Indian motorcycles are becoming popular among people in western Burma's Arakan State, where most of the bikes currently in use are of Thai and Chinese make.

A motorcycle dealer from Arakan's capital Sittwe said that the newly imported Indian bikes were well designed, strong, and fit for the roads in Arakan.

"New imported Indian motorbikes at present are very popular among the customers because the bikes are excellent in design, strong, and can be used roughly  and are very suitable for the roads in Arakan State," said the dealer.

Motorbikes-in-Sittwe285.jpg

According to the dealer, the Bajaj Pulsar and Yamaha ZE are the most popular Indian bikes among his customers. He said the bikes are currently the most expensive in Arakan State, and the demand would increase if authorities reduced taxes and license fees being imposed.

"So many customers come to ask about these motorcycles, but it is not so easy for them to buy because one bike costs 30 lakh kyats and above, and are the most expensive in the market. If authorities reduce the taxes and license fees, the demand would increase beyond that of Thai and Chinese bikes," he added.

The bikes are being imported from Bangladesh and 100,000 to 150,000 kyats in tax are being levied by the POE Nasaka gate in Maungdaw on the western Burma border. Another 750,000 to 900,000 kyats must be paid to the road transport authority in Sittwe to obtain a license.

Chinese and Thai bikes cost only about 20 lakh kyats, as they are being taxed at 30,000 to 50,000 kyats depending on the model, and are charged only 300,000 to 600,000 kyats in license fees.

Most of the motorbikes currently in use in Arakan State were manufactured in Thailand and China.

According to the dealer, the Thai and Chinese bikes are unsuitable for riding in between cities in Arakan State because their frames are two week to handle the poor roads. However, the authoritie still began imposing a mandatory license for inter-state travel with high fees at the beginning of this year.