ABS is good for you!

[famousperson]

I thought this article would be of general interest.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27313063/

[Bill Stevenson]

Pete,

Great article thanks for sharing it. Isn't it interesting that even industry spokesmen seem confused about the advantages of ABS on motorcycles? For instance the comment from the MIC guy that skilled riders can stop faster without ABS than they can with it. In perfect conditions, knowing that the objective is to perform a maximum stop, yes we can. But on a rainy night, with manhole covers lurking under the water - forget it. The guy is right it is all situational, and on the road in the real situations we encounter every day, ABS is literally a life saver. One of the most telling experiences was that the California Highway Patrol stopped having injury accidents almost completely when they started using BMW motorcycles with ABS. Harley was forced to develop ABS because of the CHP experience.

I have had ABS on a 1989 K100RS, a 1994 K1100RS, a 2002 R1150R, and a 2008 R1200R. Every new iteration has been an improvement and this newest version is really almost invisible in use. My total mileage on these bikes is cumulatively over 150,000 miles (and counting) and all have proven to be totally reliable with maintenance performed according to BMW recommendations.

This is a great forum isn't it?

Bill

[romanr]

Is the 'ABS-III' on the R1200R the same basic ABS that I have on my F800ST (without the partial integration of front-rear)?

For some reason, I got the impression that the R1200R had a newer version of the system.

Thanks in advance.

[deilenberger]

Dunno - since the ABS on the R12R is usually referred to as the "EVO ABS" - with partial linking. Whatever - it's a great system and much simpler than the servo-assisted ABS that the R1150's and earlier R1200's had.

[mvk]

romanr -I am an ex F800s owner and the ABS on the RR is very different to the 800 -at least the early model I had. The RR does not release all braking if only the back ABS activates which is an issue one or two chaps on the 800 list get rather excited about...hopefully this has been fixed anyway.

The RR has linked brakes ie hand lever operates front and back as required and pedal operates back only, whereas the 800 is more conventional ie front lever operates front brakes, pedal operates rear until... the rear locks and releases the front... !!###???

I can't fault the RR brakes and I ride in all conditions in and around Sydney chaos everyday.
You will love it!

[romanr]

Thanks to both of you for your replies. This issue is a bit sensitive within the F800 community and your replies were more informative than I could have expected. Sincere thanks.

I'm still waiting for my R1200R, but am hoping to
'join the fold' soon. [it was put on a truck on 10 October...where is IT?]

[Tak]

The behavior of the ABS on my 800ST was the main reason I traded it for a R1200R.

The 800ST ABS would release (even when using only the front brake) when braking even moderately over rough pavement. Over the same pavement, braking harder, the R1200R ABS does not activate. The R1200R brakes are awesome.

[romanr]

TAK,
Thanks...you answered the question I was afraid to ask (directly).


My F800ST ABS deposited me in the middle of an intersection about 30 minutes ago. I know there's a minor 'frost heave' right at the stop sign by my house, but today I was having a bit too much fun; tried some 'spirited' braking at the sign; ABS shut down long enough to put me about half way through the intersection before I could release-reapply-stop.

Regards
roman

Where *IS* my new bike???

[Dauntless]

The behavior of the ABS on my 800ST was the main reason I traded it for a R1200R.

The 800ST ABS would release (even when using only the front brake) when braking even moderately over rough pavement.

That's insane. I don't know why BMW hasn't recalled all of those bikes.

[qfman]

Those figures are meaningless - it's not ABS thatmakes the difference - it's attitude, age etc.

ABS bikes are ONLY 38% less likely to be crashed than the HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of japanese sports bikes that do not have ABS????? You think that drug crazed, incompetent, unlicenced, illegal riders are jumping on a Beemer to snuff themselves out?

Get real - when you but a Beemer, you have already stamped yourself as a conservative, careful, measured sort of rider. The flashy colours and horsepower figures are meaningless. You buy a bike to RIDE not to brag to your friends about. Except those of you who buy a bike to brag about but not to ride.

I would expect to see much bigger differences in the figures before I could attribute it to ABS - why not attribute it to the fact that BMW have 38% less power than sports bikes?

Tom

[ka5ysy]

I would expect to see much bigger differences in the figures before I could attribute it to ABS - why not attribute it to the fact that BMW have 38% less power than sports bikes?

Tom

Er.... NOT !

The 2009 K 1300 S, the most powerful street legal BMW, now offers 175 hp , torque 103 ft-lb at 8250 rpm.

The better question is why a street bike needs this kind of power in the first place. Better to kill squids I guess. Darwinism at its finest!


Regardless of all the hot air pro/con ABS, it simply works better than human responses, period. The whole ABS argument is as dumb as all the hot air that was generated about fuel injection and EFI replacing carbs. Evolution is going to take place.

[deilenberger]

Those figures are meaningless - it's not ABS thatmakes the difference - it's attitude, age etc.

ABS bikes are ONLY 38% less likely to be crashed than the HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of japanese sports bikes that do not have ABS????? You think that drug crazed, incompetent, unlicenced, illegal riders are jumping on a Beemer to snuff themselves out?

Get real - when you but a Beemer, you have already stamped yourself as a conservative, careful, measured sort of rider. The flashy colours and horsepower figures are meaningless. You buy a bike to RIDE not to brag to your friends about. Except those of you who buy a bike to brag about but not to ride.

I would expect to see much bigger differences in the figures before I could attribute it to ABS - why not attribute it to the fact that BMW have 38% less power than sports bikes?

Tom

I actually saw a reference to the actual research the article is based on. And it's Honda Goldwing with ABS vs Honda Goldwing without ABS (I suspect they used the Goldwing since there may be a large enough sample of with/with-out to select from - where BMW's almost all have ABS..)

So - it's not a study of crazed sport bike riders vs old pharts on beemers.. it's old farts in silk jackets with kiwi's on a stalk vs old farts in silk jackets with kiwi's on a stalk, on the same bike, making the number 38% actually quite impressive.