Over the past few years all the major motorcycle manufacturers have looked to international markets to help their stalling sales.

With countries such as India already in the two-wheeled mindset with a large portion of the population using motorcycles for everyday transportation, the country seems like a struggling manufacturers dream. But historically the riding public in anticipated markets ride a smaller and more importantly, less expensive models, not exactly in the price range found in the Harley-Davidson, Victory or Ducati line-up.

Putting past failures to tempt the average rider in India to spend more than they would ever before on a motorcycle aside, marketers and manufacturers appear to be enjoying the latest road trip into the country.

This was seen earlier this week as Japanese manufacturer Suzuki launched it monster superbike, the GSX-R1000. Priced at Rs 12.75 lakh, (approximately $27,000 American Dollars) ‘the gixxer’, as it’s commonly referred to by enthusiasts, has become the most expensive model Suzuki sells in its India line-up.

With a goal of selling two hundred of the performance motorcycles in the first two years, the GSX-R1000 rides the tire tracks of two other motorcycles, being referred to as ‘premium bikes’, the Hayabusa and Intruder both priced slightly less than the latest model.

Both of these have left promising impressions and a hopeful future for the sales of the GSX-R1000.

“In the case of Hayabusa and Intruder also, we had sold about 200 units in the first year,” Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL)  Vice President (Sales and Marketing) Atul Gupta told reporters.

Suzuki Motorcycle India is the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Japanese manufacturer.

“This launch is in line with our aim to deliver outstanding technology and performance to the Indian market,” Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) Chairman Katsumi Takata said in a statement, “We are pleased to offer exciting riding experience to pro-bikers.”