All Bikes & Scooters to Come with Either ABS or CBS from 1 April

The addition of CBS or ABS on two-wheelers will result in a price increase of between Rs 5,000 and Rs 25,000.

All bikes over 125 cc will come with either single-channel or dual-channel ABS.

(Photo: The Quint)

This isn’t an April Fool’s prank. It’s an official deadline that has to be met by all two-wheeler makers in the country. From 1 April all two-wheelers sold in the country have to incorporate either CBS (combined braking system) if they are below 125 cc or ABS (anti-lock braking system) if they are above 125 cc.

This deadline is the reason the last week has seen many dealers offering huge discounts on unsold inventory, to get non-ABS/CBS bikes and scooters out of their showrooms. Regional transport offices (RTOs) can refuse to register vehicles that do not comply with this directive.

So how exactly do these safety systems work? Here’s a quick look.

Combined-Braking System (CBS)

Combined-braking system is mandatory for all two-wheelers below 125 cc. This will ensure that the vehicle has lower chances of skidding due to only one brake (either front or rear) being applied by the rider.

A combined braking system works by equalising the brake force between the front and rear wheels of a two-wheeler. Both brakes will apply even if only one lever is pressed.

The combined-braking system on the Honda Activa.Photo: Honda 2 Wheelers

Here’s how it works. The front and rear brake cables are linked through an equaliser unit, so that even if one brake is pulled, the other also applies, as seen the Honda Activa diagram above.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

All two-wheelers that are over 125 cc have to incorporate an anti-lock braking system. This system ensures that the wheels don’t lock up even on panic braking, which can lead to loss of control.

An anti-lock braking system can only work on vehicles that have hydraulic brakes, as it uses a wheel-speed sensor that modulates the amount of hydraulic pressure on the brake, preventing it from locking a wheel.

As the above video shows, a rider can maintain control of the vehicle even if brakes are jammed, as it prevents the wheel from locking up. Also, this results in a shorter stopping distance, as it prevents aquaplaning especially in wet conditions.

ABS can be of two types: Single channel, where only the front-wheel is equipped with ABS, preventing front-wheel lock up (the primary cause of loss of control) or dual-channel ABS that prevents both wheels from locking up.

Expert off-road riders sometimes prefer not having ABS on the rear wheel, as it allows them to slide the bike to get across turns faster. In such cases, either they get only a single-channel ABS equipped bike or one with switchable-ABS (where the rear ABS can be turned off).

The introduction of ABS and CBS on two-wheelers will result in an increase of between Rs 5,000 and Rs 25,000 across motorcycle and scooter models.