Will it be the Bicycle Today, Sir?
Auto India - July 2005
With high fuel prices and pollution levels rising, bicycles seem to be a way of making your contribution towards a clean, green word. Siddharth Philip takes a look at some of the branded bicycle which you will soon see on Indian roads.
With the prices of fuel skyrocking, high and car manufacturers seem to have reverted to the great old bicycle … yes… bicycle!!! Recently, Mercedes-Benz launched their collection of bicycles in Mumbai, but these toys don’t come cheap with the cheapest (a relative term!) model costing a cool 74,958 rupees. But then again, it’s a one time investment, with no added costs for fuel, registration and the other usual car owner’s expenses shaped on. There are three bicycles in the Mercedes-Benz stable. The first is the ‘Automatic Bike’, with an onboard computer, located on the handlebars (what Mercedes enthusiastically calls the ‘flight duck’), automatically adjusting the gears, suspension, and lights. ‘This bike is based on Merecedes’ new SMOVER technology and promises to be bicycle equivalent of your S Class, on days you decide to take the healthy route to the office. With a price tag of 156,746 rupees, you might not want to take it to the office every day, contrary to what the brochure suggests.
The second bicycle will set you back 112,655 rupees and claims to be a mountain bike, promising to “take the rough with the smooth, with powerful, dynamic, fully spring-loaded high performance”. However, please check with the insurance company about whether they cover bicycles before verifying the same. The last bicycle with the three point state is the ‘Fitness bike’, the least expensive of the bikes, at 74,958 rupees. This bike is a bare bones bicycle with gears and a manually adjustable suspension, cutting down on the technology, for a good cause – fitness.
These bicycles are not meant for the common man but for current Mercedes Benz owners, bike enthusiasts, professionals and in particulars, the younger generation(albeit with a little cash in their pockets), according to a spokesman for Auto Hanger, the first dealer to take orders for the bikes in India. Contrary to what you might b thinking, Mercedes did not start manufacturing bicycles after the recent surge in oil prices. In 1885, Wilhelm Maybach presented the world’s first motorized cycle, designed and built by Gottlieb Daimler. It caused a sensation, but did bring in the money for its inventors, who did not build on the concept, but went on to make their renowned automobiles. In 1924, Mercedes began to manufacture bicycles, “ for customers looking for assured quality ‘, says Mohan Mariwala, managing director of Auto Hanger. The current bikes were launched recently, in March this year in Germany, and they have already made their way to India. A word of caution for bike-owners-in case your bike brakes down, don’t take it to your local repair shop, but contact your Mercedes –Benz dealer.
Another company making in roads into the bicycle market is FireFox, a UK based bicycle manufacturer. Designed in the UK and manufactured in Asia to the highest international standards, FireFox claims that it will” redefine your biking experience by introducing, for the first time in India, a range of over 30 international bikes that come with unique features like light –weight alloy frame, hi-tech Shimano gears, gears, disc brakes, quick release seat clamps, etc”.
FireFox’s range spans from kids’ bikes to all-terrain, BMX and road bikes. The Cyclone 26, Viper 26, SFX 05 24, Zenith 20, and Fury 24 are some of the popular models that will soon hit Indian roads.Incase you have more money to spend after buying the bikes, both Mercedes and FireFox also offer accessories such as biking gear, helmets, water bottles and the like.
Launching FireFox in India, Shivinder Singh, managing director, FireFox India, said: “ The young Indian is changing rapidly. He works hard, parties hard and exercises hard. Fitness is becoming a core value not for adults but also their children. Summer holidays are no longer sedentary walks in hill stations, but adventure camps, trekking, climbing and other outdoor activities. In this new environment, FireFox is introducing the thrill of competitive sports with the joy of fun and family activity.”
The bikes range from 2,700 rupees((for the La Lady) to 21,600 rupees (for the Road Pro 2200).
