Bosch eyes growing demand in India for bikes with on- and off-road, touring abilities

Bosch’s Two Wheeler & Powersports division, which aims to drive business with a singular focus on tapping the growing demand for new and innovative two-wheeler technologies globally, foresees new opportunities in India’s evolving motorcycle industry.

Geoff Liersch, senior managing officer, Two Wheeler & Powersports, Bosch Corporation believes categories such as sports-tourers and adventure-tourers among several motorcycle classes will pick up pace in the growing Indian market in the coming years.

Speaking to Autocar Professional recently, Liersch (pictured below) said, “Certainly as we go up in terms of cubic capacities, sportsbikes may appeal to riders in India. But the seating position is slightly uncomfortable for riding them on city roads. So I think motorcycles with sportsbike styling and more comfortable, tourer-like seating position would take off well (referring to sports-tourers).”

“Also, I see that the adventure bike segment could be created in India. I see fellow riders riding road bikes in off-road conditions here. So I think having a bike category like that (pro with on- and off-road abilities / adventure-tourer), which can support city commutes on weekdays and fun rides on weekends, has got potential in India, certainly at a higher price range,” he added.

Sports-tourers are understood as a specific premium category that includes motorcycles with appearance similar to sportsbikes with a more comfortable, upright seating stance (unlike sportsbikes’ forward-bending stance), which makes them potent long-haul, touring machines. Adventure-tourers, on the other hand, are motorcycles that are equipped with on- and off-road abilities.

Among the many premium motorcycles that are currently on sale in the domestic market, sports-tourers could be identified with the likes of Kawasaki’s in-line four-cylinder, 1043cc Ninja 1000 and Versys 1000; parallel-twin, 649cc Ninja 650 and Versys 650; Suzuki Motorcycles’ four-cylinder, 999cc GSX S1000F and four-cylinder, 1255cc Bandit 1250S; Triumph Motorcycles’ three-cylinder, 800cc Tiger XR range and other potential options.

Meanwhile, high-end adventure-tourers that are currently on sale in India could be identified as Triumph Motorcycles’ three-cylinder 800cc Tiger XC range and 1215cc Tiger Explorer XC; Suzuki’s V-twin, 1037cc V-Strom; BMW’s twin-cylinder, 1170cc R 1200 GS Adventure; Ducati’s L-twin, 1198cc Multistrada 1200 range and others. Royal Enfield, which has brought this segment to the affordable mid-range (250cc-800cc) by launching its latest offering Himalayan, aims to grab the first-mover’s advantage in the market. The model, which is powered by an all-new single-cylinder, 411cc engine, is a potent and affordable adventure-touring option in the Rs 1.60 lakh – Rs 2 lakh price range.

Growing demand for electronics

Adventure-tourers and sportsbikes are two motorcycle categories that use the maximum content of electronic controls, a lot which is developed and supplied by Bosch Two Wheeler & Powersports. The company is known for its technologies around anti-lock braking systems (single- and double-channel ABS systems), engine management systems (EMS including electronic fuel injection, ECUs, ignition, exhaust gas management among others) and several other electronic controls using sensors – latest being side view assist. The latter, according to the company, is the world’s first assistance system for motorcycles. “This system uses four ultrasonic sensors that monitor their surroundings to help riders change lanes safely,” quotes the company website.

Speaking in this context, Liersch said: “As of today clearly the adventure-tourers and the supersports would probably be the two categories that will have the maximum electronic features, and the biggest product mix for us. I think probably the tourers would be the bikes where we have the largest content per bike. But as we look into the future, this is going to change clearly because while these two (categories) have the largest content (portfolio of products by Bosch), the midsize and affordable segments will see growing volumes and we will make sure that we have the right product portfolio for those segments.”

The company also foresees demand for connectivity solutions as potential features on motorcycles in the coming years. “In the long term, features like navigation and other connectivity solutions would possibly come in the midsize segment in the Indian market because the affinity with smartphones here is extremely high,” the senior official added.

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