or crashes through a pothole, and that'd be a dozen times a day, probably better to buy a Land Rover/Land Cruiser even if I am a billionaire and leave anything that can't handle our "roads" for purchase in America or Europe. If we as public and as taxpayers are lazy enough to let the far-from-best political and IAS/IPS/IFS classes keep us chained and miserable deciding what's best for us, while these elites have their 10 fingers in clarified dairy fat (aka 10 ungliya ghee mein), we don't deserve the best of anything. PS: I actually ended up not buying the previous gen ZX-10R, gen 2 Hayabusa, gen2 S1000RR despite being ready to cough up 25L, and pay for the fuel etc - because the respective dealers weren't willing to offer any test rides.
Great talk! GoI takes away 45-60% of the price paid by Customer, Manufacturer is left with meagre amount out of the money exchanged for the product. Manufacturer has to accommodate dealer margin, logistics, cost of production, R&D, marketing, fixed & sundry costs. Obviously, Profit margins are thin and competition is fierce, making India a rather tricky market to crack.
Well said... infusing quality in quantity has always been a distant goal ..I personally dreamt of more and more twin/multi cylinder options over the years..we now have but very few and still not affordable
Amazing! the way you put it accross❤👍👌👏 Think of it in terms of smartphones, we used to get phones 1 year later than the global market from the same brands, but now when we started demanding best in class and launch here alongside the rest of the world, global brands (e.g. Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi etc.) launch their smartphones at the same time in our country, as the world gets it, in some cases even before, same goes for Hollywood movies and global OTT platform web series, so why not cars & bikes? That's to do with "Chalta Hai" attitude & Mindset of my fellow citizens, just change that to "Boss, Nahi Chalta Hai!" and see the change.. :)
Thank you. Someone who has a voice actually speaks out. The cars and bikes that come to India, especially cars, suck in design. We always get an 'indianised' version. WTF is that? We want the sleakiest, the sexiest, the most comfortable cars, and we don't mind paying a slight premium for it. Indian brands should also now become truly global product makers. But so far it's not good enough. Take HERO Motorcyles and the new SP160; it looks like something from 20 years ago. In the car space we have M&M and TATA and others. But their products are not upto the standard. Why are they not recruiting new designers? It's the same old 'luke warm' product. It's frustrating. For a country that produces lakhs of engineers, I think it's a shame.
If there was a list of videos ranking YT channels for being "ON BRAND".. This video would be on the top of that list. Looking forward to more world-beating automotive content from you! :)
Superbly put Shumi!! Chalta hai attitude is very very intrinsic to us Indians so much so that we take pride in being a jugaadu population! Why blame others....I myself bought my Vento without airbags and abs and with drum brakes in 2010.... VW would be banned even if they thought of such a thing in the developed side of the world.....Mr. Gadkari is the only transport minister we ever had, who thinks and acts like a transport minister...others were all jokers!! But at the same time I totally agree with you that the crying baby always gets the milk! Unless we stop compromising its is not forthcoming...
Dear Shumi Sir.. thankyou.. I do believe in every single word you said .. to the fellow biker community.. let us get this working in a very best sense possible.. thanks again.. ride safe and responsibly.
A very deep message, covering not only automobile segment but going much beyond. That concrete highway example was something that was always in my mind and no body (news channel, explainers, informational videos, etc.) ever spoke about it. Your voice felt like my voice for some seconds. Why people have started feeling 'ok' even after not getting answers to their questions? So far in my experience only RE showroom has allowed me test drive of their bikes. TVS, Honda and Bajaj are spineless, don't even keep their flagship models in showroom.
I’ve been talking about this to my friends and society in general for decades, but its been a challenge to put this perspective across. I don’t know why, but we have a massive unshakable mental block to ‘believe’ this view. To further clarify this slightly changes lanes and gets political, and ADAS kicks in - if you know what I mean. But we need to keep going.
Is there a fast yet torquey, reliable and mechanically strong motorcycle like karizma? Can you please suggest 1 or 2. something like vstrom or 400X but not that tall
I think a country gets what it's collective conscience demand. We are a third world country. And due to numerous factors there's always a Technological and qualitative disparity among first world and third world nations. It's quite evident. Certainly we can built the absolute best quality 160cc motorcycle but the best of the best cost money. Who would buy it in India? That being said I am on par with your thoughts Shumi. Even 6 minutes of you speaking feels so good. Such a well conducted video with brilliant analysis. Ps. I also adore your grey hair and collection of shirts.
Even international manufacturers are more loyal to Indian customers than Indian brands (except royal enfield). Japanese brands could easily degrade the quality and sell all of their line up at a much lower price. I remember few weeks back Honda's cb 300r was diagonised by a possible oil leak problem and what did Honda do? They provided free check ups for all the customers at their service centres also recalled ongoing production models for review. The definition of "good products" has unfortunately changed in India because of that chal jaayega mentality. Compromise can ruin everything not just product quality but also our personal life.
Hey Schumi, I completely agree with you. And that’s the ideal world we would all love. However, this whole idea is so contradicting considering our population and the mindset of this big population. I will give you a small example….check the highest viewed review on whatever an “expert” gives a review on. That might be the highest viewed review, however, now check the % of the population that has watched that review. More-so, imagine how many might have actually based their purchase on an expert’s review vs what a novice friend might have suggested. The problem is the mindset of of this population. Now as a manufacturer, what are you willing to do? Create a best in class product which wont give you business (considering cost etc), OR, create a mass pleasing product which gives you numbers even if it is shit to the core? You tell me what will you do if you were a manufacturer?
Clearly Shumi and people here either have not worked in factories or have no idea how hard its in India to setup and run massive companies (read massive as real massive like Hero and Bajaj) , 1)One setup needs so many good guys and training that its hard to let it just run and focus on another . 2) We have just now started the to master the R&D and the value of R& D shows after a substantial time (sometimes 10 + years) 3) Government is not helping , not today not in the past PERIOD . 4) The money by selling the under performing machines is bring good bucks because its cheap to produce its not the other way round.
Value addition, giving something back to the community was promised by many, but deliverance came from MotorInc. I believe the impact you guys are creating is phenomenal, kudos!
Awesome heart talk coming out of nowhere from a automotive journalist! Nicely put up emotions in words! Thanks Shumi for the motivational talk! Always helps. We at SQUAD-E have started our journey with niche automotive performance accessories because we specialize in the same being a bunch of automotive engineers. But the ultimate aim/vision is to bring technicality, quality engineering and at the same time being cost effective and sustainable. Yes it is very hard to get all these qualities into one package, but nevertheless we are trying our best!
A manager of mine once advised, "If there's something you're unhappy with, dive into the process or system and work towards the changes you envision. Mere criticism alone rarely brings about change."
A world class product requires a high quality of engineering, which comes at a cost. Then features get added. A car with quality engineering and features will make it expensive, more so because of our taxation. So, each manufacturer makes a compromise based on their appetite and values to deliver us a product based on their perception. It's that simple, yet complicated.
This takes me back to a quote I keep reading a lot. "The science of government it is my duty to study, more than all other sciences; the arts of legislation and administration and negotiation ought to take the place of, indeed exclude, in a manner, all other arts. I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain." In order to make the best product on earth, you need to be in the last generation the quote talks about. There are various products I use in my daily life, and I wonder why it isn't the best I can get. Why do we as a country not make the best there is? In most, if not all, graduation/masters schools out there, we're not taught how to make the best product. We're taught how to run an existing outdated thing in the best way. Most of our innvoations are hacks that make things economical, easier or more convenient. We don't aim to make the best, because that thought isn't put in us as learners. At work, there are people who try to make amazing things. But our dreams again are limited to making the existing processes amazing, or creating a new process within the environment that a developed country product functions in. One can attribute it to the labour market that we are. The best of the best don't aim to work for Hero Motocorp, they aim to work for Audi. And then if their talent is good enough, they move out of the country into the Centre of Excellence of Audi. That's how you get Indian CEOs in global corporations. Is that such a bad thing? I don't know. Maybe we are not and never will be the gourmet kitchen with a Michelin starred chef. Maybe we will always be the street kitchen that serves the people who need food for sustenance. That's a noble job I guess. Yes a Hero splendor may not be the best bike on earth. But it is what runs most underdeveloped and developing nations. That said, brave work on Shumi's part. An opinion piece in Automotive Journalism. Hats off!
We need to follow the japanese ways of competing with each other.Competition in every fields.Then only they refine their products and we get good ones.If there is no competition we will be back to the license raj era where a company can sell substandard dated products with zero reliability and still survive because of zero competition..Air India which is now undergoing changes because of competition in aviation industry is an example..However in railways its govt monopoly thats why we are still travelling in coaches from Gandhiji era that shake after crossing 90 and derailing killing precious lives..Sadly it still continues..😢
Loved the video. But what do you say to manufacturers who argue about low volumes to justify not bringing more expensive motorbikes here? I can’t understand why Kawasaki’s catalogue in Thailand or Indonesia has to be so different from what it is in India.
Insightful as ever! However, in terms of test rides, I believe there is a need to move beyond a 15-30 minute test ride format. Test rides should not be limited to a spin around the store, but rather focus on bringing the product promise to life in real-world circumstances. Most individuals buy motorcycles based on the motorcycle's capabilities on a spec sheet & juicy videos, rather than their own ability to make the most of it. This is where I believe test rides should be experiential in nature. Rent it for a day or two and then make your decision. Sure, there will be a cost associated with this, but it will be insignificant when compared to the expense of a motorcycle that you do not enjoy. Heart over head, as with everything motorcycles!
U know TATA dealer asked this question .. Test drive? Sir ppl just book cars here withot test drive. You can do the same ! I wondered WHAAATTT!!! then i went to toyota they provided around 4 test drives in a week
This isn't just the best vehicle related video I have ever seen, this is the best video on EVERYTHING I've seen, period. This video will be relevant for years to come as India strives to be the biggest economy in the world. The way we modify our lives for the better and aspire is what ends up changing all the dysfunctional systems. This video applies to everything from automobiles to infrastructure to services to careers and to politics. Strive to get the best and be the best.
I think most of the indians try to go for worthy products, let me give some examples: 1) my dad bought a hyundai i 10 in 2009 era version which is same as santro top model that year, dad didn't even push a little for magna even i insist for all door power windows maybe because of financial situations which i dont understand as 13 year old child. But the product was worth. Santro discontinued for long time even new version is cheap as hell. Love worthy decision of dad. 2) after almost 13 years we again going for hyundai as i still love the interior of the all hyundai it feel so comfortable to sit. After crusial 1 week research i finally landed on a decision to buy a exter even i own ola which i like the most. Showroom experience is too much dull, they just gave us 2 km road and try to book now. Even they suggest for a venue as exter waiting period is 5 months. We tried venue also but i really like exter, disappointed with exterior which does not feel at all as shown in yt videos but all other things are perfect. But as dad tried venue it is little bit premium than exter even all interior are same. We cant decide a car still then. And Hyundai sales person still pushing for venue as typical sales person (chipka rahe hain). I tried fronx delta plus even the person gave me very special treatment. Gave me brand new car which is going to deliver soon but still feel good that they gave me small ride. I just hate the interior of maruti everything is dull everything feels analog. Front window is too small, why no one mentioned it i wonder looks same as grand vitara but smaller, exterior superb but interior is bullshit. Love how they covered the engine from down for rat protection which Hyundai salesman told me even Mercedes engine have big hole just under the engine😂 Point is long gone😂 but indians go for worthy products than what they deserve. Because someone somewhere is not working right.
A much needed one at current point of time, but what to do Shumi bro, we have 25K bikers who have booked the Hero Davidson X440 without even a test ride despite the visible low quality welds and parts that are not on par with "Harley Davidson".
Very nice Schumi. Have craved for this kind of writing in Indian magazines. Hopefully some of the manufacturers are watching this. For they need a good dose of imagination for them to start making stuff that we all imagine we deserve.
Interesting thought but I don't see things changing anytime soon. We are Indians, at the end we just, Settle and we live with our choices, good or bad. We are okay with it. Yes we can demand better service, better products or even better buying experience but eventually we just settle for the things they are. Its been decades we are following the Manufacturer - Dealer led structure that it has become a norm. I remember when new classic 350 came out and bookings were made online for the very first time for a brand like RE, I told this to my father that I am putting my money down online, he said "Why book online without even looking at the bike in the showroom" As the popular minister once said about some other nation - "We Indians must get out of our own colonial mindset of accepting things as they are and should demand for better experiences and not settle for the norm." Hope to see this change. But not anytime soon. :D
With all due respect, manufactures did there best to brought in the best to indian market but did we ever appreciate it? Suzuki recieves a lot of criticism for filmsy car. But who btw bought an scross kizashi or a grand vitara. Vitara was infact a dud unless it became brezza and retrofitted with all sort of bi fueling options. Same goes for ford chevy and fiat. Ecosport is still best deiving sub 4 mtr SUV. But where it is now? Out of country. Mitsubishi is already out. Vw and skoda have compelled to bring in sub standard products and so does many more . Same story for indian manufacturers too. Hexa is any day far better option than safari or harrier. But it never see the numbers rolling. Ao unless we wont shed of this herd mentality and kitna deti hai attitude we will keep getting these sub par products and celebrating.
Wow so much of truth in slightly over 6 mins!! When the video started off I was wondering is this a philosophy lesson. Mid way through I started relating completely with what Schumi is trying to say. But the truth is, we never think like we are global citizens. We want cheap products- we say we want value for money products, which is another way of saying we want a product that is cheap. It is not only with cars or bikes; it is universal! Take any industry operating in India and you will notice we give priority to pricing than quality! Thats who we are and we cannot change!! The quantitative aspect comes in only because we are the most populous country in the world now. And in case we do change some day eventually, and start demanding the best that is there in the world, we will find ourselves in another developed country!
One interesting thing about standards and Indians is that we tend to equate money with standards. If it costs more, it automatically has a higher standard, which is not always true. Your Audi Q3 review highlights this. A car that costs more than 50 lakh doesn't have some must have features and people are fine with it. Until we demand more we will always be seen as "cost conscious".
Wow.. Absolutely resonating.. I’ve had this topic raised in multiple occasions and the common response is, there isn’t required infra or the will to create a world class product locally.. it’s time we start raising our standards 🙌🏼
Have been in this discussion in other sectors. Indian customers are treated like 💩by some of the brands. What doesn't help is the collective defeat on the customer side. Our own brands in India are now taking advantage of this, and giving us a very poor buying experience.
why isn't hero or tvs or bajaj not making higher ccs motorcycle, just like every other company in the world? r they not capable of producing one, no they're not!! so what's stopping them?
I wish people like modi ji, ratan tata ji and Mahindra ji and all the Indian ceo's of bikes and car brands produced in India hear this message from you sir...great message.. Hope the people who got hear this get to hear..❤
My interceptor started making noises 3k into the purchase. I tagged Sid Lal on Twitter . They replaced my clutch plate assembly and rear suspension for free under warranty after that . But initially all the service centers in my city refused to even address it, citing it's usual RE characteristic. My question to Sid was , do u not take pride in the products you sell. Do u want to be world class by virtue of product quality or only sales numbers. Pretty sure he never read it but i believe a significant number of escalations will bring about a change one day. One school of thought with automotive industry is products that are too good , will not need spares soon enough and spare parts sales are as important as vehicle sales numbers to them.
You have expressed something which has been locked inside the hearts of millions of bike enthusiasts for years. You are truly representing the new mindset Indians need to have now. This is revolutionary.
Time for a change no, Parag?
Man it is a frustrating thought which still remains, and Shumi just vocalized that feeling. It is genuinely heartfelt and has left me in tears. 🥺#wedeservebetter
Glad we're on the same page!
Time for change
Exactly or we will compromise for a re , Bajaj, ktm disguised as Bajaj.
Powerdrift, ICN etc and many more started with big hopes and excitement but they all turned into something else after 2-3 yrs. I wish you continue the way you are and the way you are explaing the Indian automotive scene.
Thanks NP!
Can you elaborate? Like what is wrong with them? Just curious
I stopped watching Powerdrift after Shumi left it so
@@Shreejansurya98 you just answered your own question !
@@prashasakpanda3754 But I think he is talking about something different, Before Shumi left...
@@Shreejansurya98powerdrift became powercringe. That's all.
There’s a friend of mine called Arun Subrahmanya who’s 900 kms away from me. I’ve learnt his language when i got to spend a couple of years at his place. And, these are the kind of conversations we both have all the time even now. It fills my heart with great happiness to see that there are people like you out there speaking such simple yet non-trivial things and cater to a larger audience and make them think. I’ve never been this happy to get to know fellow enthusiasts like you guys. Thank you for starting this journey.❤
Thanks Amar! It's good to have you with us on this trip!
Wow Shumi, as a long term follower of your content - I believe that you outdid yourself. This is at a whole new level. I was really happy to see this power packed video! No words! Just what we need at this point was vocalised so impact-fully by you. Thank you❤
Thanks Sunny! We do believe firmly that we're not just here to help you make up your mind... but widen the horizons too
@@motorinc your content actually did this! I have started contemplating in other avenues of my life as well as to what am I settling for and where have I lowered my standards. This was a deep episode. Thank you for putting it in simple words.
So welcome! Best of luck!
Finally, it's out :) I have put the same point in front of Citroen after visiting their showroom but it applies to the whole industry.
Absolutely!
Guys the production quality of your videos is so beautiful it's a delight to watch. Finally someone has taken care of how the images being put out there are being made. High five to your camera and post team.
Thanks a ton! We'll pass your compliments on to the team!
I Was feeling down since morning but,the first minute of the video gave me enough motivation to go through the day. That Calm deep voice of Shumi always makes me feel Yes! I can do it too. Thanks for everything, Shumi and motoinc ❤️
You got this! 🤜🏽🤛🏽
This channel is not for everyone. Simply the pinnacle of maturity in the Auto-market.
Thanks Adarsh!
Couldn’t agree more. There was a time I wasn’t given a decent welcome at any showroom because I showed up on a V15 to a Triumph/Kawasaki showroom. Today, on a Himalayan, I do get treated better - no test rides still at Rideventur though! That pleasure is only for existing Kawasaki owners. It’s the quantity mindset still. But to use world class amenities, there needs to be a sense of respect for the effort taken and a sense of “it’s mine” to not misuse/treat it badly. One classic example is the Vande Bharat train, where headphones were stolen and display scratched etc.
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World class products need world class leadership, infrastructure, mentality and people.
Which is us. All of us. 😊
@@motorinc Reality is bitter
So let's change the taste of it?
Except mentality we have all the rest, hence the video. Hope you get it. Love shumi for this video
@@RakeshKumar-pi9lw You can't be more wrong!!
The brain-drain is real. Roughly 80% of my friends are moving abroad or trying to this year. And these are all well-off youngsters with good jobs. They'd rather go be in Canada or USA or UK. And I know several foreigners who want to live in my state and go through insane lengths to make that happen. What are we doing wrong?
On the motorcycle front, I'm hoping to test ride the Yamaha R3 and the Kawasaki Ninja 400. Those are the only two bikes that feel like proper upgrades from my Duke 390. I doubt I'll get to though! Let the dealerships up their game, I'm waiting with my money.
The way things are going Sameer, don't worry, they'll be back soon 😊
We hope the motorcycles you're dreaming off come together soon!
I admire your confidence guys. Hope you're right! @@motorinc
This is so important Shumi. Glad you made a video on this. In US, for example, you get to generally test drive the vehicle you buy!
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This is why I am always in an argument with the people at r/Indianbikes, they blindly celebrate the Japanese brands, and I can't make them see how they are treating us as shits, only giving us water drops from their portfolio, considering us as a poor market only focusing on mass products. Even Kawasaki which doesn't sell mass market motorcycles doesn't bother to give us their best, imagine having the KLR650 or ZX4RR in India.
We need to stop praising these Japanese brands and start demanding and boycotting until they start treating us fairly like they treat Indonesia.
It's not just what parts of the portfolio either. It's also the approach to what might be good enough for Indian customers. The sales numbers say they're more often wrong than not though
You said it, Shumi. And that's exactly why I cancelled my under 10k booking of the Speed 400. Now focused on the best- which I deserve.💪
Best of luck! Do let us know how it goes, and what you decide on!
I totally believe in this ideology. Its something I have practiced for myself for as long as I can remember. The condescending glances we used to get at high end motorcycle stores once upon a time ago have reduced though I still see them happening. At a recent visit to a BMW Motorrad store in a fancy locality in Bangalore, I was once again subject to such a situation. I promptly walked out without a seconds thought. I visited the other one a little distance away and the experience there has been so much better.
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Funny thing is the sales rep at the dealership is just like us if not worse. It's not like he's from another planet or country. So why the bias 😂
The single most important reason to grow older is to earn wisdom.
I aspire to be like Shumi one day. No nonsense, knows what he wants, calm yet motivated, disagrees like a gentleman, full of passion and knowledge... And the list goes on.
❤
MotorInc and talking cars (malayalam channel - sadly no more) are my favourite motor content destinations on TH-cam.
Keep going guys. ❤ Hoping MotorInc would conquer great heights.
And will you do an episode on Karthik's Hayabusa? Him talking about it in your PD episode was a delight to watch.
Thank you Anand! Thanks a ton! We'll pass your compliments on to the team! Request for Kartik-Busa episode noted!
What happened to the talking car's?
*_@motorinc Shumi sir Thanks for raising this point, not only in automobile industry but, we lack in almost every part of our life we don't get best quality things, people ready to pay for extra but don't get a better quality products, it's reverse the things are getting worst, qualities are not increasing, instead standards are getting lower & lower day by day, i know some may say that in india everyone want's cheap products so they need to bear with low quality but why if you build a good enough product with good quality people will buy it, & people will understand why you are charging that money for, but nowadays they are charging money but decreasing quality, hope companies might see and positive changes come in future 🤞❤✌️_*
We hope so too! And we believe you (and us) have a role to play in this!
I am looking for an upgrade from my interceptor 650. Will wait for an locally made middle weight super sport bike.
Respect!
When I first started to see or I should
say when I seen one of your shorts, it's a new channel and my first impression about the video was- it's so clean, efficient and very professional and I was like wow😮
and then I started following your videos. As of today seeing this video, it's just great and very much understanding that what we deserve is way more than what we are experiencing. And the 😃😄example was great about ninja😅
Man you have just stolen the ambition that i have kept hidden in my mind . part of me wishes why there couldn't be a motorcycle of v twin or parallel twin of range 350 to 500 cc with good fit and finish of global standard with all the features . I personally think higher cc doesn't neccesarily means better .
To be the best, start by protecting your women first. And don't get called the land of rape. 😢
Really great point. Let this video be a starter for the movement. Clearly one thing that Indian's got as THE BEST is Motorinc channel. It is THE BEST vehicle enthusiast channel one could ask for.
We certainly hope so!
Loving it Shumi...power to the evolution of riders, may our tribe grow & prosper. Thank you ever so much for putting it out there !! am just loving this "zen" amidst the regular auto content every once in a while !!
Our pleasure Deva! Glad you're enjoying the MotorInc experience!
Okay i needed glass of scotch to digest that. Why the heck are we settling for jugad? Pretty much every product companies make are downgraded versions of product that are of global standards. Hmm perhaps we being fresh civilization from where we were 50 years ago has something to with that, perhaps the ultimate answer is इतने मे इतना हीच मिलेंगा.
Bina maange to def nahin milega 😊
@@motorinc yes, definitely.
I definitely agree. I want to specifically talk about the test ride bit though. What are we to do when the dealerships refuse to give us a test ride? A couple of friends bought an R15 and the new NS200 despite not being able to test ride them without an employee accompanying them as a pillion and not being able to test ride them at all. Where else do we go? And if we choose not to purchase that bike because we didn't get a good test ride we end up losing out on the opportunity of owning that machine. Luckily my friends were able to ride a bike in one of their circles and were able to make an informed decision. Not all of us are lucky enough. What do we do then? Really like how this spark can be applied in almost every context and not just machines!
We never said holding your standards wouldn't be harder, Sudhi!
@@motorinc haha yea. Fair enough.
If you're in a tier 1 or tier 2 city, just walk out of the dealership and go to the other one. One of them will definitely arrange a test ride if not willingly,then at least upon request. If not,then it's not like you don't have options in the market. All you need to do is spend some time and effort to actually find such a place.
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my face when I see motorInc notification is like notification from a fav directors movie.
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Well said Shumi , this is something everyone needs to hear. We are a crowd of immense passion, hope we also take stand on the standards we deserve, thanks for putting this out there guys ❤
🙌 Let's uplift the standard.
No other channel I remember has such deep content put out with such simplicity. Am sure this format will be copied as well soon like the other Kartheek-Schumi discussions for podcasts. Never the less great concept MotorInc 👍
Glad it hits the spot SD!
Awesome point...just see how Hero Moto Corp is all about, it's nothing but cut-copy-paste company....very bad...just minting money out of opportunity but never ever created anything out of their own power, they were so relying on Honda that they couldn't overcome it...only now they have done something like HD-X440 but that too in collaboration....
same with Bajaj - I am happy with their Pulsar brand - but isn't it time they come up with some other segments - what happened to cruiser segment? which was a copy paste of Yamaha Cruiser bike...
Here i will appreciate TVS the most, they are true indigenous and a creative player, they have really improved over the years...so distinct bikes in different segments and everything genuinely indigenous and creative bold n beautiful...
4 wheeler segment is even more PATHETIC IN INDIA - i am really really pissed up by this situation and even GOVT. OF INDIA is responsible for this mess...
1) sub-4 meter rule - without any long term thinking or strategy, just to please a particular manufacturer - MSCIL
2) 10 year diesel rule in NCR - result of industry lobbying or to say MSIL lobbying, just imagine impact on middle class families...this single rule could have proved a big battle point for opposition parties to fight with current GOVT. but they could not utilise it as they are divided
3) MSIL, Hyundai, Honda - all cars are tins, very low quality, zero safety - nobody is bothered, just favouritism....
4) VW group - hats off for holding their own in terms of quality and reliability but are very late in EV and other segments...
5) Ford - such a big loss for India but no-one is bothered....
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS WORLD CLASS 4 WHEELER in India EXCEPT FOR FEW CASES...
Thanks for sharing your perspective, Manish!
N1, we also deserved better contents and this one is superb.
This is very real. I'm frustrated with honda big wing/hmsi in this regard. There's not one viable product in their whole lineup for a regular dude.
The CB300R has 250cc performance with 400cc pricing. The CB350 is just looking to steal a few thousand in sales from the classic and nothing more.
The 500 was never priced right. 650 priced on par with the z900.
The CB300f and SP160 are made for uncles(no disrespect).
There's a big wing on my street and I WANT to support their business, I really do. But I just cant.
The build and export CB125/150 and CBR150 from India they just dont sell it to us :)
It is quite frustrating and it is about time Honda does something about this.
This... Applies to everything. What is self worth...
Great video as always. I know it's gonna Make me rethink how i am treated , at work place, in society later..
Self worth! Great point!
In the coming 5-10 years, the Indian automotive industry and automotive journalism could be divided into eras: "Before MotorInc" and "After MotorInc." This platform has the potential to address crucial issues, challenge manufacturers for better vehicles, promote responsible road behavior, and encourage personal growth. A heartfelt thank you to MotorInc, Shumi, and Karthikeya for filling this much-needed role.
That's a massive responsibility you've put on our shoulders Sumit! But accept the challenge and we do the absolute best we can!
As a complete beginner Shumi's wisdom has kept me safe, level headed, and has given me the ability to enjoy my rides even in sub optimal conditions.
Glad we've helped!
When I went to test ride the Enfields at a showroom, they gave me old bikes. A few were in inexplicable, tattered condition. I was very picky in saying I need to test ride the very same bike that I will take home. And I stood my ground and came back disappointed. Surprisingly, the KTMs and Hondas always gave me their latest bikes to test ride, in mint condition. I finally bought the ADV 390 and I must say an important factor in buying the bike was not only how the test ride felt, but also the complete customer experience. I can so relate to this episode and this gives me hope that I am not an outlier. Rather, it's time to make this the norm!
That’s their loss! Glad you stuck to your guns!
I wish I could tag Hyundai, Kia , Citroen etc for intentionally giving Indians sub standard products. Even if we ignore safety aspect, Kia recently got rid of DCT transmission world wide in Seltos but for india they've continued with DCT despite knowing it is more prone to failures given our traffic conditions.
Poor consumer laws might also be the reason.
Sorry to sound pessimistic but in a country where most people use full beam in city limits (knowingly or unknowingly), the standards are going to be low. The head of maruti Suzuki also pointed this out. No airbag is going to help you out if you are driving on the wrongside instead of making U-turn just to save some fuel. We need to introspect within us first. Government can do only so much when the general public itself is ignorant.
Pessimism is just a stance. Just as optimism is, Mihir. It doesn't always affect reality is any specific or important way. Optimism just seems to make you do stuff and is a happier place to be at the very least.
Remember that these same people who can't figure out low beam, were also stuck with cycles and bullock carts not that very many years ago. They've come a long way, and there's a long way yet to go. We're just saying maybe we can speed it up a bit
I 100% agree with what you said in the video, things in India have started to change and people want what's best out there but they also want it cheaper and I never thought that quality and price go hand in hand, you have to compromise in one thing to get the other. We still have ways to go but the way things are going, we'll get there.
This can be seen with car companies
Example suzuki swift uses 'High strength Steel' in India Swifts while they go for 'Ultra High strength steel' for the same in European Countries
@@md-1186 yeah I don't think Suzuki makes the same quality of cars/bikes in EU or US that they make here in India, I own a baleno myself as my it's my first car and it has everything except a good chasis.
I think most American products have not been created as the best or world class products. They have been marketed in that way tactically
Maybe! 🤷♂️
True true and true. We should respect ourselves when making a decision that would impact our life for the next 5 to 10 years.
"Respect yourself!" What a great quote!
I don't think this is just about bikes, its about life. Thinking that we deserve the best in every aspect of life is how we'll manifest the best. And yes, the Universe does help. The intensity in Prof. Shumi's speech travels directly to the heart, kind of what I needed to hear today!
Glad we've helped RG!
Great to see someone call it out . Substandard build quality and paint job, obsolete tech from past genereatons being spawned off to a new body, Indian automarket has seen it all.
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F'kin A man..... F'kin A... Each n every word..... F'kin A 🤘🤘🤘🤘🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🤘🤘🤘🤘
Sumi , when are you starting your philosophy masterclass ?😊
Welcome to MotorInc! 🤣
Its My ritual to listen Shumi Sir whenever possible especially in mornings.
I have learnt from Sir a lot. One of the best implication is about road rage. Earlier i was impatient and aggressive while riding. Now i am not that person. I ride calmly and not react in hurry whenever some mad drive makes mistake. Thanks Sir keep going❤
We idolize government posts and people who fill them rather than dreamers and entrepreneurs or risk takers so we are to blame for our state of affairs, this love affair with Babus that stretches back centuries has failed and we still take pride in our misery. Suits our mentality.
So how do we change that mentality?
@@motorinc Eliminate as many Govt jobs as we can, automate, take serious legal and other punitive steps to guilty officers...kaala pani maybe! Abolish govt unions which would at least start the process of being able to fire Babus. This itself would be a huge step, enough entrepreneurs in India where no encouragement would be needed, all we have to do is eliminate the Babudom and simplify processes
I love these open hearted talks, this is some of the realest stuff ive seen on yt and its such a fresh breath of air.. where everyone and everything pretends to be better than it is, than put the effort to make it actually better.. bcs its just easier that way unfortunately
Really appreciate it.. Thanks Shumi, Thank you MotorInc 😌
Glad you resonate with us. You're welcome!
Soon...
You surely going to get Famous.
Keep doing the Good/Genuine Work.
& Never Drop your Humbleness. 🙏❣️🇮🇳❣️🙏
That's a Law of Attraction.
Or Power of Thoughts/Energy.
❣️🔥❣️
#world class products means,, world class price also...Dont expect good product with less price,,,,Fact
Now Govt. Banned Laptops from abroad... In laptop market we also will get low quality product.
Competition is the best key to unlock the way towards quality.
In the nutshell: Indian comsumers can fail a product which seems suitable for them (best example: Tata nano)..but don't let down high quality premium products (Ather 450X).. because thats what they deserve....🔥
Bajaj Pulsar in 2004 vs Triumph Speed 400 in 2023 ... Yes we have come a long way; but still not solely from an Indian motorcycling company!!
We are heading towards right direction. The quality thing is a price related issue and earlier Indians didnt have the purchasing power, roads and culture to spend large sum of money on motorbikes which above 150cc class is luxury item in Indian context. Now with that hunger of bigger bikes is increasing and International manufacturers have seen India's potential as a market and as an exporter they are delivering world class products and raising the standards. The likes of Kawasaki who are dumping their outdated and overpriced products exclusively in India will die out unless they accept the change and start domestic manufacturing of enthusiast bike like RE, Triumph, Harley and Aprilia are doing. The big 3 Indian manufacturers have improved their quality a lot in last 4-5 yrs.
Some issue in showroom that I have recently faced is small test rides with a showroom guy as pillion and also selling test ride bikes and bikes given to TH-camrs for testing as brand new, that's why I dont watch any TH-camr whose test bikes has no speedometer numbers.
the moment you realize Shumi wasn't talking 'just' about Motorcycles.
I was looking for a video where Kartikeya is reviewing a car to post my question. But then the topic of this video seems better suited for my query. If I buy the Current Mahindra XUV300 W(8) O Autoshift petrol, am I settling or am I getting what I deserve?
P.S. News of XUV300 facelift are all over the internet.
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Instead of companies launching a product for India......and demonizing the extent of what a machine should have been (eg., from it's original version)......They should do more, Far Far more.
Sadly, we are killing it. I am too subconsciously. I wouldn't even have cared or thought about my low expectation level, if Shumi and Motor Inc didn't make this video. I really have to be better at this.
The Indian Made Harley Davidson X440 is the best made motorcycle in the world with unattainable quality standards
I took my pulsar 135 to Khardungla Nubra and Pangong. now trying to switch, for some trips across India. I took test ride of ronin, hunter, meterior and Honda and classic 350 bullet 350. But like you had said... Nothing comes close to both 350.... (yet I didn't tried java or yezdi or Triumph)I am confused between classic and bullet. Please suggest. I think 350 with spokes doesn't have tubeless tyres which is very important in case of puncher. Both 350 doesn't have traction control, does it matter form safety point if view? Dual channel Abs is better over single channel? (My experience Front disc brakes without abs are prone to skid!!! If only disc brake then it should be in Rear)
This is a topic that gets discussed among my petrolhead circles quite often.
We do get some word-class products, actually. I have own/owned two of them. First, a 2014 Triumph Daytona 675, and now a 2020 Triumph Street Triple 765RS. Both world-class you agree?
But the prices we pay to get them, are higher than much of the developed world - at least North America, most of Continental Europe and Australia/NZ as well the middle-east, get a lot larger variety at a wide range of prices, and considerably cheaper than what we pay in India. In Nepal and Pakistan, both poorer than us on average, you have more options - albeit even more expensive than India - that you don't get in India at all, like say a Ford F150 if you want a nice truck or a GSX-R750 which I'd probably have bought over the Daytona 675 had it been available at similar price.
The Daytona 675 was a bucket list item and a dream I had to fulfil, but then due to age/health/fitness, it did rather demanding and I ended with a somewhat more comfortable replacement, the 765RS. Since then I've also been thinking of upgrading, to maybe a Hayabusa, but then now the cons seem to outnumber the pros.
The roads are horrid, the traffic gets denser and denser by the month, weather is challenging for 8-9 months a year and now we have speed-cameras and mobile interceptors on the only places where you can at least touch 3 digit speeds for more than a few seconds, so basically you're risking damage and injury from potholes, ruts crevasses and unmarked speed-bumps, speeding fines and senseless drivers/riders everywhere around, makes you wonder if paying all that taxes on imports (CBU or CKD), only to have to put up with disastrous roads, traffic that flows as fast as mozzarella cheese and speed-cams everywhere to be fined you for speeding 1km/h over the posted limit, but those doing the wrong-side driving, signal jumping and doing 20kmh in the middle of road holding up traffic never get fined. Even I did end up winning a huge jackpot to buy a Ferrari or Porsche , I'd grind my teeth every time my 812/911's underbody scrapes that speedbump or crashes through a pothole, and that'd be a dozen times a day, probably better to buy a Land Rover/Land Cruiser even if I am a billionaire and leave anything that can't handle our "roads" for purchase in America or Europe.
If we as public and as taxpayers are lazy enough to let the far-from-best political and IAS/IPS/IFS classes keep us chained and miserable deciding what's best for us, while these elites have their 10 fingers in clarified dairy fat (aka 10 ungliya ghee mein), we don't deserve the best of anything.
PS: I actually ended up not buying the previous gen ZX-10R, gen 2 Hayabusa, gen2 S1000RR despite being ready to cough up 25L, and pay for the fuel etc - because the respective dealers weren't willing to offer any test rides.
Great talk!
GoI takes away 45-60% of the price paid by Customer, Manufacturer is left with meagre amount out of the money exchanged for the product. Manufacturer has to accommodate dealer margin, logistics, cost of production, R&D, marketing, fixed & sundry costs. Obviously, Profit margins are thin and competition is fierce, making India a rather tricky market to crack.
Well said... infusing quality in quantity has always been a distant goal ..I personally dreamt of more and more twin/multi cylinder options over the years..we now have but very few and still not affordable
Amazing! the way you put it accross❤👍👌👏
Think of it in terms of smartphones, we used to get phones 1 year later than the global market from the same brands, but now when we started demanding best in class and launch here alongside the rest of the world, global brands (e.g. Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi etc.) launch their smartphones at the same time in our country, as the world gets it, in some cases even before, same goes for Hollywood movies and global OTT platform web series, so why not cars & bikes? That's to do with "Chalta Hai" attitude & Mindset of my fellow citizens, just change that to "Boss, Nahi Chalta Hai!" and see the change.. :)
Thank you.
Someone who has a voice actually speaks out.
The cars and bikes that come to India, especially cars, suck in design. We always get an 'indianised' version. WTF is that? We want the sleakiest, the sexiest, the most comfortable cars, and we don't mind paying a slight premium for it.
Indian brands should also now become truly global product makers. But so far it's not good enough. Take HERO Motorcyles and the new SP160; it looks like something from 20 years ago.
In the car space we have M&M and TATA and others. But their products are not upto the standard. Why are they not recruiting new designers? It's the same old 'luke warm' product.
It's frustrating.
For a country that produces lakhs of engineers, I think it's a shame.
If there was a list of videos ranking YT channels for being "ON BRAND".. This video would be on the top of that list. Looking forward to more world-beating automotive content from you! :)
Superbly put Shumi!! Chalta hai attitude is very very intrinsic to us Indians so much so that we take pride in being a jugaadu population! Why blame others....I myself bought my Vento without airbags and abs and with drum brakes in 2010.... VW would be banned even if they thought of such a thing in the developed side of the world.....Mr. Gadkari is the only transport minister we ever had, who thinks and acts like a transport minister...others were all jokers!! But at the same time I totally agree with you that the crying baby always gets the milk! Unless we stop compromising its is not forthcoming...
Dear Shumi Sir.. thankyou.. I do believe in every single word you said .. to the fellow biker community.. let us get this working in a very best sense possible.. thanks again.. ride safe and responsibly.
Ppl booked Ola S1 and faced probs.. now history repeats with Bajaj speed 400 and hero x 440 . We deserve better standards!!
A very deep message, covering not only automobile segment but going much beyond. That concrete highway example was something that was always in my mind and no body (news channel, explainers, informational videos, etc.) ever spoke about it. Your voice felt like my voice for some seconds.
Why people have started feeling 'ok' even after not getting answers to their questions?
So far in my experience only RE showroom has allowed me test drive of their bikes. TVS, Honda and Bajaj are spineless, don't even keep their flagship models in showroom.
I’ve been talking about this to my friends and society in general for decades, but its been a challenge to put this perspective across. I don’t know why, but we have a massive unshakable mental block to ‘believe’ this view. To further clarify this slightly changes lanes and gets political, and ADAS kicks in - if you know what I mean. But we need to keep going.
Is there a fast yet torquey, reliable and mechanically strong motorcycle like karizma? Can you please suggest 1 or 2. something like vstrom or 400X but not that tall
I think a country gets what it's collective conscience demand. We are a third world country. And due to numerous factors there's always a Technological and qualitative disparity among first world and third world nations. It's quite evident. Certainly we can built the absolute best quality 160cc motorcycle but the best of the best cost money. Who would buy it in India?
That being said I am on par with your thoughts Shumi. Even 6 minutes of you speaking feels so good. Such a well conducted video with brilliant analysis.
Ps. I also adore your grey hair and collection of shirts.
Even international manufacturers are more loyal to Indian customers than Indian brands (except royal enfield). Japanese brands could easily degrade the quality and sell all of their line up at a much lower price. I remember few weeks back Honda's cb 300r was diagonised by a possible oil leak problem and what did Honda do? They provided free check ups for all the customers at their service centres also recalled ongoing production models for review. The definition of "good products" has unfortunately changed in India because of that chal jaayega mentality. Compromise can ruin everything not just product quality but also our personal life.
Hey Schumi, I completely agree with you. And that’s the ideal world we would all love.
However, this whole idea is so contradicting considering our population and the mindset of this big population.
I will give you a small example….check the highest viewed review on whatever an “expert” gives a review on. That might be the highest viewed review, however, now check the % of the population that has watched that review. More-so, imagine how many might have actually based their purchase on an expert’s review vs what a novice friend might have suggested.
The problem is the mindset of of this population. Now as a manufacturer, what are you willing to do? Create a best in class product which wont give you business (considering cost etc), OR, create a mass pleasing product which gives you numbers even if it is shit to the core?
You tell me what will you do if you were a manufacturer?
Clearly Shumi and people here either have not worked in factories or have no idea how hard its in India to setup and run massive companies (read massive as real massive like Hero and Bajaj) ,
1)One setup needs so many good guys and training that its hard to let it just run and focus on another .
2) We have just now started the to master the R&D and the value of R& D shows after a substantial time (sometimes 10 + years)
3) Government is not helping , not today not in the past PERIOD .
4) The money by selling the under performing machines is bring good bucks because its cheap to produce its not the other way round.
Value addition, giving something back to the community was promised by many, but deliverance came from MotorInc. I believe the impact you guys are creating is phenomenal, kudos!
Thank you, Prathmesh!
Awesome heart talk coming out of nowhere from a automotive journalist! Nicely put up emotions in words! Thanks Shumi for the motivational talk! Always helps.
We at SQUAD-E have started our journey with niche automotive performance accessories because we specialize in the same being a bunch of automotive engineers. But the ultimate aim/vision is to bring technicality, quality engineering and at the same time being cost effective and sustainable. Yes it is very hard to get all these qualities into one package, but nevertheless we are trying our best!
I think most of Indian automobile manufacturer are providing just outdated machine which are almost scrape in the developed world.
A manager of mine once advised, "If there's something you're unhappy with, dive into the process or system and work towards the changes you envision. Mere criticism alone rarely brings about change."
A world class product requires a high quality of engineering, which comes at a cost. Then features get added. A car with quality engineering and features will make it expensive, more so because of our taxation. So, each manufacturer makes a compromise based on their appetite and values to deliver us a product based on their perception. It's that simple, yet complicated.
This takes me back to a quote I keep reading a lot. "The science of government it is my duty to study, more than all other sciences; the arts of legislation and administration and negotiation ought to take the place of, indeed exclude, in a manner, all other arts. I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain."
In order to make the best product on earth, you need to be in the last generation the quote talks about. There are various products I use in my daily life, and I wonder why it isn't the best I can get. Why do we as a country not make the best there is?
In most, if not all, graduation/masters schools out there, we're not taught how to make the best product. We're taught how to run an existing outdated thing in the best way. Most of our innvoations are hacks that make things economical, easier or more convenient. We don't aim to make the best, because that thought isn't put in us as learners.
At work, there are people who try to make amazing things. But our dreams again are limited to making the existing processes amazing, or creating a new process within the environment that a developed country product functions in. One can attribute it to the labour market that we are. The best of the best don't aim to work for Hero Motocorp, they aim to work for Audi. And then if their talent is good enough, they move out of the country into the Centre of Excellence of Audi. That's how you get Indian CEOs in global corporations.
Is that such a bad thing? I don't know. Maybe we are not and never will be the gourmet kitchen with a Michelin starred chef. Maybe we will always be the street kitchen that serves the people who need food for sustenance. That's a noble job I guess.
Yes a Hero splendor may not be the best bike on earth. But it is what runs most underdeveloped and developing nations.
That said, brave work on Shumi's part. An opinion piece in Automotive Journalism. Hats off!
We need to follow the japanese ways of competing with each other.Competition in every fields.Then only they refine their products and we get good ones.If there is no competition we will be back to the license raj era where a company can sell substandard dated products with zero reliability and still survive because of zero competition..Air India which is now undergoing changes because of competition in aviation industry is an example..However in railways its govt monopoly thats why we are still travelling in coaches from Gandhiji era that shake after crossing 90 and derailing killing precious lives..Sadly it still continues..😢
Loved the video. But what do you say to manufacturers who argue about low volumes to justify not bringing more expensive motorbikes here? I can’t understand why Kawasaki’s catalogue in Thailand or Indonesia has to be so different from what it is in India.
Insightful as ever!
However, in terms of test rides, I believe there is a need to move beyond a 15-30 minute test ride format. Test rides should not be limited to a spin around the store, but rather focus on bringing the product promise to life in real-world circumstances.
Most individuals buy motorcycles based on the motorcycle's capabilities on a spec sheet & juicy videos, rather than their own ability to make the most of it.
This is where I believe test rides should be experiential in nature.
Rent it for a day or two and then make your decision. Sure, there will be a cost associated with this, but it will be insignificant when compared to the expense of a motorcycle that you do not enjoy.
Heart over head, as with everything motorcycles!
U know TATA dealer asked this question .. Test drive? Sir ppl just book cars here withot test drive. You can do the same ! I wondered WHAAATTT!!! then i went to toyota they provided around 4 test drives in a week
This isn't just the best vehicle related video I have ever seen, this is the best video on EVERYTHING I've seen, period. This video will be relevant for years to come as India strives to be the biggest economy in the world. The way we modify our lives for the better and aspire is what ends up changing all the dysfunctional systems. This video applies to everything from automobiles to infrastructure to services to careers and to politics. Strive to get the best and be the best.
Thanks VigneshV!
I think most of the indians try to go for worthy products, let me give some examples:
1) my dad bought a hyundai i 10 in 2009 era version which is same as santro top model that year, dad didn't even push a little for magna even i insist for all door power windows maybe because of financial situations which i dont understand as 13 year old child. But the product was worth. Santro discontinued for long time even new version is cheap as hell. Love worthy decision of dad.
2) after almost 13 years we again going for hyundai as i still love the interior of the all hyundai it feel so comfortable to sit.
After crusial 1 week research i finally landed on a decision to buy a exter even i own ola which i like the most. Showroom experience is too much dull, they just gave us 2 km road and try to book now. Even they suggest for a venue as exter waiting period is 5 months. We tried venue also but i really like exter, disappointed with exterior which does not feel at all as shown in yt videos but all other things are perfect. But as dad tried venue it is little bit premium than exter even all interior are same. We cant decide a car still then. And Hyundai sales person still pushing for venue as typical sales person (chipka rahe hain). I tried fronx delta plus even the person gave me very special treatment. Gave me brand new car which is going to deliver soon but still feel good that they gave me small ride. I just hate the interior of maruti everything is dull everything feels analog. Front window is too small, why no one mentioned it i wonder looks same as grand vitara but smaller, exterior superb but interior is bullshit. Love how they covered the engine from down for rat protection which Hyundai salesman told me even Mercedes engine have big hole just under the engine😂
Point is long gone😂 but indians go for worthy products than what they deserve. Because someone somewhere is not working right.
A much needed one at current point of time, but what to do Shumi bro, we have 25K bikers who have booked the Hero Davidson X440 without even a test ride despite the visible low quality welds and parts that are not on par with "Harley Davidson".
Would the 650cc enfield qualify? They are they best at what they aim to do in the world (simple, good looking retro)
Very nice Schumi. Have craved for this kind of writing in Indian magazines. Hopefully some of the manufacturers are watching this. For they need a good dose of imagination for them to start making stuff that we all imagine we deserve.
Interesting thought but I don't see things changing anytime soon. We are Indians, at the end we just, Settle and we live with our choices, good or bad. We are okay with it. Yes we can demand better service, better products or even better buying experience but eventually we just settle for the things they are. Its been decades we are following the Manufacturer - Dealer led structure that it has become a norm. I remember when new classic 350 came out and bookings were made online for the very first time for a brand like RE, I told this to my father that I am putting my money down online, he said "Why book online without even looking at the bike in the showroom"
As the popular minister once said about some other nation - "We Indians must get out of our own colonial mindset of accepting things as they are and should demand for better experiences and not settle for the norm."
Hope to see this change. But not anytime soon. :D
With all due respect, manufactures did there best to brought in the best to indian market but did we ever appreciate it? Suzuki recieves a lot of criticism for filmsy car. But who btw bought an scross kizashi or a grand vitara. Vitara was infact a dud unless it became brezza and retrofitted with all sort of bi fueling options. Same goes for ford chevy and fiat. Ecosport is still best deiving sub 4 mtr SUV. But where it is now? Out of country. Mitsubishi is already out. Vw and skoda have compelled to bring in sub standard products and so does many more . Same story for indian manufacturers too. Hexa is any day far better option than safari or harrier. But it never see the numbers rolling. Ao unless we wont shed of this herd mentality and kitna deti hai attitude we will keep getting these sub par products and celebrating.
Wow so much of truth in slightly over 6 mins!! When the video started off I was wondering is this a philosophy lesson. Mid way through I started relating completely with what Schumi is trying to say.
But the truth is, we never think like we are global citizens. We want cheap products- we say we want value for money products, which is another way of saying we want a product that is cheap. It is not only with cars or bikes; it is universal! Take any industry operating in India and you will notice we give priority to pricing than quality! Thats who we are and we cannot change!! The quantitative aspect comes in only because we are the most populous country in the world now.
And in case we do change some day eventually, and start demanding the best that is there in the world, we will find ourselves in another developed country!
One interesting thing about standards and Indians is that we tend to equate money with standards. If it costs more, it automatically has a higher standard, which is not always true. Your Audi Q3 review highlights this. A car that costs more than 50 lakh doesn't have some must have features and people are fine with it. Until we demand more we will always be seen as "cost conscious".
Wow.. Absolutely resonating.. I’ve had this topic raised in multiple occasions and the common response is, there isn’t required infra or the will to create a world class product locally.. it’s time we start raising our standards 🙌🏼
Have been in this discussion in other sectors. Indian customers are treated like 💩by some of the brands. What doesn't help is the collective defeat on the customer side. Our own brands in India are now taking advantage of this, and giving us a very poor buying experience.
why isn't hero or tvs or bajaj not making higher ccs motorcycle, just like every other company in the world? r they not capable of producing one, no they're not!! so what's stopping them?
Is it possible that there are some world's best sub 250cc motorcycles in India which havent been benchmarked with the world's best
I wish people like modi ji, ratan tata ji and Mahindra ji and all the Indian ceo's of bikes and car brands produced in India hear this message from you sir...great message.. Hope the people who got hear this get to hear..❤
My interceptor started making noises 3k into the purchase. I tagged Sid Lal on Twitter .
They replaced my clutch plate assembly and rear suspension for free under warranty after that . But initially all the service centers in my city refused to even address it, citing it's usual RE characteristic.
My question to Sid was , do u not take pride in the products you sell. Do u want to be world class by virtue of product quality or only sales numbers. Pretty sure he never read it but i believe a significant number of escalations will bring about a change one day.
One school of thought with automotive industry is products that are too good , will not need spares soon enough and spare parts sales are as important as vehicle sales numbers to them.