Does ABS Replace Braking Skill?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,173
Likes: 177
From: East Coast
Actually the H-D ABS engages at a higher coefficient of friction than that of other manufacturers; thus it activates LATER, not "too early". A pulse rate of 6 times a second is hardly "too slowly".
The point of this video is that no motorcycle will stop as quickly in full ABS as one being braked properly. This is not a failure of ABS, this is the reason riders should not rely on ABS as a way to stop.
Any one who would choose not to have ABS when it is available is making a life-threatening mistake, since ABS allows control when poor braking skills or poor braking surface would have resulted in a locked wheel. If an error occurs during proper braking, and ABS activates, a safe stop is still the result. Correctly dealing with a locked wheel - that occurs without ABS - requires skill that very few riders have developed.
If a rider feels his ABS activate, he should immediately understand he has made an error either in braking application or surface appraisal.
Take any ABS event as a time to learn to brake better. Analyze what happened to cause ABS to activate. It's much easier to do this after an ABS event than it is to do it after a locked wheel skid, since those are typically the precursor to a wreck.
Harris
Denver, CO
www.youtube.com/conedown
The point of this video is that no motorcycle will stop as quickly in full ABS as one being braked properly. This is not a failure of ABS, this is the reason riders should not rely on ABS as a way to stop.
Any one who would choose not to have ABS when it is available is making a life-threatening mistake, since ABS allows control when poor braking skills or poor braking surface would have resulted in a locked wheel. If an error occurs during proper braking, and ABS activates, a safe stop is still the result. Correctly dealing with a locked wheel - that occurs without ABS - requires skill that very few riders have developed.
If a rider feels his ABS activate, he should immediately understand he has made an error either in braking application or surface appraisal.
Take any ABS event as a time to learn to brake better. Analyze what happened to cause ABS to activate. It's much easier to do this after an ABS event than it is to do it after a locked wheel skid, since those are typically the precursor to a wreck.
Harris
Denver, CO
www.youtube.com/conedown
Your posts are excellent on the subject, being both informative and logical. Relying solely on ABS is like relying on a rev limiter to know when to shift.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 9
From: Greensboro, NC
Like 99% of the bikers, 99% of car and truck driver just barely know how to operate their vehicles.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 306
Likes: 2
When I first saw him run the Brake & Escape I told myself "when I can do it that smoothly, I'll just stop riding a motorcycle". 13 years later, with countless runs of the exercise myself, I'm still riding.
Harris
Denver, CO
www.youtube.com/conedown
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 22
From: Denham Springs, La
I had the same gripe about mine. I had the dealer flash the ECM with the ABS update and found that the front brakes, especially, were a lot better about not kicking the ABS in early than it was before the update.
The rear still seems to kick in a little early but it only happens if I'm making a hard stop on bumpy pavement, the rear gets light and will lock up sooner.
The only time my front ABS has kicked in so far is when I do it purposely to check that they're still working.
PS: Harris, thanks for your input on the forum. You give a lot of helpful information and technique.
Last edited by smithbrl; Aug 11, 2012 at 10:03 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 306
Likes: 2
Missing Important Information
All,
It became apparent that, when the video is embedded, people don't see the written commentary, so it's not entirely clear what the point is, so I'm putting it here:
First! ABS is a life-saver. In NO way is the point of this video to be "anti ABS". Just the opposite. This video shows a controlled situation. ABS can take over anytime the situation is beyond control and prevent a locked-wheel skid, which is always dangerous on a motorcycle. The point here is only this: ABS is NOT a substitute for braking skill.
Over the past few years, Anti-Lock Brake Systems (ABS) have become much more common on motorcycles. ABS is a tremendous safety feature, and its increasing availability is saving motorcyclists lives every day. However, there are many riders -- both those using ABS, and those who do not have it -- who do not understand exactly what its function is, and how to maximize its value.
Both motors in this video are 2012, Harley-DavidsonŽ Road KingŽ Police (FLHRP) models. Both motors are equipped with ABS. Both are traveling at 40 MPH, and both begin braking at the same point. Harris, riding the near motor, uses "threshold combination braking" (the maximum amount of braking, using both the front and rear brakes, before either a locked wheel or ABS activation), the rider on the far motor; one of the top police motor instructors in the world, deliberately engages the ABS, rather than using proper braking technique. As you can see, the properly braked motorcycle stops in excess of 20 feet more quickly than the motorcycle that is stopped using the ABS as a braking tool.
ABS is not a tool to stop the motorcycle (or any vehicle). ABS has only one function: to prevent locked wheel skids while braking. It does this by releasing and reapplying the brakes several times a second. As should be clear, this has the effect of lengthening braking distance, since the brakes are being released momentarily.
So, it is very important for riders to understand that proper brake application will stop a motorcycle faster, since it uses all the efficiency of the brakes. It is also important to understand that the fact that a motorcycle is equipped with ABS does not -- by itself -- increase the stopping distance. Unless either poor braking, or a surface change causes ABS activation, an ABS equipped motorcycle will function exactly like one without ABS. The value of ABS is that it allows a vehicle to stop safely, when either of these issues occurs. On a motor without ABS, those things would cause a locked wheel skid, which not only increases stopping distance, but results in instability often leading to a crash.
ABS is a tremendous safety feature, and if it's available, on any vehicle you are considering you should insist that your vehicle be equipped with it. However, a motorcyclist should no more use ABS regularly than the driver of a car should frequently use the air bags.
I apologize for any confusion.
Harris
Denver, CO
www.youtube.com/conedown
It became apparent that, when the video is embedded, people don't see the written commentary, so it's not entirely clear what the point is, so I'm putting it here:
First! ABS is a life-saver. In NO way is the point of this video to be "anti ABS". Just the opposite. This video shows a controlled situation. ABS can take over anytime the situation is beyond control and prevent a locked-wheel skid, which is always dangerous on a motorcycle. The point here is only this: ABS is NOT a substitute for braking skill.
Over the past few years, Anti-Lock Brake Systems (ABS) have become much more common on motorcycles. ABS is a tremendous safety feature, and its increasing availability is saving motorcyclists lives every day. However, there are many riders -- both those using ABS, and those who do not have it -- who do not understand exactly what its function is, and how to maximize its value.
Both motors in this video are 2012, Harley-DavidsonŽ Road KingŽ Police (FLHRP) models. Both motors are equipped with ABS. Both are traveling at 40 MPH, and both begin braking at the same point. Harris, riding the near motor, uses "threshold combination braking" (the maximum amount of braking, using both the front and rear brakes, before either a locked wheel or ABS activation), the rider on the far motor; one of the top police motor instructors in the world, deliberately engages the ABS, rather than using proper braking technique. As you can see, the properly braked motorcycle stops in excess of 20 feet more quickly than the motorcycle that is stopped using the ABS as a braking tool.
ABS is not a tool to stop the motorcycle (or any vehicle). ABS has only one function: to prevent locked wheel skids while braking. It does this by releasing and reapplying the brakes several times a second. As should be clear, this has the effect of lengthening braking distance, since the brakes are being released momentarily.
So, it is very important for riders to understand that proper brake application will stop a motorcycle faster, since it uses all the efficiency of the brakes. It is also important to understand that the fact that a motorcycle is equipped with ABS does not -- by itself -- increase the stopping distance. Unless either poor braking, or a surface change causes ABS activation, an ABS equipped motorcycle will function exactly like one without ABS. The value of ABS is that it allows a vehicle to stop safely, when either of these issues occurs. On a motor without ABS, those things would cause a locked wheel skid, which not only increases stopping distance, but results in instability often leading to a crash.
ABS is a tremendous safety feature, and if it's available, on any vehicle you are considering you should insist that your vehicle be equipped with it. However, a motorcyclist should no more use ABS regularly than the driver of a car should frequently use the air bags.
I apologize for any confusion.
Harris
Denver, CO
www.youtube.com/conedown
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 241
From: Highlands, NJ
You're missing the point. Yeah you can still steer, but the vehicle decides when its gonna stop. Learning how to control a vehicle in an emergency is better than having a vehicle that controls itself. There are a lot of people out there today that never drove without ABS. How good do you think their emergency braking skills are?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 9
From: Greensboro, NC
You're missing the point. Yeah you can still steer, but the vehicle decides when its gonna stop. Learning how to control a vehicle in an emergency is better than having a vehicle that controls itself. There are a lot of people out there today that never drove without ABS. How good do you think their emergency braking skills are?
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 588
Likes: 1
From: North Carolina
I have it for the first time on my new SG. I have not had to use it yet nor has it "kicked in" when I did not need. I am happy to have it and will get it on all bikes that I have an option.