Motoziel forms JV with Austria's Edelweiss to offer bike tours

Motorcycle touring firm Motoziel and Austria's Edelweiss Bike Travel today announced a joint venture company to offer bike touring packages in domestic as well as international destinations.
The joint venture firm -- Motoziel Edelweiss Pvt Ltd -- will offer bikes from brands like Harley Davidson and Triumph for tours ranging from few hours to 14 days, priced between Rs 5,500 to Rs 2 lakh for a 14 day trip.
"Motorcycle enthusiasts in India or tourists seeking big bike travel experience through the sub-continent terrains, can now opt for a big bike of their choice, a pre-designed tour package or customise it as per their preference and enjoy the thrill under guidance of international experts," Motoziel Co-Founder and Managing Director Kalyan Mazumdar told reporters here.

The JV firm has 74 per cent equity coming from Motoziel and the rest from the Austrian partner. In the first round of funding since its inception last year, Gurgaon-based Motoziel had raised USD 2.6 million.
"Being from India, we bring terrain knowledge while Edelweiss brings in their knowledge of the industry and operations to the joint venture entity," Motoziel Co-Founder and Executive Director Biswaroop Banerjee said.
He added that the company, in the first phase, would focus on North and North East parts of the country, and later go to organise tours in South India as well as neighboring countries.

"Besides, we will also focus on Rajasthan during the winter months and later South India too. With Edelweiss, we will begin bike tours for Europe. They will take care of the service part there. We are also looking at neighboring regions like Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and also Tibet" Banerjee said.

The company will offer bikes, hotels, food and expert guidance during the tours. It has a fleet of 18 bikes from brands like Harley Davidson, Triumph, BMW, Honda, Suzuki, Ducati and Kawasaki.
The company has also tied up with partners to offer Royal Enfield bikes at certain locations.

Edelweiss Bike Travel Managing Director Rainer Buck said: "There is immense potential in the motorcycle tourism in India and its neigbbouring countries, and we are aiming at the untapped market opportunity that is available."
Mieming-based Edelweiss is one of the leading bike touring companies in the world.