-Muna Khadgi
In recent years, more stylish and more powerful brands have been making their entry into the country’s two-wheeler market. It is mostly the urban youths who have been targeted by them as their prime customers.
“Almost 70 to 80 per cent of our total customers are those who are in their teens,” says Amrit Raj Chalise, Marketing Manager, KTM Bike Showroom, Naxal.
KTM is said to be Europe’s second-largest motorcycle manufacturer, which has won more than 200 world championship titles in all classes and performed remarkably well in the Dakar Rally for the past several years.
Hansaraj Hulaschanda has been selling KTM motorbikes, which are manufactured by the Austrian company KTM ( KraftfahrzeugeTrunkenpolz Mattighofen), in the Nepali market since 2012.
Currently, the brand is available in various variants like Duke 200, Duke 250, Duke 390, RC 200 and RC 390. The prices of KTM motorbike range from Rs 4, 99,900 to Rs 8,19,900.

KTM claims itself as the highest-selling premium naked motorcycles in the country with around 40 to 50 per cent market share. “Our motorbikes have advanced technological features, greater visual appeal and are comfortable to ride. That is why it has been able to create its own niche market,” say Chalise adding, “ It is, in no way, not a mass selling bike. Rather it is aimed at customers who know what the KTM brand is and its true value. “
In order to provide effective after-sales-service to the KTM owners, 2 service centres in Kathmandu and 12 out of the valley have been established. Such owners are also entitled to free maintenance service for two years after buying the bikes.
Interestingly, the KTM brand is also providing training to the buyers of the brand about road safety and highway riding skills once in every month.
Aprilia and Vespa are two other powerful and stylish two-wheeler brands which are gravitated towards young customers. “We mainly target the people falling in the age group of 18 to 35 years old,” says Vijay Mahato, Head of Operation, Dugar Brothers and Sons Pvt . Ltd. The company acquired the dealership of Aprilia and Vespa were first launched and distributed in Nepal in 2015 by D-Lifestyle an
Aprilia is available in four models-Aprilia ST, Aprilia SR 125, Aprilia SR 150 and Aprilia SR 150 Race-whereas Vespa is available in six models- Vespa Notte, Vespa LX 125, Vespa VXL 125, Vespa SXL 125, Vespa VXL 150 and Vespa SXL 150. The price of Aprilia ranges from 2,24,900 to 2,93,900 while the same of Vespa varies from Rs 2,69,000 to 3,95,000. They each ensure the average mileage of 35 to 40 km/per litre.

Both these brands offer that style and technological features which are claimed to be superior.
“In addition to such qualities, the resale value of Aprilia and Vespa is also comparatively better,” Mahato claims. According to him, Aprilia and Vespa together cover 11%-12% share of the country’s scooter market. Both these brands have 25 showrooms and 22 service centres in total across the country. Of the total service centres, four are in the Kathmandu valley. Similarly, six of the total showrooms, six are based in the valley.
“Our service centres not only provide genuine spare parts but also offer servicing facility in as quick time as 40 minutes,” he further states.
Equipped with extreme power and unrivaled style, Harley-Davidson is yet another two-wheeler brand rolling on the Nepali roads.
Harley-Davidson, Inc., H-D, or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Harley Davidson is being successfully sold in over one hundred plus countries.
In Nepal, it was launched a year before with three models- Roadster, Street 750 and Iron 883.
“The most defining feature of a Harley-Davidson motorbike is its V-twin engine. Such engine has horizontal or vertical crankshafts, depending on the application, and 90-degree cylinder angels apart from belt-wrap system and more than fifty thousand customization options,” says Bishwas Ghimire, Manager, Harley-Davidson of Kathmandu.
The most sold Harley Davidson model in Nepal is Street 750. Priced at Rs 29,00,000, It is powered by a 749 cc, liquid-cooled V-Twin engine. The engine produces 47 bhp and 59 Nm of torque and is mated to a six-speed transmission sending power to the rear wheel via a belt drive.
It also features a mid-mounted instrument cluster, sweptback handlebars, tear-drop shaped fuel tank, round headlamp and a bikini fairing.
Another model-Iron 883- is powered by a 2-Cylinder, air-cooled, 883 cc engine, which generates max torque of 70 Nm at 3500 rpm and 50.6 PS at 5500rpm. The price of this model starts from 45, 85,000/- to 90, 00,000/-.
According to Ghimire, the bike enthusiasts-whether they are youths or middle-aged people- are the targeted customers of the brand.

In order to expand its presence in the market, Harley-Davidson is also adopting various marketing strategies. “Recently, we collaborated with the Genesis Café to offer test rides to some of the skilled riders. We also did the brand promotion at the Tattoo Conference held sometime back,” Ghimire informs.