Car & Bike Government to make ABS mandatory on motorcycles and scooters in India

AMG said:
What is your logic behind setting this arbitrary limit? #justasking
Click to expand...
Past hazardous experience of over 8 years(~ 50K KMs) in and around Mumbai-Pune. The condition of roads is improving allowing us to drive at higher speeds, I think getting ABS finally makes a lot of sense.
Point to note though, people with enough experience wont feel the need for ABS.

200CC and below are classified as VFM commuter bikes, ABS will increase the cost by a huge margin.
 
So your definion will, by default leave out the Pulsar 200NS(199.8 cc) R15 and CBR150R and Apache 180 and Pulsar 180.

None of them is exactly VFM.

I think anything over 125 cc is enthusiast territory.
 
Not related to bikes but cars, I have no idea when ABS works in a car and how does one know it is working and all.
But can anyone enlighten how to brake if you know your car is ABS Equipped ? And what if it is not, then anything specific to do ?

I am asking because one of the post above says that sometimes accidents happen because driver does not know how to use ABS. I always thought ABS would do its job itself and I would not have to think about it.
 
The ABS prevents the brake from locking up and the vehicle from skidding.

How it does this is that when it detects wheels about to lock up, it releases the brakes on that wheel. As a result you get some pulsing sensation on the brake pedal. People apparently get spooked out by this(although this theory to me atleast, seems far fetched and unbelievable).
 
raksrules said:
Not related to bikes but cars, I have no idea when ABS works in a car and how does one know it is working and all.
But can anyone enlighten how to brake if you know your car is ABS Equipped ? And what if it is not, then anything specific to do ?

I am asking because one of the post above says that sometimes accidents happen because driver does not know how to use ABS. I always thought ABS would do its job itself and I would not have to think about it.
Click to expand...

I'll reply from my limited knowledge about ABS.
ABS means Anti-Lock Brake System. What this means is, when your tyre's lock-up instead of slowing down gradually, the ABS system automatically starts the 'pumping' action to avoid the tyre's skidding. This is how it basically works.

Now when it can get deployed is something I do not know. I would suggest you do not go around testing your car to find out if it has ABS coz you have to drive really crazy to make your car deploy its ABS. Rather read the documentation of the car to check if ABS is included.

For getting ABS mainly the brake assembly and the system that controls it has to be changed, I don't think we get that separately in India.
 
besides cranky, has anyone else on this thread experienced ABS during emergency/panic braking? i.e. ABS kicking in when you are about to die?
 
raksrules said:
I have no idea when ABS works in a car and how does one know it is working and all.
Click to expand...
Criminal said:
has anyone else on this thread experienced ABS during emergency/panic braking? i.e. ABS kicking in when you are about to die?
Click to expand...
I did, its very easy to kick in the ABS when you break hard in gravel. even at speeds like 30kmph. just go to any villege gravel road which does not have bitumin and then jam the breaks.
The ABS releases the break and then locks again and then releases in rapid successions. you get a vibrating feeling on your foot. something like brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

on the other hand I really experience the ABS on hitech city road, I was doing some 100kmph in my swift and one guy jumped in front of me with out looking. I managed to stop the car 1 feet away from him and all I could remember was that my heart was pounding.
 
@booo

So even when you feel those vibrations of ABS pumping the brakes, we should keep our leg hard pressed on the brakes and try to steer the vehicle away from the obstacle ?
 
AMG said:
So your definion will, by default leave out the Pulsar 200NS(199.8 cc) R15 and CBR150R and Apache 180 and Pulsar 180.

None of them is exactly VFM.

I think anything over 125 cc is enthusiast territory.
Click to expand...

I was not being that specific but some of these over 150CC machines do need ABS. If you've driven them you'll realize that they actually need a skid free braking system if driven at moderately higher speeds. Though this can be somewhat taken care of with more stickier tires and a mix of drum + disc brakes.

BTW, are you trying to contradict me or are you trying to add more points to the discussion ?

Also, ABS will add more weight, cost, and more parts leading to increased maintenance cost.
 
i asked for real life experiences because people were just posting BS theories.

when you try to avoid an obstacle at high speeds, you slam the brakes and try to steer away from the obstacle. you will eventually stop but won't be able to steer away from the obstacle. ABS just lets you "skid" with steering control, so that you can avoid the obstacle "while braking."

here, the argument about stopping distance is quite valid as ABS's primary function is not just to stop the vehicle but to release the brakes ever so slightly to allow steering control as well.

ABS will definitely help in avoiding stationary vehicles on the road during night time. but as @cranky pointed out, i wonder how people react to it without proper education? at high speeds, the whole vehicle shudders and the immediate reaction is to let go of the brakes.

most of the indians think ABS will help them in braking effectively. it is not totally right. if they really want something that can help them in not loosing control of the vehicle (as in skidding while cornering) or to help them brake effectively (as in not to skid while braking) then they should be getting vehicles equipped with EBD, ESP, TCS etc.

it's good to know that indian govt is waking up from slumber but the implementation of ABS is useless without adequate driver education. it's a false sense of safety. lot of youngsters think that they can drive much faster on ABS equipped vehicles as they now have more stopping power.
 
The fact is that ABS allows a person to just slam on the brakes and focus on obstacle avoidance instead of adding trying not to lock up the brakes to the equation.

I fail to understand how is this a bad thing?
 
One should know how to use ABS? Come on, Isn't ABS is for people who doesn't know how to apply brake in emergency and panic situations...?
 
AMG said:
I fail to understand how is this a bad thing?
Click to expand...

it's a bad thing when it happens to someone without it's knowledge. i am sure it won't happen to know you. but ask any person on the roadside about ABS. lot of them will give you random theories. those are the people who are going to bang into you someday.
 
Last edited:
Now expect scooty pep with abs. :hilarious:

In future govt. will make mandatory airbags as well for bikes and scooters. :wtf:

....may be windshield as well after 10 years..
 
Criminal said:
the argument about stopping distance is quite valid as ABS's primary function is not just to stop the vehicle but to release the brakes ever so slightly to allow steering control as well
Click to expand...
talking physics, there are two force that help you stop the vehicle... one is the force which converts the KE to heat on the disc at the disc pad area. the second is the contact patch on the tyre and the ground. when you lock the wheel, you are basically turning one function off. i.e., convertion of KE to heat at the disc pad, hence increasing the stopping distance. So, yeah... ABS definitely helps increasing the stopping distance on a decently paved road. gravel and ice is another story though.

actually to compare... the converting to KE to heat is more efficient in stopping than the frictional force between tyre and road. that is why they have petal discs, drilled discs and air ducts directed to the disc to cool it quickly. if the disc gets red hot due to heavy breaking, the effectiveness of breaking is lost since you wont be able to convert the KE to heat anymore.

hope that helps.[DOUBLEPOST=1415605091][/DOUBLEPOST]
raksrules said:
@booo

So even when you feel those vibrations of ABS pumping the brakes, we should keep our leg hard pressed on the brakes and try to steer the vehicle away from the obstacle ?
Click to expand...
most of the times, you tend to steer away instinctively.
 
Criminal said:
besides cranky, has anyone else on this thread experienced ABS during emergency/panic braking? i.e. ABS kicking in when you are about to die?
Click to expand...
I did, and yes it took me by surprise. ABS is a lot more violent than the world 'pulsating' indicates. Plus you will hear the sounds of the valves going 'click click' a couple of times per sec (bypassing the brake pressure), which at the time made me feel like the brakes were broken. Fortunately I stayed on the brakes. Since it was late at night, I found an empty stretch of road and experimented with the ABS a couple of times to get the feel of it and it didn't bother me as much anymore. So yes, it would appear like there's a bit of a learning curve to get comfortable with it.

Bikes with ABS are a different game though, and as mentioned earlier in this thread, being thrown off the bike if your front wheel locks up seems more risky.

Criminal said:
if they really want something that can help them in not loosing control of the vehicle (as in skidding while cornering) or to help them brake effectively (as in not to skid while braking) then they should be getting vehicles equipped with EBD, ESP, TCS etc.
Click to expand...
Most decent ABS systems come with EBD by default. ESP and TCS are more for stability while accelerating/cornering hard. ABS and EBD are more for stability while decelerating hard.
 
Back
Top