India’s motorcycle market in May 2026 posted a modest 1.94% rise in top-10 sales to 9,02,658 units, with Hero Splendor extending its grip on the country’s top spot at 3,48,115 units. Royal Enfield’s 350cc twins and TVS Apache led the premium-climb charge, while Hero’s own HF Deluxe absorbed the steepest fall in the rankings, down 38.09% year-on-year to 66,722 units.
The split captures how India’s two-wheeler market is quietly reshuffling. Commuters still generate the bulk of volume, but the higher-capacity end is where the growth now sits, and one of Hero MotoCorp’s most established commuter nameplates is paying the price.
Splendor Extends Its Grip on India’s Motorcycle Crown
The Hero Splendor sold 3,48,115 units in May 2026, retaining its position as India’s highest-selling motorcycle by a wide margin. Sales improved by 12.17% year-on-year, adding 37,780 units over the 3,10,335 sold in May 2025, according to the May 2026 top-ten motorcycle sales report. Splendor alone accounted for 38.57% of total motorcycle sales for the month, a share no single rival comes close to.
The commuter motorcycle’s dominance rests on price, mileage, and decades of buyer trust.
The ten best-selling motorcycles of May 2026 illustrate the gap clearly. Splendor’s volume is more than double the second-placed Honda Shine and almost three times the third-placed Bajaj Pulsar, and the table below captures where every name in the top ten landed.
| Rank | Model | May 2026 Units | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hero Splendor | 3,48,115 | +12.17% |
| 2 | Honda Shine | 1,55,441 | -1.79% |
| 3 | Bajaj Pulsar | 1,24,270 | +1.73% |
| 4 | Hero HF Deluxe | 66,722 | -38.09% |
| 5 | TVS Apache | 53,900 | +9.78% |
| 6 | Honda CB Unicorn | 34,925 | +22.05% |
| 7 | TVS Raider | 34,852 | -1.55% |
| 8 | Royal Enfield Classic 350 | 34,594 | +20.84% |
| 9 | Bajaj Platina | 26,467 | -5.20% |
| 10 | Royal Enfield Bullet 350 | 23,372 | +35.26% |
Shine and Pulsar Hold the Middle as Volume Anchors
Honda Shine held second place with 1,55,441 units, although its sales slipped 1.79% from the 1,58,271 recorded a year earlier. The 125cc commuter remains Honda’s motorcycle workhorse and one of the top three sellers on Indian roads, even with the marginal decline.
Bajaj Pulsar rounded off the top three with 1,24,270 units, posting a modest 1.73% growth over May 2025. Pulsar’s share of the top-ten stood at 13.77%, sustaining its position as India’s best-selling sports commuter motorcycle lineup and keeping the brand a clear third in the volume ranking.
HF Deluxe’s Sharp Fall Rocks Hero’s Mid-Tier
The clearest disruption in the May 2026 list is Hero HF Deluxe, which dropped 38.09% year-on-year to 66,722 units, down from 1,07,768 in May 2025. The fall is the steepest among the top ten and pushed the model to fourth place, behind the Splendor, Shine, and Pulsar. Hero MotoCorp is running a Rs 4,000 discount on its Splendor+ Flex Fuel and HF Deluxe Flex Fuel models until July 2026, a separate industry report notes, and the move may shape how the company tries to recover the lost volume.
The decline underscores how Hero’s mid-tier commuter is bleeding ground even as its flagship Splendor expands.
The mid-tier shake-up left TVS Apache in fifth place with 53,900 units, up 9.78%, and Honda CB Unicorn in sixth with 34,925 units, up 22.05%. Apache maintained its position as one of the strongest performers in the premium commuter segment, while TVS Motor Company’s broader May 2026 sales underlined the brand’s momentum across its full lineup.
- 9,02,658 total units sold by India’s top 10 motorcycles in May 2026
- 1.94% YoY growth in top-10 sales over May 2025’s 8,85,467 units
- 38.57% share of total motorcycle sales captured by Hero Splendor alone
- -38.09% YoY decline for Hero HF Deluxe, the steepest among the top ten
- 11,13,973 total motorcycle units sold in May 2026 across all models
Premium End Climbs: Royal Enfield Twins Lead the Charge
The clearest growth signal in May 2026 came from Royal Enfield’s 350cc twins. The Classic 350 sold 34,594 units, up 20.84% over May 2025, taking eighth place in the overall rankings. Bullet 350 emerged as one of the fastest-growing models in the top ten, with sales of 23,372 units, a 35.26% rise year-on-year, helping it secure the tenth spot on the chart.
The 350cc pair is benefiting from Royal Enfield’s broader capacity push. Eicher Motors, Royal Enfield’s parent company, approved a major capacity expansion plan alongside a 21% rise in consolidated net profit for Q3 of the 2025-26 financial year, a sign that the brand is preparing to scale supply as demand climbs.
The growth split among the top ten shows premium and premium-adjacent models expanding while mass-market commuters mostly tread water or contract.
- Hero Splendor: +12.17% to 3,48,115 units
- Bajaj Pulsar: +1.73% to 1,24,270 units
- TVS Apache: +9.78% to 53,900 units
- Honda CB Unicorn: +22.05% to 34,925 units
- Royal Enfield Classic 350: +20.84% to 34,594 units
- Royal Enfield Bullet 350: +35.26% to 23,372 units
Against those six gainers sit four names in retreat. Honda Shine slipped 1.79%, HF Deluxe collapsed 38.09%, TVS Raider eased back 1.55%, and Bajaj Platina dropped 5.20%.
Where the Motorcycle Market Now Stands
The May 2026 motorcycle segment remained India’s largest two-wheeler category, with industry data showing total motorcycle sales of 11,13,973 units, accounting for 58.56% of all two-wheeler sales. The segment grew 7.20% year-on-year, holding its lead against the faster-rising scooter category even as buyers continued to migrate up and down the motorcycle ladder.
Top-ten sales of 9,02,658 units, up 1.94% from 8,85,467 in May 2025, capture the bulk of that volume. Commuter motorcycles continue to dominate the units, while premium offerings such as Royal Enfield Classic 350, Bullet 350, and TVS Apache are steadily expanding their share, reflecting growing appetite for higher-capacity motorcycles among Indian buyers. The single line that runs through the May 2026 data is that the commuter base is fragmenting at the entry end, where HF Deluxe is bleeding share, while buyers with the budget for a slightly larger or more characterful motorcycle are pulling the segment’s growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which motorcycle was India’s top seller in May 2026?
The Hero Splendor retained the top spot with 3,48,115 units sold in May 2026, up 12.17% from May 2025 and accounting for 38.57% of total motorcycle sales for the month.
Which motorcycle had the steepest decline in May 2026?
Hero HF Deluxe recorded the steepest fall, dropping 38.09% year-on-year to 66,722 units from 1,07,768 in May 2025. It remained the country’s fourth best-selling motorcycle despite the decline.
How did Royal Enfield perform in May 2026?
Royal Enfield’s Classic 350 grew 20.84% to 34,594 units, and the Bullet 350 grew 35.26% to 23,372 units. Both models expanded their share of the top-ten rankings.
What were the total top-10 motorcycle sales in May 2026?
The top ten motorcycles together sold 9,02,658 units in May 2026, a 1.94% rise over the 8,85,467 units sold by the same group in May 2025.
What share of India’s two-wheeler market did motorcycles hold in May 2026?
Motorcycles accounted for 58.56% of total two-wheeler sales in May 2026, with segment sales of 11,13,973 units, up 7.20% year-on-year.
