Let's hope this is the start of something good

CCHOUSEKY · 10-22-2008, 07:50 AM

I've wondered for years why motorcycle manufacturers didn't put ABS on all motorcycles. I know it'll add a bit to the price, but for the added safety, I'd pay for it. I just found this one MSNBC.com.

Study show antilocks good for motorcycles too - Autos - MSNBC.com

SovietRobot · 10-22-2008, 08:39 AM

I would love ABS on the rear brake, mine seems that if you don't give it enough pressure it doesn't work and if you give it just a little too much it locks up.

The front however, i'd like a little more control over and you really don't get that with ABS.

ABS on bikes can be different though. In a car the front tires actually lock up for a split second and then the abs pump modulated them(similar to "pumping" the brakes on a car without abs), but if you lock up the front wheel on a bike even for a split second it can be disasterous.

Supposedly honda will have ABS standard on all road bikes by 2010/2011

markgm · 10-22-2008, 10:16 AM

I heard this on NPR this morning. I'm still waiting for it to be available on the FZ6.

Poutanen · 10-22-2008, 11:33 AM

Hopefully the US DOT doesn't mandate it... they require ABS and airbags on cars now (at least in Canada they do), and that's why you can't get a TVR over here. Could probably register it as a colector car but still. I want a Tuscan!!!

rev-fz6 · 10-22-2008, 11:34 AM

I always leaned towards the sporty side of the fz6, ultimately I moved to the r6. I can understand why people would want ABS, but personally I would prefer to not have it.

I have never owned a car with ABS until my wife became pregnant and I needed a 'family' car. If that car had the option of no ABS, mine wouldn't have it.

It would be great if they created a choice, I hope the people that want ABS get ABS, but I better not be forced to have ABS.

bmain83 · 10-22-2008, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rev-fz6

I always leaned towards the sporty side of the fz6, ultimately I moved to the r6. I can understand why people would want ABS, but personally I would prefer to not have it.

I have never owned a car with ABS until my wife became pregnant and I needed a 'family' car. If that car had the option of no ABS, mine wouldn't have it.

It would be great if they created a choice, I hope the people that want ABS get ABS, but I better not be forced to have ABS.

Feel the same way. I hate ABS in my 2 cars.

kirkeb · 10-22-2008, 03:02 PM

Now now the gov't knows what's best for you.

killernoodle · 10-22-2008, 04:43 PM

Ever ridden a bike with abs? How do you know what it feels like?

Personally, I think abs is a great idea. It only steps in when the rider is in deep shit anyways, most riders don't know how to react to a locked front wheel. Otherwise, you'd never know its there.

Parabellum · 10-22-2008, 04:46 PM

I will never need ABS...I don't use my rear brake at all. I have thought about removing it, but its not worth the trouble.

And I highly doubt that front wheel ABS will work as expected...but if it does, it would be fine for a commuter bike.

It offers absolutely nothing for the track imho.

p.s. - You should almost always be able to disable ABS by removing the ABS fuse, or by disabling the wheel speed sensors before you start the bike.

DefyInertia · 10-22-2008, 05:09 PM

ABS, take 2

Honda’s brake-by-wire system for sportsbikes - Combined ABS » The Biker Gene

"brake by wire"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parabellum

I will never need ABS...I don't use my rear brake at all. I have thought about removing it, but its not worth the trouble.

No offense but that would be exceptionally silly. Even track bikes should have a rear brake, if nothing else for when the front fails going into T1 or in the grass before hitting the airbags. The rear brake is just another tool at your disposal (street, track, stunt) - learn to use it properly.

The only time I drag the rear at the track is when cresting a hill at WOT

I use it on the street when in traffic, slow speed moves, riding 2up, or when on a slippery surface.

I use it when messing around with wheelies

There are lots of other GREAT times/places to use the rear brake but I have not developed those skills. There was some racer who had a thumb brake (rear) mounted on his clip-on but I can't recall who it was.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parabellum

It offers absolutely nothing for the track imho

You do realize that the rear is used heavily to control rear wheel power, right? Before MotoGP had advanced wheelie control, riders had their right foot...this is still the case every weekend at race tracks aroudn the world.

EDIT - I'm still waiting on your track day pics!!!

Parabellum · 10-22-2008, 05:13 PM

Yeah, I suppose easing on the rear brake for a track run off into the grass is probably a good thing...my goal is not to run off at all...but you never know.

A honda CBR600RR can pull .79G of braking force with the front and rear brake maxed out (no slipping).

The same bike with the same rider will pull .77G with the front brake alone.

For me, I'll sacrifice the 0.02G to have the assurance that my rear isn't going to walk out of line when panic braking.

DefyInertia · 10-22-2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parabellum

A honda CBR600RR can pull .79G of braking force with the front and rear brake maxed out (no slipping).

The same bike with the same rider will pull .77G with the front brake alone.

For me, I'll sacrifice the 0.02G to have the assurance that my rear isn't going to walk out of line when panic braking.

Me too, but panic braking isn't an every day event (let's hope not!). I'm curious how much those figures would change if measured on an FZ6. They would certainly be very different for a cruiser or big standard like a bandit.

Parabellum · 10-22-2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DefyInertia

Me too, but panic braking isn't an every day event (let's hope not!). I'm curious how much those figures would change if measured on an FZ6. They would certainly be very different for a cruiser or big standard like a bandit.

I work for a company that does high speed, high precision data aquisition field computers...I have instrumented race bikes before....so I have everything necessary to produce this exact data right here in my lab.

Only problem is I would have to mount the system to my bike and that would require drilling and other unpleasant mods.

Plus, finding the absolute limit of the front tire is not always safe...the bikes in the study I am quoting were fitted with outriggers to prevent a crash.

But yeah, I would love to do this sometime.

Here is the last bike I instrumented, if you look closely you can see our data aquisition system mounted to the tail (looks like a lunchbox).

The rider was formerly ranked in the top ten for AMA superbike...he is a FAST dude....

YouTube - Kawasaki ZX600 Race Bike

Hellgate · 10-22-2008, 05:28 PM

^^^ That's why you adjust the rear brake so it will not easily lock on you. Don't bleed it totally tight, set the lever a bit lower so you don't bury it quickly and begin using it. Once you get used to using the front and rear together on the track, and panic stop isn't as big of a deal. the rear brake is a great tool.

Parabellum · 10-22-2008, 05:30 PM

Meh, once forward weight transfer happens, its 90/10 to the front/rear tires at least...so even if I used the rear brake, I would be getting 1/9 th of the braking force of the front...not worth it to me when its so easy to lock the rear once it gets light.

But remember my goal for my trackdays is to become a better rider and stay safe....I will never be out there chasing that .1sec off my top lap time.