Top 5 features to look out for in budget motorcycles

Top 5 features to look out for in budget bikes

Gone are the days when motorcyclists had to shell out top dollar to get access to sophisticated technology. Modern day features, which were once reserved just for high-end motorcycles, have now started to filter down to budget motorcycles and we can see several manufacturers offering creature comforts on ground level models in their attempts to attract the masses. Here are five features that you should look out for while buying a new motorcycle.

ABS

Anti-lock brakes, better known as ABS, is a safety feature which prevents a motorcycle’s wheels from locking up, whenever the application of brakes leads to a loss of traction in either wheels. The ABS system works in conjunction with the braking hardware of the motorcycle, controlling the amount of braking force sent to the wheels with the help of electronic sensors. This prevents the motorcycle wheel from locking up (for instance, during a panic stop situation), significantly reducing the probability of an accident. While still racers prefer to junk this piece of safety feature on their racing machines, it is a very handy feature for sane road-going motorcyclists.

Fuel Injection

In essence, a fuel-injection system is a modern computer-controlled iteration of a carburettor. It dynamically determines the amount of fuel that is to be allowed in the engine, with the help of the readings from the various sensors located on the motorcycle. Unlike a carburettor, a fuel-injection system can actively adjust the air-fuel mixture. It will keep the air-fuel mix lean when you are cruising and then suddenly make it rich when you whack open your throttle to go fast. This control over the air-fuel mix improves the throttle response of the engine, while reducing the emissions. Cold starts are simpler as you no longer have to pull the choke and wait for the engine to warm up during winters. For those who wish to go faster, a fuel-injection system also opens up opportunities to tinker with mapping of system.

Monoshock

As conventional dual springs have two points of contact with the unsprung mass of the motorcycle (read, the wheels), the variable forces exerted on each spring limits the cornering abilities of a motorcycle. A monoshock on the other hand, allows the load to be focussed on a single point load on the swingarm, which has several advantages. The focus on a single point improves stability while the motorcycle passes through undulations as well as during cornering. Also, the centralisation of mass improves the load distribution and the shock absorption functions of the suspension, leading to confidence inspiring ride and handling characteristics. Besides, a monoshock looks way cooler than dual springs. Modern day monoshocks come with the option to tinker with the preload settings, further improving the adaptability of the suspension.

Projector headlamp

While the aesthetic advantage of a projector headlamp in itself is enough to convince buyers to opt for a specific motorcycle, this feature has its own set of functional advantages too. The elliptical reflectors in the projector headlamps help get a focused beam and reduce the scatter loss of the light beam. Engineers also have the freedom to position the light beam to optimise the setup for night riding. 

Digital console

While some might argue that a digital console is more of a luxury rather than a necessity, there is nothing wrong in expecting a digital console even in a budget motorcycle. A digital console is a lot easier to read and in many cases more accurate than its analogue counterpart. Besides, a digital console offers the option to feed you more data through different menus, despite being compact in proportions. By switching between the screens, a rider can choose to stick to the functions that he needs, discarding the rest of the unnecessary information. Modern digital consoles integrate a number of functions including the speedometer, tachometer, clock, fuel gauge, odometer, trip meters and service reminder.