Bikers in India have a deep and abiding affection for motorbikes, especially the legendary bikes of India enjoy a great fan following. India ranks high among the world’s largest markets for motorcycles. Numerous firms have been exerting effort in the hopes of gaining a foothold in the very valuable Indian market.
It is the home of the biggest two-wheeler maker in the world. There have been many duds and fantastic motorcycles that delight motorcyclists throughout the years. We saw the rise to the cult status of several motorcycle icons. Here we’ll take a look at five classic motorcycles that have stood the test of time and inspired awe and devotion from fans new and old. Our countdown of the Top 5 Legendary Bikes of India.
Legendary Bikes of India
Let us check out our Top 5 picks for the best legendary bikes of India. We picked these bikes because of their legendary status, the impact they had on the Indian two-wheeler industry as a whole, and the cultural importance that they have come to hold as a result of their history.
5 – Bajaj Pulsar
It must have been the ‘Definitely Male’ Bajaj Pulsar if there was any bike in the early 2000s that caused people to inquire “kitna bhagti hai?” instead of “Kitna deti hai?” Not only did it dive wholeheartedly into the rapidly developing 150cc market at the time, but it also took things one step beyond that and provided us with a 180cc variation. Pulsar felt like a true macho bike at that time. Since that time, Pulsar has developed into its own brand within Bajaj’s product line and has become the company’s symbol for its high-performance models.
4 – Jawa/ Yezdi
The Jawa 250 Type ‘A’, like the legendary Bullet, was a foreign motorbike that began being made under license in India. The journey began in 1960, and Jawa was able to escape export limitations imposed by the communist regime in its original nation of Czechoslovakia, eventually outliving the country itself. This is where the legend originated. In the 1970s, the firm made the decision to Indianize its path, and in the same decade, its plant in Mysore began producing motorbikes under the name Yezdi. Roadking was the most prolific model produced by Yezdi, and it was just as popular as its predecessors.
It was powered by a 250 cc two-stroke pocket rocket that had a very distinctive sound, and it gave exhilarating performance levels for its day. The fact that the company’s two strokes continue to have a cult following even in modern times and that both brand names have proven to be famous enough to warrant revival is evidence of the company’s history.
3 – Hero Honda CD 100
Over one hundred million Hero motorcycles have been purchased since the company was founded, making Hero Motor Corp. the world’s biggest maker of two-wheeled vehicles. But none of it would have been possible if it weren’t for the legendary Hero Honda CD 100.
When everyone else was preoccupied with determining the optimal ratio of petrol to oil for their two-stroke bikes, the company released its modest, ultra-frugal 97-cc four-stroke bike and directed purchasers to “fill it, shut it, and forget it.” The advertising effort was undoubtedly successful since the CD 100 continued to be sold for over two decades and also because it was the progenitor of India’s most successful motorcycle to date, the Splendor.
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2 – Yamaha RX100
The era of two-stroke motorbikes in India calls to mind iconic brands like the RD350 and the Suzuki Shogun. If you do happen to encounter a two-stroke motorcycle cruising about on our roads in this day and age, there is a good probability that it is a Yamaha RX 100. When compared to the other bikes on this list, its very limited manufacturing run makes it quite an accomplishment.
Fans went absolutely nuts for its one-of-a-kind firing sound. In the eleven years beginning in 1985, the RX 100 garnered a following not just due to the fact that it was a lightweight and powerful motorcycle, but also for the reason that it was an easy bike to modify. It became a youth icon of sorts and one of the legendary bikes of India in true sense.
Did You Know?
Between the years 1983 and 1989, the Escorts Group brought the Japanese RD350 to the Indian market under the name Rajdoot RD350. RD in RD350 does not stand for Rajdoot as is often believed; rather, it stands for “Race derived.”
The RD350 was a groundbreaking motorcycle in Japan. On the other hand, the Rajdoot 350 in India was not able to replicate its previous success in the Indian market. The failure was mostly attributable to the product’s excessive cost as well as its poor efficiency in terms of fuel use. In a nation that is fixated on fuel economy (you may remember the “kitna deti hai” ad), a bike with a low fuel efficiency was doomed to fail.
In addition, the company had changed the front disc brake on the two-wheeler with a drum brake as part of an effort to lower the price of the product. Because of this, the already strong bike became impossible to handle, which resulted in a significant increase in the frequency of accidents.
Because of the high number of incidents that occurred when the RD was being ridden, it became known as the “Rapid Death.”
Who knows had the bike not changed from its original version, it could have been one of the legendary bikes of India.
1 – Royal Enfield Bullet
The name of the storied Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle reverberates through the homes of most Indians. In 1955, it was brought to India to be used by our military services and police forces; even after the original UK activities ceased, it has continued to be manufactured in India.
Even though the world is moving at a breakneck speed all around it, the famous Bullet and its offspring, such as the Classic, have been able to preserve their rough-hewn, manly appeal while at the same time acquiring just the right amount of modernization to ensure that they remain contemporary.
With Royal Enfield hard at work on the next-gen Bullet, this No. 1 amongst the legendary bikes of India has a bright future ahead of it. It is one of the legendary bikes of India that maintains a steady synchronicity with the progress of time.
We hope you like our picks for the best legendary bikes of India. Let us know your views in the comments section. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more such interesting countdowns.
