Soraj Bariya recently bought a Benelli TNT 300 for Rs640,000. In a country where per capita income stands at $862 (approximately Rs91,488), the bike is unaffordable for many. Yet more and more people like Bariya are buying these types of bikes every year.

“I liked the performance, style and sound of the bike. So, I got one for myself,” says the 18-year-old.

Today, roads of the Kathmandu Valley are increasingly becoming dotted with high-end bikes manufactured by globally-renowned brands like Benelli, KTM, Crossfire, Italjet, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and even Ducati and MV Augusta. These bikes are powered by engines with capacity of 250cc to 1200cc. 

These bikes come with anti-lock braking system (ABS), which enhances the performance of brakes. Some of these bikes also come with different riding modes, such as touring mode, urban mode and sports mode. These modes make rides smoother in different road conditions. Other highlights of these bikes are electronically adjustable suspension setting, which makes rides smooth even in rough road conditions, and traction control, which ensures bikes do not spin out of control. These bikes also come with LED headlamps, slipper clutch, digital instrument cluster and tuned engines. 

In a nutshell, these bikes offer rides of premium quality. But to get this superior feeling on the wheels one has to be ready to fork out quite a big chunk of money, as these bikes can cost up to Rs5.2 million. This means they are as expensive as some of the high-end cars. 

Ducati, an Italian bike internationally renowned for its high performance, for instance, costs between Rs1.8 million and Rs5.2 million.

Yet the company has been selling “around 14-15 units of these bikes every year”, according to Koshish Parajuli, sales intern at Ducati showroom. “People buy these bikes to fulfil their interest and desires,” he says.

Not everyone can afford Ducati or bikes like MV Augusta. For this group of people, there is a host of other equally appealing alternatives. But even the cheapest of these bikes can cost around Rs500,000. Yet these bikes, which are mostly preferred by youngsters, are rapidly flying off the showrooms. No wonder, more and more high-end bike brands are entering the Nepali market.

Most of the buyers of these bikes are people aged between 17 and 55. They are purchasing these bikes for off-road experience, daily commuting, long-distance travel and street rides. But some of the youngsters also purchase these bikes because of peer pressure, as they want what their friends are riding, showroom attendants and bike riders told the Post.

“People usually purchase these bikes because of their performance, design and function,” says Saurij Regmi, marketing officer of the showroom that sells KTM bikes. KTM bikes, according to Regmi, are preferred by youngsters aged 18 to 26. These bikes can cost up to Rs790,900 each.

While these bikes are expensive, their maintenance costs are equally high. One may have to fork out Rs10,000 to Rs12,000 ever time they visit a garage to service their bikes. 

Even though these types of bikes can create a hole in the pocket, the number of buyers of these mean machines is increasing day by day. This is probably because bikes are not only modes of transportation today, but a fashion statement as well.