Bike rent in kathmandu

Best Bike for Riding Inside Kathmandu

If you're staying in the city, rent the Hero Xpulse 200. It's light, narrow and easy to filter through traffic on the Ring Road and in the old city lanes. A bigger bike is heavier and hotter in stop-start traffic. You'll feel that after an hour in New Baneshwor at rush hour.

Best Bike for Day Rides Out of the Valley

For Nagarkot, Dhulikhel or Kakani, the Classic 350 is comfortable and handles a passenger well. If the plan includes dirt tracks, take a Himalayan or the CRF 250L.

What's Included with Your Kathmandu Bike Rental

• Free delivery and pickup to hotels inside Kathmandu Valley 
• Basic Helmet 

• Full service and safety check before every rental
• Phone support and mechanic callout within the valley 

Not included: fuel, parking fees, entry fees at heritage sites, and damage beyond normal wear. 

How to Rent a Bike in Kathmandu

1. Message us with your dates

Send your dates, hotel location, and the bike you want on WhatsApp (+977-9712082465) or through the form below. Tell us roughly where you plan to ride and we'll confirm the bike suits it.

2. Send documents

• Passport copy
• Driving licence with the motorcycle category
• International Driving Permit (IDP), if you're a foreign national

3. Delivery and handover

We bring the bike to your hotel, go through the controls with you, and photograph its condition together. A refundable deposit is taken at handover. [Confirm amount and payment method.]

4. Return

We collect the bike from your hotel at the agreed time. Return it with the same fuel level. The deposit is refunded after inspection.

Day Rides from Kathmandu on a Rented Bike

All of these are rideable in a day or overnight from Thamel and need no permits.

Nagarkot

This is the classic sunrise ride. Leave Thamel before 5 am to reach the viewpoint for the Langtang and Ganesh Himal ranges on a clear morning. October to December gives the best visibility. You can return via Bhaktapur Durbar Square for breakfast.

Kakani

This is the shortest escape from the city: pine forest and a ridgeline view north to the Ganesh Himal, about an hour out on the Trishuli road. If you want it as a guided overnight, see our Kakani Forest & Waterfall Motorbike Tour.

Chitlang and Markhu

This takes you over the Chandragiri hills to a farming valley known for goat cheese and homestays, with an optional loop to Kulekhani reservoir. The road is narrow with loose sections, so don't take a first-time rider here. The guided version is the Chitlang Kulekhani Motorbike Tour.

Heritage loop: Patan, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu Durbar Squares

All three are part of the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site and are within 15 km of each other. A bike makes it easy to see all three in one day. Each square charges a foreign visitor entry fee, and you'll need to park outside the pedestrian areas.

For longer trips to Pokhara, Mustang or Manang, see our motorbike rental Nepal page. It covers permits, route difficulty and which bike to take.

Riding in Kathmandu: What to Know Before You Rent

Traffic and rush hours

Traffic is heaviest from 9 to 11 am and 4 to 7 pm, especially on the Ring Road, at Kalanki, Koteshwor and Chabahil, and through New Road. Plan city rides outside these windows. Buses and microbuses stop without warning to pick up passengers, so keep distance behind them.

Rules that are actually enforced

• Helmets are mandatory for both rider and passenger.
• Nepal drives on the left.
• Traffic police run drink-driving checks across the city, especially in the evenings, and the penalties are strict.
• Police check licences at intersections, so keep your licence and IDP on you, not at the hotel.

Current rules and notices are published by the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division. Licensing information is with the Department of Transport Management.

Parking

Thamel's inner lanes are narrow and crowded in the evening. Use your hotel's parking where possible. At Durbar Squares and tourist areas, use the paid parking lots rather than leaving the bike on the street.

Fuel

Petrol pumps are easy to find across the city and on the highways leading out. The bike comes with fuel to reach the nearest pump; fill up before heading to Nagarkot or Chitlang.

Dust and air quality

Kathmandu roads are dusty, particularly in the dry season from November to May. Ride with a face mask and clear eye protection.

Why Rent from Nepal Moto Tours in Kathmandu

• Local workshop, local mechanics. We're based in Bhaktapur, so breakdown help inside the valley comes from our own team, not a third party.
• A tour operator's fleet. These are the same Royal Enfields and Hondas we prepare for our Mustang and Manang expeditions, maintained to the same standard.
• Route advice from riders. Our guides ride the Nagarkot, Kakani and Chitlang roads regularly. Ask which ones are in good shape this week.
• Easy to upgrade to a tour. If a valley rental gives you a taste for more, our Kathmandu Valley Motorcycle Tour and longer guided trips leave from Kathmandu.
• Registered and licensed with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Supplies and recognised by the Nepal Tourism Board.