Safety First: Copycat motorcycles threaten Asian riders

Imitation may be the greatest form of flattery. But in a serious business such as motorcycle-making, imitation is never flattering – it can even be deadly.

The Federation of Asian Motorcycle Industries (FAMI) aired its concern over the proliferation of copycat motorbikes in the region, exposing the public to danger.

FAMI President Dato Syed Mohamad Aidid of Malaysia said the federation’s members are now seriously looking at the dangers being posed by copycat motorbikes particularly those that are being sold to first-time buyers.

"These motorbikes may look good and are being sold at very low prices. But their quality is questionable," Aidid said.

The FAMI head acknowledged the efforts of the federation’s members, specifically Indonesia and the Philippines, in questioning the legality of manufacturing and selling copycat motorbikes.

Indonesia motorcycle makers, for one, have filed an anti-dumping suit against importers of copycat motorbikes. One Japanese manufacturer – Honda – through its Indonesian partner Astra has accused seven motorbike makers of patent violations. According to Astra, the copycat motorbikes are using Honda’s patented decompression clutch system without its permission. Astra has notified importers of these motorbikes and asked them to stop importing these models until the offending devices have been removed.

In the Philippines, the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association (MDPPA) has filed a suit against importers of copycat bikes and the National Bureau of Investigation responded by conducting a raid on the warehouses of these importers. More than 100 copycat motorcycles have been seized and the case is now being heard in court.

The MDPPA has received reports that bestselling motorcycle models of two of its members, namely the Wave of Honda and the Topboy of Kymco, have been copied by small manufacturers who are selling them as low-priced alternatives to the originals.

The copycat Wave and Topboys may look very similar to the original, but Honda and Kymco said those who have bought them are now complaining about their poor quality and reliability.

"There is even one rider who died because his fake Topboy malfunctioned at high speed," said a Kymco official.

MDPPA president Mateo Ocenar made clear during the FAMI conference that they are not against the entry of new players in the local motorcycle industry.

"What we are against is unfair competition and the infringement of our intellectual property rights. And most important of all is we are against the importation of these motorcycles because they expose the people to dangers. We are not really sure of their quality," he said.

Based in Singapore and established in 1999, FAMI groups Japan, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. The federation prides itself in working towards the sound development of motorcycles in the region through fair trade and sharing of relevant information on technical as well as marketing issues.

During the conference, the more than 60 delegates shared their experiences and insights on the raging issues confronting the motorcycle industry. They all agreed to work on the harmonization of technical standards, particularly on emission, and they also agreed to lobby for stricter laws on the mandatory use of helmets, daytime running lights and rearview mirrors.

The delegates also informed each other of their programs to promote safety riding in their respective countries. Japan, for instance, talked on its "Bike Gekkan" which runs from July to September. Throughout these months, Japanese motorcycle makers hold safety races, riding clinics and rider meets at the Friendship Village in the Suzuka Racing Circuit.

Ocenar, for his part, stressed that FAMI’s foremost objective is to promote safety in motorcycle riding. "If we can make it as safe as we can, then we will be encouraging more people to try motorcycles. Once they try motorcycles and experience for themselves their benefits, then the industry will surely grow," he explained.