Top 5 Safest Motorcycles Under 500cc In India

We list the top five safest motorcycles in their respective segments, which have managed the shortest braking distances in our road tests

While speeding might seem fun, it often leads to recklessness and increases the chances of mishaps. Also, this not only puts you at risk but the people around you as well. The only piece of equipment on a bike that can save you from a probable crash are good brakes. And in a dire situation, it’s important to get your vehicle to a stop in the shortest possible distance, which should let you either avert the accident completely or give you enough room to manoeuvre your bike out of the tricky situation.

Granted that there are a number of options to choose from, but we’ve narrowed it down to the following five bikes which proved to have the best braking equipment amongst all the bikes we’ve tested so far.

Honda Shine SP 125 -

If you speak of smaller displacement motorcycles, say the 125cc class, the Honda Shine is surely one of the top contenders. Heck, it’s one of the top selling bikes in its class and even held the belt for being the best in its segment a while back. Its 125cc air-cooled, single-cylinder motor makes a respectable 10.6PS of power at 7500rpm and 10.3Nm of torque at 5,500rpm. While the bike has decent power output for its class it also comes with commendable braking equipment to get it to a standstill. The variant we tested came equipped with Honda’s CBS (Combined Braking System) and a disc up front which got the bike from 70-0kmph in just 24.15 metres. While that isn’t a jaw-dropping figure it's quite impressive for a small-capacity bike, and the relatively short braking distance might just save your life.

Hero Achiever 150 -

While the Hero Achiever isn’t a sporty commuter, it’s been designed to appeal to the masses. Instead of being flamboyant, the Achiever looks calm and mature. Powering the bike is a 141.1cc, single-cylinder mill that produces a maximum of 13.6PS at 8000rpm and a peak torque figure of 12.8Nm at 5000rpm. Additionally, the bike also comes equipped with Hero’s intuitive idle-start-stop (i3s) technology. In terms of braking, out test bike featured a disc up front (optional) and a drum at the rear. While the calipers lacked bite, it was progressive and had excellent feel. The setup managed to bring the bike to a halt from 80-0kmph in 37.70 metres, which is close to, say, three-four average sized cars lined up end to end.

Suzuki Gixxer SF Fi -

It's a no-brainer that the SF is essentially a Suzuki Gixxer underneath. Nonetheless, it’s still an exciting proposition and one of the best looking motorcycles in its segment. Not to mention, a fully faired bike in its MotoGP livery is a real head-turner. At its heart lies a 155cc motor which passes as a 160cc mill owing to its performance. The motor churns out 14.8PS of power and 14Nm of torque, and is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Anchoring the Gixxer SF is a disc brake at the front and a drum brake at the rear paired with chunky rubber at both ends. The brakes offer good bite and anchors the bike from 80-0kmph in 34.82m.

Bajaj Pulsar NS200 -

The NS200 changed the way we looked at sporty commuters -- it was the first bike in its segment to feature a perimeter frame and handled exceptionally well. Corner carving wasn’t just meant for high-end bikes anymore. It draws power from a BS-IV compliant, 199cc, single-cylinder motor that makes a healthy 23.52PS of power at 9500rpm and 18.3Nm of torque at 8000rpm. It comes mated to a 6-speed transmission. A single 280mm front disc and 230mm rear disc put a leash on the bike’s speed. With this braking equipment and grippier MRF tyres, the bike comes to a stop from 80-0kmph in 30.11 metres.

Kawasaki Ninja 400 -

Now, the Kawasaki Ninja 400 wouldn’t pass as a value for money proposition in any way, but it surely makes the cut for a thoroughbred Kawasaki. Its 399cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin motor pumps out a commendable 49PS of power and 38Nm of peak torque, which makes it the most powerful bike in its category. The Ninja 400 handles really well too, and feels almost intuitive in corners. While the performance figure sounds mind boggling for a 400cc bike, it also gets equally impressive brakes and tyres. The Ninja 400 features upgraded Dunlop Sportmax rubbers, 110 section at the front and 150 at the rear, paired with a single 310mm front petal disc and a 220mm rear petal disc. This setup combined with dual-channel ABS bring this pocket rocket to a stop from 80-0kmph in just 28.98m.