All Bikes And Scooters To Get ABS India? - Here’s What We Think About The Proposed Rule

[UPDATE: This decision might get delayed, read more here]

The Transport Ministry has recently approved legislation that would make ABS mandatory in all two-wheelers, starting from January 2026. This is definitely a welcome step, but there will be both positive and challenging consequences down the line. Here’s our opinion on the proposed rule:

Bikes And Scooters To Get Much Safer 

The addition of a ABS or Anti-lock Braking System could drastically improve the safety of motorcycles and scooters. The system prevents the wheel from locking up completely in emergency braking situations, thus preventing the wheel from skidding and potentially avoiding big crashes.

Currently, all bikes above 125cc have to be equipped with at least a single-channel ABS. But now with the new legislation, all bikes and scooters regardless of engine capacity need to have ABS. 

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Implementation Challenges

To implement ABS on all bikes and scooters, drum brakes will have to be phased out. This is because ABS is designed for, and can only work with disc brakes. This means all bikes and scooters will have to get at least a front disc brake for ABS to be implemented, and if the ruling comes into effect, manufacturers have just about six months to come up with a system and also test it before mass-scale production.

As a consequence of adding these components, the prices of bikes and scooters will increase. ABS is a sophisticated system, and this coupled with the installation of a front disc will require changes to the wheel and other parts. So even affordable commuter models could see an increase in their prices, with customers having to pay a premium. That said, most manufacturers will still try to keep costs in check by opting for simpler systems just to comply with the norms. This could mean that most models could only feature single-channel ABS that acts only on the front wheel.

The Impact

The issue with simpler systems is that the ABS intervention is not precise, and even braking with slightly greater force than usual could be enough to trigger the system. When ABS engages, it gradually applies the braking pressure so as to ensure the wheel slows down gradually instead of locking up abruptly. As a result, the stopping distance could increase. 

This can create some problems in emergency braking situations where the rider might slam the brakes, intending to stop as quickly as possible. However in such a situation, a more basic ABS might end up increasing the braking distance, possibly hitting the vehicle in front of the rider.

Another issue is the way the average rider brakes in general. Most riders instinctively slam the rear brakes in the case of an emergency. This is not an effective way to bring the bike or scooter to a halt as the front brake has more braking power, and just using the rear won’t bring the vehicle to a halt as quickly. So, the addition of single-channel ABS might not bring as much of an impact in terms of improving rider safety as a whole.

Incoming Scooter Updates

One aspect that has to be noted about ABS is that they can only be mounted on a sufficiently large disc brake, mounted on wheels that are 12-inches in diameter or above. So scooters that get smaller 10-inch wheels will have to be updated, with bigger ones. Currently there are only two models in the market which feature 10-inch wheels: the Hero Pleasure Plus and the TVS Scooty Zest 110. Both the models haven’t received much updates of late. The implementation of this new safety rule will give both manufacturers a good reason to update these models.

Overall, the legislation is a move in the right direction but it is not a simple one step solution to making roads safer. That can only happen when riders ride responsibly, wearing proper riding gear. In related news, the ministry will also be making it mandatory for manufacturers to provide two ISI-certified helmets with each bike/scooter purchase. This was proposed earlier by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari.