150cc to 200cc Motorcycle Sales Report April 2025: Apache Leads, Pulsar Drops, Unicorn Stable
In the dynamic world of motorcycles, the 150cc to 200cc segment continues to be a battleground for manufacturers competing on performance, pricing, and brand value. As the dust settles on April 2025, it’s clear that this mid-range segment is still pivotal in shaping the overall two-wheeler market in India. With a monthly sales volume of 1,49,016 units, the segment posted a YoY decline but managed to register a marginal MoM recovery. This detailed analysis will walk through each brand’s performance, major highlights, and the underlying consumer behavior driving the trends.
Overview April 2025 Sales Summary
The 150cc to 200cc motorcycle segment recorded 1,49,016 units sold in April 2025, which marks a YoY decline of 17.72% compared to 1,81,106 units in April 2024. This translates into a volume drop of 32,090 units on a year-over-year basis.
However, compared to March 2025 sales of 1,47,205 units, the April figures represent a 1.23% month-on-month growth, indicating that while the market is facing challenges, there are still pockets of recovery and resilience.
TVS Apache – Segment Leader with Consistent Performance
At the forefront of this category is the TVS Apache series, which continues to lead the pack with 45,633 units sold in April 2025. This marks a marginal 0.25% YoY increase from 45,520 units in April 2024.
On a MoM basis, Apache recorded 3.21% growth, up from 44,214 units in March 2025. While the growth is not exponential, Apache’s consistent sales performance is a testament to its strong brand identity, refined performance, and value-for-money proposition. The launch of updated variants, aggressive marketing, and positive word of mouth appear to be working in TVS’s favor.
Bajaj Pulsar – Sharp YoY Decline but MoM Rebound
Bajaj Pulsar, once the undisputed king in this space, seems to be struggling to maintain its foothold. April 2025 saw 39,898 units sold, a steep 21.37% decline from 50,739 units in April 2024.
However, the silver lining for Bajaj lies in the MoM growth of 13.99%, with March 2025 figures standing at 35,000 units. This suggests that while yearly momentum has slowed, short-term recovery efforts may be gaining traction possibly driven by regional promotions, updated models, or festival season push.
Honda Unicorn – Stable and Consistent
Honda Unicorn, known for its no-nonsense practicality and refined engine, managed to hold steady in April 2025. Sales grew by 0.49% YoY, moving from 25,889 units in April 2024 to 26,017 units in April 2025.
However, MoM numbers dipped by 11.40%, indicating some softening of demand compared to the 29,365 units sold in March 2025. Unicorn’s appeal remains strong among older and more conservative buyers looking for reliability and comfort over sportiness.
Yamaha’s Troubles – FZ, MT15, and R15 Take a Hit
April wasn’t kind to Yamaha, as most of its key offerings in the 150-200cc category witnessed sharp declines.
Yamaha FZ sold 13,482 units, but improved 16.39% MoM from March’s 11,583 units.
Yamaha MT15 sold 7,025 units, down from 13,359 units YoY (a 47.43% drop) and down 22.58% MoM.
Yamaha R15 was hit the hardest, recording 4,908 units, a sharp 55.97% YoY fall from 11,146 units, and 25.88% MoM de-growth.
These figures hint at possible inventory issues, price sensitivity among younger buyers, or the rising appeal of competitors in the performance and pricing equation.
Honda SP160 – A Mixed Bag of Contrasts
The Honda SP160 recorded a dramatic YoY drop of 57.15%, falling from 8,260 units in April 2024 to just 3,539 units in April 2025. However, on a MoM basis, the SP160 showed a surprising turnaround with 159.27% growth over 1,365 units sold in March 2025.
This roller-coaster performance could reflect stock clearance strategies or dealer-level promotions helping boost short-term sales.
KTM 200 Series – Slowing Down Despite Updates
KTM’s 200cc lineup, which includes models like the Duke 200 and RC 200, saw 1,979 units sold in April 2025. This represents a 33.66% YoY decline, even though KTM recently updated the RC 200 with a new TFT instrument cluster and an updated Metallic Grey paint job to meet new OBD-2B norms.
Despite the enhancements, pricing may remain a hurdle for KTM’s aspirational buyer base in this segment, where practical value often wins over niche features.
Hero Xtreme and Xpulse – Mixed Signals
Hero Xtreme 160R/200 showed promising performance with a 25.98% YoY increase, climbing from 1,447 units to 1,823 units in April 2025. However, MoM sales dipped by 22.13%, indicating erratic demand cycles.
Hero Xpulse 200 struggled, with sales falling 24.69% YoY to 1,455 units, although MoM sales rose modestly by 11.58%.
These two models show that while Hero is making progress in building its portfolio beyond the commuter category, market consistency is still a challenge
Bajaj Avenger – Cruiser Segment Loses Ground
The Bajaj Avenger, a cruiser in a sea of sport-style motorcycles, recorded 1,003 units in April 2025, marking a 32.41% YoY decline and a 9.88% MoM dip. With buyers now gravitating towards sportier designs or adventure-styled offerings, the Avenger’s niche appeal may be losing its shine.
Suzuki Gixxer – Fading Popularity
Once a promising name in this segment, the Suzuki Gixxer clocked 991 units in April 2025, down 29.47% YoY. MoM data also reflected negative growth. The lack of major updates or aggressive pricing could be contributing to Gixxer’s eroding presence.
Honda CB200X and Hornet 2.0 – Modest Numbers, Lower Demand
Honda CB200X sold 560 units, showing YoY and MoM decline.
Honda Hornet 2.0 followed a similar path with 515 units sold in April 2025.
These figures suggest limited traction for Honda’s slightly more premium offerings in a segment where most buyers still prioritize utility and value over style-oriented upgrades.
Kawasaki W175 – Low Volume, Steady Growth
Interestingly, Kawasaki W175, despite being a niche and low-volume product, posted 18.99% YoY growth with 188 units sold in April 2025 compared to 158 units in April 2024. MoM growth was also decent at 18.24%. For a brand that doesn’t cater to the mass market, these steady improvements speak to its appeal among retro-bike lovers.
Segment-Wide Observations and Market Trends
1. Urban Buyer Fatigue
With rising costs of ownership and uncertain macroeconomic sentiments, buyers in urban regions—who are typically the target for 150-200cc bikes—appear more cautious. That’s affecting overall sentiment and leading to tighter monthly budgets and postponed purchases.
2. Transition to Electric Looms Overhead
The growing buzz around electric motorcycles, though still small in volume, is beginning to affect mid-segment ICE sales. As electric models improve their range, pricing, and availability, the 150cc to 200cc segment could be among the first to feel the real shift.
3. Value Over Aggression
Motorcycles like the TVS Apache and Honda Unicorn continue to dominate because they offer a balanced package. Brand trust, fuel efficiency, performance, and price point are all critical, and these models seem to get the equation right more consistently than others
April 2025: Final Rankings (By Sales Volume)
Rank Model Units Sold
1 TVS Apache 45,6332 Bajaj Pulsar 39,8983 Honda Unicorn 26,0174 Yamaha FZ 13,4825 Yamaha MT15 7,0256 Yamaha R15 4,9087 Honda SP160 3,5398 KTM 200 1,9799 Hero Xtreme 160R/200 1,82310 Hero Xpulse 200 1,45511 Bajaj Avenger 1,00312 Suzuki Gixxer 99113 Honda CB200X 56014 Honda Hornet 2.0 51515 Kawasaki W175 188
Apache Dominates, Market Awaits Revival
While the 150cc to 200cc motorcycle segment remains one of the most competitive spaces in India’s two-wheeler industry, April 2025 has highlighted shifting preferences and the impact of economic uncertainty. The TVS Apache continues to dominate with consistency, but the sharp decline in Pulsar, the struggles of Yamaha, and the muted performance of premium offerings show a segment under pressure.
Manufacturers will need to revisit their strategies whether it’s pricing, tech upgrades, financing options, or new launches to sustain interest and reignite volume growth in the coming months.
Disclaimer
This article is based on official sales data and market analysis. It reflects the trends as recorded in April 2025 and is intended for informational purposes. For more such updates, visit Rooh-e-Seemanchal.in.
