Check ABS or CBS Fitting Before Buying Your New Two-Wheelers

The new BNVSAP rules making few safety features mandatory on all vehicles in India will kick in from April 1, 2019. Now there are reports coming in stating that the regional transport office in Pune has said that dealers and customers will need to ensure the 2-wheeler they are buying has ABS or CBS fitted on to it as per the rules set to come into force from 1 April 2019. As per the new safety laws all two-wheelers sold after 1 April 2019 in India must come equipped with CBS or ABS installed on them as standard. Two-wheelers with engine displacement above 125cc must come equipped with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), while the two-wheelers with engine displacement below 125cc must come with CBS (Combi-Braking System) as standard.

Regarding the new directive of the Pune RTO, here’s what an official spoke,

The system is already present in the new models of two-wheelers. However, the dealers also sell old model vehicles, which don’t have the system. From April 1, it will be mandatory for the manufacturers to ensure that these old but unsold vehicles also have the system. There are many people who are interested in buying unsold old edition two-wheelers from dealers. The dealers will have to ensure that these two-wheelers have the system in place. Checks will be conducted to ensure compliance.

Therefore, the customers are advised to check the standard fitting on the two-wheelers they purchase on or after 1 April 2019 for the presence of a CBS or ABS unit as per the product. This will keep the customer on the safe side of the law and there will be no problems in the registration of the two-wheeler a customer purchases. Although this news may be limited for Pune so far, it is not long before the same may become the norm all across the country.

As far as the importance and working of these new standard features are concerned, take the case of CBS. CBS stands for Combi-Braking System and on a two-wheeler; this system proportionately applies the brakes on both the wheels even when the user only applies pressure on a single brake lever. This not only makes panic braking relatively safer, it also ensures that the 2-wheeler’s stopping distance is reduced and chances of the bike skidding re reduced. Although the CBS technology is relatively safer, it is not as safe and effective as ABS when it comes to braking power and safety as CBS is comparatively cheaper as compared to ABS.

As far as ABS is concerned, it stands for Anti-lock Braking System and is comprised of three major parts –wheel sensors, electronic control unit (ECU), and hydraulic motor with pressure release valves. The sensors constantly work on the wheels and upon finding that the wheel are locking under hard/emergency braking, ECU releases the braking pressure in a manner that simultaneously slows the wheel down while ensuring that the wheel does not locks. This keeps the two-wheeler from skidding and the gives the rider control to steer wheel. Thus, ABS prevents mishaps by using sensors to stop wheel locks and hence skids. Not to mention that ABS provides safety on slippery surfaces as well.

Panic and emergency braking causes the two-wheeler to skid and preventing the same with the help of ABS will lead to the roads of India getting a lot safer in the time to come.