Safety First: Five Affordable Bikes With ABS Worth Buying
Two-wheelers are the vehicles where there is a need for safety features like ABS.
The Anti-Lock Braking System or ABS is a system that prevents wheels from locking up while braking, which ensures a smooth and skid-free transition to standstill.
Considering the fact that two-wheelers carry a higher risk of mishap than cars, its a no-brainer that a safety feature like ABS is the need of the hour.
Much to everyone’s relief, the Indian transport ministry has mandated that all bikes manufactured after 1 April 2018 have to come fitted with ABS by default. It’s not just the premium bikes, even bikes under a lakh would now have to come equipped with this safety feature.
Here’s a look at five affordable bikes with ABS that are available in the market.
Honda CB Hornet 160
The CB Hornet, when initially launched in 2016, was the replacement for the Honda Unicorn. With a more powerful engine and better looks, the Hornet was considered to be a game-changer for Honda’s two-wheeler business but it didn’t get the desired response from the market.
With the same 162 cc engine as the Unicorn 160, the Hornet is known for its comfortable riding position and the chassis. However, the 5-speed transmission is said to be a bit sluggish and it doesn't have a kill switch.
The bike makes 14.9bhp of power and 14.5Nm torque and gives about 58kmpl mileage.
Price: Rs 81,643 to Rs 1,03,236 (ex-showroom)
Suzuki Gixxer
Launched in 2015, the Gixxer has been a successful bike for Suzuki that, for a long time before this, struggled in the small displacement bikes segment in the market.
The Gixxer is a good looking bike which offers those who’re looking for a naked look, an excellent option in the budget category, apart from the Yamaha FZ and the TVS Apache.
The 154cc engine makes 14.6bhp of power and provides 14Nm of torque.
Price: Rs 76,919 - Rs 93,240 (ex-showroom)
Bajaj Dominar
Launched in early 2017, the Dominar is now a familiar face on the road. The final product was fairly identical to the concept which was showcased earlier.
The bike is powered by a 373cc engine which in turn offers 35PS of power and 35Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed transmission, supported by slipper clutch and chain drive to the rear wheel and is an eye-catching feature of this bike.
For under 1.6 lakh (on-road Delhi), Dominar isn’t exactly an affordable bike but probably only in the sub 2-lakh segment to offer dual-channel ABS variant.
Price: Rs 1.36 lakh (non-ABS variant), Rs 1.5 lakh (dual-channel ABS)
Apache RTR 200 4V
The Apache RTR 180 was the first affordable bike in India to house ABS. The new one takes the trend further, as is the case with the performance. The bike is more powerful than any other motorcycle in the segment.
With the 200cc variant, TVS has given the bike a fresh design, yet not going too far away from the actual Apache design.
The engine provides 20bhp and 18.1Nm of Torque. The bikes can go 32 kilometres in a litre of petrol.
Price: Rs 91,615 to Rs 1,06,415
Hero Xtreme 200R
Looking at the Xtreme 200R, the bike has a typical Hero touch to it. It gets a mix of sharp and subtle features with heavy focus on graphics tapered over the body.
The handlebar has been placed to fit the needs of a regular rider, with DRLs mounted right above the headlamps.
This is Hero's first 200cc bike packing 18.4HP of power and 17.1NM of torque. The single-cylinder air-cooled engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. With these figures the Xtreme 200R does fall short of its rivals but provides a better mileage.
Price: Rs. 88,000 (ex-showroom)
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