Bike enthusiasts gunning for power

Motorcycles are getting stronger and meaner as the riders in India want high-end motorbikes, mileage no bar! According to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers 75-250cc bikes have witnessed an increase of 12.75% and 250cc and above bikes have seen 73.5% increase in annual sales.

With higher disposable incomes, people are willing to shell out a premium to make a style statement, and with foreign players entering the market premium bikes are becoming accessible to the consumer. "Youth today are cash-rich, brand conscious and style oriented. Their bikes form a part of their identity and they are willing to go that extra mile to own their dream bike. We have witnessed a dream run in the sales of high-power bikes like KTM Duke and Kawasaki Ninja," said Ajay Wasan, Managing Director, Sreeram Bajaj. Ritesh Gupta, a 23-year-old consultant rides a Royal Enfield-Thunderbird. "I love the Thunderbird because it's a bike which represents classic muscle — a true man among the other boyish looking bikes. I opted for a high power bike as it suits my build and I like riding long distances even outside city limits. Even though it doesn't offer good mileage, I give more importance to performance, looks and most importantly the liberating feeling I get as soon as I hold the handle bars. Nothing else matters but the ride," he said.

The focus has shifted from mileage to looks and performance while buying a bike and that works for the brands who are introducing powerful, premium models in their line-up. "Younger buyers are constantly on a lookout for change and want to upgrade their bike models," explained Dilip Patil, Managing Director, Sai Point Honda. However, Patil says that this change in consumer mindset is strictly urban. "In the tier two or tier three cities, people still prefer better mileage, lower purchasing cost of a 100cc bike to suit their pockets." But Patil is confident that thanks to the aspiration quotient, this trend of buying high-power bikes will also percolate down to the smaller cities.

Another reason why people are taking to two-wheelers in addition to accessibility is the ease of navigating through traffic. "The lack of parking space and over-crowded roads make motorcycles more attractive option than a car," said Sandeep Kumar Bafna, zonal chairman, Federation of Automobile Dealers Association.

With the cash-rich generation of today becoming increasingly brand conscious, bikes have become an extended part of one's identity — an identity that more and more identifies itself with performance, speed, style, power and quality of ride. Powered by this shift in consumer preference, the demand for high power bikes is here to stay.