Back to Hamara Bajaj

No one can take away the credit from Bajaj which transformed itself from a ubiquitous archaic scooter company into a pulsating bike company. At a time when other two-wheeler manufacturers appeared to be under the influence of a sedative thinking that 150cc bike segment is premature in the Indian market, Hamara Bajaj struck like a bolt from the blue with its mean machine- The Pulsar.Pulsar was a game changer. Perhaps, it is one of the most influential launches after the Goliathic Hero Honda Splendor (a brand which has been holding about 40% of market share for over a decade) to hit the market.Pulsar created a ripple in a market hitherto used to 'commuter bikes'. Hamara Bajar very neatly captured the space of 'sport biking' when other myopic auto makers were glued to the 100 cc segment. The job of Bajaj was made easier by Yamaha which gave away on a platter its inherent positioning of 'power bikes' as it mindlessly launched crappy commuter bikes one after the other. God alone (or the top honchos at Yamaha) knows why Yamaha goofed up their positioning so badly.Six to seven years have passed since Bajaj captured the sport bike segment, the game has changed on its head. Bajaj sales are dwindling (more rapidly than the secular downtrend of two-wheeler segment in India). What changed for Bajaj in the last 1-2 years. There are a couple of reaons:A. After a deep slumber, Yamaha wakes up and realises the power bike segment in India rightfully belonged to it. The company decides that it is not meant for the space of commuter bikes but sport bikes. The two-wheeeler giant from Japan rebrands and repositions itself as 'sport biking' . With its decades-long experience in the segment is showing in the refinement and dynamics of its new range of bikes. The bikers in India started lapping up new Yamaha bikes like they once did Rx 100s. If Yamaha has done it, the other bike makers from Japan can't be far behind.B. While Yamaha has reclaimed its numero uno position of sport biking, Bajaj failed to change gears and come out with a new bike. Most of its new bikes have been replicas or alterations of the iconic Pulsar. At the same time, Bajaj could not match its styling with the engine refinement of its Japanese counterparts.The future looks tough for Hamara Bajaj. While Yamaha and possibly Honda will take over the sport bike and super bike segment, Hero Honda and Suzuki will sit pretty on the the commuter bike segment.Unless Bajaj reinvents itself like it did with Pulsar, I am afraid... it will go down like a brakeless scooter down the gravel-filled downhill.