Premium bikes in india

Check out the Yamaha RD 350 , TVS Apache RTR 160, Yamaha FZ , Hero Honda Karizma 225, Bajaj Pulsar220, Yamaha R15. Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350.

Premium bikes have emerged as the major growth drivers for the motorcycle industry that is reeling under the burden of high interest rate and lack of finance. The segment, which includes bikes of 150 cc and above, has grown by 5% in the first three quarters of 2007-08 as against a 12% dip in the total sales of motorcycles in India during this period.

According to industry estimates, the premium bike segment contributed 11% to the overall sales of motorcycles in the country till October 2007. However, various new launches since then, for instance TVS Motors' Apache RTR 160, Hero Honda Hunk and Bajaj Pulsar 220 cc, have taken up the total share of the segment to 15-16% now and it is expected to grow further.With the economy booming and people moving up the salary bracket, there has been an increase in demand for distinctive and customised products. As a result, these premium bikes have emerged as the biggest growth segment for us,” says Anil Dua, vice president (sales and marketing) Hero Honda, adding that even the availability of large number of models spanning across various engine capacities have boosted the growth in the segment

The two-wheeler major, which forayed into the premium segment in 1999 with CBZ, claims a growth of over 100% in the premium category during the first three quarters of this fiscal. This has resulted in an increase in its market share in the segment from 10% earlier to 21% now. Major bikes in the premium segment include Bajaj Pulsar 150 cc, 180 cc and now 220 cc and Avenger, TVS Fiero and TVS Apache RTR 160 as well Hero Honda Karizma, CBA Extreme and Achiever.

Besides growing demand, huge margins in the segment have also led major players in the industry to focus on premium bikes. “Bike in the range of 150 cc and above offer huge profit margins unlike the entry-level segment which is a no margin category. As a result when high interest rates and inadequate finance impacted the sales of entry-level 100 cc bikes, these premium motorcycles remained unaffected and hence managed to offset the margin pressures to a great extent,” says an industry analyst.