First time I used a motorcycle without ABS. There is so much risk in riding a motorcycle. I slid many times on slippery roads because the motorcycle did not have ABS.
To know about ABS brakes, first you need to know how brakes work. When you press the brake lever, the brake fluid presses the brake pad, then the brake works.
First, do you know what ABS is? ABS is an anti-lock braking system. ABS on motorcycles prevents wheel locking and increases stability. Motorcycles by nature are less stable than four-wheel vehicles. This system prevents the wheels from locking when you press the brake lever.
How does ABS work in a motorcycle? ABS works to prevent the motorcycle’s wheel or wheels from locking during braking. ABS uses speed sensors on both wheels to measure the speed and apply the brakes based on that speed. ABS adjusts the braking pressure accordingly to prevent the wheels from locking and helps maintain the stability of the motorcycle.
ABS works on every road (snowy roads, slippery roads, sandy roads, off-road, mountain roads, etc.). This system does not lock the motorcycle wheels. This braking system has minimized accident rates by around 40%.
This locking system was first used in airplanes, then in high-power supercars. BMW first used this braking system in motorcycles in 1988. Nowadays, most motorcycles have ABS braking systems. ABS brakes provide a lot of safety for riding a motorcycle. Every rider needs to know how ABS works and the benefits of the ABS braking system.
Benefits of motorcycle ABS:
– ABS could reduce the rate of death and road accidents.
– Only around 20% of new motorcycles come with ABS as standard.
– Nowadays, every higher cc motorcycle has an ABS braking system.
– The ABS braking system provides a lot of safety for the rider and passenger.
– ABS braking system can be used in every weather condition.
When is the system effective?
You are riding on a nice sunny day on a dry road. You think everything is normal, but suddenly you see a man after a curve and press the brake hard. There is a high possibility you will crash your motorcycle because you don’t have control over your bike.
On a motorcycle with an ABS system, the sensor detects how much you press the brake and controls the speed. The system sends ten or more impulses per second, which makes it quite accurate.
What do studies say?
IIHS conducted a study on motorcycles fitted with ABS produced between 2013 and 2019. Eric Teoh, the Director of Statistical Services, only took into account motorcycles that were available with and without ABS, and the results were astonishing. It was proven that bikes with an anti-locking system were involved in 22% fewer fatal accidents than those without it.
He discovered that, on average, ABS was linked to a 32 percent crash rate reduction for regular and cruiser motorcycles and a 25 percent drop for touring and sport-touring bikes, according to the type of motorcycle. However, this number decreased to 19% for sport bikes and to 12% for supersport motorcycles.
By 2020, just about one-quarter of the new motorcycles sold in the U.S. were not fitted with ABS, but fortunately, more than half of the bikes sold had this system installed.