90s Kids: These Two Wheelers Will Forever Remain A Part Of Our Childhood Memories

Some two-wheelers hold an immortalised space in our heads and hearts. If you grew up listening to the Hamara Bajaj and "Chal meri Luna jingles, this article will take you down the nostalgia lane.

By Carandbike Team

1 mins read

Published on November 26, 2021

Highlights

The Bajaj Chetak created a revolution for the brand in more ways than one
Yamaha RX100 continues to be a rage among enthusiasts
The Kinetic Honda DX created a stir back with many segment-first feature

These days, spotting a Harley or Ducati motorcycle on Indian roads is common. But what come as visual treats are two-wheelers from the days of yore that have taken a backseat in time. In the nineties, two-wheeler choices were limited to just a few. And so was the budget. There were only so many motorcycles and scooters that raided the road. Let's take a journey in nostalgia with these four two-wheelers that truly defined our childhood. Bajaj Chetak Photo Credit: www.instagram.com Hamara Bajaj was one jingle that changed the scope of things for the brand and the Chetak was one scooter that became an unsaid member of Indian households. First introduced in 1972, it went on to make an impact in the life of every person who existed in the 80s and 90s. In fact, back in the day, when cars were only a far-fetched dream for middle-class Indian households, the Chetak served as the family vehicle, plying two kids and their parents conveniently. It was eventually discontinued in 2009, but the nostalgia has lingered on. So much, that Bajaj recently introduced an electric version of the Chetak. Yamaha RX100 Photo Credit: www.instagram.com The Yamaha RX100 was a rage among college-going youngsters. It was a symbol of being cool with its classy looks and a sweet sounding exhaust. In fact, auto-enthusiasts swear by it to this day and many still buy it at a much higher price just for the sake of memorabilia. The RX100 was launched in 1985 but with the Indian government tightening the environmental rules, the production of the motorcycle stopped in 1996. The fan-following for the motorcycle still exists and the sound of the exhaust still turns heads whenever it passes by. Kinetic Luna Photo Credit: www.instagram.com Back in the 70s, bicycles were the most preferred way of commuting among middle-class families owing to its durability, affordability and low maintenance. The Indian market soon started transitioning to motorcycles that offered speed and convenience but also tested the pockets. Kinetic group, a Pune-based manufacturer, took heed of this gap between motorcycles and bicycles and introduced the Luna. It was the first made-in-India moped that carried a design inspired from bicycles but with a 50cc motor at its heart to reduce effort. The “Luna karti pucca vaada, kharcha kam, mazbooti zyada” was a catch-phrase that sealed the trust of many middle-class buyers. It had a run of almost four decades from 1972 to the early 2000s when new-age affordable motorcycles took over. Kinetic Honda DX Photo Credit: www.instagram.com The Kinetic Honda DX was the first scooter with electric start in India. Built in joint venture between Honda and Kinetic, the scooter was way ahead of its time when it was introduced in 1984. Infact, the Kinetic Honda DX created a revolution in the Indian scooter space with a Vario-matic transmission that eliminated gear-shifting. The manufacturers advertised the fact that it took only Rs 21 per month to fully maintain the motorcycle. This advertisement not only took a dig on rivals but also intrigued the buyers, promising modern features at an affordable price.