- By Ajeet Kumar
- Sat, 02 Aug 2025 05:59 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
India vs Pakistan motocycle industry: India has rapidly modernised its motorcycle industry, butPakistan's streets are still dominated by decades-old two-wheeler models.Many of which have been phased out or outright banned in India more than 20 years ago. From two-stroke engines to kick-start-only bikes, Pakistan's motorcycle market continues to rely on designs and technologies that India abandoned years ago in the quest for environmental sustainability and consumer convenience. The picture can be easily witnessed in Pakistani movies or news, where people can be seen riding outdated vehicles.
The presence of two-stroke motorcycles in Pakistan is a category that has long been banned in India due to their high emissions. Models like the Yamaha RX 100, Suzuki Shogun, and Bajaj KB100 disappeared from Indian roads over a decade ago following the enforcement of stricter Bharat Stage (BS) emission norms. However, similar bikes, including clones and refurbished imports, remain common in Pakistani cities and villages.
Two-Stroke Motorcycles (Now banned in India)
India phased out 2-stroke motorcycles due to pollution concerns. These engines were light, powerful, and simple but extremely polluting.
Common 2-stroke bikes now rarely seen (or banned) in India:
-Yamaha RX 100 / RX 135 / RX-Z
-Suzuki Shogun / Samurai
-Bajaj Calibre / KB100 / KB125
-Rajdoot 175
-LML Freedom 2-stroke variants
Why Pakistan motorcycle industry refuses to grow up?
One of the main reasons for this technological lag is affordability. For many low- and middle-income households in Pakistan, older models like the Honda CD 70 and CG 125 offer a cost-effective, reliable means of transport. Local manufacturers such as Atlas Honda, United, and Road Prince continue producing these outdated models because they are cheap to make, easy to repair, and familiar to both riders and mechanics.
In contrast, India's motorcycle market has evolved rapidly, especially since the enforcement of BS-VI norms in 2020, which mandated fuel injection systems and virtually eliminated carburettor-based engines. Bikes that rely solely on kick-start mechanisms or drum brakes are now rare in India, where consumers expect features like electric start, digital meters, disc brakes, and tubeless tires even in entry-level bikes.
India moved to fuel-injected (FI) bikes with stricter BS-VI norms, phasing out old carburettor-based bikes.
India-phased models still active in Pakistan:
-Honda CD 70 / CD Dream
-Honda CG 125 (India discontinued it in the early 2000s)
-Bajaj Boxer / CT100 (earlier carburettor models)
-TVS Max 100 / Suzuki Max 100
-Hero Honda Splendour (pre-BS-IV versions)
Another factor contributing to the persistence of old motorcycles in Pakistan is the lack of strict vehicle retirement laws. Unlike India, which has implemented scrappage policies and vehicle fitness tests to curb pollution and modernise its fleet, Pakistan lacks a nationwide framework to phase out outdated or polluting vehicles. This regulatory gap allows older bikes with poor emission standards and outdated safety features to remain in circulation indefinitely.
India's rapid growth in electric vehicles
Furthermore, while India is adopting electric mobility with brands like Ola Electric and Ather Energy, Pakistan's electric vehicle infrastructure remains underdeveloped, limiting any significant shift toward cleaner alternatives. In fact, Pakistani news channels and websites are left with no options other than using India's Ola electric scooters for publishing news articles on e-vehicles.
In essence, Pakistan's two-wheeler market continues to operate in a time capsule, heavily reliant on older technologies. Until there are stronger regulatory frameworks, investment in modern manufacturing, and widespread consumer demand for innovation, the country’s roads will likely continue to be dominated by motorcycles that India left behind long ago.
(With inputs from agency)