The Motorcycle ABS #2: Are Anti-Lock Brakes ABS-olutely Necessary? Or is it Better to ABS-tain?
Are you a new rider considering if you should get a motorcycle with ABS installed into it? Or are you wondering whether the ABS system is worth the hefty sum of money or not?
(Image taken from Auto Evolution)
The choice is ultimately yours, but hopefully this article can help make up your mind.
Ready? Let’s start with a short video detailing the differences between an ABS bike and a non-ABS bike during various scenarios.
As you see, there are many benefits to owning a motorbike with ABS. A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has shown that ABS can reduce the rate of death and severe injury from motorcycle crashes by 31%, while Highway Loss Data Institute has concluded that collision insurance claims for motorcycles with ABS are filed 20% less frequently for those without it.
In other words, there is absolutely no doubt that the ABS system can do wonders to increase the rider’s safety, even saving their asses when necessary.
On the other hand, some bikers with more experience under their belt feel that they do not need ABS, as they have ridden their two-wheelers since even before the system was developed and have not gotten into any accidents.
The thing is, though, past performance does not guarantee future performance. An experienced rider may have been skillful enough to never have locked their wheels while on their motorbikes, but even the most skilled, the most experienced motorcyclist can also make mistakes.
While it may be true that some of the more experienced bikers can brake more quickly than an ABS equipped motorcycle, do take note that the ABS system is only engaged if it detects a possible locking of the front wheel.
Therefore, a bike with ABS will brake just as quickly as a bike without ABS if the ABS is not activated. Otherwise, in emergency situations, it has been proven on multiple counts that the ABS will be able to brake quicker and safer, and also with a short braking distance.
And if you think that you would be able to react faster than a piece of technology designed specifically for an emergency braking purpose, perhaps it is time to remove your hubris-tinted lens and look at the increasing number of motorcycle fatalities and accidents happening around you.
(Image taken from The Wanderlost Biker)
But for new riders, the common reason to opt for a non-ABS bike is the fact that they may not properly learn how to brake. The logic comes from the idea that a new rider will not bother learning how to brake properly with an ABS bike, while a non-ABS bike will force them to learn.
Well, as a user on Reddit has put it: “ABS is something that is nice to have that sits quietly until it is needed. When you don’t need it, it doesn’t bother you. When you find yourself in a situation and it kicks in, you will be glad to have it.”
Again, let us reiterate that the ABS system is only ever activated if the sensors detect a locking wheel. This means that practicing braking on a motorcycle with ABS is the same as practicing on a bike without one - the ABS serves as just a safety backup.
In fact, here’s what Bosch - one of the largest developers of motorcycle ABS - has to say: The first rule of braking with ABS is to brake as though you did not have ABS.
As we find out from The Ride Advice, Bosch has summarised how one should brake on a motorbike with ABS:
- Begin braking using the foot brake as far as possible.
- Pull the brake lever quickly, but not abruptly. Once the brake pads have fully engaged, increase the braking pressure quickly, and in significant amounts.
- When performing a full braking maneuver, brake on a straight course within the ABS control range.
- Depending on the model, you can tell that the ABS has kicked in through a gentle pulsing on the hand and foot brake levers, as well as a ticking noise.
- When performing a full braking maneuver, always disengage the clutch at the same time.
- When braking in bends, increase the braking pressure gently to prevent the front wheel from slipping to the side.
- Always pay attention to the rear of the motorcycle when performing a full braking maneuver. If the rear wheel lifts up, you should reduce the braking pressure on the front wheel as quickly as possible.
In other words, this is how a rider would typically brake regardless of the presence of ABS, which means that a new rider will still be able to learn and practice how to brake properly.
(Image taken from Auto Evolution)
The only qualms is the fact that if a biker has been riding a motorbike with ABS for a long time, it would take some getting used to should they switch to bike without the safety system.
And quite frankly, if the ABS is there to save your life (if ever need be), it also means more time for the new rider to practice their braking, right?
(Image taken from Telegraph)
Now, if this was in the past, perhaps ABS would not be as crucial to the rider’s safety.
After all, the first ABS systems had a tendency to kick in at the wrong time, and they were clunky and difficult to use. But it is 2018 now, which means that the technology has definitely developed and improved since then.
The motorcycle ABS of today does not affect normal braking - only activated in emergencies - and are extremely light, so there is virtually no effect on riding performance.
And, it can even save your life! Just look at the number of people on the Internet ready to vouch for that. There is hence no excuse, really, to dismiss the effectiveness and benefits that this safety device has got to offer.
So, you have found out about the difference between a bike that comes equipped with ABS, and a bike without. But how does it really work, and who was the one who invented this brilliant safety feature?
Find out more in Part 1 of the ABS discourse here: