Neo-retro has come to define the motorcycling landscape in recent years. The shift is unmissable, with entire brands being revived to tap into nostalgia. At its core, neo-retro describes a motorcycle that is modern underneath, yet styled to reflect the design language of yesteryears. Here’s a list of the most affordable neo-retro bikes under Rs 2 lakh, arranged in alphabetical order.
Bajaj Avenger 160 Street / 220 Cruise
Rs 1.12 lakh / Rs 1.26 lakh
In terms of timeline, the Avenger range is the most retro on this list. The Avenger brand was first introduced in 2005 with a Pulsar-derived 180cc engine. Since then, the bike has received incremental updates, including an increase in displacement to 220cc for the flagship model, as well as a smaller 160cc variant. Despite these changes, the overall design has remained largely unchanged.
The Avenger features a low 737mm seat height and forward-set foot pegs, giving it a quintessential cruiser riding posture. The range starts with the 160 Street, priced at Rs 1.12 lakh, while the 220 Cruise is priced at Rs 1.26 lakh.
Honda CB350 DLX
Rs 1.97 lakh
At Rs 1.97 lakh, the DLX is the only variant in the expansive CB350 line-up that falls under the Rs 2 lakh price bracket. It features more retro styling compared to the CB350 H’ness, which has a more contemporary look with a smoked tail-lamp and an instrument cluster featuring modern fonts.
In contrast, the CB350 DLX aims for a more authentic retro appeal, reflected in its colour palette, which includes shades like Mat Dune Brown, Grey, Black and Maroon.
TVS Ronin
Rs 1.27 lakh / Rs 1.60 lakh
The Ronin is the brand’s neo-retro offering, with TVS positioning it as an ‘Unscripted’ motorcycle – one that doesn’t conform to any single segment. That said, the Ronin is neo-retro in essence. With its round headlight, offset round LCD dash, a large 14-litre fuel tank with pronounced recesses and a relatively flat, single-piece seat, it adheres to familiar neo-retro design cues.
Priced from Rs 1.27 lakh to Rs 1.60 lakh, the entire Ronin range sits under the Rs 2 lakh mark. Powering it is a 226cc single-cylinder oil-cooled engine that produces 20.4hp and 19.9Nm, paired with a 5-speed gearbox.
Royal Enfield 350 range
Hunter 350 (Factory: Rs 1.38 lakh) - Meteor 350 (Fireball variant: Rs 1.96 lakh)
Royal Enfield is built on a neo-retro ethos. Most of its range is designed to tap into nostalgia, from the signature round headlight and minimal electronics to the slow-revving, thumpy motor. At the entry point, the most affordable model is the Hunter 350 in its Factory Black guise, while the sub-Rs 2 lakh range tops out with the Meteor 350 Fireball variant, priced at Rs 1.96 lakh.
Some would say Royal Enfield can be largely credited for reviving the neo-retro motorcycle segment and making it mainstream. Several legacy brands that once competed with Royal Enfield have since been revived, aiming to capture a share of its market and replicate the success the Chennai-based brand has achieved.
Jawa 42 / 42 FJ
Rs 1.84 lakh / Rs 1.94 lakh
One such brand that has been revived in recent years is Jawa Motorcycles. It re-entered the market in 2019 with three models: the Classic Jawa, Jawa 42 and the Jawa Perak. The Perak and Jawa 350 are currently priced above Rs 2 lakh and therefore don’t feature on this list. The Jawa 42 and 42 FJ, on the other hand, represent a more modern interpretation of the brand, with relatively contemporary styling. The 42 is priced from Rs 1.84 lakh, whereas the 42 FJ is priced at Rs 1.94 lakh.
Kawasaki W175
Rs 1.21 lakh
The Kawasaki W175 is manufactured in India by Kawasaki and is also exported to international markets, including the US. The W175 made its global debut in September 2022 and is currently available in India in two variants: a standard variant with spoke wheels and the Street version priced at Rs 1.25 lakh, which gets alloy wheels. It is also the most affordable model in Kawasaki’s portfolio.
Triumph Speed T4
Rs 1.95 lakh
The Triumph Speed T4 is priced just under Rs 2 lakh, making it the most affordable model in Triumph Motorcycles’s portfolio. It is manufactured at Bajaj Auto’s plant in Chakan. Much like Royal Enfield, this British marque follows a retro design language inspired by its iconic Bonneville series. In many ways, the Bonneville range is to Triumph what the Bullet series is to Royal Enfield.
Early last year, Triumph introduced new dual-tone colour schemes for the Speed T4. These feature a diagonal slash across the fuel tank, lending the bike a more understated look.
Earlier, the Speed T4 was powered by a KTM-derived 398cc engine and attracted a 40 percent tax, but Triumph has now downsized this unit to 349cc, allowing it to sit in a lower tax bracket. The Speed T4, irrespective of the tax bracket, was priced quite competitively, and this downsizing hasn’t reduced its pricing. However, at 29hp and 31Nm, the power and torque are down by 2hp and 5Nm compared to the outgoing model.
Yamaha XSR 155
Rs 1.50 lakh
The Yamaha XSR 155 was launched late last year as the neo-retro sibling of the Yamaha MT-15 street naked. It shares the same engine but adopts a more mature design, featuring a relatively flat seat, a round headlight, a round LCD dash and subtler colour options than the MT-15 and Yamaha R15. Priced from Rs 1.50 lakh, the XSR 155 rivals the Royal Enfield Hunter 350, which is similarly priced.
Yezdi Roadster
Rs 1.96 lakh
Like Jawa, Yezdi too, was revived by Classic Legends. The Roadster is the most neo-retro model in the brand’s current line-up, and it was recently updated, with the most notable changes focused on its design. It now features a chopped rear fender and a swingarm-mounted rear number plate holder, giving it a more bobber-like silhouette. This update has also resulted in a redesigned tail-lamp and indicators.
Vishal Venugopal
Dinshaw Magol
