DSK-Hyosung eyes the high volume 125cc-150cc motorcycle market in India
Months ago, Pune based DS Kulkarni group joined hands with South Korean motorycle major Hyosung, by buying out Garware’s stake in the joint venture for an undisclosed sum of money. DSK-Hyosung, it seems have big plans for the Indian motorcycle market in the coming years. Even as it is scoutin for land to set up assembly operations in India, DSK-Hyosung plans to embark on an aggressive localization strategy, especially for the GT250R sportsbike, to bring its price down to levels that will pit it directly against the Honda CBR250R, which is currently the best selling 250cc motorcycle in the country.
2012 Hyosung GT250R Sports Motorcycle
However, localization isn’t all. DSK-Hyosung plans to establish a research and development center in India, to develop a small capacity motorcycle with an engine capacity between 125cc to 150cc. This small capacity motorcycle will be targeted at high volumes for the Indo-Korea joint venture. Other details though, remain unknown at this point of time. In India, more and more two wheeler makers are moving from the entry level 100-110cc commuter segment to the 125cc and 150cc segments, even as motorcycle buyers are upgrading to products with better performance and features.
That said, DSK-Hyosung will have some very formidable competition in the form of global two wheeler behemoths like Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj auto and Honda, which currently dominate the motorcycle market in India. Hyosung is no stranger to the 125cc and 150cc motorcycle space in India. When the South Korean motorcycle maker had tied up with erstwhile Kinetic Engineering Limited, it launched two technology packed motorcycles in India, both of which bombed miserably at the hustings. The Kinetic GF125 was India’s first four valve motorcycle and produced class leading power and torque.
However, the motorcycle never managed to find favour with buyers. After the GF125, Kinetic launched the GF170, which was a bigger engined motorcycle along with grown up styling like a half fairing. While it packed in plenty of power and torque along with a four valve, single cylinder four stroke engine, even this motorcycle never really took off. Soon after, Kinetic Engineering Limited exited the two wheeler business. As the old adage goes, what goes around comes around, and Hyosung finds itself back on square one, mulling another shot at the 125cc to 150cc motorcycle segment of the Indian market.
Source AutoCarPro
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3 Responses to “DSK-Hyosung eyes the high volume 125cc-150cc motorcycle market in India”
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Jai, I hope you will warn your readers about this dud.Speaking from personal experience, I was the first man in Chennai to buy the GF125, and I have suffered a lot after buying the bike.The bike never had the road grip, and had a tendency to skid even at low speeds and even in smooth roads.I had a lot of falls in this bike, and finally when my wife fractured her arm, I was forced to sell this dud for Rs.9,000 after purchasing it for Rs.55,000.Further more the engine used to stop at the hint of the first rain falling on the bike.In fact the second hand dealer who bought my GF125, later informed me, that he had to sell it as junk.
I can assure you, that this is the worst bike, which I have ever ridden. I have been riding from 1981, starting with a moped and graduating to a lamby scooter, TVS suzuki 100, Hero Honda 100 and so many other bikes, but no bike had given me so much grief.
Hey, Hyosung failed in India due to having Kinetic as a partner. Secondly Hyosung did not back up the bikes with the spare parts supply.
If you see the history of Kinetic, first they failed Honda, then they failed Hyosung and lastly they exited the 2 wheeler business and sold their junk machinary to acquisition hungary Anand Mahindra for 110 Cr. While Kinetic group laughed all the way to the Bank, Mahindra now is stuck with their non selling gearless scooters which they are relaunching and relaunching and relaunching but failing.
Keep away from anything that Kinetic lays its hands on. Keep away from Nano as it is using gearbox made by Kinetic.
Jhoot to mat bolo. 120-150 cc engine. No ways