Daily commuting on tight fuel budgets remains the backbone of Indian motoring. For buyers navigating the sub-₹1 lakh price band, every rupee spent at the dealership translates directly into daily operational arithmetic. Five mass-market machines from Hero MotoCorp, TVS Motor Company, and Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India now define this territory, with entry ex-showroom prices starting at ₹59,100 and stretching to ₹83,422.
The mechanical spread is clear. Engine displacements span from 97.2cc entry-level workhorses to a 123.94cc five-speed commuter. While entry options strip away non-essentials to keep showroom billing at rock-bottom levels, higher trims introduce fuel-saving start-stop systems, digital consoles, and front disc brakes.
Price-sensitive fleet operators and rural commuters gravitate toward the bottom tier. The TVS Sport holds the lowest price point in the segment at ₹59,100 ex-showroom. Power comes from a 109.7cc single-cylinder, fuel-injected engine producing 8.08 hp and 8.7 Nm of torque, channeled through a four-speed gearbox. TVS fits the Sport with a 10-litre fuel tank, telescopic front forks, five-step adjustable rear suspension, alloy wheels, and an electric starter. Buyers choosing the higher ES Plus variant pick up a handlebar-mounted USB charging port.
Hero counters directly with the HF Deluxe, priced from ₹60,000 ex-showroom. The motorcycle runs Hero's long-standing 97.2cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine, putting out 7.91 hp and 8.05 Nm of torque. Power transfers through a four-speed transmission equipped with an Integrated Braking System (IBS) to stabilize stopping distances. Hero splits the lineup across kick-start, electric-start, and proprietary i3S idle start-stop versions, with the flagship HF Deluxe Pro variant gaining an LED headlamp and a digital instrument display.
The middle bracket brings enhanced chassis comfort and higher fuel efficiency claims. The TVS Radeon enters at ₹67,100 ex-showroom, borrowing the company's 109.7cc powerplant rated at 8.08 hp and 8.7 Nm of torque. Telescopic front forks and five-step adjustable rear shocks soak up broken roads, while Synchronized Braking Technology (SBT) links the front and rear drum units. Higher variants add tubeless tyres, LED daytime running lights, a digital instrument panel, and an optional petal-disc front brake.
Hero's Splendor Plus commands a higher starting tag of ₹78,474 ex-showroom. It relies on the identical 97.2cc fuel-injected engine seen in the HF Deluxe, delivering 7.91 hp and 8.05 Nm of torque mated to a four-speed gearbox. Hero claims a fuel economy figure of 70 kmpl when operating on E20 ethanol-blend petrol. Standard equipment includes tubeless tyres, an Integrated Braking System, an analogue instrument cluster, and five-step adjustable rear suspension, with the i3S start-stop system offered on select trims.
| Model | Ex-Showroom Price | Engine Displacement | Output (Power / Torque) | Gearbox | Key Hardware |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TVS Sport | ₹59,100 onwards | 109.7cc | 8.08 hp / 8.7 Nm | 4-speed | 10L tank, 5-step rear suspension, USB on ES Plus |
| Hero HF Deluxe | ₹60,000 onwards | 97.2cc | 7.91 hp / 8.05 Nm | 4-speed | IBS, i3S start-stop, digital dash on Pro |
Buyers willing to extend their budget to ₹83,422 ex-showroom cross into the 125cc displacement tier with the Honda Shine 125. The Shine stands alone as the only motorcycle in this cohort equipped with a five-speed transmission. Its 123.94cc fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine generates 10.63 hp and 11 Nm of torque—providing distinct overtaking headroom on open suburban bypasses where 100cc commuters lose steam.
Honda outfits the Shine 125 with an idling stop system to conserve petrol at traffic signals, a fully digital instrument cluster, and a modern USB Type-C device port. Dealerships stock the model in both front drum and front disc brake configurations.
Market Context: Commuter buyers face a trade-off between purchase cost and performance. The TVS Sport and Hero HF Deluxe minimize initial financial friction, while the Honda Shine 125 delivers five-speed mechanical flexibility for mixed highway routines.
City-wise pricing varies across states depending on local municipal taxes, road tax levies, and mandatory insurance premiums. Dealership deliveries across all five models remain open nationwide.
| TVS Radeon | ₹67,100 onwards | 109.7cc | 8.08 hp / 8.7 Nm | 4-speed | Synchronized Braking, LED DRLs, optional disc |
| Hero Splendor Plus | ₹78,474 onwards | 97.2cc | 7.91 hp / 8.05 Nm | 4-speed | 70 kmpl E20 claim, tubeless tyres, 5-step rear shocks |
| Honda Shine 125 | ₹83,422 onwards | 123.94cc | 10.63 hp / 11.0 Nm | 5-speed | Fully digital dash, USB Type-C, front disc option |