An American Icon in India

Harley-Davidson, the world-renowned motorcycle company of the United States is finally looking to make an entry into the Indian market. It makes sense considering the number of motorcycles in use today in India and the fact that the reputation of Harley's is well known in India as well. At present there are only a few in the country where Honda (among others) has dominated for a very long time. The reason for this is that motorcycles are often the cheaper and less expensive option for travelling around the bustling cities of India. Not to mention the fact that it allows you easier access to zip in and around traffic (and believe me, that's an ability that is much needed in a country where cars are seemingly as prevalent as people). But what's taken the Harley-Davidson company so long then?

One could be the fact that Harley's aren't the most economical of motorcycles. To give you a comparison of how different the prices would be (once Harley officially enters the market), an average Honda motorcycle (the Hero Honda) costs about the equivalent of $1,200. The new economy car by Indian giant Tata, the Tata Nano, will be retailing for about $2,500. The Nano was introduced with the idea that by making a car more easily affordable to less affluent people in India, it will make roads safer by allowing families to sit rather than seeming to hang on for dear life on a motorcycle that can often be used to carry a family of four throughout the city. Compare that now to a Harley which is expected to retail around $14,000 for a starting price.

Now don't get me wrong. I think it's a great idea. If the IT boom has done one thing in India, it's brought a lot of wealth to the nation and with it, it's brought a level of consumerism that hasn't been as prevalent there for a long time. The photo that accompanies this blog is of Indian cricket star Mahendra Singh Dhoni who currently owns a Harley-Davidson. I believe that at least initially, it will be individuals like Dhoni who will be springing for such luxury items and once the market becomes a bit more firmly established, you'll possibly see a lot more of them on the roads of India. Though even there I see some impediments to sales being really high and it doesn't really have anything to do with Indians being able to afford them (I think Indians have more than enough money to afford whatever they want) but it's a question of being able to enjoy the motorcycle.

I am not a motorcycle rider and I haven't sat on motorcycles save for a few occasions. However, I do know the pleasure of enjoying a drive in a vehicle that is built for the road. In my car I have enjoyed driving along windy wooded roads and feeling the wind in my hair and from what I've heard, many motorcycle enthusiasts feel the same way. They enjoy riding motorcycles along the open roads and take pleasure in the journey. In India, those types of opportunities are few and far between at times and the reason is traffic. Getting from point A to point B can be a real pain and though (as I mentioned earlier) motorcycles allow you to maneuver and get around traffic at times, the feeling of cruising along at speed is a relatively rare experience.

For most that won't be the reason to get one. There is a certain bit of pride in being able to say you own a Harley when there are only a handful in the entire country. We had the same thing here with the iPhones which were initially produced in very very limited numbers. Once they became common however is when the novelty wore off. I don't think the novelty of Harley's in India will die down as quickly because there is a great deal of mystique surrounding the Harley but I think the lofty plans that the company has of establishing a major presence within the Indian market may take a little longer than even they anticipate.