Popular among youths, sports bikes sales has been trending up gradually since the last few years. But it is likely to slow down from the next fiscal year, starting mid-July as the new tax increments on motorcycles exceeding 150cc come into effect.

The tax will be increased by 50 to 100 percent.

Traders said that the sports bike market has been increasing by 25 percent annually and are expecting a fall in sales once the new tax is enforced.

Amit Raj Chalise, marketing manager of KTM Motorcycle, had set a good sales target for this year based on previous year’s sales. But the new tax structure announced by the budget has made him revise the target. “It’s challenging to meet the target due to tax hike.”

KTM bikes debuted in the Nepali market in 2012 and sales have been growing at a healthy rate since then. But, the growth trend is likely to hit the brakes from the next fiscal year, he said.

Hansraj Hulaschand (HH), the authorised distributor of KTM bikes, has been offering two categories of KTM sports bikes: Naked Sport and Super Sport. The company has three models under the Naked Sports category: Duke 200, Duke 250 and  Duke 390. Likewise, in the Super Sport category, the company offers the RC 200 and RC 390.

The company has already revealed their updated prices to reflect the new tax changes on motorcycles. According to Chalise, the company will be implementing the new prices on its bikes as soon as the old stock is cleared. Shaswat Rijal, sales and marketing manager of Benelli, said that the craze for sports bikes among new youth riders has been swelling with each passing year. New riders are attracted to the power, performance and speed that a sports bike provides.

Benelli has been offering Benelli 302R and 600i in their sports bike segment. The 302R has been derived from Benelli’s racing model Tornado 900. The company has also been selling the bikes at pre-budget price till the stock ends and the new price will be implemented with the arrival of new shipment. The company has not yet fixed the new prices.

The company sold 80 to 100 bikes of Benelli 302R within three months while 15 bikes of 600i models have been sold in three years, Rijal said.

Benelli bikes have an Italian heritage and are imported from China.

Morang Auto Works (MAW), authorised distributor of Yamaha motorcycles in Nepal, has been offering two different models in the sports bikes segment: the R15  and R3. MAW will continue selling sports bikes on pre-budget price till the end of mid-July, 2018. After which, the prices are expected to increase by five percent in sport bikes in post-budget. The pre-budget price of Yamaha R15 is Rs895,900 and R3 Rs354,900.

The company plans to launch most awaited Yamaha R15 V3 sports bike soon in the country. Ramesh Danekhu, senior media officer at MAW, said that the R15 was a pioneering sports bike that introduced racing culture in the country.  

Popular Sports bikes

MODEL    PRE-BUDGET PRICE      POST-BUDGET

KTM Duke 200    Rs 464,000    Rs 499,900

KTM Duke 250    Rs 554,900    Rs 589,900

KTM Duke 390    Rs 729,000    Rs 829,000

KTM RC 200    Rs 549,900    Rs 584,900

KTM RC 390    Rs 719,900    Rs 819,900

Benelli 302R    Rs 720,000    Price not fixed

Benelli 600i    Rs 1,650,000    Price not fixed

Yamaha R15    Rs 354,900    Estimated 5pc hike

Yamaha R3    Rs 895,900    Estimated 5pc hike