Difference between BS4 and BS6 Motorcycles

BS6 is a term that every Indian is hearing nowadays as the automobile industry is putting all it can to comply to the new Indian emissions standards. With BS6 doing rounds around the market, what exactly is it and why does India need such a law? How is it different from previous and running BS4 and how is it going to affect the market and its consumers? This article tries to walk you through the same.
BS6 stands for Bharat Stage Emission Standards and aims at reducing the pollutants caused by vehicles. The current BS4 emission allows 80mg/km of Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) which will be brought down to 25% by BS6 putting the numbers at 60mg/km.
To attain the same, moto companies need to either upgrade their engines or their existing exhaust filters or catalytic converter. We can already see certain companies changing the above mentioned parts or components of the vehicles so that they do not have an excess stock beyond the deadline of 31st March 2020. Please note that the government has strictly laid down rules that they will no longer register BS4 vehicles 1st April 2020 onwards. This means that companies need to empty their stock before April or massively upgrade it to comply with the BS6 norms.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BS6 AND BS4 VEHICLES:
Currently running BS4 engines are not as old as one would think, as they come into existence from April 2017 onwards. The major improvement BS4 saw was switching off of the headlights from manual to automatic. Each and every Bharat Stage Emission Standard upgrade saw one thing or the other. Prior to this, right hand gears on bike were banned and cast iron engines were bid goodbye to welcome the new Unit Combustion Engines (UCE).
Talking about the engine aspect, the difference between the two is going to be huge. BS6 engines need to be a lot smoother and refined in order to cut off emissions. Also they will be quieter thanks to the catalytic converter added to the machine. This means that your existing bullet won’t dug dug like it used to and also you may feel a lack of power running from your mill.
BS6 doesn’t mean a weaker engine but a more refined and smoother engine. This may make you feel a bit redundant but the torque and power remains the same so does the bhp. Also you will notice that the usual thump or vibration you are used to has been toned down.
Price is also an important factor to consider before making a purchase. The new BS6 compliant vehicles could hike up the price by 20%. New technology means new parts and more price. The new emission norms ditch the carburettor for more fuel efficient and less emissions Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) system.

BS4 OR BS6?
Talking about the difference between the two, one needs to consider various factors which are going to make an impact while purchasing the vehicle. Given below are the details you need to keep in mind while buying your future bike.
Starting with the price factor, the BS4 engines are cheaper than its BS6 counterparts. The prices are due to the existing materials that get manufactured in the running assembly line along with the stocks piled up with both manufacturers and retailers. Also many BS4 bikes use carburettor as its fuel injection as opposed to mandatory Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) in BS6.
Moving ahead to the technological aspect, BS6 beats BS4 as it is newer and more refined along with a quieter engine sound and that makes a lot of difference on your riding quality. But with more parts come more maintenance and that will add up your after sale costs. Also if you are the one who does not believe in getting your bike serviced from the authorised service station and trusts your local mechanic more, chances are high your mechanic will too find difficulties as they might not understand or will need some time to adapt to this new technology.
Thirdly the riding quality on each of the said engines are different. BS6 gives you a smooth and refined riding whereas BS4 leans towards raw riding pleasure.
Concluding with the emission saga, BS4 might not be renewed once its expired but BS6 models stand a chance to live longer.

OTHER FACTORS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
BS4 vehicles cannot be registered after 31st March 2020, this means that if there is stock lying with dealers, they will have to transfer it on their name and sell it as second hand. This means you will be able to get as good as new vehicles for an even cheaper price.
Also with the new norms there are a lot of companies coming up with various new models to look out for. To name a few are the Royal Enfield Meteor, Yamaha FZS-25, a new BS6 compliant Suzuki Gixxer and more.
If you love the current charm of riding, the new vehicles might not promise the same. With a few BS6 compliant vehicles already roaming on the roads, this is the perfect time for you to hop on the seat and grab the handle to make the decision about what suits you the best.

By Abrar Khan Pathan