Royal Enfield is almost in the middle of legal problems over the launch of Classic 500 Pegasus Edition in India. One owner has filed an RTI with the authorities, asking the government how the brand was able to launch a motorcycle with non-ABS brakes after the strict guidelines of only ABS equipped bikes above 150cc displacement. The launch of Classic 350 Signals has angered the buyers as they claim RE cheated them on the context of giving exclusivity to just 250 riders in the country. Two buyers have dumped their bikes in the garbage while one has returned the bike to the dealership to show the anger associated with the issue.
Anuj Singh, one among the frustrated owners, has filed an RTI regarding the issue with a couple of question. As everyone knows that they had ABS available with them at that moment, the availability was left to 750 international spec units only. He wants the transport ministry to clear when Royal Enfield applied for ABS fitment on bikes that are sold in India, just to clear the fact if they were having everything ready before the launch or got the permission after the 250 units were booked and sold. He is still not able to conclude how Royal Enfield launched a new product, listed it separately on the website and missed ABS from the package.
The bike delivered to Anuj has the hole in its suspension area that comes into action when fitting an ABS system to the front end of a motorcycle. The hole makes the fact sure that international spec models were also made out of the same components. Royal Enfield Pegasus Edition is priced INR 28,000 over regular variants like Stealth Black, Squadron Blue, and Desert Storm. Even the expensive chrome variant is priced INR 20,000 lower than the Pegasus Edition, with a difference of equipment limited to two side bags and their mounts on the latter. Anuj has also released a YouTube video regarding his queries and questions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOg_fou2GE8
RTI MORTH/R/2018/52810
Under the Right to Information Act 2005, Secton 6, I need some information. The details of the information required are as follows;
- Is any ABS fitment approval is taken by Eicher motors Limited / Royal Enfield India for Indian 2 wheeler Royal Enfield bikes from ministry of road transport and highways so Eicher motors Limited / Royal Enfield India can provide ABS features to Indian customers in 2 wheeler bikes.
- When did Eicher motors Limited / Royal Enfield India applied for ABS fitment request in Indian 2 wheeler Royal Enfield bikes to ministry of road transport and highways.
- When did Eicher motors Limited / Royal Enfield India received the approval from ministry of road transport and highways to provide ABS in Indian 2 wheeler Royal Enfield bikes.
- Is there any regulation / notification / restriction from ministry of road transport and highways for Automobile Industries in India that they can not not provide the ABS feature in 2 wheelers / 4 wheelers before the approval from ministry of road transport and highways.
- What is ministry of road transport and highways regulation / notification for Automobile Industries to fix ABS system in 2 wheeler bikes already on road and running without ABS. Is there any time line to retrofit the ABS in 2 wheelers already running on road without ABS.
