Eying a big potential for luxury bikes in India, where tastes are changing from mass-market machines to high-end bikes, Honda and Bajaj are looking at launching new sportsbikes in the country in the next couple of months.

There had been a sudden surge in the number of International Sportsbikes brands entering the Indian market, over the past two years. Initially the trend was set by Kinetic with the launch of the 250cc, v-twin-powered Hyosung Comet in India back in 2005. Then it was Yamaha, which launched the Yamaha R1 in India and the MT-01 cruiser in 2007. Soon later followed by the Italian motorcycle giant Ducati, who launched an array of superbikes costing up to almost 50 lakhs, and finally Suzuki joined the troop in late-2008, with its Hayabusa superbike and the Intruder cruiser.

Yes ! And Honda insists that this is not the regular change of stickers or addition of more colour options (as Honda has been doing for the past 7 years). Honda is quite serious this time, and people ready to buy the Activa have a very good reason to wait till March 2009. Honda Activa the master piece and sales phenomenon from Honda Motor Cycle India (HMSI) is set to take a rebirth - How cool is that news?

The scooter market does have its fair share in the Indian 2-wheeler market, 15% to be precise. Honda with the Deo and Activa, and TVS with the Scooty pep have ruled this segment for a long time so it is the right time for Yamaha to inject some appeal in these things by introducing its racing inspired moto-scooters!

The Division Head (product planning & strategy) of the company, Sanjay Tripathi, told media that the scooter that is to be launched will have an engine as equally powerful as a motorcycle engine, while the transmission will be automatic. In addition to the scooter, the company also plans to launch two motorcycles, he said.

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