Unleashing the Might of Indian Motorcycles: Royal Enfield - Outshining Harley, BMW, and KTM in Mid-Range Segment
A Look at Royal Enfield Overtaking Competitors like Harley-Davidson, BMW Motorrad, and KTM in the Motorcycle Market?
India, surprisingly, takes the lead in a turf usually dominated by Japanese or Chinese brands, when it comes to motorcycle manufacturing. While companies like Harley-Davidson and BMW rule the high-end market, and Japanese powerhouses such as Honda and Yamaha lead in terms of overall production, there's another Indian brand that's paving its way to the top. Royal Enfield!
If you judge a motorcycle manufacturer by its revenue or the sheer number of two-wheelers produced, brands like Harley-Davidson and BMW are the frontrunners. But, if you narrow down the focus to mid-range motorcycles, i.e., motorcycles with engine capacities between 250cc to 750cc, then it's none other than Royal Enfield that snatches the crown, according to Kai Petermann, responsible for the brand's distribution in Germany.
Here's the kicker - Royal Enfield doesn't produce small, low-capacity engines or mopeds, which are primarily used by major manufacturers to churn out massive production numbers. Instead, they stick to mid-range motorcycles, and they do it well. In the last fiscal year alone, they produced over a million units, raising the bar high.
Their portfolio consists of four engine series: a 350cc single-cylinder, two other air-cooled engines - a 440cc single-cylinder and a 650cc twin-cylinder, and a new 450cc single-cooled engine, introduced in 2023. These engines power a diverse range of motorcycles, from the Himalayan adventure bike to the Guerilla naked bike.
The Premium Indian Brand
In its home market, Royal Enfield is steadily growing and is considered a premium brand. It's also making a mark in Asia and the western world. Even in performance-oriented Germany, the brand's importance is on the rise. In the last recorded data, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) ranked Royal Enfield as one of the twelve strongest motorcycle brands, volume-wise.
The brand is focusing on strengthening its presence in the twin-cylinder segment for 2025, introducing the "Bear 650" and "Classic 650" models. Their portfolio now consists of a total of twelve models, catering to various tastes and preferences, and available in different variants and colors.
The most affordable model is the HNTR 350, priced at €4,490, while the most expensive is the Super Meteor 650 "Celestial" at €8,390. The new "Bear" ranges between €7,640 and €7,890, and the new Classic 650 ranges between €7,090 and €7,390. The brand also announced an electric motorcycle last year.
Going Global
To continue its rising registration and stock numbers in Germany, Royal Enfield is actively expanding its presence. "We want to offer our customers more service and for that, we are establishing our own German subsidiary," explains Petermann. This new subsidiary is expected to be up and running in the Freiburg area by autumn, coordinating the distribution of Royal Enfield motorcycles in Germany.
Reference(s):[1] ntv.de, Ulf Böringer, sp-x[2] Motorrad Online[3] Motorcycle.com[4] Motorcyclist[5] Royal Enfield Financial Report 2024-2025
Insights:
- According to the Royal Enfield Financial Report 2024-2025, the company sold 86,559 motorcycles in April 2025, marking a 6% year-over-year increase from 81,870 units sold the previous year.
- Of these 86,559 units, 74,282 were motorcycles with engine capacities under 350cc, indicating a 2% growth compared to the previous year. The remaining 12,277 units were motorcycles with engine capacities above 350cc, showing a significant 36% growth.
- The royal Enfield portfolio consists of mid-range motorcycles, mainly within the 250cc to 750cc range, including models like the Hunter 350, Himalayan 450, and Super Meteor 650.
- In 2024, Royal Enfield sold over 1.1 million motorcycles globally, securing its place among the top contenders in the global motorcycle market, particularly emphasizing its focus on affordable, versatile mid-range bikes.
- BMW Motorrad, while popular in the high-end market with motorcycles like the R 1300 GS and M 1000 XR, has less presence in the 250-750cc mid-range market due to their focus on engines above the 750cc range.
- Harley-Davidson has traditionally focused on higher displacement motorcycles, hence having less presence in the mid-range market, translating into smaller sales figures and market share in this specific segment.
- KTM, though a strong player in mid-range sports and adventure motorcycles, has smaller overall volumes compared to Royal Enfield's massive sales in the mid-range segment (exact 2024-25 figures for KTM were not available in the search results, but KTM’s global volume is generally less than Royal Enfield's).
Royal Enfield, contrasting the high-end market dominance of brands like Harley-Davidson and BMW, excels in the mid-range motorcycle segment with engine capacities between 250cc to 750cc, thanks to its focus on producing motor vehicles and other vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons. This segment, where Royal Enfield outshines competitors, sees the production of diverse gadgets powered by technology, like the Himalayan adventure bike and the Guerilla naked bike, exemplifying its mastery in the mid-range motorcycle market.
