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| Sunday, 27 June 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Bikes from India - China flood Lanka by L. S. A. Wedarachchi Brand new Indian and Chinese motorbikes have captured the market during the last few years. The local market was flooded with used Japanese motorcycles about 10 years ago and used motorbikes sales centres sprang up all over the island specially in Colombo, Dehiwala, Ratmalana, Kandy and Kurunegala. The export of used items, specially to the third world is a big business in Japan. Even today Japan earns billions of yen exporting used vehicles, machineries and spareaparts to the third world. The junks of used vehicles, motorbikes can be seen in the suburbs of Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Kobe where Sri Lankan technicians and labourers are also employed. dismantling the vehicles, preparing the containers of spareparts, attending to the minor repairs of the vehicles are the main duties of these Sri Lankans. Generally one container carries three to four hundred motorbikes of selected models and buyers offer prices for the containers and not for the bikes separately. In most instances the deal has been finalized at the vehicle junks in Japan. According to the Sri Lankan-used motorbikes importers, they had very lucrative sales ten years ago and their profit margins were naturally very high at that time. Even today few companies import used motor bikes direct from Japan. The Japanese motorbike lovers still prefer purchasing used Japanese motorcycles, the prices of which are higher than the Indian and Chinese brand new ones mainly due to the high taxes.The fast moving brand new Indian and Chinese motorbikes in Sri Lanka Loncin - Nineteen models are available and the price range is from Rs. 39,500/- to Rs. 117,000/- Almost all the manufacturing activities of the "Loncin" motorbikes are completed in China. The most attractive one of the "Loncin" range is the four-wheel bike which is very popular among the planters, land owners, hoteliers in United States . The licence for this bike to ride on the public roads is not issued by the Motor Traffic Department but it is allowed to be used for private purposes, according to the importer of "Loncin". Honda-Suzuki - The prestigious Japanese motorbikes are manufactured all over the world under the licence from parent manufacturer to meet the high demand. Honda-Hero one of the popular bikes in Sri Lanka, is imported from India. Brand new Suzuki bike which is also available in Sri Lankan market is imported from the Chinese manufacturing plant. Bajaj - Eight models are available and the price range is from Rs. 65,000/- to Rs. 125,000/-. 'Bajaj," imports from India and its semi assembling plant is at Piliyandala. According to the sole agent of 'Bajaj' motorcycles, Bajaj bike is very popular among the Sri Lankans due to the durability and its quality. Kinetic - Kinetic motorbikes are made in India. Five models are available now in Sri Lanka within the price range of Rs. 57,000/- to Rs. 94,000/-. LML Freedom - "Freedom" motorcycle is also an Indian bike - available in Sri Lankan market. Their prices range from Rs. 81,545/- to Rs. 109,773/-. |
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