Note (September 2026): This guide has been updated with corrections. Atlas Cycles shut its last major factory in June 2020 and now faces insolvency claims; India’s first geared bicycle was TI Cycles’ Hercules Topgear, not a BSA model; and the Road Master brand sold in India is run by an Indian company, not the American Roadmaster business.
The best-known bicycle brands in India are Hero Cycles (Ludhiana, founded 1956), Avon Cycles (Ludhiana, 1948) and TI Cycles of India, the Murugappa Group company behind Hercules, BSA and Montra. Atlas, once India’s largest maker, closed its last major factory in 2020. For kids and adults, choose on frame size, brakes and service network, not brand alone.
Key Takeaways
- Hero Cycles, Avon Cycles and TI Cycles of India (Hercules, BSA, Montra) are the main established Indian bicycle makers as of September 2026.
- Hercules, BSA and Montra are sister brands: all three belong to TI Cycles of India, a Murugappa Group company set up in 1949.
- Atlas Cycles shut its Sahibabad plant on June 3, 2020, and in July 2026 was reported to face two insolvency applications at NCLT Chandigarh.
- The Road Master cycles sold in India are an Indian brand; the American Roadmaster brand is a different business owned by Pacific Cycle.
- Bicycle prices vary widely by model, size, gears and seller, so compare current prices on the brand’s own site before buying.
There are many bicycle brands in India. This makes it difficult to decide as to which one to opt for and which one to leave. While all these bicycle manufacturers and dealers claim to offer quality products many of them fail to do so. It is thus imperative to know as to which ones are actually offering good value for money before you make a buying decision.
Most Popular Brands of Indian Bicycle
Here is a look at the best bicycle brands in India.
Avon Cycles
Avon brand was established back in 1948 by Pahwa brothers who were based in Indian state of Punjab. Initially the company manufactured cycle saddle and brake. However, soon after it started manufacturing full-fledged bicycles. Pahwa brothers strongly believed that quality came first and manufactured bicycles based on the same.
Their cycles were sturdy and simple. They made these cycles available at a reasonable rate so that people could afford it easily. They maintained the quality and soon went on to become one of the biggest cycle manufacturers in the country.
While initially the brand manufactured simple bicycles to cater to the general public eventually it came up with a wide range of stylish cycles.
Hero Cycles
Hero Cycles was established in the year, 1956. It forms a part of the popular Hero Motors Company. It is known to be one of the largest manufacturers of bicycles not only in our country but around the world. Hero Cycles are loved worldwide.
Hero Cycles’ scale shows in its exports: according to Wikipedia’s company summary, Hero exported to over 70 countries in 2016 and produces about 18,390 cycles per day. In 1986 Guinness World Records named it the world’s largest single producer of bicycles. The older claim of more than 7,000 employees could not be confirmed from a current company source as of September 2026. Hero Cycles makes bicycles at plants in Ludhiana (Punjab), Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and bought the Firefox bicycle brand in 2015.
The company keeps coming up with different stylish range of cycles that become an instant hit. Their Hero Ranger series was one of the most sought after cycle range in the country around a decade back. Their newer range including Hero Sprint and Hero Urban have also gained immense popularity.
Atlas Cycles
Think of bicycle and the first name that pops up in mind is that of Atlas Cycles. It is one of the first and most popular bicycle brands in India. Atlas Cycles was founded in 1950-1951 (sources differ on the exact year) and produced its first bicycle in 1952. Its position has since collapsed: Atlas shut its Sonipat plant in February 2018 and its last major factory, in Sahibabad near Delhi, on June 3, 2020, citing a lack of funds. As of July 2026, Atlas Cycles (Haryana) Ltd reported a net loss of Rs 8.04 crore for FY2025-26, production of 21,838 bicycles, and two pending insolvency applications at NCLT Chandigarh.
Cycle was one of the main means of transport around that time. People used it to travel within their town/city. Shri Janki Das Kapur, the founder of the company, Atlas Cycles started the brand to cater to the needs of the common man of India.
Ever since the inception of this company, their cycles are known for good quality and cost effective price. The company made its place among the leading Indian bicycle brands by 1965.
Atlas also sells sports bicycle and cycles for kids. They continually improvise their range of cycles to meet the latest market standards.
BSA Cycles
BSA cycles are known for their style and sturdiness. BSA is sold in India by TI Cycles of India, the company the Murugappa Group and Tube Investments of the UK set up together in 1949; TI added the BSA brand to its portfolio in 1964, and the partnership proved to be truly fruitful. They manufactured different types of bicycles that were made available across the country at a reasonable rate.
The brand is known for its innovation. According to TI Cycles’ own history, the BSA Ladybird, launched in 1994, was India’s first bicycle designed for girls. India’s first geared bicycle is credited by TI to its sister brand Hercules (the Hercules Topgear, 1998), not to BSA. BSA ladies cycles are quite popular among girls. They come in a variety of colours.
Cosmic Cycles
This is a lesser known bicycle brand in India. Buyer ratings for its cycles vary by model and seller, and its company details could not be independently confirmed from an official source as of September 2026. The company was established in the year 1972 and they have been manufacturing and providing high quality cycles ever since.
It came up with simple range initially and has been improvising their cycles with the advancement in technology. They have a team of highly skilled workers and use the best of tools and techniques to manufacture their products.
Hercules Cycles
Hercules Cycles are known to be stylish and robust at the same time. The brand forms a part of TI cycles. TI brand has its showrooms across the country and sells bicycles to match the budget of different segments of the society.
They came up with Hercules cycle in 1951. Hercules became the first Indian bicycle brand to launch mountain bikes. They boast of manufacturing high quality mountain bikes that can withstand the tough hilly terrain.
Road Master Cycles
Two different brands share this name. Roadmaster in the United States is an American bicycle brand owned by Pacific Cycle, part of the Dutch group Pon Holdings. The Road Master cycles sold in India are marketed by an Indian company, Road Master Autotech Private Limited of New Delhi, and the brand describes itself as entering the Indian market in 2014. The older claim that it sells more than 60 models in India could not be confirmed as of September 2026, so check the brand’s current catalogue. They have exclusive range of bicycles for kids, young girls, women, men and boys. They also have special sports bicycles.
Their cycles are known for their high quality. Among the various bicycle brands available in India, this is one of the best.
Montra Bikes
Montra is the premium bicycle brand of TI Cycles of India (the same company as Hercules and BSA), launched in 2011 with what TI calls India’s first carbon-frame bike. Montra bikes are positioned as reliable and reasonably priced for their segment. They offer a good performance. Different varieties of bicycles have been made available by the brand to match different land surfaces in the country.
They have cycles for the beginners as well as professional riders. Special attention is given to offering a comfortable posture to the riders. These cycles are known for their light weight alloy frames, robust tyres, upright seating position, sturdy metal body and straight handlebars.
With so many amazing bicycle brands available in the market, it can be really difficult to drill down to one. The key is to jot down your specific requirement and pick the one which matches it closely.
Indian Bicycle Brands Compared
The table below summarises who owns each brand in this list and its status as of September 2026, based on company histories, Wikipedia and news reports.
| Brand | Company / group | Origin | Known for | Status (Sept 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hero Cycles | Hero Cycles Ltd, part of Hero Motors Company | Ludhiana, 1956 | Mass-market bicycles; Firefox brand (bought 2015) | Active; describes itself as India’s largest bicycle manufacturer |
| Avon Cycles | Avon Cycles Ltd | Ludhiana, 1948 (saddles and brakes first) | MTB, ladies’, kids’, electric and fat bikes | Active |
| Hercules | TI Cycles of India (Murugappa Group) | First Indian Hercules bicycle, 1951 | India’s first MTB (1992) and first geared bike (Topgear, 1998) | Active |
| BSA | TI Cycles of India (Murugappa Group) | Added to TI portfolio, 1964 | BSA Ladybird (1994), kids’ BSA Champ (1983) | Active |
| Montra | TI Cycles of India (Murugappa Group) | 2011 | Premium and performance bikes | Active |
| Atlas Cycles | Atlas Cycles (Haryana) Ltd | Sonipat, 1950-1951 | Once India’s largest maker | Last major plant shut June 2020; insolvency claims pending (July 2026) |
| Road Master | Road Master Autotech Pvt Ltd (India) | Indian market, 2014 | Kids’ and adult cycles | Separate from US Roadmaster |
| Cosmic | Not independently confirmed | 1972 (brand’s claim) | Budget and mid-range cycles | Details unverified |
Who Owns Hercules, BSA and Montra?
Hercules, BSA and Montra are all owned by TI Cycles of India, part of the Murugappa Group’s Tube Investments of India. TI Cycles was established in 1949 by the Murugappa Group together with Tube Investments of the UK. According to Wikipedia, the company has a manufacturing capacity of around three million bicycles per year, with plants in Chennai, Nashik, Noida and Punjab. According to TI’s history, its portfolio also includes Philips cycles (added 1959), Track and Trail (2008) and Mach City (2015).
Montra Electric, which shares the Montra name, is the group’s electric three-wheeler business and should not be confused with Montra bicycles.
What Happened to Atlas Cycles?
Atlas Cycles was one of India’s best-known bicycle brands for decades, but it has largely stopped mass production. The company began making losses in 2014, closed its Malanpur plant, shut its Sonipat plant in February 2018 and closed its Sahibabad factory on June 3, 2020, which was World Bicycle Day. Management called the Sahibabad closure temporary and said it needed about Rs 50 crore, to be raised by selling surplus land.
In its FY2025-26 results, reported in July 2026, Atlas Cycles (Haryana) Ltd said its revenue from operations fell to Rs 6.9 crore from Rs 17.14 crore and that it made 21,838 bicycles. Buyers who find an Atlas cycle on sale should confirm who is supplying it and how service and spare parts will be handled.
How to Choose a Bicycle in India
The right bicycle depends more on how it will be used than on the brand. Work through these steps before buying.
- Decide the riding type. Roadster cycles suit daily commuting on city roads, MTBs (mountain bikes) suit rough roads and trails, hybrids sit between the two, and kids’ cycles are sized by wheel diameter.
- Get the frame size right. The rider should stand over the frame with both feet flat and reach the handlebar without stretching. Brands publish size charts on their websites; use them rather than guessing.
- Check gears and brakes. Single-speed cycles are cheaper and simpler to maintain; geared cycles help on hills. Disc brakes generally stop better in the wet than rim brakes.
- Look at the frame material. Steel frames are common on budget cycles and are durable; alloy frames are lighter; carbon frames are found at the premium end.
- Test-ride and check service support. A nearby dealer or brand store makes warranty claims, tuning and spare parts much easier.
- Compare current prices. Prices change often and differ between the brand store and online sellers, so check the latest price list rather than relying on older articles.
Best Bicycle Brands for Kids
Most major Indian brands offer children’s ranges. TI Cycles introduced the BSA Champ in 1983, which it describes as India’s first bike for kids, and Avon lists kids’ cycles among its current categories. For young children, choose a cycle with a low standover height, training wheels where needed, and a chain guard. Always pair a child’s cycle with a properly fitting helmet.
Electric Cycles in India
Electric bicycles (e-cycles) are now a mainstream category. Avon lists electric cycles in its current range, and Hero Cycles bought a majority stake in the German e-bike maker HNF-Nicolai in 2019, according to Wikipedia. Readers comparing faster electric models can see this guide to the fastest electric bikes, and anyone weighing a scooter instead can read how to choose an electric scooter in India. If you insure an e-cycle, this explainer covers how to file and claim e-bike insurance.
Cycling for Fitness
A bicycle is also an easy way to add regular exercise to a daily routine. For broader advice, see these health and fitness tips for men over forty and the guide to popular shoe brands in India for comfortable footwear on longer rides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the No. 1 bicycle brand in India?
Hero Cycles is widely seen as India’s largest bicycle brand. Hero describes itself as India’s largest manufacturer of bicycles, and Guinness World Records named it the world’s largest single producer of bicycles in 1986.
Are Hercules and BSA the same company?
Yes. Hercules and BSA are both brands of TI Cycles of India, part of the Murugappa Group. Montra, the group’s premium bicycle brand, belongs to the same company.
Is Atlas Cycles still in business?
Atlas Cycles (Haryana) Ltd still exists as a company, but it shut its last major factory in June 2020. In July 2026 it reported a loss for FY2025-26 and two pending insolvency applications at NCLT Chandigarh.
Is Roadmaster an Indian or American brand?
Both exist. The Roadmaster brand in the US is owned by Pacific Cycle, part of Pon Holdings. The Road Master cycles sold in India come from an Indian company, Road Master Autotech Private Limited.
Which bicycle brand is best for kids in India?
Hero, Avon, BSA and Hercules all sell kids’ cycles. The best choice is the model that fits the child’s height, has reliable brakes and is sold by a dealer nearby for servicing.
How much does a good bicycle cost in India?
Prices vary widely by type, size, gears and seller, and they change often. Check the brand’s own website or a local dealer for the current price of the exact model before buying.
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