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Coming to India!

Yes, the most iconic motorcycle label in the world will be here in a while

HARLEY’S ANGELS The Sportster is the entry-level package.

The very mention of that brand of motorcycle brings on an audio-visual imagery in one’s mind: the "potato-potato" sounding engine, oodles of chrome, extravagance of design thanks to the flamboyant handlebars, foot controls and hand levers. Visi ons of open roads and the feeling of wind in your face are mandatory. Above its characteristic exhaust burble, this bike screams out travel. It stands for long one-way rides where the destination is not so much a criteria as is the getting there. It is not the point B that is the destination from point A that is important - it is the thrill and the experience of getting from Point A to Point B.

Poems have been penned on this bike and America’s Route 66 is often mentioned in the same breath as Harley-Davidson.

But soon, we Indians may be talking about Harley-Davidsons and the Golden Quadrilateral. Yes, biker boys, the Harley-Davidson brand is all set to come to India. This is a bike any true-blue biker who uses two wheels for a journey rather than a commute wishes to own. It is a motorcycle that is meant to travel, with its ergonomically designed panniers and luggage carrying capacity, this is a bike that you could comfortably ride from Mumbai to Delhi or Delhi to Dharamshala or Bangalore to Kodaikanal.

The Harley will land on Indian shores thanks to some give-and-take between the USA and Indian governments. This agreement was reached during United States trade representative Susan C Schwab’s recent visit to India. The Indian government has agreed to allow imports of Harley motorcycles into the country. To enable this to happen, it has also prescribed emission norms for imported motorcycles of 800cc and above, where none existed, and waived homologation requirements for these motorcycles.

While the VRSC is H-D’s most contemporary offering, featuring a Porsche-designed powertrain.

However, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and Ministry of Commerce and Industry have laid down some conditions for this to happen. These bikes will have to meet the tough Euro III emission norms; further, the importer has to submit a Type Approval Certificate from an internationally accredited agency in the country of origin. This essentially means that individuals, companies and most importantly, manufacturers who have manufacturing and service networks in India can bring in bigger bikes. Sadly, buying these bikes will punch a hole in your pocket as no import duty concession has been provided. Hence, all imported bikes will attract basic duty of 60 percent coupled with additional and special duties, taking the total import tariff to around 100 percent.

Harley-Davidson has a wide range of models with engine capacities ranging from 883cc to 1600cc with extremely sophisticated engine technology. And price wise, if their popular touring bikes were to be imported into India with this 100 percent duty, it could cost upwards of Rs 15 lakh. The Indian government’s decision to allow Harley in was ostensibly made to please the US government, which was keen to see Harley-Davidson enter India. In return, Indian exporters of mangoes will now see their products allowed into the US. The sweetest ride for the sweetest fruit – seems like a fair exchange.

P THARYAN

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