Each of these bikes prove that safety and price need not be mutually exclusive



Bikemakers across segments have started implementing ABS (anti-lock braking system) in full swing in the wake of upcoming safety regulations in India. The regulations mandate every two-wheeler above 125cc has to have ABS from 1 April 2019. But due to the price sensitive nature of the Indian two-wheeler market, most manufacturers are opting for single-channel ABS for their bikes. Having said that, there are indeed bikes with a proper dual-channel ABS at an affordable price tag. Here are five of the most affordable dual-channel bikes that you can buy in India.

Honda CBR 250R – Rs 1.94 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)



Honda’s sports-tourer was among the first bikes in India to get dual-channel ABS as an option. In its second coming in India, the CBR 250R still remains the only made in India motorcycle from the Japanese brand to offer dual-channel ABS. Needless to say, the dual-channel ABS makes the CBR 250R an even more potent and safer touring machine. Powering the bike is a 249.6cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC engine that produces 26.5PS and 22.9Nm, and is mated to a 6-speed transmission. Launched in 2018, the updated Honda CBR 250R received an all-LED headlight, new colours and a BS-IV compliant motor. Interestingly, the CBR 250R is also the costliest of the lot when it comes to the price difference between its ABS and non-ABS variant. The non-ABS variant is priced Rs 1.64 lakh, which means you pay 18 per cent more for the ABS variant.

Bajaj Dominar 400 ABS – Rs 1.6 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)



Bajaj’s flagship model offers the option of ABS since the day it was launched and still remains the only dual-channel ABS offering from Bajaj in India. It also consistently outsold its non-ABS variant. In fact, Bajaj recently discontinued the non-ABS Dominar 400 altogether for lack of sales and the upcoming safety regulations. The Dominar 400 ABS is powered by a 373.3cc, single-cylinder, triple-spark, liquid-cooled engine that puts out 35PS of power and 35Nm of torque. The bike features a 6-speed transmission and gets goodies such as an LED headlight, slipper clutch and tubeless radial tyres. For the price it retails at, the Dominar 400 offers great value for money and the inclusion of dual-channel ABS only sweetens the deal further.

Royal Enfield range – Rs 1.52 to Rs 1.81 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)


Royal Enfield has kept the enthusiasm for its bestseller, the Classic 350, alive by periodically introducing new variants. In fact, the Classic 350 Signals Edition was the first Royal Enfield to get dual-channel ABS. Over the last few months, Royal Enfield has swiftly introduced dual-channel ABS on most of its motorcycles sold in India. Currently, the cheapest Royal Enfield motorcycle equipped with dual-channel ABS is the Classic 350 Redditch variant. Royal Enfield also plans to introduce ABS on the standard Classic 350 before the 1 April 2019 deadline. Also, the standard Classic 350 ABS will be more affordable than the Redditch ABS variant. Apart from the Classic 350 Redditch ABS, the Thunderbird 350 ABS (Rs 1.54 lakh), the Thunderbird 350 X ABS (Rs 1.62 lakh), the Himalayan ABS (Rs 1.79 lakh) and the Himalayan Sleet ABS (Rs 1.81 lakh) are other Royal Enfield dual-channel ABS bikes available for less than Rs 2 lakh.

TVS Apache RTR 200 4V ABS Race Edition 2.0 – Rs 1.11 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)



When the Apache RTR 200 4V made its India debut a few years back, we thought TVS should have offered ABS on its then flagship as the RTR 180 already had it. TVS finally addressed the lack of ABS on the RTR 200 4V by introducing the Race Edition 2.0. Like the RTR 180, the RTR 200 also features a dual-channel ABS. It is powered by a 197cc single-cylinder, air- and oil-cooled engine that churns out 20.2PS of power and 18.1Nm of torque. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed transmission. The TVS Apache RTR 200 4V ABS Race Edition 2.0 can hit a top speed of close to 120kmph. It is also available in a non-ABS variant that is priced at Rs 97,000, which means you pay 14 per cent more for the ABS variant. According to us, that price difference is entirely worth the safety net of dual-channel ABS.

TVS Apache RTR 180 ABS – Rs 95,392 (ex-showroom, Delhi)


The bike that started it all - the Apache RTR 180 ABS was the first Indian bike to get ABS (dual-channel or otherwise) along with a rear wheel lift protection feature. And while many other Indian bikes have gone on to receive the life-saving feature since, the RTR 180 continues to retain the title of India’s cheapest dual-channel ABS bike. The Apache RTR 180 is powered by a 177cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that produces 16.6PS of power and 15.5Nm of torque. Transmission duties are handled by a 5-speed gearbox. It gets a 270mm petal disc at the front and a 200mm petal disc at the rear. The Apache RTR 180 is capable of a top speed in excess of 110kmph. TVS also sells a non-ABS variant of the RTR 180 that is priced at Rs 84,578, which means you need to pay just 12.7 per cent more for a dual-channel ABS. This also proves that when it comes to offering affordable dual-channel ABS in India, TVS is head and shoulders above the rest.


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