We may cover Bajaj in a future Lexicon, so forgive me for keeping to the basics before moving on to Martin Kendall’s ludicrously low-priced entry into the world of two-stroke scooters. Although they’re little known in Europe, the Chetak was truly an Indian icon, and its production numbers are almost incomprehensible when viewed in the context of a Western market.
When is a Sprint not a Sprint?
Based on the Vespa Sprint, the Chetak was launched in 1972, and remained in production for the next 33 years. In the early days, when production was regulated by the Indian government, there was a 10-year waiting list; while at its peak around 35,000 Chetaks were being produced each month. One dealer in the Punjab is reported to have delivered 500 Chetaks in a day. Under the
