Owning a two-wheeler used to be a means of getting from point A to point B, with commuter motorcycles being the preferred choice for many people. But as Nepal becomes more developed, people are starting to look for that ‘wow’ factor when buying a new motorcycle.

Enter premium motorcycles. These stylish and high performance motorcycles are becoming the rage in Nepal as people are starting to warm up to the idea of riding higher displacement pocket rockets.

Companies like KTM, Honda, Bajaj and TVS are taking notice of the shifting demands of buyers and have started introducing premium motorcycles in the domestic market.

KTM was a relatively new comer in the domestic two-wheeler market, unleashing the Duke 200 in 2012. But sales of KTM motorcycles have soared above expectations, with the Duke 200 being the most sold model in their lineup.  According to Anil Shahi, Assistant Manager of Hansraj Hulaschand -the authorised dealer of KTM motorcycles in Nepal, nearly 70 percent of all motorcycles sold in their lineup is the KTM Duke 200. “New riders prefer the Duke 200 which recently got updated with minor upgrades and new graphics,” said Shahi.

He revealed that sales of KTM motorcycles has increased by nearly 30 percent compared to the last fiscal year, highlighting the strong demand for premium motorcycles. And the company is not resting on its laurels, launching four new models to spur further growth for their motorcycles.

Their latest introduction to the KTM family, the Duke 250, is gaining traction with buyers here in Nepal, said Shahi. The Duke 250 features a slipper clutch and is priced at Rs5,35,900. “We have sold nearly 180 units of the Duke 250 since it was introduced on May 1. With Dashain and Tihar coming up, we expect sales to grow even more,” said Shahi.

Honda is another major company that has a stake in the premium motorcycle segment in Nepal. The company offers motorcycles starting from 150cc to 1000cc with prices ranging from Rs440,000 to Rs30,50,000. Honda classifies any motorcycle over 150cc as premium motorcycles.

Bajaj is also targeting the premium motorcycle segment in Nepal and launched a slew of motorcycles, the RS 200, NS 200, AS 200, Dominar and more. Rishav Regmi, Plan Activation Officer at HH Bajaj, claims that customers looking for a premium motorcycle want the following: good engine performance, good fuel economy, excellent handling and the body style of the motorcycle that will turn heads.

The Bajaj showroom at Jawalakhel reported an uptick in the number of premium motorcycles sold, selling nearly 1700 units compared to 1500 units in the previous year.

Jagdamba Motors, authorised distributor of TVS Motorcycles in Nepal, introduced the widely acclaimed Apache RTR 200 4V at the end of April in 2016. The response for the RTR 200 has exceeded expectations, selling nearly 7,000 units within the first year of its launch in the domestic market, said Uddhab Mainali, Sales Manager at TVS. “The new Apache RTR 200 4V delivers the fastest zero to 60kmph in just 3.9 seconds thanks to its racing tuned engine,” said Mainali.

He revealed that their sales have increased by nearly 50 percent this year. “The market for 200cc and above motorcycles are growing rapidly in Nepal,” said Mainali.