At the Forefront in Development and Innovation

Bike India had an opportunity to interact with Prabhu Panduranga, Regional President (Gasoline Systems) at Bosch India, and find out more about the German tech and component major’s future in the world of two-wheelers

Bosch have had anti-lock braking system (ABS) technology for decades now. How much has it evolved over time? Prabhu Panduranga (PP):

Bike India (BI):

From the early days of motorcycle ABS, which was a direct derivative of the passenger car unit, we have come a really long way. The introduction of the Bosch ABS9 series in 2009 was a big step in the evolution of the motorcycle ABS wherein the first “made for motorcycles” ABS was introduced. We also introduced the single-channel ABS system specifically for emerging markets for bikes with a single front disc. Today the Generation 10 ABS from Bosch is again a benchmark in the industry, weighing in at less than 500 grams and offering superior performance to riders all over the world.

ABS is being made a safety mandate for two-wheelers above 125 cc in India soon. Will economies of scale help make it more affordable given the increased production? PP:

BI:

The legislation for ABS will definitely provide a big boost to the volumes for ABS in the Indian market. We have already announced that we will be locally manufacturing motorcycle ABS at our Chakan facility. Our aim is to provide safety to the entire Indian riding community in an affordable manner.

BI: Overseas, larger bikes are being offered with Cornering ABS. Are you working with any of the Indian bike makers to offer it on any future models?

PP:

The current focus for our Indian customers is to introduce the ABS on their platforms. There are a few international models that offer higher end functionality like MSC (Motorcycle Stability Control). Once the market matures with ABS technology, we will surely see our OEMs stepping up to more advanced technologies like MSC.

BI:

KTM’s 1190 Adventure is also offered with Motorcycle Stability Control, allowing very advanced electronic assistance. Which other models are next in line to receive this feature?

PP:

There are several manufacturers who are offering MSC currently, including Ducati, BMW, and Kawasaki, etc. Some of these models are also available in India. We cannot, however, comment on specific OEM plans for future introduction. This should be done by our customers as per their launch strategy.

BI:

Bosch also have hill-hold assistance for large motorcycles such as the BMW K Series. Are there any more revolutionary technologies that we may expect for two-wheelers? PP:

Bosch are at the forefront in development of innovative technologies to improve a motorcycle’s safety, comfort and efficiency. Besides Hill-Hold Control, Bosch have introduced various