ABS Myths Busted

[MG-242]

I was searching the forum and found this: http://www.600riders.com/forum/fz6-videos/11103-demo-video-abs-braking-motorcycle.html

I saw a lot of the same myths about ABS as stated in a recent article in American Motorcyclist magazine, the monthly periodical of the American Motorcyclist Association. The article is on pages 48-50 of the September issue and "yours truly" was extremely fortunate to be asked to be one of the testers. I'll just say that when you come down the lane at about 40mph on wetted down ceramic tiles which are slicker than snot and nail the brakes with and without ABS (using outriggers thank goodness), it will have a profound impact on you.

Final word - I'll take them. And, after spending a day inside the Robert Bosch test facilities, cost is only an issue if the motorcyle manufacturers want to make it an issue. Cost to them is not that great and well worth it for the safety of the rider.

 

[Nelly]

I was searching the forum and found this: http://www.600riders.com/forum/fz6-videos/11103-demo-video-abs-braking-motorcycle.html

I saw a lot of the same myths about ABS as stated in a recent article in American Motorcyclist magazine, the monthly periodical of the American Motorcyclist Association. The article is on pages 48-50 of the September issue and "yours truly" was extremely fortunate to be asked to be one of the testers. I'll just say that when you come down the lane at about 40mph on wetted down ceramic tiles which are slicker than snot and nail the brakes with and without ABS (using outriggers thank goodness), it will have a profound impact on you.

Final word - I'll take them. And, after spending a day inside the Robert Bosch test facilities, cost is only an issue if the motorcyle manufacturers want to make it an issue. Cost to them is not that great and well worth it for the safety of the rider.

How much better was the control?

Chaosratt posted this excellent article in another thread. http://www.ibmwr.org/prodreview/abstests.html

Neil

 

[Mudkipz137]

I'd be interested in hearing about this too. I'd love to have ABS on my bike, my biggest fear of sudden stops is that I'll lock up.

 

[MG-242]

This was difficult. It was hard to not come down and just grab a bunch of brakes just to lock the front. I tried to approach it as if I was really attempting to stop on a slick surface knowing that I didn't want to lock the front and then taking it just a step further to the point of lock up. As many know once the front locks and depending on the lean angle, the bike will tuck very quickly. In consecutive runs, I was able to accomplish this as well as over-brake and tuck the front. Then, with ABS on, I found that I could brake almost as aggressive as I would on a high traction surface. The bike (in this case was a Ulyses), stopped in a straight line and did nothing that I felt was unsettling. With ABS I had the confidence to brake much more aggressively than I would ever have without ABS. I think in a panic stopping situation, this would be very important and could result in no crash vs crash.

 

[Red Wazp]

Preaching to the choir, I've had it for years on my FJR and love it. The surprising part is when you feel it kick in where you did not expect it, helps save your arse.
SUCKS the FZ6 and 1 have it in Europe and not here.

 

[MrMogensen]

The others on last years 2 bike courses could just ram the front brakes as hard as they wanted while I had to work really hard to find the perfect braking point!

Yes I'd like ABS...

 

[Erci]

As many know once the front locks and depending on the lean angle, the bike will tuck very quickly.

Don't all ABS-equipped bikes have lean angle sensor and disable ABS if the bike is leaned over?

 

[Ruggybuggy]

I had ABS on my previous bike, Suzuki Vstrom and it was really hard giving t up on the FZ6. I think I benifited the most from preventing a rear wheel lock up.

 

[MG-242]

Don't all ABS-equipped bikes have lean angle sensor and disable ABS if the bike is leaned over?

Good question and it never came up. I'd like to know as well. I have a contact at Bosch and I'll send him a note and ask. Bosch does ABS on a lot of vehicles.

A little background info - one of the driving forces for us going up for the testing\demonstration was for input to the AMA. The insurance industry is asking the national highway traffic safety administration to make ABS mandatory on all motorcycles. Lots of pro's and con's here.

 

[Nelly]

Mandatory ABS would be great if it was implemented for brand new motorcycles only. It has the potential to become very expensive if retro fitting is required.
Neil

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk 2

 

[banjoboy]

Cool ya got ta do sum serious threshold brake'in on wet ceramic tiles 'n all, but I ain't ridden on 'em mahself in 38 yrs of street ride'in.
There are a lot of instances where abs helps, and depending on the unit, there's instances where abs will kill you.

I dun had me a pos '05 bmw, and if'n I wuz braking real hard, and if'n the rear wheel came off the ground, the brakes would shut themselves off completely! Found this out the hard way in a fast, bumpy, right hand sweeper; when the brakes let go, I blew the corner. Luckily there were no oncoming cars, but if there were, and if I hit it 'n died, nobody would know it wuz the pos bikes/abs fault; the investigators woulda said "rider error!" :thumbdown:

The system on the FJR is good though, and I'm finally warming up to the concept of abs and linked brakes. Butt, besides the initial cost, they do ad weight, complexity, and maintenance to the bike. (I added ss brake lines 'n bleed'in 'em wuz a nightmare!)
So far I really don't miss abs on the FZ6. (Especially since the little FZ duz lotza dirt duty. :rockon: )

I thinkz that learn'in proper braking technique is more important than any fancy gizmos mahself.
Sure it takes time 'n effort, butt the rewards (Yer life) are worth it. :thumbup:

 

[PosterFZ6]

I like ABS.

I test ridden BWM F600 F 650 GS prior to buying the FZ6.

I rode the hell out of it on the streets of NYC and I aggressively braked and I have to say that it's one of my must have features for a city type ridding. I just wish it had a ON/OFF switch.

That being said, best brakes are the ones in your twist of wrist on the throttle.

Don't speed when it's raining or when the surfaces are wet. If you don't abide y that no amount of AS will save you from crashing.

I must also mention that experience and practicing locking up your wheels will do you wonders when you will be forced to brake hard and the possibility of locking up your wheels is in the air.

Thankfully I have locked my wheels a few times to the point of having my rear wheel skidding and sliding. I learned to manage it and come out of it.

Use common sense when riding in the wet conditions. ABS can't replace your experience, your instincts or your brain.

 

[MG-242]

Good question and it never came up. I'd like to know as well. I have a contact at Bosch and I'll send him a note and ask. Bosch does ABS on a lot of vehicles.
QUOTE]

Here is the response I received from Bosch -

"The Bosch ABS9M system can modulate brake pressure to maintain stability during the low to moderate lean angles usually encountered during standard street riding. For more aggressive riding, such as spirited street riding or race-track conditions, the available Bosch Lean Angle Sensor allows more advanced systems to bias the amount of available brake force proportional to the lean angle."

 

[regder]

I've never been a huge fan of ABS on a bike, ruins the mental image of how basic and mechanical a bike is supposed to be.

Then a couple weeks ago I was riding through PA at night. Hit the front brake on a damp road and the front end locked up instantly and started sliding. Kept it upright and recovered, good scare though. Good enough that I'll be looking for ABS on my next bike.

 

[SweaterDude]

Not trying to plug for their website or anything, but if the Euro models have ABS there is a good chance that bikebandit.com will have the parts to make the swap and since they are OEM parts it wouldn't be a Retro/Rigged swap. if somebody gets around to looking before i do let us know.