>>>india's introduction to style>>>. Review on LML NV SPL

I m back again wid one more auto review....This time I m penning on one of most unforgetabble product of indian automobile scenario..The very LML NV launched in mid 80s which till then had mesmerised the whole india due to its super advanced looks....the indian auto market which was dominated by bajaj led scooters leaded by bajaj chetak, bajab super & priya apart from others like narmada , leo girnar etc

*for the first time indian people got introduction to such features in scooters

*-motor cycle type seats

-fuel gauge

• indicators

-electrical ignition(prior to nv all scooters had locks no ignition key was needed)

-improved milleage (nv was giving around 45-50 in a litre)

-unmatched balance n pick up

sudden of all whole india was looking wid affection to this loveable scooter ...its italian styling had fascinated peoples all over india n offcourse their wifes too :)

*welll some distinct technical details>>>

*-150 cc engine

-two stroke

-electrical ignition

-turn indicators n fuel gauge

-based on vespa ps series

-spare wheel on left side of engine cover

-car type rear brakes

the lml nv was aimed to make vespa's second cameo in india after their sourful experiance in india with bajaj till 1971. lml till that time were a parts supplier to piaggio european tasks...they formed venture with them to produce scooters with vespa technology in bajaj dominated scooter market of india.

indian masses were riding on scooters then...motorcycles had a limited share in 2 wheelers market...bajaj was undisputed leader with same vespa first generation engine.

so lml introduced nv around 1985 in indian market with second generation vespa engine..

till that time indian market scooters were more or less were same

like

-3 or 4 gears

-small (bajaj super, priya)or large wheels(chetak, leo, girnar etc)

-two seater

-no ignition key...lock only etc

*lml nv sudden of all took whole india under its appeal...

people now found a comfortable bike type seat which was very helpful while their wife was with their small childrens...(ittook 8 years for bajaj to introduce single seat in its scooters from 1993 bajaj super fe n chetak were having similair seats)

fuel gauge was a new n helpful thing(bajaj took 13 years to put it in their scooters ..bravo n legend were first in 1998)

indicators @ that time were a luxury(bajaj added indicators only from 1990**)

electrical ignition wid keys(bajaj added keys to starting only from 1993 onwards)

etc are some of initial reaction....

lml sudden of all became no 2 in indian scooter market leaving all competitors who soon faded from market as like narmada , leo etc...

*but bajaj was still no 1...with long history ...with gr8 public affection...then how lml can cope with it...

*in order to compete with bajaj lml had extended its dealership in india..introduced a new model lml select in 1993 which too became an instant hit wid masses...n helped lml to be more strong brand.

but getting no one position was still difficult thing...even lml had dropped the idea of beating the bajaj on volume games as they were generic to scooters in india...

*but sudden of all in 1997 first quarter of year showed lml nv as largest selling scooter..no doubt it was for a brief period ..but, .....

*it enforced bajaj to introduce bajja classic sl n arrray of other models like legend n bravo so as to continue their numero uno position...

lml nv was creating its impact on sales chart soon petrol started giving riders shock in term of frequent price rises...

as a result bike started allurring people...despite of giving good fuel economy from 100 cc two stroke bikes lml nv sales started falling

n

coupled by internal management problem of lml limited this scooter was stopped from sales in indian market...

now it was meant for export only n sales to delhi region only...

to **surprise here again nv had became largest exported scooter of india......

now as situation in lml internal problems had changed ...lml had introduced 4 stroke version of nv in delhi region...which they r planning to sell all over india...

my memories with this machine>>>>>>

*i think nv was that scooter what maruti 800 had done with cars in india...it not only added an value to scooters but was really india's exposure to italian style n comfort..

indian people who were @ that time were ridding bulky bajaj scooters now started thinking about style statements in scooters too.

i remember my childhood days when my fathers friend used to came with this scooter n used to took me wid him...as a teen ager I used to njoy this scooter ..really its pickup is very good n surprises me of many bikes pick up...fuel efficiency was too good a two stroker with 150 cc n millege of 47-52 was a gr8 thing....

*lets hope that its 4 stroke version too may repeat its past history

-amen

*feel free to comment n share ur experiance

-ravi