[rakesh_r]

As per CarToq, RE has started the production of the Himalayan with the ABS. The ABS variant ones will be sold in the European markets initially before making its way to the Indian market which as per the article is somewhere around second half of 2018. This Himalayan, with the ABS was much awaited.
http://www.india.com/auto/bike-news/...in-2018-33550/

[Omkar]

Originally Posted by rakesh_r

As per CarToq, RE has started the production of the Himalayan with the ABS. The ABS variant ones will be sold in the European markets initially before making its way to the Indian market which as per the article is somewhere around second half of 2018. This Himalayan, with the ABS was much awaited.

Awaited indeed.

The ABS mandate on existing bikes is from April 2019 as per the article. It's good to see that RE is launching the ABS variant in Indian market earlier than its deadline. This will help to clear out the stock and avoid a confusion like the BSIV transition. Hoping that other manufacturers get their ducks in line before the ABS transition.

A premium of 10-15k on ABS bikes seems reasonable. Will this eventually lead to heavy discounts in 2019 during the transition for clearing stocks in the 2-wheeler market?

[Gordon]

Is the ABS mandate enforced? Since I hear that RE is launching the Thunderbird X models without ABS anytime soon.

[drive_angry]

Finally some value add to the motor bike instead of just changing colors and relaunching it as a brand new product. Any idea if the ABS going to be a single channel or dual one? But having an ABS is any day better than having a drum brakes we see on standard 350 😔

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by Gordon

Is the ABS mandate enforced? Since I hear that RE is launching the Thunderbird X models without ABS anytime soon.

If they launch it before April 2018 - they have time till April 2019 to introduce ABS.

Originally Posted by drive_angry

Finally some value add to the motor bike instead of just changing colors and relaunching it as a brand new product.

Guess you didn't notice the dates. Rumour was from November. And the recently relaunched Himalayan Sleet doesn't get ABS.

[Gordon]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

If they launch it before April 2018 - they have time till April 2019 to introduce ABS.



Guess you didn't notice the dates. Rumour was from November. And the recently relaunched Himalayan Sleet doesn't get ABS.

Oh damn. My bad. All this while I thought it was April 2018. Have been waiting for the Himalayan ABS and made up my mind that I'll book it once it launches this April......

Still torn between the Himalayan FI and the KTM 390.

[rideon74]

These speculations are not worth our time, folks. We know this for a fact.

They'll send out their products with ABS as and when it becomes absolutely illegal to continue in the present manner.

The only relief for consumers in this whole 'when-when' suspense drama is that RE has to offer retro-fitment of ABS to models sold prior to April 2018 or 19 or whatever the law has actually dictated.

Obviously, that leaves RE pretty safe to maintain status quo on what they send out till the April deadline.

But then, this tactic is expected, isn't it?

Heck, why bother about important customer safety measures or sensitive product value additions when they've still got healthy booking figures going on?

Finally, the law (passed a year or two ago) will make it mandatory to make the changes. So they'll make the changes, up the pricing, slap a longer waiting period on the updated version, lean on to the increased booking numbers and just keep on selling. Smiles all around.

A huge win for corporate India. Huge relief to the Indian motorcyclists. And life goes on in our country. 😀

Pardon the rant of a long time Himalayan lover who gave up waiting for ABS inclusion and booked the BS4 version two weeks ago - leaving the rest to the (possible) retro-fitment of the same...some day.

[The Great]

Originally Posted by rideon74

Heck, why bother about important customer safety measures or sensitive product value additions when they've still got healthy booking figures going on?

While I agree to the point you are trying to make sir, but on the other hand the majority of customers also don't care about the safety or environment issues too.

We saw the mad rat race during the BS3 versions shutting down and there was a downpour of people trying to get their hands on the discounted vehicles being sold.

Lack of education from the core accounts to this whole scenario. The companies are not alone to be blamed, they will cash in with the herd mentality. That is why ABS and Airbags are still offered by many vehicle companies as an option and not mandatory.

The foreign markets are taken very seriously because their priorities are sorted and they are well informed, hence the companies have to be on their best to deliver there.

On a positive note, even though a handful but the safety conscious lot like our forum members are increasing day by day. Hence slowly but steadily we are being taken seriously by the companies. Hoping for the best

[rideon74]

Originally Posted by The Great

On a positive note, even though a handful but the safety conscious lot like our forum members are increasing day by day. Hence slowly but steadily we are being taken seriously by the companies. Hoping for the best

A very good point noted there, sir. The prevailing scenario is quite akin to mice playing to the piper, isn't it?

So what's the way forward? A reluctant but inevitable paradigm shift - a domino effect. Laws passed a decade late, manufacturers (reluctantly) imbibing the norms & the masses (reluctantly) accepting the extra cost burden for their own safety's sake.

One has to mention here, when it comes to foreseeing the future and acting proactively, Bajaj has served as a commendable example with the Dominar's features.

Yes, RE is (reluctantly?) taking consumer feedback seriously and making amends, let's not hold our breath though. It would go against the 'character' we so (reluctantly) love 😀

[rideon74]

While we are on the topic of ABS on a off-roader like the Himalayan, I just wanted to add that if the system does not have an ABS-off mode, it would do more harm than good when off the tarmac.

ABS, as we know it, is designed to keep the wheels from locking up. Locked up wheels can cause straight-line skids with reduced stopping distances or fish-tailing - both of which may have disastrous consequences.

But such a scenario pertains to tyres on tarmac - only.

It is a different case altogether when tyres are running on loose gravel or sand.

Sand and gravel under the tyres would act like tiny ball bearings when you grab the brakes. As a result there will be very little friction/traction between tyres and the ground.

Say we are coming in fast into a corner and then the edge of a cliff. We would brake hard, actually wanting the back wheel to lock up immediately in order to drift into the corner using the traction generated, and try to slide to a halt.

But here the ABS would keep us from doing so.

So now we would keep rolling for too long and our stopping distance is going to be that of a container ship.

All this, in just a couple of seconds - but too long to be safe. One might even slide off the edge of that cliff!

I'm hoping RE would have considered this aspect when it includes the ABS system, since the Himalayan was designed primarily to serve as an off-roader.

If it eventually arrives in an always-on ABS avatar, that would be a big bummer to those who do serious off-roading.

[ArizonaJim]

I don't know anyone, riding on pavement or dirt that would want to lock up their front wheel for any reason except to throw the bike down on its side.
For those among you who don't know, the instant a front wheel locks up the wheel will skid to the side and throw the motorcycle down, tossing the rider some distance. A most unpleasant experience for both body and machine.
I don't know of anyone who would intentionally want to throw their motorcycle on its side and themselves on their shoulder or head.

Now, the rear wheel on dirt is a different matter.
It is often temporary locked up to allow the rear of the bike to "kick out" and facilitate making a fast change of direction.

IMO, ABS's ability to keep the front tyre from locking up can be advantageous to both pavement riders and dirt riders.
Hopefully, Royal Enfield recognizes this and is only using the ABS on the Himalayan's front wheel or, if it works on both front and rear wheel, there will be a switch that can be flipped to turn off the rear wheel ABS control.

[Red Liner]

The only reason we dont want ABS offroad is for the rear, so that we can lock it and slide.

Absolutely nothing else.

Which is why the upcoming xpulse with rumoured single channel abs only for the front seems appropriate.

[techfreak]

Himalayan sold abroad comes with Dual channel ABS so I presume it will be switchable.

[rideon74]

Yup. Launched in UK yesterday with dual channel ABS - I presume the same will be offered to us too. I'm just they will make retro fitting the system as painless as possible, since the regulations require such a facility for the consumers.

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by rideon74

I'm just they will make retro fitting the system as painless as possible, since the regulations require such a facility for the consumers.

Wrong sir. Regulations do NOT warrant retrofitting.