[The Great]

Great news !!

Finally, the road transport ministry has issued a draft which specifies that two-wheelers in India must get ABS as a standard feature. Not just ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), but even CBS (Combined Braking System) will have to be provided on two-wheelers.

The government has issued timelines on which all two-wheeler manufacturers must comply with the required changes.

ABS on new bikes compulsory from April 2017
ABS on existing bikes compulsory from April 2018
CBS on new bikes compulsory from April 2017
CBS on existing bikes compulsory from April 2018

The downside to this decision is that these safety features will be mandatory on motorcycles & scooters only above 125cc. While higher capacity two-wheelers might need this the most, 100cc – 125cc two-wheelers are sold in much larger numbers here in India and they will continue to be vulnerable on the streets due to the lack of these safety features.

Last year, 32,524 lives were lost while over 1.27 lakh commuters were injured in two-wheeler accidents in India.

The government is hoping that with these safety features coming as standard, the number of two-wheeler accidents will significantly reduce.
Expect pricing of these ABS & CBS equipped models to be bumped up by a fair margin from 2017 onwards.

Draft Notific ref ABS fitment on Motorcycles_31 Augut 2015.pdf

Source

[pratyush6]

Not to sound like an old broken record.. but we are very very far away from this day in India. Our two wheeler companies will whine about it so much about reduced margins that this will never see the light of the day.

Good thoughts, but will not work. Look at what has happened with the Cars. Auto Industry has huge clout in India.

And lastly, I hope I am wrong.

[sdp1975]

Better late than never, but the government has to do it's bit to reduce the associated price increase while making ABS mandatory. The industry had previously asked for tax exemption on ABS/Airbags , a demand that wasn't conceded.

The excise+VAT+road tax on safety components does bring up the OTR prices.

[SunnyBoi]

I won't be surprised if bike folks release "new" *performance* bikes pegged to 124cc just to bypass these rules.

[technicalytuned]

Originally Posted by The Great

Great news !!



Source

It has been only announced so Automobile companies might postpone it to 2020 citing issues of costly ABS components which might lead to their customers preferring BICYCLES over bikes which will result in loss of sales or companies might come with some alternative ABS systems like mechanical ABS only for front tyres (like Pulsar RS200)

Announcement is Only for bikes and not cars.
I think for car ABS will be mandatory by 2020 (Good progress government of India) and according to the progress I think so by 2030 ESP will become mandatory and by 2040 Airbags will become mandatory for every cars sold in India.

[hybridpetrol]

Originally Posted by SunnyBoi

I won't be surprised if bike folks release "new" *performance* bikes pegged to 124cc just to bypass these rules.

In that sense, most bikes that are advertised as 125cc are actually running with displacement around 124 only already. All these would be exempt from the rule.
Bikes with 135cc can be discontinued as they were never been best sellers.
So bikes of 150+ only will be qualified for this rule. When they introduce these safety features we shouldn't be surprised if the OTR prices touch the 1 lakh mark. (Already many 150cc bikes cost 80k OTR)

[Viju]

(1) The Government has issued only a Draft notification. Now, it will receive the response from other involved parties (OEMs, suppliers, regulatory agencies etc) and make the actual declaration. The thread title is a bit misleading.

(2) The proposal is to make mandatory:
- CBS on two wheelers upto 125cc (Combined Braking System as seen in most Honda two wheelers in India). Deadline for new models - April 2017, Deadline for existing models - April 2018.
- ABS on two wheelers above 125cc (Antilock Braking System as seen in many Indian two wheelers such as Pulsar RS200, TVS Apache 180 etc). Deadline for new models - April 2017, Deadline for existing models - April 2018.

The reason that ABS is impossible to be mandated to two wheelers below 125cc (apart from the question of whether such small capacity machines need it) is that they almost always do not come with a disc brake (ABS needs hydraulic brakes to function).

On the other hand, having used Honda two wheelers with CBS, I am pretty sure that it is an effective way to avoid wheel locking on small capacity two wheelers ridden by inexperienced riders.

And although I understand the cynicism towards any such declarations made by the Government, as a development engineer for motorcycle ABS, I know for a fact that manufacturers are in fact planning their new model projects according to these target dates given in the draft.

So let us all hope this becomes a reality!

Cheers

[Piyadassi]

Though a step in the right direction but how much statistical difference it is going to make in road accidents, I have my doubts.

Typical sarkari approach. At least it will make a point in the steps they have taken to make roads safe at the time of reckoning.

Still better than not doing anything at all!

[pikaxe123]

Good news, it's about time these norms are also passed and mandated for cars. Airbags & abs for starters along with ultra safe non compromised shell structure (recent grand i10 fiasco). Apart from the abs in bikes its should be made compulsory for both rider and pillion to wear helmets (some cities do have such laws). Especially when a bike is rear ended the pillion bears the maximum brunt until. The governance for road and transportation laws are in grey. Somebody should write them in b&w. Cheers !

[ArizonaJim]

While the suggested mandate for ABS on new motorcycles over 125cc will just increase the price for anyone buying them, the suggestion that the law will be retroactive as of April 2018 is going to put most, if not all of you riders motorcycles into the junk pile.

There is no inexpensive way to add ABS or CBS to most of the motorcycles on the road today.
As was mentioned, the lack of disk brakes on a motorcycle makes ABS impossible.
Likewise, all of the cable or mechanical operated drum brakes are unsuited to adding CBS.

Personally, I consider CBS to be a danger, not an asset on a motorcycle.

As good riders know, while the front brake is the best one to use as a primary brake, under some very common conditions like wet streets, dirt riding, sand on the road etc., the rear brake becomes the primary brake.
With CBS, the motorcycle (which has no idea of the road conditions) is set up to apply both the front and rear brakes in a constant manner at all times.

All in all, both of the proposed retroactive laws are very poor ideas that will cost the motorcycle community trillions.

[aargee]

That provokes a question in my mind for a long time...is HMSI lobbying the Govt? Even if the nation's switch over from 2S to 4S is all factors combined, but this one?

[Viju]

Originally Posted by ArizonaJim

While the suggested mandate for ABS on new motorcycles over 125cc will just increase the price for anyone buying them, the suggestion that the law will be retroactive as of April 2018 is going to put most, if not all of you riders motorcycles into the junk pile.

ArizonaJim, you seem to have misunderstood the wordings in the draft. There is not going to be any retrofitment on existing two wheelers, and hence nothing needs to go into the junk pile.

The meaning of 'new' models in this case are the new models which will undergo Type Approval. These models will not be given Type Approval for mass production from April 2017 if they do not have CBS / ABS fitted on them.

The 'existing' models will be the ones which obtained Type Approval before April 2017, but continue to be in production till / beyond April 2018. These will be have to be fitted with CBS / ABS to be allowed to be on sale post the deadline.

Regarding CBS, we are talking about very small capacity motorcycles and scooters below 125cc. There is a peculiar habit among Indian riders (especially in this lower displacement class), that the riders almost always apply only the rear brakes. May be it is the complete lack of rider training, or may be the fear of applying front brakes - but this is a fact. And such a rider, in an emergency, if grabbing the front brake / rear brake / both brakes, is any day better off with a CBS which will reduce the chances of wheel lock at either axle. These are not riders who will go corner carving.

Overall, I think this is a great proposal which is going to add a LOT to the traffic safety in a market like India.

aargee, HMSI has nothing to gain by lobbying for this rule. This is only an extension of the ABS/CBS rule becoming mandatory globally.

[rakesh_r]

How is one going to fit ABS on existing bikes?I have cl500 that has only front disc brakes.Has the government thought on this?

[aniketi]

Great move in my opinion. The number of fatal accidents happens in India every year are huge and number of two wheelers invovled is major factor in that. This move is a very welcome move for sure.

"All models of two-wheelers need to be fitted with anti-lock braking system (ABS) and combined braking system (CBS) by April 2018. The road transport ministry has issued a draft notification specifying the dates for compliance of these norms in its bid to reduce crashes and deaths involving two-wheelers by improving the braking system.

Riders of two-wheelers are the most vulnerable road users. Last year 32,524 lives were lost involving these vehicles and over 1.27 lakh persons were left injured. ABS generally improves control over the vehicle and decreases stopping distances on dry and slippery surfaces. Due to fear of a locked wheel, riders often don't apply the brake fully even in emergency situations, which contributes to higher number of crashes. ABS can avoid the accident or reduce collision speed significantly.

As per the draft rules, fitting ABS would be mandatory for all vehicles having more than 125 cc engine, which will cover majority of bikes and scooters. While the deadline for all new models is April 2017, the existing vehicles must comply with the norm from April 2018. CBS is a system for linking front and rear brakes on a motorcycle or scooter. In this, the rider's action of depressing one of the brake levers applies both front and rear brakes. The amount of each brake applied is determined by a proportional control valve.

Ministry's notification has set April 2017 as the deadline for fitting CBS in all new models of two-wheelers having less than 125cc engine. In the case of existing models, the manufacturers have to do so from April 2018 onwards."

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...w/49031146.cms

[AWD]

Had posted the info. here:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...ml#post3806267