Motorcycles are as popular in India as bicycles are in Scandinavian countries. In fact, from the moment the world’s first motorized bicycles appeared, Indians immediately became their fans. Today, India is the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturer, having recently surpassed China. The country produces over 10 million units of this type of equipment annually. Most are clones of products from leading global brands. However, amid this abundance, Indian production also includes real gems.
What are Indian motorcycle brands?
India has many motorcycle brands. Some of them are market leaders, such as Bajaj, Mahindra, Hero, TVS, Royal Enfield, API, and Escorts Group.
Light motorcycles, such as scooters and mopeds, are particularly in demand in the country. The constant demand for affordable two-wheeled transportation prompts influential Indian corporations, such as Mahindra, to expand their offerings by acquiring brands from leading global manufacturers. Today, Honda, Kawasaki, and Royal Enfield motorcycles, along with Made-in-India models, are often found in third-world countries rather than in their original forms. However, the Indian brand Bajaj performs at the same level as well-known brands and is not inferior to world manufacturers in technical parameters or design. They are characterized by high quality and reliability.
Bajaj
The company was founded by Jamnalal Bajaj, who, in November 1949, was a seller and importer of foreign-brand scooters. Ten years later, he acquired the right to manufacture his own machinery. He began producing motorized rickshaws under his brand. Rickshaws became very popular, and by the 1970s, Bajaj produced more than 100,000 under the Bajaj brand. In 1995, the number of such equipment exceeded several million. This success drove production expansion and led to a 1986 contract with Kawasaki. Since then, Bajaj has released products under the Bajaj-Kawasaki brand name, and its factories have begun producing licensed Japanese motorcycles. Today, Bajaj is the world’s 6th-largest motorcycle manufacturer.
The brand logo has a single emblem color, medium Persian blue. It is a common symbol of the god Krishna in India. Blue symbolizes strength, masculinity, guaranteed victory, and universal accessibility. The emblem’s main element is a stylized bird in flight. Below it is the brand name in a font developed to meet modern requirements for image visualization and ease of perception. The emblem’s simplicity and brevity make it easy to remember and recognize.
Mahindra
October 2, 1945, is the birthday of the Mahindra group of companies. It is currently India’s largest corporation, headquartered in Mumbai. The company’s founders are Malik Ghulam Muhammad and brothers Jagdish Chandra Mahindra and Kailash Chandra Mahindra. It covers a wide range of engineering fields, including manufacturing automobiles, agricultural machinery, and motorcycles. Today, Mahindra & Mahindra owns the French brand Peugeot Motorcycles, the Czech brand Jawa, and BSA.
The brand’s logo is known worldwide. Three stripes divide a red ellipse at the bottom. The two outer stripes meet at the edges of the figure, their tops resting on the ellipse’s upper edge. The third stripe separates these two lines without touching them. Its vertex also rests on the ellipse’s upper edge. All three lines slant to the right, giving the sign visual convexity. Red is a very important color for Hindus. It symbolizes purity, the energy of movement, and life. Under the sign is the brand name Mahindra in Latin script with an uppercase font, with the first letter larger than the others. The font is made in a monochrome variant. Depending on the emblem’s location, it can be gray, white, or black.
Hero
Founded in 1983 by Brijmohan Lall Munjal, the brand was, until recently, known as Hero Honda and ranked 108th on Forbes’ list of the world’s top 200 companies in 2006. In 2011, the relationship with Honda ended, and the Indian company was renamed Hero Motocorp Ltd. In 2014, Hero became an equity stakeholder in the American company Erik Buell Racing. This move expanded the company’s ability to sell its products in the US. Today, Hero Motocorp’s products account for almost half of the motorcycles sold in the Indian market. The company’s machines are characterized by a small displacement of up to 200 cc. Motorcycles are in great demand in Asia and the Caribbean.
For its logo, the brand has chosen a simple, laconic form: a graphic design of the name text paired with a stylized first-letter sign. The mark consists of two rectangles, placed on their short sides some distance apart and angled away from the viewer. The crossbar symbolizes a wide diagonal break in the second rectangle’s white color; in Indian symbolism, black represents protection against failure. Like the font, the first rectangle is red, symbolizing movement and fortitude.
TVS
As a motorcycle manufacturer, the Indian brand TVS has been known since 1978, when the grandson of the brand’s founder, Sundaram Iyengar from Chennai, opened a motorcycle factory in Hosur. The brand began its ascent in 1911, when the founder, T.V. Sundaram Iyengar, inaugurated the first bus service in Madurai and expanded bus and truck transportation by building a large fleet of then state-of-the-art machinery. Today, the TVS group is a multinational company with a motorcycle division, TVS Motor Company Limited. It is the third-largest Indian company in the country’s overall list of motorcycle manufacturers.
The TVS emblem, featuring red and blue, holds special significance for every Indian. Red represents movement and a powerful charge of energy. Blue represents strength, masculinity, and the constant struggle for the best; it also represents accessibility. The image includes two elements: the TVS brand name abbreviation in blue, slanted to the right to symbolize forward movement, and a stylized horse in mid-flight after jumping an obstacle, rendered in red.
Royal Enfield
One of the oldest British motorcycle brands, Royal Enfield was founded in 1901 but did not survive the last-century crisis of the 1950s and 1960s. Madras Motors in Chennai, India, bought it and continues the brand’s legacy today, albeit with a different design and execution. The new owner produced 846,000 motorcycles by 2018, demonstrating the brand’s strength and success. For this reason, Madras Motors has kept the brand’s historic logo intact.
The red and orange colors in the logo fit the spirit of the Indian company and the Indian people. These colors have an important sacred meaning. Red confirms the energy and strength characteristic of the company’s products. Orange is a favorite in India; it is sacred, promises prosperity and success, and symbolizes fire. All elements of the emblem, the sign Royal Enfield, and the text, set in the original font, the curves of which resemble the curves of caterpillars, are made in red with an orange border. The mark is a circle with an orange equilateral hexagon with rounded corners inscribed inside. The logo’s accent figure is the first letter of the brand name, “R,” surrounded by outstretched wings symbolizing flight and speed.
API
Founded in 1949 in Bombay (now Mumbai) and called Automobile Products of India (API), the brand focused on tricycles and pedal cars. It is best known for manufacturing lightweight scooters under the Lambretta brand and traditional API tricycles. It produced the latter under a license from the Italian manufacturer Innocenti. However, the company’s main products remained traditional auxiliary systems for the automotive industry: brakes and clutches. In 2002, the company announced its closure.
The company’s emblem was not distinguished by a special creative approach to its development. It was a simple, laconic text graphic of the API abbreviation in an element resembling the protective glass of a bicycle rickshaw or scooter. A simple, monochrome font without unnecessary elements made the name easy to remember.
Escorts Group
Escorts Group represented the Indian motorcycle industry. This conglomerate, focused on agricultural machinery and automobile manufacturing, had 40 years of involvement in the motorcycle industry. From the 1960s to the early 2000s, it had a division that produced Rajdoot motorcycles. The main product was a licensed Polish SHL M11 175 cc. In 1984, the company launched a line of Yamaha motorcycles, starting with the RX 100. But in 2005, the head office decided to close this line.
Today, you can recognize this brand’s motorcycles by the original logo: a nut with an unfinished right side at the center. Its small inner protrusion on the left side forms a stylized Latin letter “E”, the first letter in the brand name. At the same time, under certain light, the mark reveals the symbol of an open key formed by the element’s contours. The sign is red, which is significant for Hindus. Below is the text: the name “Escort,” in black, lowercase. The use of these two colors in the logo conveys to the Indian consumer the company’s strength and power, its movement toward victory, and its guarantee of protection against failure.
FAQ
Which bike company is Indian?
India is home to several leading motorcycle companies:
- Hero MotoCorp Ltd: The world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer. Known for affordable, reliable bikes, it offers a wide range of motorcycles and scooters. The Splendor model is especially popular worldwide.
- Bajaj Auto Ltd: This company offers a range of popular motorcycles in India and abroad. Young riders especially love the Pulsar series for its appeal and performance.
- TVS Motor Company Ltd: One of India’s largest two-wheeler manufacturers with a strong presence in international markets. Notable models include the Apache and the new TVS Ronin.
- Eicher Motors’ Royal Enfield is famous for its classic design and has a huge fan following. Models like the Bullet and Himalayan are known for their retro styling.
- India Yamaha Motors: A subsidiary of Japan’s Yamaha, it plays a significant role in India by offering motorcycles that combine performance and practicality, such as the R15 and FZ series.
- Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited Caters to a wide range of riders with its lineup, including the Gixxer sports series, which is popular among the youth.
- Piaggio India offers motorcycles and commercial vehicles, most notably the Vespa scooter, and provides a range of options for Indian consumers.
What bikes are made in India?
India is an important motorcycle manufacturing hub with both local and international brands:
- Hero MotoCorp: India’s largest motorcycle and scooter manufacturer. Popular models like Hero Splendor and Hero Passion are known for their affordability.
- Bajaj Auto: Produces motorcycles that are popular in India and abroad. The Bajaj Pulsar and Bajaj Avenger series are noted for their performance and style.
- TVS Motor Company: Offers a variety of motorcycles and scooters, including the performance-oriented TVS Apache series and the TVS Jupiter scooter, catering to a wide range of consumers.
- Royal Enfield: Part of Eicher Motors, known for classic-style motorcycles like the Royal Enfield Classic and Bullet. These motorcycles have a loyal following due to their vintage charm.
- Mahindra Two Wheelers: Produces motorcycles and scooters, such as the Mahindra Mojo, aimed at touring enthusiasts.
India also serves as a manufacturing base for several foreign brands. Notably, Austrian brand KTM manufactures some of its performance-oriented motorcycles, such as the KTM Duke and RC series, in India in collaboration with Bajaj Auto.
Who makes Indian motorcycles now?
Indian Motorcycle is an established American motorcycle brand operated by Polaris Industries Inc. Polaris acquired it in 2011 and has maintained its reputation for producing high-quality classic American motorcycles.
Under Polaris, the brand has expanded its product range to include several models that combine traditional style with modern performance. These bikes, such as the Indian Scout and Indian Chief, appeal to many riders for their comfortable design and durable construction.
Which is the best Indian bike brand?
Choosing the best Indian motorcycle brand depends on your needs, such as how important mileage, price, or performance is to you. Here are the best options:
- Bajaj Pulsar: Popular among young riders due to its affordability and performance. The company offers a variety of models to suit every taste, and it is known for its fuel efficiency and sporty appearance.
- Honda CB Shine: Durable and fuel-efficient, making it ideal for daily commuting. It provides a smooth ride and low maintenance costs.
- Bajaj CT Series: Offers great mileage at a very reasonable price, making it ideal for those seeking an efficient, economical bike.
- Royal Enfield Classic 350: Ideal for those who love a vintage look with modern mechanics. It costs more than some bikes, but its unique styling and durable build make it worth the price.
- Hero Glamour and Hero Passion: Known for their reliability and fuel efficiency, they are good options for daily use in cities and rural areas. They provide a comfortable ride and good mileage.
- Bajaj Platina: Offers exceptional fuel efficiency and ranks among the best in its segment in India, making it a great choice for budget-conscious buyers.
- TVS Apache: This bike appeals to those who want a more exciting ride. It is popular among riding enthusiasts because of its excellent performance, handling, and bold styling.