Industrial design
Appearance is the first impression of a motorcycle, and it is also the easiest place to narrow the gap with foreign brands. Japanese brands have formed their own family design language in this regard. Looking at Chinese brands, most brands still use the foundation of reverse research and development. Small changes to save costs (to avoid appearance patents) are the mainstream, but there are also many brands that insist on original designs. In the automobile industry, domestic brands have made great progress in original design of appearance and have tasted the benefits. Such successful experience is also worth learning from the motorcycle industry.
In terms of supporting systems
As an industrial product, the quality of the various parts that make up a motorcycle basically determines the product quality of the entire vehicle. In terms of parts and components supporting systems, Japanese brands may have the greatest advantage in the world. In Japan's manufacturing industry, large companies usually hand over some core components to small companies for processing or even research and development. Japanese companies' equity holdings in the parts supply chain are also quite complicated. At the same time, there are also Japanese government's restrictions on the manufacturing industry. Protective policies and the accompanying financial support from banks almost resulted in the prosperity of both enterprises and banks. This creates a relatively stable development space for supporting companies, which can focus more on research and development.
As for Chinese brands, it is difficult for many small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the foundation of the manufacturing industry, to be "protected" by policies, and may even find it difficult to obtain bank loans due to changes in policies. In the eyes of most companies, "survival" is the first priority. In this unstable environment, entrepreneurs have further spawned diversified investment ideas. As a result, we may make more money, but it will be difficult to promote product development that requires continuous and large investment in funds.
Although the parts and accessories industry is globalized today, the motorcycle industry cannot be compared with the automobile industry. The reduction in volume and the concentration of motorcycle supporting companies on Japanese brands have made domestic motorcycle brands It cannot be supplied at a relatively reasonable price like car brands. If domestic supporting equipment cannot be provided, the gap will become wider and wider.
In terms of driving quality
The driving quality of motorcycles is actually similar to the NVH mentioned in the automotive industry, which is vibration, noise and smoothness. On motorcycles, the most obvious manifestation is the vibration and abnormal noise of the body, handlebars or engine at a certain rotation speed or speed. To solve the vibration problem is quite complicated and requires extremely high technical content. This is related to engine research and development, frame rigidity design, gearbox matching, etc. This cannot be solved simply by adding a balance shaft to the engine. It is closely related to the research and development process and requires sufficient technology and capital costs.
R&D is always a weakness of domestic brands. After weighing the costs, it is not impossible for products to be launched with "diseases". Even complete reverse research and development cannot be avoided, and differences in materials and processes may cause more problems. To improve driving quality, domestic brands need to adhere more to forward research and development, grasp it from the design level, and improve and improve through continuous iteration of products. This is a rather long process of accumulation and continuous investment.