It’s bad enough crashing into a car, but this Indian motorcyclist gets a double dose of bad luck when the post he runs into collapses on top of him.
The security camera footage shows the driver of the white car pausing at an intersection, then starting to turn left, right into the path of the rider.
It’s bad luck for the rider who then slides into a light pole.
He gets up and seems ok but bad luck strikes a second time when the light pole falls on his head.
Jawa Motorcycles have returned with such a vengeance in India, there could be pressure to export to other markets and delay the revival of BSA.
Currently, owners Mahindra Motorcycles are only licensed by the original Czech Jawa company to make and sell the bikes in India.
However, that could change in the next few years judging by the success of their three new Classic Legends models unveiled in India last November.
The bikes are currently sold out until November 2019 and caused such excitement that competitor Royal Enfield registered their first sales decline in several years in December.
Jawa Forty Two
BSA revival delayed?
Mahindra has released the bikes under the new brand called Classic Legends Private Ltd.
However, the revival of the British BSA brand could be held up while the company tries to cope with demand for its Jawa bikes.
The company had set up a website for Jawa orders but had to take it down after crashing from demand.
Jawa say they wanted to sell 90,000 bikes a year, but it could be more.
That will place huge pressure on their manufacturing resources and could delay the release of the BSA revival.
New Classic Legends
Perak bobber, Jawa and Jawa Forty Two
The new Indian-made Jawa motorcycles, currently only available for domestic sale, are the Jawa, Jawa Forty Two and Perak which will follow later this year.
The Jawa and Perak feature the traditional “egg-shaped” headlamp with integrated instruments. The Forty Two has a separate offset instrument pod.
Jawa
Forty Two
Other iconic features include a tool box, dual shocks, twin peashooter exhausts and flat bars.
Indian prices are Rs 1.64 lakh, Rs 1.55 lakh and Rs 1.89 lakh, respectively. That’s about $A3130-3600 ($US2280-2600, £1780-2050).
All are powered by a new 293cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine which has been styled to resemble the original air-cooled motor.
It has a very modest output of 20kW (27bhp) of power and 28Nm of torque.
The bikes come with a disc brake on the front with single-channel ABS and a rear drum brake. To be considered for global exported, Mahindra will first have to update to all discs and two-channel ABS.
Jawa Classic Legends tech specs
Jawa
ENGINE: 293cc Single Cylinder, 4 Stroke, Liquid Cooled, DOHC
BORE STROKE: 76 x 65
COMPRESSION: 11:1
POWER: 20kW (27bhp)
TORQUE: 28Nm
Jawa Forty Two
TRANSMISSION: Constant Mesh 6 Speed
FRAME: Double cradle
TYRES: 90/90 – 18; 120/80 – 17
SUSPENSION: Telescopic Hydraulic Fork; gas canister dual hydraulic shocks
BRAKES: 280mm disc with floating caliper and ABS; rear 153mm drum
Motorcycle sales might be in a two-year slump in Australia, but there is no cause for general panic about the global motorcycle industry just yet.
Several motorcycle manufacturers are reporting growth in profits and even record sales, while many markets continue to increase in sales.
Perhaps the biggest saviour of motorcycling is the continued exponential growth in the Indian market.
Last year, more than 20 million motorcycles were sold in India. That’s up 2.6m from the previous year and almost double the sales of just seven years ago.
And don’t think that’s all scooters and 125cc motorcycles, either.
More and more motorcycles sold in India are what they call “superbikes” which are over 750cc in capacity.
China, Brazil and other developing countries are also recording massive growth in motorcycle and scooter sales.
No panic in mature markets
But it’s not just the developing nations that are doing well.
Mature markets such as Europe are up about 7% including the UK, up 2.9%.
The big concern is that the biggest big-bike market in the world, America, is marginally down last year.
However, there is no need for panic yet. US sales had been growing steadily since the big collapse from the 2008/09 GFC.
Maybe it’s a one-year blip. Let’s hope so, as it has a huge bearing on motorcycle manufacturers’ ability to turn a profit and keep bringing out new and exciting models.
Profit and panic
Meanwhile many manufacturers are continuing to post profits and/or record growth.
BMW Motorrad recorded its eighth straight year of global sales growth, up 0.9% with 165,566 bikes delivered;
Triumph was down slightly from 63,404 to 61,505, but still reported its second-biggest profit last year; and
Although slightly down, Ducati sold 53,004 bikes last year, its fourth straight year of more than 50k.
Ducati updated its popular Scrambler range in 2018
Japanese manufacturers are yet to post their 2018 figures.
All eyes will also be on Harley-Davidson who are expected to post a double-digit global slump in domestic sales, but good performances in developing markets.
Challenges
There is no doubt the motorcycle market is going through some changes and challenges:
