India’s love affair with two-wheelers
Over the years, two-wheelers have grown to become the pulse of rural India, serving the masses in numerous ways. In the eighties and nineties, scooters were the most cost effective and faithful carriers across the length and breadth of the country. During the past decade or so, more comfortable, efficient and modern motorcycles and scooters have replaced these ageing 2-stroke machines.
Today, most farmers and small town traders rely heavily on their motorcycles - often altered with crude aftermarket fitments to bear load - to carry out their day-to-day personal and business activities. City dwellers of all ages also depend on motorcycles and new age scooters to meet their daily transport needs, often making their own minor changes to make their ride more powerful or comfortable.
There’s no doubting that motorcycles are the closest companions of lakhs of Indians and the country’s two-wheeler market is the second-biggest in the world even though only one in 25 Indians are on two wheels. It is not surprising that many of the world’s leading two-wheeler brands have established manufacturing or marketing bases here while others are looking at entering the market through tie-ups with experienced local firms.
Meeting the need of the hour
Every manufacturer has tried to bring out products with specific features for a specific segment that they are targeting. While there are many options for the urban and semi-urban Indian, it is the rural areas that have been left wanting for choice, especially when it comes to an integral part of their day to day business, a motorcycle. Noticing that until fairly recently, most consumers from this segment have had no other option but to procure regular commuter motorcycles and modify them accordingly, Tamilnadu based TVS Motor Company took it upon itself to do something for this category of people. With the imminent need of a sturdy, durable motorcycle that could easily carry heavy loads, the company brought out a model based on its popular Max platform. One key objective of launching this motorcycle was to provide a safer mode of travel for these riders, who are very often India's lifeline.
Carrying loads and lives with ease
One feature of the 109.7 cc Max4R, which is easily visible to the naked eye, is the presence of four instead of two rear shock absorbers. These help the motorcycle carry heavy weights easily. It must be mentioned here that Max4R is currently the only motorcycle in the country, which has a certified payload of 200 kgs. The company also added other features that address the safety aspect of the rider like bigger brakes, wider tyres, wheel and indicator guards to protect the bike and goods, and specially reinforced spokes that are so designed as to withstand with heavy loads and not break under pressure. The bike's removable, lockable pillion seat makes space for a flat, luggage platform. Interestingly, the Max4R is currently the only model in its class that comes with the option of a mobile charger, since many rural areas often go without electricity for long periods. On the fuel economy front, a fully loaded bike delivers a mileage of around 60 kilometers to a litre of petrol.
This novel motorcycle promises to make life easier and a lot more convenient for thousands of Indians who look at their motorcycle as something more than just a vehicle to move from one place to another but rather as a partner in business.
