The Indian two-wheeler industry is the world's largest market, accounting for over 20 million units annually. Of these, over 12 million units come from motorcycles. Here's a list of top 10 bestselling bikes in India in 2018, based on dispatch data shared by SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers).
1. Hero Splendor
With an average of 2.60 lakh (2,59,739) unit sales per month, the Hero Splendor is the best-selling motorcycle in India by a considerable margin. The Splendor has been on sale in India since 1994 and a successor to the Hero Honda CD100. The Hero Splendor is priced between INR 41,400 to INR 58,100 (ex-showroom), depending on variants.
The Hero Splendor is available with three engine capacities - 100 cc, 110 cc and 125 cc, the most popular of which is the 97.2 cc, air-cooled, 4-stroke, OHC, single-cylinder engine that producing 8.2 bhp of maximum power at 8,000 rpm and 8.05 Nm of peak torque at 5,000 rpm mated to a 4-speed gearbox.
2. Hero HF Deluxe
The Hero HF Deluxe, with average sales of 1,77,551 units per month, is the second most selling motorcycle in India in 2018. The HF Deluxe is priced between INR 43,000 to INR 46,950 (ex-showroom Delhi), depending on variants. The Hero HF Deluxe employs the same 97.2 cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder motor as the base Hero Splendor. The engine produces 8.2 bhp of power at 8,000 rpm along with a peak torque of 8.05 Nm at 5,000 rpm, mated to a 4-speed gearbox.
3. Honda CB Shine
The Honda CB Shine is the best-selling 125 cc motorcycle in the country, accounting for an average of 90,410 units sold every month in 2018. The CB Shine was first introduced in 2006 and comes equipped with a 124.7 cc, 4-stroke motor that is mated to a 4-speed transmission.
The single-cylinder motor produces 10 bhp of power at 7,500 rpm and 11 Nm of peak torque at 5,500 rpm. The Honda CB Shine is priced from INR 57,397 to INR 67,477 (ex-showroom Delhi) for the various models.
4. Hero Passion
The Hero Passion is available with two engine options (100 cc and 110 cc) and three variants – Passion Pro, Passion Pro 110 and Passion X Pro. It accounts for average sales of 86,723 units per month. The motorcycle was introduced in 2001 and is a premium commuter positioned above the Splendor. The Passion costs between INR 52,050 to INR 56,650 (ex-showroom Delhi).
The 97.2 cc, single cylinder engine generates 8.2 bhp of power at 8,000 rpm while developing a peak torque of 8.05 Nm at 5,000 rpm. On the other hand, the 109.15 cc, air cooled, 4-stroke, single cylinder motor produces 9.39 bhp of power and 9 Nm of torque. Both the engines are mated to a 4-speed gearbox.
5. Hero Glamour
The Hero Glamour is the second highest selling 125 cc commuter in India, with average sales of 70,518 units per month. The motorcycle costs between INR 57,400 to INR 66,700 (ex-showroom Delhi). It is available in three variants – Standard, Glamour i3s and Glamour FI.
The Hero Glamour sources power from a 124.7 cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder, 4-stroke motor that produces 11.4 bhp of power and 11 Nm of peak torque. On the Standard variant, it pumps out 9 bhp of maximum power and 10.35 Nm of peak torque. That said, the engine is paired to a 4-speed gearbox as standard.
6. Bajaj Pulsar
The Bajaj Pulsar range has been the bestselling premium motorcycle line-up (150 cc & above) in India with a market share of over 40 per cent. With 63,417 average monthly sales, the Pulsar range is the sixth most-selling motorcycle in the country.
Bajaj Auto launched the Pulsar family in November 2001, with the introduction of Pulsar 150 and the Pulsar 180.
Today, the Bajaj Pulsar range comes with engine displacement capacities from 135 cc to 220 cc. These include the Pulsar 135LS, 150, NS160, 180, NS200, RS200 and the Pulsar 220. In its brief history of over 16 years, the company has sold over 1 crore units of the Bajaj Pulsar range in the domestic market.
7. Royal Enfield Classic 350
The Royal Enfield Classic 350 debuted in the market in 2009. Since its launch, the Classic 350 has been the bestseller for Royal Enfield, with average sales of 49,952 units per month in 2018. The Royal Enfield Classic 350 is a retro-classic motorcycle with a basic ammeter and a speedometer without a tachometer or trip meter. The instrument cluster comes devoid of a fuel gauge as well.
Powering the Royal Enfield Classic 350 is a 346 cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that is tuned to deliver a maximum power of 19.8 bhp at 5,250 rpm while developing 28 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. The engine works in sync with a 5-speed gearbox.
Anchorage comes from a 300 mm front disc and a 130 mm rear disc, while a few models also come with a rear disc as an option. Royal Enfield recently introduced the Classic 350 Signals Edition with ABS, priced at INR 1.62 lakh (ex-showroom Pune).
8. Bajaj CT 100
The Bajaj CT 100, with 49,456 units average monthly sales, is the eighth most-selling motorcycle in India in 2018. The CT 100 delivers a fuel economy of 104 km/l as per Bajaj Auto, and was introduced in India to replace the Bajaj Boxer.
The bike was discontinued from the market in 2006 and made a re-entry in 2015. The Bajaj CT 100 sources power from a 99.27 cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, air-cooled engine that produces 8.1 bhp of maximum power along with 8.05 Nm of peak torque. The motor works in harmony with a 4-speed gearbox. The Bajaj CT 100 is priced between INR 32,000 to INR 40,384 (ex-showroom Delhi).
9. TVS Apache
The TVS Apache has been the best-selling TVS motorcycle in India, and at 39,250 unit average monthly sales, it is the ninth highest selling motorcycle in the country. The TVS Apache range consists of four models - Apache RR 310, Apache RTR 200 4V, Apache RTR 180, Apache RTR 160, and the Apache RTR 160 4V.
The TVS Apache range comes with engine displacement capacities between 160 cc to 312 cc. TVS Motor Company partnered with BMW Motorrad in 2013 to manufacture sub-500 cc motorcycles in India. The TVS Apache RR 310 is the first TVS bike to come out of this partnership, which uses a 312.2 cc, single-cylinder motor producing 34 bhp and 28 Nm, mated to a 6-speed gearbox.
10. Bajaj Platina
The Bajaj Platina has been on sale in the domestic market since 2006. With 36,689 units average monthly sales, the Platina is the tenth highest selling bike in India. The motorcycle delivers a fuel efficiency of 89.6 km/l, according to Bajaj Auto. The Platina costs INR 47,405 (ex-showroom Delhi).
The Bajaj Platina employs a 102 cc, single-cylinder, DTS-Si engine that produces 7.8 bhp of maximum power at 7,500 rpm and 8.34 Nm of peak torque at 5500 rpm, mated to a 4-speed transmission. Bajaj Auto had briefly introduced the Bajaj Platina 125 DTS-Si variant in September 2008, which was subsequently discontinued.
Top 10 Best-selling Bikes in India in 2018 monthly sales data
Bike | July Sales | June Sales | May Sales | April Sales | March Sales | Feb Sales | Jan Sales | Average Sales |
Hero Splendor | 260865 | 278169 | 280763 | 266067 | 262232 | 238722 | 231356 | 2,59,739 |
Hero HF Deluxe | 183694 | 182883 | 184131 | 172340 | 183162 | 165205 | 171167 | 1,77,512 |
Honda CB Shine | 86160 | 96505 | 99812 | 104048 | 81770 | 82189 | 82390 | 90,410 |
Hero Passion | 88354 | 97715 | 96389 | 95834 | 105214 | 61895 | 61661 | 86,723 |
Hero Glamour | 74553 | 63417 | 72102 | 69900 | 72054 | 66064 | 75533 | 70,518 |
Bajaj Pulsar | 63388 | 71563 | 70056 | 67712 | 53507 | 60772 | 56919 | 63,417 |
Royal Enfield Classic 350 | 44054 | 50426 | 51147 | 52075 | 50111 | 48557 | 53221 | 49,942 |
Bajaj CT 100 | 76776 | 66314 | 64622 | 59944 | 36601 | 23457 | 18479 | 49,456 |
TVS Apache | 32973 | 42863 | 43234 | 43383 | 45644 | 34008 | 32647 | 39,250 |
Bajaj Platina | 40074 | 35825 | 30412 | 38212 | 34758 | 40409 | 37136 | 36,689 |
[Sales Data Source: AutoPunditz.com]