Honda's Hiding Its Awesome Sauce! Part 1

Exploring BigWing.

Honda's been busy lately. Many new bikes are being soft-launched, which is cool, but here’s a head-scratcher: the prices are steep, pretty steep.

• Rebel 500 - 5.12 lacks

• CB650R - 9.2 lacks

• XL750 Translap - 11 lacks

This got my thinking. Honda does a LOT of cool stuff that they don’t talk on the website homepage. So let’s write it.

Here’s how I see it, and I call them my "Three Big Pillars." A lot of messaging will happen around these pillars:

1. Super Tough Bikes: These bikes are tested for India's wild roads. The idea? They don’t break down like some other guys' bikes might. (No names mentioned, but you know who I mean!)

2. Awesome Monthly Rides: Imagine this: every month, all across India, BigWing showrooms are calling riders for an adventure! Proper backup cars, mechanics, routes already checked out – the works. So you can actually explore the far corners of India, super safely, which is the Honda way ("safety first!").

3. Service You Can Actually Trust: We're talking service centers that really, really care about quality. Every place has clear rules (SOPs, for the fancy folks) and ways to get help if you need it (escalation matrixes – basically, knowing who to call if you’re stuck). The goal? Your bike rolls out so smooth and happy, it practically sings, and it stays that way on the road.

These three things – the amazing bikes, what they let you do (explore India!), and service that doesn’t make you want to tear your hair out – these should be the heart of every message from Honda.

But right now, it feels like most of the spotlight is just on the bikes themselves – the specs, the details. That's why I’m writing this blog. The current website messaging feels more like an instruction manual than an invitation to an adventure. It doesn't quite make you feel all warm and fuzzy about buying a bike. Heck, when I bought my H'ness, YouTube reviewers probably sold me on it more than Honda’s own ads did! And that little itch – wondering if I can figure out how to tell that story better – is what I’m trying to scratch here.

So, here’s the game plan for this blog series:

• Today (Part 1): I’ve talked about what I see as the big opportunity Honda is missing. They're building an amazing story, but maybe not sharing it as powerfully as they could.

• Also Today: We’ll peek at who Honda is really up against (any guesses?) and how Honda is secretly better.

• Still Today: I'll give you a little sneak peek – a "trailer," if you will – of the main hero section for a new Honda homepage I'm dreaming up.

• Next Week (Part 2): The main event! I’ll share my full ideas for a new Honda BigWing homepage. (Wish me luck, I’ll need it!)

Oh, and why am I doing all this?

Two reasons.

One: It’s just the best time to be someone who loves marketing. You can dream up ideas and execute them rapidly with AI. It’s like having superpowers!

Two: I really want to get good at this marketing stuff. Practice makes perfect, right?

Alright, Let's Talk Rivals: Who's Honda Really Dueling With?

My hot take? When it comes to bikes for touring and exploring India, Honda’s main dance partner is Royal Enfield. Sure, there are other cool brands popping up, like Triumph with their Tiger, or Yamaha with their racing DNA. But for that "explore India on two wheels" dream, Royal Enfield is the name that usually jumps into people's heads.

And let me tell you, Royal Enfield has some deep emotional roots in India. For ages, owning one was almost like a rite of passage. Plus, these guys get culture. They know how to build a vibe. Just look at their homepage – it’s so easy to connect with it. It just feels cool.

And their words! "Pure to the core." "Stay pure, stay classic." "Built like a gun." They sprinkle this quirky, emotional, bond-building stuff everywhere. It’s like they’re not just selling a bike; they’re selling a piece of your soul back to you. Even their Himalayan bike ad copy pulls you in: “There is no predictable journey in the Himalayas. There was no one machine designed for this journey. Until now.” Chills, right?

So, Royal Enfield is a master at talking to the soul of the rider. Their bikes are tools for an emotional journey. Now, here’s where it gets interesting: Honda is already doing a fantastic job of enabling the actual outcome of that soul-searching – exploring India with their organized monthly rides from all BigWing Showrooms. Royal Enfield talks the soul talk; Honda helps you live the soul ride! That’s a powerful difference.

A Few Thoughts I'm Running With (My Assumptions):

Before I go wild designing homepages, I’ve made a few little bets:

1. Who We're Talking To: Young Indians, especially Gen Z, who are itching to start touring. The super-speedy racing folks? They’re a different crowd; we can think about them later.

2. What We Need to Show: These Honda bikes are TOUGH. And that riding across India isn't just a hobby; it's in our blood, it's part of our culture. Honda can own this! They can make their ride community feel super connected across the whole country. Imagine knowing you can join a cool Honda ride no matter where you are in India!

3. The Service Superpower: This is a big one. Royal Enfield’s Achilles' heel? Often, it’s their service. Honda needs to shine a giant spotlight on how good their service is – make it clear, trustworthy, and easy.

Okay, deep breath!

The full homepage copy is brewing and will be ready next week.

For now, here’s the hero section as the top fold captures 80% of the audience. What do you think?