How It Started vs How It's Going: Iconic Indian Two-wheeler Brands

India is celebrating its 80th Independence Day this year, and in these eighty years, India has evolved a lot. As a country, we have excelled in science, technology, economy and commerce, and even after so much advancement, we stayed connected to our roots and values. Similarly, the Indian two-wheeler brands have evolved so much.

Royal Enfield (1901)

What started as a British brand making guns has ended up as an Indian brand making one of the most iconic motorcycles. Speaking of icons, Royal Enfield is the only brand with the longest-running continuously produced motorcycle in global history, the Bullet. It was first launched in England in 1932 with 250cc, 350cc and 500cc four-stroke single-cylinder engines. Later in 1985, Royal Enfield India launched the ‘Bullet Meri Jaan’ ad campaign, which turned the bike from a practical vehicle into a rugged lifestyle symbol of freedom. 

Fast-forward to 2020, when the Indian government imposed the BS6 norms, the Bullet 500 was discontinued. It was a shocker to the Indian motorcycle community. Little did we know that Royal Enfield would revive the big Bullet in 2026 with a 650cc twin-cylinder engine, keeping the famous Bullet styling alive which still invokes nostalgia.

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TVS (1911)

TVS won the heart of the Indian middle class by launching its first moped, the TVS 50. It was India’s first two-seater moped, offering a fuel-efficient and dependable mode of transport for middle-class families and small businesses. Slowly it became an Indian workhorse, handling heavy loads along with a rider and pillion. And today TVS is manufacturing one of the most liked electric scooters, the TVS iQube, offering similar practicality and robust build quality.

While talking about TVS, we cannot miss the ‘Apache’. Launched first in 2005 with the TVS Apache 150, known for its quick acceleration and sporty styling, today the Apache brand is dominated by the flagship Apache RTX 300 model, offering solid performance, a great set of features and road presence.

Hero MotoCorp (1984)

The Hero Splendor is one of the most famous commuter motorcycles not just in India but globally and for all the good reasons. The first Splendor was launched in India in 1994 during the Hero-Honda joint venture. Even today, the Hero Splendor Plus remains the most sold motorcycle in India because it's affordable, highly durable, and extremely fuel-efficient.

In 2011, Hero launched the Impulse, the first Indian motorcycle completely dedicated to off-road riding. However, the bike didn't perform well in the market and was discontinued in 2017. Today the Impulse brand has transformed into the XPulse 200 4V and Hero Xpulse 210, with better performance.

Bajaj (1945)

Bajaj might have launched many iconic bikes to date, but the most famous brands remain the Chetak and the Pulsar. The Bajaj Chetak was first launched in 1972, named after Maharana Pratap’s loyal warhorse. The Bajaj Chetak was known as an affordable and reliable mode of transport for Indian families. Later in 2020, Bajaj relaunched the Chetak in an electric avatar with a sturdy metal body and retro-looking design.

The Bajaj Pulsar 150 and 180 were launched in 2001. They featured a muscular design, a round headlamp, a large 18-litre fuel tank, and a 5-speed gearbox, creating a new era for sports-commuter motorcycles in the country. Today, after 25 years, the Pulsar lineup remains strong with variants like Pulsar N, NS, RS and Classic, spanning from 125cc to 350cc.

Kinetic (1972)

The Kinetic DX was a 98cc, two-stroke gearless scooter launched in India in 1984. It revolutionised urban commuting by offering a convenient self-start and automatic transmission. It also played a major role in giving women and young girls the freedom to ride independently. In 2025, Kinetic made a solid comeback with its iconic scooter but in an electric avatar, the Kinetic DX Plus. It captures attention by blending a classic, retro-boxy silhouette with modern features like keyless passcode start, a retractable onboard charger and practical 37-litre boot space.

Yamaha

Although Yamaha is a Japanese brand, we cannot ignore the legendary RX100 it gave to the Indian consumers. The RX100 was launched in 1985 as a result of a partnership between Yamaha Japan and the Escorts Group, India. It shocked the market with an incredible power-to-weight ratio, a 98 cc two-stroke engine offering punchy acceleration, a signature exhaust note, and easy maintenance. Yamaha put similar characteristics in the R15, keeping Yamaha’s performance legacy alive. Where RX100 defined raw, lightweight street acceleration in the 1980s, the R15 brought track-bred handling to Indian riders.