A video tutorial on motorcycle anti-lock braking systems.
Bringing any vehicle to a halt on a slippery road surface or under an emergency stop can be challenging. But for motorcycles - which have a small contact patch with the road - the skill required is greatly increased. Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) were developed as a supplementary technique to reduce possibility of the wheels of a vehicle locking up when they loose grip under heavy braking, and it is increasingly popular on motorbikes.
But how does ABS work, what are the benefits of it to the novice and the experienced motorbike rider, and how do modern Suzuki motorcycles compare with earlier anti-lock braking systems?
Safety Note:
- ABS is NOT a safety mechanism to reduce braking distances or to avoid falls.
- ABS is strictly a device to assist the rider's braking operation, within a certain range of situations.
- When riding any motorcycle, with or without ABS, the rider must slow down sufficiently before corners, avoid abrupt maneuvers, and always remember to ride safely.
- ABS does NOT operate at very slow speeds, such as when riding below about 10km/h beore coming to a stop.
- Read your owner's manual for details of ABS mechanism.
