India’s Top Best-Selling Motorcycles (Detailed 2025 guide)
India’s Top Best-Selling Motorcycles (Detailed 2025 guide)
Below is a long, copy-ready article you can paste on your website. It covers the top selling motorcycles in India (2025), their key specifications (engine, claimed mileage, fuel-tank capacity), whether they are BS6, where to buy them, main features, and who each bike is best for. I’ve used official and well-known industry sources for specs and sales-context — links are cited inline for your readers’ verification.
Quick market context (important)
Since April 1, 2020 India requires all new two-wheelers sold and registered to meet Bharat Stage VI (BS6) emission norms. That means the mainstream new models you see in 2025 are BS6 compliant (BS4 production/sale was banned). For real-world compliance, manufacturers also followed BS6 Phase-II / OBD requirements later. Wikipedia+1
1) Hero Splendor Plus — The commuter king
Why it sells: legendary reliability, very low running cost, massive dealer/service network. Hero Splendor has led Indian motorcycle sales for decades. BikeDekho+1
Key specs & figures (typical / model dependent):
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Engine: 97.2 cc, 4-stroke, air-cooled (Hero XSens tech on modern variants). BikeWale
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Power / Torque: ~7.9 bhp / ~8.05 Nm (varies by variant). BikeWale
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Claimed mileage: up to ~65–73 kmpl (owner reports/ARAI differ by variant). BikeWale+1
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Fuel tank: ≈ 9.6–9.8 L. BikeWale+1
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Emission: BS6 compliant (all current Splendor models are BS6). Wikipedia
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Where to buy: Hero MotoCorp dealerships nationwide, Hero’s website, large online bike marketplaces (BikeDekho / BikeWale) and offline showrooms. Hero MotoCorp+1
Ideal for: daily commuters, first-time buyers, fleet purchases (rental / delivery) — riders who want no-nonsense reliability and best-in-class fuel economy.
2) Hero HF Deluxe — Ultra-economical commuter
Why it sells: cheapest to run, extremely popular in rural and budget segments. BikeWale
Specs:
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Engine: 97.2 cc BS6 engine (≈7.9 bhp). BikeWale
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Claimed mileage: ~68–70 kmpl (ARAI / company claims). Hero MotoCorp
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Fuel tank: ≈ 9.1–9.6 L depending on variant. BikeWale+1
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Emission: BS6 (current model range). Wikipedia
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Buy from: Hero dealers, Hero website, local retail showrooms. Hero MotoCorp
Ideal for: cost-sensitive buyers, two-wheeler users in small towns and villages, buyers who prioritize mileage and low maintenance.
3) Honda Shine 125 (CB Shine) — Trusted 125cc commuter
Why it sells: Honda reliability + a slightly larger engine (125cc) for comfortable city and occasional highway runs. Honda 2 Wheelers India
Specs:
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Engine: 123.94 cc, PGM-FI, BS-VI (OBD2B compliant on recent models). Honda 2 Wheelers India
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Power/Torque: ~10.6 bhp / ~11 Nm. BikeDekho
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Claimed mileage: ~50–55 kmpl (depends on riding conditions). BikeDekho
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Fuel tank: 10.5 L (including reserve). BikeWale+1
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Emission: BS6 (Phase II / OBD where applicable). Autocar India
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Where to buy: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) dealers, big online portals. Honda 2 Wheelers India
Ideal for: buyers who want a 125cc upgrade over 100cc commuters — better overtaking power and relaxed cruising.
4) Bajaj Pulsar 150 — Timeless sporty commuter
Why it sells: Pulsar brand equity, sporty looks and solid performance for its class. Bajaj Auto
Specs:
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Engine: 149.5 cc, BS6 DTS-i FI (4-stroke twin-spark). Bajaj Auto+1
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Power/Torque: ~14 PS (≈10.3 kW) @ ~8500 rpm; torque ~13.25 Nm (model dependent). Bajaj Auto+1
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Claimed mileage: roughly 45–52 kmpl depending on riding style; BikeDekho lists ~47.5 kmpl. BikeDekho
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Fuel tank: ≈ 15 L — good for longer rides. Bajaj Auto
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Emission: BS6 compliant. Wikipedia
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Where to buy: Bajaj Auto dealerships, Bajaj official site, large bike portals. Bajaj Auto
Ideal for: riders who want a balance between commuting comfort and sporty character; good entry-level performance bike.
5) TVS Apache RTR 160 (and 160 4V) — Performance commuter / sporty street bike
Why it sells: sporty handling, powerful 160cc engine variants, advanced features (Dual-channel ABS, SmartXonnect on some variants). TVS Motor Company+1
Specs:
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Engine: 159.7 cc BS6 (varies 160 2V / 4V). Power upto ~16–17.5 PS for the 4V. TVS Motor Company+1
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Claimed mileage: ~45–48 kmpl (depends on 2V / 4V and riding). BikeDekho+1
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Fuel tank: ≈ 12 L. BikeDekho
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Emission: BS6 (current models). Wikipedia
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Where to buy: TVS dealers (strong service network), TVS website, authorized retailers. TVS Motor Company
Ideal for: enthusiasts who want sporty dynamics and modern features without paying superbike prices.
6) Royal Enfield Classic 350 — The aspirational mid-capacity cruiser
Why it sells: iconic retro styling, thumping single-cylinder torque, strong aspirational value; one of the few mid-displacement sellers that consistently ranks high. BikeWale
Specs:
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Engine: 349.34 cc, BS6 single-cylinder, air-cooled (modern UCE / J-series depending on year). BikeDekho+1
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Power/Torque: ~20–21 bhp and ~27–30 Nm (model/variant dependent). (See RE official pages for exact variant specs.) BikeDekho
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Claimed mileage: ~35 kmpl (real-world ~30–40 kmpl). BikeWale
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Fuel tank: ≈ 13 L (varies by sub-variant). BikeWale
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Emission: BS6 compliant (RE moved to BS6 engines). Wikipedia
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Where to buy: Royal Enfield stores (Strong dealership & lifestyle experience), authorized online bookings on RoyalEnfield.com and large marketplaces. BikeWale
Ideal for: lovers of classic styling, highway cruising, riders who value brand / emotion over pure economy.
7) Bajaj Platina 110 — Comfort + mileage for everyday use
Why it sells: comfort-focused commuter with excellent fuel efficiency and soft suspension for Indian roads. Bajaj Auto
Specs:
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Engine: 115.45 cc, BS6 DTS-i / FI (depending on variant). Bajaj Auto+1
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Power/Torque: ~8.5–9.5 PS, torque ~9.9 Nm. BikeDekho+1
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Claimed mileage: ~65–70 kmpl (company claims / ARAI type figures for economy oriented variants). BikeDekho
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Fuel tank: ≈ 11 L. Bajaj Auto
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Emission: BS6 Phase 2 (Bajaj lists Platina as BS6 Phase 2 compliant). BikeWale
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Where to buy: Bajaj dealerships and authorized retailers, Bajaj’s website. Bajaj Auto
Ideal for: buyers who want a comfortable, fuel-efficient commuter for daily long-distance city rides or mixed city/highway use.
8) Hero Passion XPro / Passion family — Youth-focused 110cc commuter
Why it sells: sharper styling than basic commuters, low maintenance, great service reach. (Note: model naming/availability has changed over years; current Hero lineup includes multiple Passion / Passion X variants.) BikeWale+1
Specs (general Passion XPro):
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Engine: ~110–125 cc Hero-made BS6 engines depending on variant. Example XPro used a 110cc unit earlier; newer Passion 110 variants use updated Hero engines. BikeWale+1
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Claimed mileage: typically 60–70 kmpl (varies by tuning). BikeDekho
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Fuel tank: ≈ 9–9.5 L. Hero MotoCorp
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Emission: BS6 (current production models). Wikipedia
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Where to buy: Hero showrooms, Hero official website, major local dealers. Hero MotoCorp
Ideal for: younger riders wanting a slightly sportier commuter that remains cheap to run.
9) TVS Raider 125 — Modern 125cc with high mileage & connected tech
Why it sells: strong fuel economy, connected TFT cluster (on higher trims), aggressive styling, affordable price — appeals to young urban riders. TVS Motor Company+1
Specs:
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Engine: 124.8 cc, BS6; TVS claims very high economy on some test cycles. BikeWale+1
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Claimed mileage (ARAI / WMTC): ~56–70+ kmpl depending on test cycle and variant. BikeDekho lists high mileage claims for certain trims. BikeDekho+1
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Fuel tank: 10 L. TVS Motor Company+1
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Features: TFT display (on select trims), LED lighting, multiple ride modes on some variants, modern connected features (call assist, voice, nav) on higher trims. TVS Motor Company
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Where to buy: TVS dealerships, TVS website, online bike platforms. TVS Motor Company
Ideal for: urban riders who want modern features and great mileage in a 125cc package.
10) Hero Xtreme 160R / Xtreme 125 (popular Xtreme family) — sporty 125–160cc range
Why it sells: sporty looks, competitive performance in 150–160cc segment, modern features. Hero’s move into performance commuters has gained traction. Hero MotoCorp+1
Specs (Xtreme 160R example):
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Engine: 163.2 cc, BS6 (Xtreme 160R); power ~15–17 PS depending on 4V variant. BikeDekho+1
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Claimed mileage: ~45–47 kmpl (160R). Fuel tank ≈ 12 L. BikeDekho+1
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Emission: BS6. Wikipedia
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Where to buy: Hero showrooms, Hero website, big bike portals. Hero MotoCorp
Ideal for: buyers who want a sportier daily — good mix of city usability and weekend fun.
Notes on BS4 vs BS6 (what to tell your readers)
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All new two-wheelers sold in India after April 1, 2020 must be BS6; that is why almost every mainstream model on this list is BS6. If a buyer sees “BS4” in used listings, that bike was registered before the deadline — buyers should be aware of emissions/PUC and resale implications. Wikipedia+1
Fuel economy / mileage & tank capacity — quick comparison (approximate / typical)
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Hero Splendor / HF Deluxe — 65–73 kmpl, tank ~9.6–9.8 L. BikeWale+1
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Honda Shine 125 — ~50–55 kmpl, tank 10.5 L. BikeDekho
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Bajaj Pulsar 150 — ~45–52 kmpl, tank ~15 L. BikeDekho+1
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TVS Apache 160 — ~45–48 kmpl, tank ~12 L. BikeDekho
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Royal Enfield Classic 350 — ~30–35 kmpl, tank ~13 L. BikeWale
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Bajaj Platina 110 — ~65–70 kmpl, tank ~11 L. BikeDekho+1
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TVS Raider 125 — ~56–70 kmpl (variant/test dependent), tank 10 L. BikeDekho+1
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These mileage numbers are company/ARAI/claimed or site-reported figures — real-world values depend on load, city vs highway, service, tyre pressure, and riding style.
Where to buy (channels)
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Official brand showrooms / dealerships — best for warranty, genuine spares and service. (Hero, Honda, Bajaj, TVS, Royal Enfield, etc.). Hero MotoCorp+1
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Authorized online booking — manufacturer websites let you book test rides and pre-book new launches. Hero MotoCorp+1
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Large portals & aggregators — BikeDekho, BikeWale, CarWale list prices, compare specs and often show ex-showroom / on-road estimates and dealer contacts. Use them for quick spec checks and offers. BikeDekho+1
Buying tips for your readers
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Decide use first: city commuter (Splendor/HF/Platina), 125cc everyday (Shine/Raider), sporty 150–160cc (Pulsar/Apache/Xtreme), cruiser (Classic 350).
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Check service network: Hero and Honda have the widest service networks in India — cheaper long-term ownership. Hero MotoCorp+1
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Check real mileage from owners’ reports (portals like BikeWale/BikeDekho have owner feedback). BikeDekho+1
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Confirm BS6 / OBD compliance on the invoice for new bikes (they should be BS6). Wikipedia
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Test-ride the exact variant you will buy (tyres, seat comfort, brake feel and ergonomics vary by variant).
Sources & references (selected)
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Sales & market context articles (monthly top-seller coverage): BikeDekho / DriveSpark / Driveio / RushLane (summary of monthly sales where Splendor, Shine, Pulsar, etc. top lists). Drivio+2drivespark.com+2
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BS6 policy and implementation: Wikipedia summary and manufacturer/industry explainers on BS6 / Phase-II. Wikipedia+1
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Model-level official/spec pages and aggregated spec portals: Hero MotoCorp (Splendor, HF Deluxe, Xtreme pages), Honda India (Shine), Bajaj Auto (Pulsar / Platina), TVS (Apache / Raider), Royal Enfield (Classic 350), BikeDekho / BikeWale spec pages. BikeDekho+6Hero MotoCorp+6Hero MotoCorp+6
Final words
The Indian bestseller list remains dominated by simple, reliable, fuel-efficient commuters (Hero Splendor, HF Deluxe, Platina) while 125–160cc sporty/commuter models (Honda Shine, Pulsar, Apache, TVS Raider, Xtreme) continue to grow as buyers balance commuting with occasional highway use. Royal Enfield sits in its niche as the aspirational mid-displacement choice. All mainstream new models in 2025 are BS6 and—where required—comply with BS6 Phase-II/OBD mandates.




