[BloggerMathai]

Originally Posted by SnS_12

..

As luck would have it I was never able to own an RD 350 or an RX 100, but managed to get my hands on some special two strokes instead.

Oh nice! That exhaust reminds me of KRP systems from back in the day!

[drkuldeep1998]

How can one forget Bajaj M80? I personally feel this was one of the best bike available at that time. 74cc two stroke engine was really a gem. I still have one which my dad bought in 1992. I used this bike extensively during my college days. I had even covered 328 kms in one day from Mumbai to Dhulia where I was studying on my M80.

[Silver Knight]

Voted for the RX100. The sound, the pickup and the evergreen styling makes this bike a force to reckon. And for a country obsessed with Average kya hai RX 100 sold in decent numbers till Yamaha pulled the plug off the RX.

[laser2707]

I voted for RX100. A bike I coveted like mad. When I finally had the money the premium on the bike put me off & head ruled over heart, I bought a 4 stroke Kawasaki Bajaj instead. A decision I still regret.

However, in my childhood, the bike which all the cool guys rode was the Yezdi. I have spent hours perched on a parked Yezdi (belonged to a neighbor) in our society parking pretending I was riding the bike. My legs would not even reach the ground, thankfully I never fell off the bike. Oh, the memories!!!

[DrCar]

Voted for Others :

My 2 contenders :
1. It has created a new segment of cruiser bike which was unheard of during those times. In fact, the design was so ahead of the times that even current generation descendants of the bike resembles it. Yes, I am talking about the Kawasaki eliminator.
Long, low, decently powerful engine, comfortable and reliable. Bajaj went the seperate way but kept the iconic bike and design with them and continued the tradition with Avenger series.

2. How can one forget the Hoodibaba? People had another option to choose from instead of Splendors and Passions. Bajaj's Caliber had enough in it to make people turn towards their showrooms.

Though it wasn't as successful as others, it was the bike that made people aware of the Bajaj's reliability and engineering. Made life easy for Pulsar thereafter which just took over the baton from it.

All pic courtesy : Google images.

[wheeledsoul]

Voted for RX 100, however, KB 100 RTZ, Shogun, Pulsar and RE 350/500 too should have been among the options to choose.

[ishan12]

My vote went for others, since the 3 most iconic 2 wheelers from my view are not listed.

1- Enfield Bullet 350
2- Bajaj Pulsar (First gen)
3- Honda Activa

[groom]

I voted for RD350, the next alternative would have been RX 100. No doubt, RX would lead this by miles.

Luna TFR could also be a distant third.

[Karthik Chandra]

We forgot the Jawa

Instead of CBZ & Karizma, I think, Bullet & Jawa/Yezdi should have featured.

[gopaneel]

Definitely agree that all four are iconic in their own way, even through I've not had the luck to ride any of these. Love the sound of the RX100. No words to explain feelings for the RD350 and the Karizma.



But voted for the CBZ though, for bringing together fun and reliability, giving the riders an opportunity to prove that there was a market for 150+cc 4 stroke motorcycles.


Slightly off topic, for those of you from Kerala, there is a movie Niram, which I believe was released around the time the CBZ was launched. The movie had a song which had a lot of things popular at that time in Cochin, such as the Music World, a video game arcade, the Honda (City) Showroom and the CBZ. Lots of nostalgia. Not sure if anyone else feels the same.

[abhishek46]

I am surprised to see that the Royal Enfield 350 "bullet" is missing from this list.

The bullet is a true icon, and one that has stood the test of time.

[neil.jericho]

One way of looking at this question would be to use the benefit of the a moving reference of time
- RD350 : Probably the first bike that earned the status of a legend but it was before the time for many of todays Indian biking enthusiasts. I havent ridden one myself and dont know if I ever will get the opportunity to either.
- RX100 : More recent and easier to find today than the RD350. Power for the masses. Quite a little gem.
- Pulsar 150 (first gen) : This easily overshadows the CBZ in hindsight. Though the CBZ came first, once the Pulsars were out, it was game over. Most of today's mid 30s biking enthusiasts owned one generation of the Pulsar at some point of time.
- Duke 390 (first gen) : Democratization of power.

But, these legends have come, blazed their trails in their times and these legends have gone.

There is, however, one bike which has slowly evolved though, that has steadfastly soldiered on into the BS6 world (much to the annoyance of many forum members ) and continues to remain aspirational and more importantly, it can be bought by today's motorcyclists straight from a showroom, and that is the Royal Enfield Bullet 350. The Classic 350 is a very close cousin so I will club in the Classic 350 with the Bullet 350. They sell in bunches despite what others might say and the sales show no signs of stopping in the long run. Lets not also underplay the role that today's movies also play in continuing to shape its identity, the Royal Enfields are ridden by movie heroes and villains alike.

I was never a RE or a "Bullet" guy, I never expected that I would own a Royal Enfield till I test rode the Continental GT 535. But I have to say, in terms of icons, the RE 350s have it for their broad appeal across the length and breadth of the country, their longevity and the ability to stay relevant even in 2020.

[ksmrsm]

Originally Posted by ariesonu

Bajaj Chetak - 4 gears

Bajaj Super - 3 gears

Regards-SS

Correction:

Both the Bajaj Chetak and Super were with 4 gears. The Bajaj Cub was with three.

[gururajrv]

RD RD RD - my dream bike even today!

GTO’s video posted tells as to why people still have a lust for it! That pure raw 2 stroke twin emitting that sound is so eargasmic!

I only wish to find one and save it in my garage someday and use it for just city use

I already have Pulsar 220 FI & Ninja 300. I have that itch for RD350 still.

RD all the way - LEGENDS never die! They rest by the aisle

[srikrishna717]

Voted for RX 100 for sheer Pick up and amazing Sound! In terms of pick up the closest that came to it was Suzuki Shogun, but it had its share of problems and died too soon.