Bikes then vs now, how two-wheeler segment evolved over 78 years of Independence

Independence Day special: The two-wheeler industry in India has evolved with the evolution of technological advancements and consumer preferences. Earlier there was not much of a trend of owning a motorcycle in India or a two-wheeler, but a few small manufacturers like Royal Enfield offered their first motorcycle in 1949. Since then the evolution of the two-wheeler industry started and some major players like  Bajaj Auto, Yamaha, and Jawa Yezdi have offered some of their best motorcycles of that time. With the modern era, the electrification game has kicked in and strict emission norms have resulted in the extinction of some legendary bikes also. One of the early players in the scooter market was Bajaj, which began trading imported Vespa scooters in 1948. Later, in 1959, Bajaj started manufacturing these scooters under license from Piaggio.

The historical development of the two-wheeler industry in India can be traced back to the period between the 1950s and 1980s. During the 1960s to 1980, the two-wheeler industry witnessed some great motorcycles like Rajdoot, Yezdi, Yamaha RX100, etc. In the 1970s Bajaj Scooters had a monopoly in the Indian two-wheeler market. Lambretta scooters also secured a great market share in the 1970s era.

Later, the first motorcycle under the Indo-Japanese collaboration, Ind Suzuki came to India. Just after this, Hero Honda entered the market around the 1980s, with the 81 km/l mileage in that era. In the 1990s Yamaha introduced its RX100, which was an instant hit among college youths.

Then came the Bajaj Pulsar in the market in the early 2000s, which changed the market for the two-wheeler industry. Bajaj Pulsar was oriented as a sports bike that used to offer decent fuel efficiency along with sporty aesthetics as well.

Present day motorcycles:

The modern-day era of motorcycles has witnessed evolution on a broader aspect. The motorcycles now offer features such as cruise control, ride-by-wire, slipper assist clutch, etc. TVS Apache RTR 310 is one of the most feature-loaded bikes in the affordable segment. With the electrification game becoming stronger, the electric bike segment has evolved in which Revolt RV 400 holds a majority of the market share. On the occasion of the 78th Independence Day, Indian electric mobility startup Ola Electric will be launching its first electric bike in the market.
 

Source: Republicbiz