[NiInJa]

For me personally, the Yamaha R15 is the most iconic bike. It brought a proper sports bike within reach of a common man. Sure there were Pulsar 220 and Karizma, but none of them were loaded with racing tech like deltabox frame, oil cooled engine, higher compression ratio, lean angle sensor, grippy MRF tyres specifically made etc. getting 15 bhp and ~14.5 Nm of torque from a 150cc engine was a dream then. One would actually boast that they owned a proper sports bike. Others just followed the R15 later.

I have still kept mine from 2009 and intend to keep it till it lasts like people keep their RX100s and RD350s.

[speedmunster]

I have personally owned the Ki-Ho and the first gen CBZ (Still have the Ki-Ho). Both were great in their own sweet way. But the RD 350 has always been my halo bike (my dad owned one in blue colour) and hence voted for the RD. It was wayyy ahead of its time and no one could ride it any where even close to its limits.

[haneeshN]

It is definitely RD350 for me. I had the opportunity to own one which I built completely from scratch. Building the bike was the best experience for me till now in biking. I was using it as my regular ride in Bangalore for almost two years and did some long rides without issues. Sold it as I wanted a bigger bike for touring. I don't regret selling the RD but I definitely miss it. Wouldn't mind owning one again if I have the moolah and parking space

Below is the RD which I owned once:


This bike will always bring a smile!

[nishantbhatia84]

Votes for 'others'

Mine goes to Bajaj Chetak.
There is simply no other 2-wheeler as iconic as this one!
It's a legend, it's a legacy!!
Simplicity to the core! I once didn't ride mine for 8 months straight. All I had to do post that is basic application of WD-40, fill some petrol (mixed with 2T), tilt and voila!! It started!!

[mayd85]

IMHO this thread cannot be concluded with one clear 'winner' so to speak. Different have been shining stars in different areas of the Indian 2 wheeler scene. But few come to mind right away, especially from the late 80s and 90s

1. Bajaj Chetak/Super/Priya (Basically all Vespas) - Every father's daily ride. I guess you had to have a Chetak in the house if you wanted to be a part of the Indian middle class.
2. Kinetic Honda - Made riding possible for the average Indian middle class woman. It's smoothness and ease of driving made it very popular amongst the fairer sex. Was a joy for the young crowd too, because it was fast and yet did not look girly. Its 4 stroke version sucked big time though.
3. Hero Honda CD100 - Fill it, shut it, forget it. No hassles, fairly hardy, did as well in the big cities as in not-so-big towns. For a long time, motorcycle for middle class meant Hero Honda (and mostly CD100) to the extent that people used to say "Kya baat hai! Hero Honda kharida hai..."



Makes me wonder how Honda has been present on the Indian 2 wheeler scene for ages.

[rvd8732]

This was a mad, mad bike:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4r6v9EwdOk

This US Spec monster belongs to a close friend of mine. Whats more interesting is that this bike was offered upwards of 5L which was rejected. As you rightly said, the braking capacity of this monster was not matched with the kind of raw power it had on the face.

Even after 15-20 years of age, these bikes are scary to ride even today. The same goes for RX 100, a pocket rocket. I personally own 2 Yamaha RX bikes .

[1.2TSI7DSG]

Voted Others.

IMHO 'Bullet' with RH side gears was my most desireable bike (which I may never own)
Nothing has epitomised the Dug dug dug sound to the extent I remember bajaj Caliber 115 (hoodibaba fame) to copy that sound in their commercial.

[Fan@Automotive]

RD 350, it was, is and will always be.

I have never owned any of the bikes mentioned in the list, have not even laid my hands on either the RX 100 or the RD 350. Just listening to them and see them zoom past will give me a rush to begin with and a smile later, even today.

Next in line would be the Bullet RE 350 (old style) as it is all about feeling majestic, when ridden the right way.

After I learnt that year 2010 will see off the last batch of them being produced, myself and a friend, though owing another bullet each, rushed to Calicut to book one, and had nerve wrecking ride back to Bengaluru. I would have done something similarly insane (as described by my family and most other friends) if I had an option to buy RX 100 OR the RD 350.

I now maintain and ride my friends RX 135 (again from the last production batch) in the city, after he relocated to Australia. But, it is just not an RX 100.

Pulsar twins of the first generation would be worth listing. It appealed to the mass market like none did. Owned the 150 CC Pulsar for 4 years and thoroughly enjoyed every moment riding it.

[Pkumarblore]

Wasn't that powerful music to ears. I am glad I owned one during my younger days. A true masterpiece & one of its kind. Later on I went on to own 2 RX-100's, another legend in its own ways.

[arzala]

My favorites were:

$ RX 100
$ Kinetic Honda
$ Suzuki Samurai
$ Kinetic Spark

Btw, just found following amazing thread on this forum for more information:

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/post-...ic-mopeds.html (Looking for classic mopeds)

[Sasanka_Sanga]

I feel the below beasts should be in the hall/wall of fame.

1. Suzuki Shogun (My all time favorite)
2. Suzuki Shaolin (5 Speed) (Face lift of Shogun)
3. Suzuki Max100R (Cheaper version of Shogun with the same roar)
4. Yamaha RX100 (Cult Vehicle admired by the 90's kids)
5. Yamaha RX135 (Face lift of RX100 with 5 speed, competition for Shaolin)
6. Yamaha RXZ (Same as RX135 with a different styling, they say futuristic styling)
7. Yamaha RD350 (Twin Carburetor and Race Derived (RD abbreviation) purely for that raw power)
8. Hero Honda CBZ (First Generation) (The first original Honda 156.8CC cult vehicle for the youth of late 90's and early 2000's)
9. Yezdi Roadking (250CC cult vehicle with twin carburetor and the bullet firing exhaust note)
10. Rajdoot (Same as RD350)
11. Bajaj Chetak (Uncle's and Milkman's pride)
12. Priya Cub (Cheaper version of Chetak with 3 gears)
13. Bajaj Sunny (Ultra light non gear vehicle with solid pulling power)
14. Kinetic Honda (First Generation) (Smooth, reliable, cute, sharp and definition for perfection)
15. Kinetic Comet (a good 165 CC which was a flop because of the mileage but a very good vehicle)

[beat runner]

Originally Posted by iamahunter

Hi Team, the intention of this thread is to conclude few of the most Iconic 2 wheelers in India. The one’s available now and earlier.
It can be any kind of 2-wheeler, motorcycle, scooter, moped, 2-stroke, 4-stroke, anything.

I never knew RD 350 is also called Rajdoot. In my childhood, Rajdoot was a completely different bike.

https://www.google.com/search?q=rajd...w=1280&bih=578

[iamahunter]

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

Originally Posted by 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

Does the current royal enfield line up of bikes have that charm that earlier ones had?
Most of the hardcore RE fans that I know deny this fact.

As a matter of fact. I was a RE lover and did desire one. But it was only till I test drove the Thunderbird 500. During the test-ride my wife walked back the half distance as she could not bear the vibrations.

But, nevertheless I am a fan of their 650 twins, eagerly waiting for the Himlayan 650.

The pulsar was a fantastic motorcycle, however the it was only the 2nd to the CBZ.
We love the pulsar on how they have evolved as per the time, however we have more CBZ lovers.

Originally Posted by NiInJa

For me personally, the Yamaha R15 is the most iconic bike. It brought a proper sports bike within reach of a common man. Sure there were Pulsar 220 and Karizma, but none of them were loaded with racing tech like deltabox frame, oil cooled engine, higher compression ratio, lean angle sensor, grippy MRF tyres specifically made etc. getting 15 bhp and ~14.5 Nm of torque from a 150cc engine was a dream then. One would actually boast that they owned a proper sports bike. Others just followed the R15 later.

I have still kept mine from 2009 and intend to keep it till it lasts like people keep their RX100s and RD350s.

Can't agree more on the R15. It was launched when Indian manufactures were just starting to conceptualize a good looking bike. I know of few who thought that the R15 was really under-tyred and Yamaha should provide with a fatter rear tyre. But the reality was that the tyre was especially made for the track and had a very good lean angle.

But is it true that Yamaha was selling the first-gen R15 with a warning that its unsafe for a newbie rider?
The V2 had a longer wheel base and thus was more road focused.

All the very best with your R15 mate, wish to see it someday.

Originally Posted by 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.

I too learn't riding on the M80(pronunced : amity back then), its a nice, easy and fun to ride scooter/bike. My uncle in Nashik had it and was used untill it literally started falling apart. Then it was handed over to the office boy who welded things and he still uses it.

What do we call it? I think it was basically a scooter designed to accommodate larger wheels.

Originally Posted by rakesh_r

4- Suzuki Fiero- Dud design with a Bulletproof engine with the most refined exhaust note

My roommate owned the fitst-gen Fiero. It did look odd, but I think it was one of the most sought-out bikes of that time.
I am not very sure, but I have heard that the initial batched of the Fiero were manufactured by Suzuki. Later TVS took it up and that's when things stared going down for the Fiero.

Originally Posted by beat runner

I never knew RD 350 is also called Rajdoot. In my childhood, Rajdoot was a completely different bike.

https://www.google.com/search?q=rajd...w=1280&bih=578

The Rajdoot, also known as the RD, is a two-stroke Yamaha motorcycle made in India by Escorts group from 1983 to 1989. RD stands for 'Race derived' , in India promoted by Rajdoot in collaboration with Yamaha Japan.

It is a licensed copy of the Yamaha RD350B, modified to suit Indian conditions.

Source

[mayankk]

Originally Posted by beat runner

I never knew RD 350 is also called Rajdoot. In my childhood, Rajdoot was a completely different bike.

https://www.google.com/search?q=rajd...w=1280&bih=578

There was something else that it was called, which sounds morbid, but was actually an affectionate nick : Yamdoot.
Some think it to be a combination of the two makers, but riders know the truth.

[Slickshift99]

For me the most iconic would be as follows:-
1) Bajaj Chetak 12V electronic
2)Yamaha RX100
3) RE Bullet electra
4) Yamaha RD350
I placed the Chetak on top due to its ever increasing popularity and affordability , the 150 cc engine cranked good amount of power and never did it fell underpowered. We had a chetak running in untill it was replaced by the suzuki access. I miss the joy of riding the chetak in my teens, it is still with us however not in running condition.