The BS6 emission norms will kick-in from April 1 2020. And with the deadline almost here, a lot of you are in two minds about whether to buy a new two-wheeler now or wait till the end for huge discounts; something similar to what happened during the transition to BS4 norms. With confusion aplenty, we help you decide the best time to buy a new motorcycle.
BS6 Norms All you need to Know
India will fully adopt the stricter BS6 emission norms – a transition that can be termed as the biggest technological leap the country’s auto industry has taken towards clean air. The shift, by skipping BS5, has not only happened in record time – around three and a half years – but also under great pressure, as both the oil companies and the auto industry worked relentlessly to prepare in time for the challenging deadline of April 2020.
However, not all automakers have managed to make this transition fast enough, resulting in many models and power trains being phased out. It has also entailed a significant cost, one that will inevitably be passed on to the consumer. Naturally, the talk surrounding the shift has raised many questions and left many bike buyers flummoxed. But we’ll break it down and tell what you need to know.
What are the major types of pollutants?
Internal combustion engines (ICEs) are primarily notorious for the production of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). Particulate matter (PM), or carbon soot, is another by-product of diesel as well as direct-injection petrol engines.
What will be the impact on performance and fuel efficiency?
Moving to more stringent emission norms posts challenges for automakers in more ways than one. Lowering exhaust emissions generally results in a penalty on performance and fuel efficiency. So not only do Motorcycles manufacturers have to minimise pollution, they also have to proactively work towards retaining the vehicles’ drive ability.
Cleaner engines generally employ a slower combustion process. Additionally, exhaust after treatment systems increase back pressure on the engine and some of these systems, like particulate filters and NOx traps, have to periodically undergo regeneration. It is also understood that the process to reduce sulphur content in diesel can negatively impact the energy content of the fuel. These factors collectively tend to take a toll on the vehicle’s performance and efficiency.
Should I buy BS6 or BS4 Bajaj bike?
With confusion aplenty, we help you decide the best time to buy a new Bajaj motorcycle.
Discounts and offers on BS4 Bajaj Bikes
While most manufacturers have slowed down or completely shut down production of BS4 models, there is still an inventory of motorcycles that have been dispatched to dealers. And given that no BS4 vehicle can be registered post March 31 2020, brands like Kawasaki, BMW and Triumph are offering massive discounts on their products. Meanwhile, KTM, Hero and Harley-Davidson are wooing customers with easy finance schemes and exchange offers. Honda is offering cash savings up to Rs 9,500 on its 110cc-250cc range including the recently launched Activa 125 Fi.
However, most of these discounts and offers are valid till the end of this year so you might want to hurry!
Other manufacturers like Bajaj and Royal Enfield haven’t officially begun offering discounts yet. Nevertheless, we expect offers and discounts to roll out soon before the introduction of their first BS6 models.
Price Hike – After Introduction of BS6
With the introduction of BS6, the price of motorcycles will increase significantly, due to the increase in manufacturing costs. While the price hike would be marginal in models with fuel-injection, other motorcycles and scooters are expected to see a hike of up to 15 per cent.
How much of a difference does BS6 bring?
The BS6-compliant motorcycles and scooters are expected to be more refined courtesy the revised fuelling setup. It will also run cleaner and is likely to be more efficient. But all of this will come at the cost of performance. Every BS6-compliant motorcycle and scooter launched yet, whether it is the Activa 125 Fi or the Yamaha R15 V3 has seen a dip in power output. Manufacturers could bump up the engine displacement to solve the issue of performance but that would only increase development cost and therefore, price. On the bright side, to compensate for the extra pricing, brands will offer extra features, updated mechanicals and refreshed styling.
What will happen to BS4 bikes after 2020?
In a recent ruling, The Supreme Court has ruled that BS4 vehicles will not be sold after March of 2020 when the BS6 norms are put in place. The BS (Bharat Stage) norms are based on EURO (European) emissions standards. In 2016, the government of India decided to skip BS5 altogether and implement BS6 by the year 2020.
So this ban is on upcoming vehicles to be sold by 2020 and it has nothing to do with vehicles being used by common public, so we don’t have to worry about it at all.
If you have already purchased a BS4 Bikes before April 2020 then you need not worry it will remain valid till its end of life.
So, if you are planning to buy Bajaj Bikes at Noida/Ghaziabad. Search on the Internet by “Bajaj showroom In Noida”, you will find Kay Dee Bajaj– best Bajaj dealer and showroom at the top of the list. As mentioned before we are situated conveniently at a short walking distance from the Electronic city metro station. If you need any further information, assistance or have a query do not hesitate in contacting us.