In a recent report on motorcycle sales for the month of August 2023, the 500cc+ segment displayed notable growth, signaling the increasing interest of Indian riders in big bikes. This segment, which comprises motorcycles with engines larger than 500cc, is traditionally associated with higher price tags. However, Royal Enfield, with its 650cc platform, has managed to make these bikes more accessible, securing an impressive 85% market share.
Royal Enfield’s Super Meteor 650 Leads the Way:
Royal Enfield’s latest offering, the Super Meteor 650, emerged as the top performer in this segment, with 1,104 units sold in August. This bike commands a significant 56.59% market share. It’s worth noting that the 650 Twins, including the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650, used to dominate this space. However, with the introduction of the Super Meteor 650, which features slightly premium components, the 650 Twins saw a decrease in demand, with only 550 units sold.
Compared to August 2022, when 1,388 units of the 650 Twins were sold, there was a significant 60.37% year-on-year (YoY) decline, resulting in a loss of 828 units in volume. The 650 Twins now hold just a 28.19% market share.
Other Players in the Segment:
After Royal Enfield’s affordable big bikes, the Triumph Street Triple stood out with 166 units sold last month. The Triumph Speed Triple, with a remarkable YoY growth of 876.47%, witnessed the highest growth in this list. It sold 17 units last year but soared to 166 units in the current period.
Kawasaki recorded sales of 30 units for both the Ninja 650 and Z900, with the former doubling its numbers YoY with 100% growth, while the latter saw a 26.83% YoY decline.
The Kawasaki Versys 650, with 19 units sold, is the highest-selling adventure bike in this segment, despite experiencing a 17.39% YoY decline. Harley-Davidson’s Fat Boy 114 was the best-selling model for the iconic American brand in India, with 7 units sold and a 40% YoY growth.
Motorcycles with Single-Digit Sales:
Several motorcycles in this segment recorded single-digit sales. For example, the Triumph Speed Twin 900 and Kawasaki Versys 1000 both sold 5 units each. The Kawasaki Vulcan S, Z H2, and Triumph Rocket III all sold 4 units each, with no positive growth reported for any of these models.
Diverse Range of Bikes:
The 500cc+ motorcycle segment saw a diverse range of bikes, including the Suzuki Hayabusa, V-Strom 650, Katana, Honda CBR 650R, Goldwing, Triumph Tiger series, Bonneville series, Harley-Davidson models, and Kawasaki bikes, among others.
In total, the 500cc+ motorcycle sales accounted for 1,951 units in August 2023, marking a significant 16.13% YoY growth with 271 units gained in volume compared to August 2022. While Royal Enfield contributed significantly to this space, other prominent manufacturers like Honda and Suzuki did not report any sales in this category.
