What's The Big News?
Walk down any street from Bareilly to Bengaluru, and you will spot the exact same pattern playing out on our roads every single morning. The latest sales trends show that India's daily commute still belongs squarely to one undisputed champion: the Hero Splendor. Month after month, decade after decade, nothing seems capable of knocking this bulletproof mileage machine off its throne (yes, really).
Yet underneath that familiar top spot, Indian motorcycle buyers are shaking things up in a big way. The mid-capacity and enthusiast segments are pulling in massive numbers, with TVS Apache, Royal Enfield Classic 350, and the legendary Bullet 350 clocking some of the strongest year-on-year growth on the charts. Indian riders clearly aren't just saving fuel anymore — they want character, performance, and presence on their weekend highway runs.
Why Hero Splendor Still Wears The Commuter Crown
You can launch all the fancy digital screens, ride modes, and Bluetooth gizmos you want, but the average Indian commuter still cares about three core metrics: rock-solid reliability, spare parts you can buy at a village grocery store, and fuel economy that laughs at rising petrol prices. Hero's Splendor delivers on all three without breaking a sweat, holding off serious heat from Honda's ultra-refined Shine 125 and Hero's own budget-friendly HF Deluxe.
What keeps the Splendor untouchable isn't raw technology — it's absolute peace of mind. When someone saves up their hard-earned money for their family's primary vehicle, taking a gamble on an unproven product isn't an option. With Honda making steady inroads through the Shine and Unicorn, Hero has kept the Splendor lineup fresh with i3S start-stop tech and stealthy all-black editions that appeal to younger office-goers without losing their legendary frugality.
Premium Bites Back: Apache And Royal Enfield Surge Ahead
While 100cc to 125cc workhorses dominate pure volume, the real excitement lives higher up the food chain. TVS Apache continues to prove that Indian buyers love aggressive track-derived styling paired with punchy low-end torque. Between the RTR 160 4V and 200 4V series, TVS has built a cult following among college students and young professionals who want corner-carving agility for daily city scrambles.
Then you look at Chennai's homegrown heavyweights. The Royal Enfield Classic 350 and Bullet 350 are firing on all cylinders, proving that retro charm built on modern J-platform refinement is an unstoppable combination. Gone are the days of oil leaks and teeth-chattering highway vibrations; today's 350cc Royal Enfields are smooth, reliable, and command incredible resale value in the pre-owned market.
Specs At A Glance
Motorcycle Model | Engine Class | Primary Segment | Key Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|
97.2cc Single | Entry Commuter | Class-leading mileage & resale | |
Honda Shine 125 | 123.9cc Single | Premium Commuter | Smooth 5-speed & silent start |
Bajaj Pulsar Series | 125cc – 250cc | Sporty Commuter | Aggressive styling & value |
TVS Apache RTR | 159.7cc – 197.7cc | Naked Sport | Race telemetry & handling |
Royal Enfield Classic 350 | 349cc Single | Retro roadster">Roadster | Timeless looks & highway poise |
124.8cc Single | Youth Commuter | Sharp design & color display | |
Honda Unicorn | 162.7cc Single | Executive Commuter | Plush ride & bulletproof engine |
How Does It Stack Up Against The Competition?
The 125cc battleground has become pure theater over the past two years. Honda's Shine held the mature commuter crown for ages, but the TVS Raider 125 walked into the segment with sporty monoshock suspension, a vibrant digital console, and edgy styling that instantly made traditional 125s look like relics from a past decade. Raider continues to grab massive youth volume, forcing older commuter nameplates to modernize quickly.
In the enthusiast bracket, Bajaj's sprawling Pulsar family — spanning from the accessible Pulsar 125 right up to the N250 — trades punches directly with TVS Apache. While Bajaj leans heavily on muscle and outright streetfighter punch, Apache retaliates with better suspension hardware, sharp chassis dynamics, and premium features like adjustable levers and ride modes (and honestly, it shows out on twisty roads).
The Good And The Not-So-Good
What We Like
- Unmatched fuel efficiency and rugged build quality from proven commuter staples like Splendor and Shine.
- Royal Enfield's J-platform engines deliver buttery-smooth thumps without old-school reliability headaches.
- Modern safety upgrades trickling down fast, including single-channel ABS becoming standard in sportier 125cc-160cc bikes.
- TVS bringing segment-first tech and track-honed dynamics to everyday affordable bikes.
What Could Be Better
- Entry-level commuter prices have crept up steadily over the past few years, squeezing budget-first rural buyers.
- Certain legacy commuter models still carry basic drum brakes and skinny tyres on base variants.
- Long waiting periods on popular Royal Enfield custom colorways test buyer patience.
Price & When You Can Buy It
Every single one of India's top 10 best-selling motorcycles is actively available on showroom floors across the country right now. Pricing begins at around ₹60,000 to ₹75,000 (ex-showroom) for entry champions like the Hero HF Deluxe and Splendor Plus, climbs to ₹90,000–₹1.10 lakh for feature-loaded 125cc options like the TVS Raider and Honda Shine, and reaches ₹1.75 lakh to ₹2.20 lakh for the iconic Royal Enfield Classic 350 range.
Our Verdict
Here's the thing — the Indian two-wheeler market is no longer a one-trick pony focused solely on mileage. While the Hero Splendor remains the undisputed lifeline of our country's daily workforce, the massive growth in Royal Enfield 350s and TVS Apaches proves that Indian riders are ready to spend their hard-earned money on style, pride, and performance. If you want a no-nonsense mileage champ, buy the Splendor without second thoughts; but if your heart beats for weekend highway open throttles, modern 350cc roadsters have never been better.
