The Kneeslider

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BMW Makes ABS Standard on All 2012 Motorcycles

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BMW offers ABS standard on all 2012 motorcycles like the BMW K1600 GTL shown here
BMW offers ABS standard on all 2012 motorcycles like the BMW K1600 GTL shown here

Antilock brake systems will be standard on all 2012 BMW motorcycles. Although ABS can be found on more and more motorcycles, usually as an option, BMW took the next step and made it standard across the entire model lineup. In wet weather or other limited traction situations ABS can make a huge difference in your ability to stop quickly and safely. The video in the press release below shows some interesting comparisons of ABS and non ABS braking in the wet emphasizing the difference, not only of stability during braking, but in much shorter stopping distance. It’s impressive.

From the press release …

After pioneering the concept of antilock brakes (ABS) on motorcycles 23 years ago, BMW Motorrad USA announced today that it will be the first motorcycle manufacturer to offer ABS as standard equipment on its entire range of 2012 model year motorcycles.

“Plain and simple, being able to stop a motorcycle faster and more predictably helps prevent a rider from becoming a statistic,” said Pieter de Waal, Vice President, BMW Motorrad USA. “It’s time for all of us in the motorcycle industry to embrace the benefits of ABS. Extensive testing by safety experts, law enforcement authorities and journalists around the world consistently demonstrates that ABS reduces overall crashes and saves lives.”

A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) revealed that motorcycles equipped with antilock brakes are 37 percent less likely to be involved in a fatal crash than models without ABS. “I commend BMW for taking the lead in making ABS standard across the board,” said Adrian Lund, IIHS president. “Our research results show ABS on motorcycles saves lives, and riders are taking note, too. A recent survey found that a majority of riders said they would look for ABS on their next bikes.”

According to IIHS, many factors contribute to motorcycle crashes, but improper braking was identified as a major pre-impact factor in a study of motorcycle crashes. When brakes are applied too gently, the rider risks colliding with the obstacle. If brakes are applied too hard, the wheels can lock and cause an overturn. ABS is crash avoidance technology, meaning it helps reduce brake pressure by detecting an impending lockup and then increasing the pressure again when wheel traction is restored. Brake pressure is evaluated by a sensor multiple times per second, so riders may brake fully in a straight line without fear of locking up.

Many law enforcement agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, concluded after testing that ABS reduced the number and severity of accidents and now mandate them on their police motorcycles. Internationally, BMW is the largest seller of motorcycles for law enforcement use. More than 80,000 BMW police motorcycles are currently in official use in over 150 countries on five continents. In the United States, more than 225 law enforcement agencies have BMW police motorcycles in their fleets of patrol vehicles.

BMW was the first motorcycle manufacturer to introduce ABS in 1988 and now offers a sixth generation and numerous ABS options across its product line, including a system that can be switched off for off-road or track use.

In addition to ABS, BMW has pioneered other technologies to improve the safety and environmental impact of its motorcycles, including:

● The world’s first “Adaptive Headlight” for increased safety at night (available on the 2012 BMW K 1600 GT and K 1600 GTL)

● A multi-controller on the left-hand grip (available on the 2012 BMW K 1600 GT and K 1600 GTL), which allows riders to operate the motorcycle’s systems and adjust its settings without taking their hands off the bars

● Electronic Suspension Adjustment — ESA II — to allow rebound damping and spring rate to be adjusted at the touch of a button to suit load and road conditions

● Dynamic Traction Control (to adjust engine torque to the level of grip and angle of lean, reducing risk of wheelspin and improving control on treacherous surfaces)

● The world’s first motorcycle catalytic converter and closed loop fuel injection to radically reduce emissions

Link: BMW USA

Comments

  1. Not that I don’t believe the video, I’ve lowsided from locking the front wheel, but it kinda looks like he’s deliberately turning the bars to get a more dramatic spin.

  2. Quite obvious. Overclamps on both binders, deliberately locks over the forks and immediately crotch positions to the off-side for even greater effect.

    This rider is skilled enough to pull off a sloppy illusion, unfortunately, the vast majority of riders don’t have enough skills to avoid doing something similar by accident (uh huh, I said that). Few riders take their machines to vacant parking lots on a sunny day and learn where the limits are, and fewer still make such practice in the rain.

    I’m personally not fond of any controls on my bike that limit or alter the “natural” performance of the machine. But I’m also learning to be wise enough to realize my reaction times aren’t what they were 30 years ago, and that performance isn’t always measured in the volume of rear tire smoke that can be generated.

    It’s a costly improvement to the machines, but, with the horrendous increase in the sheer number of weekend “bikers” on the road, I’m voting for the inevitable progress.

  3. I’ve never ridden a bike with ABS fitted but I know a lot of guys who don’t like it. I think more safe is almost always better but I’ll be curious to see if the ABS has an “off” switch.

  4. Could some of you do better than the non ABS rider in the video? Without knowing who the rider is or his skill level, the answer is maybe. Could you beat the rider on the ABS equipped bike? Highly doubtful. ABS is pretty good these days and even the riders who think their skills are top notch would fare poorly against it, even when the rider on the ABS bike is less skilled because the computer and sensors act as a skill enhancer. Yes it adds cost and complexity, but BMW may be less at risk in that regard with their customer demographics. I expect to see ABS showing up a lot more in the future.

    • I’m sure some of these guys could beat this rider on any race track available on any video game.

      ABS is sort of like helmets – only good for when things go wrong. I’m guessing the seaoned experts here would never wear a helmet, since the time they spent in the parking lot has eliminated any reason to wear one. Plus wearing one takes away that natural feeling, sort of like wearing, uh, nevermind…

  6. I’m on the ABS side- I have a K1200r with it, and I have to say that you may beat the abs on a good straight road, but when you are surprised with bad road / fluids / chowderhead cagers the ABS will save your behind. I don’t like the feeling of it activating (done on purpose in a parking lot), but I didn’t seem to notice when it activated on the freeway and saved my life. But I did stop at least ten feet shorter that I though possible. And was not a part of the wreck that I was way to close to (Daydreaming, I admit~ Strikes 1 through 8)

  7. I’ve never ridden a bike with antilock brakes (unless you count my B50’s front drum brake), but everything I’ve read says ABS is a lifesaver, especially on sport-touring rigs and dressers that frequently encounter wet roads. I can’t imagine how it could detract from the “feel” of riding, unless you call fractures and road burns an essential part of the experience. ABS has been standard on many cars and light trucks for years and has proven its worth. No reason it can’t do the same for bikes.

  8. Ride a GL1800 Goldwing with ABS over 100K + on the clock, their is know doubt about anti-lock brakes. Some fools still want a kick start on a bike or no shocks. Just look in the newspaper every Monday morning about the bike accidents and think about ABS.

  9. I once read in Cycleworld about ABS on one of the Honda CBRs. All of the pros admitted that the ABS did better then them initially, although they got better than the ABS on this track with some practice. In real life, of course, most of us aren’t pros and none of us typically get a “do-over” in an accident scenario.

  10. ABS can make a difference and is a good thing. It will not, however, prevent an accident (as they like to say), it does reduce the braking distance and prevent wheel lock-up. If said object (car, wall, etc) is within the required stopping distance, you will still hit it, ABS or not.

    I am all about the skill and abilities of the rider. As an instructor I like to stress practice, practice, practice – but I know that 99% of those I teach will never practice.

  11. ABS across their model line is great (surely not on the G450 enduro bike without and off switch though). Do it without raising MSRP and you’ll really get my respect.

  12. SteveD hits it on the head — a professional racer or a very good street/dirt rider can outdo ABS, but that leaves out most of us. We don’t practice as much as we should, so technology that saves lives while preserving the enjoyment of riding is a win-win. Most of the time it won’t be needed, but when it is needed, it’s good to know it’s there.

    Ed Schwartzbach: I still enjoy the kickstart on my B50; there’s a great deal of satisfaction in knowing how to start it without breaking an ankle. But I sure liked the electric start on my XS650 — nothing like being able to start it in traffic, when it stalls, with the push of a button.

  13. I’ve ridden bikes with ABS and never noticed the difference. Even as far back as the ’94 K75S the ABS seemed fine (many will disagree on that one) to me. I never got the chance to put them to a real test though. The only time I ever went down, or all of the nearlys, I was never on the brakes. There’s often gravel on dry roads and tar strips on wet roads (or metal road plates) that seem to catch me off guard. I went down last year riding through a corner covered in anti-freeze. The bike, a BMW, got back up and kept going while I looked on.

    -todd

  14. I have ABS on my 08 Goldwing and I can honestly say that it is one of the best things about it. The first time I tested it was under wet conditions at about 20 MPH. I then went to 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and the results were always the same. The bike hunkered down, tracked true and came to a fully controlled stop. No white knuckles or pucker factor to speak of. A young fellow I know bought a CBR 1000 with ABS last year took it out on the highway, wound it up to 100 MPH and then grabbed a handful. Same results as I had. His biggest complaint was he could no longer pull “stoppies”. Now that he is used to having it he admits he would not want to ride without it stoppies or no stoppies. A few of the people here have talked about “Professional” riders being able to better the ABS system and I have know doubt that there are a few, very few in fact, that can, on the track. They unfortunately over look one thing in their analysis. When was the last time you saw a track that was in disrepair with cracked or broken tarmac full of potholes, was littered with road debris such as sand or gravel deposits, broken glass, car mufflers, tire alligators, maybe an occasional oil slick, not mention curbs and sewer lids, all coupled with ever changing road surfaces? Tracks are normally about as good as the owner can make them and are usually well maintained. Even road race tracks are specially prepared for the events. Most tracks are also designed by far better engineers than are used for normal roadways.

    Now consider this. How many tracks have kids playing on them, loose dogs about, wild life doing what wild life does, and jay walkers that don’t respect the rules when entering onto a roadway from the side lines? How many tracks have two way traffic with intersections entering onto them with cage drivers who should be declared legally blind when they ignore or overlook stop signs, yield signs, and red lights all the while driving in a daze in heated/air conditioned stereo filled comfort? How many tracks are bordered by parked cars with drivers who fling their doors open without looking? How many tracks have pedestrians coming out from between those parked cars or wandering off the shoulder in an alcoholic or drug induced stupor? How many tracks have vehicles all running together at varying speeds in weight classes from a ten pound bicycle at 15 MPH to semi trailer units at 100,000 pounds at 70 MPH, each with a different destination in mind and a different set of rules of operation? How many tracks allow 16 year old student drivers, 80 year old Grannies, and suicidal a**holes to join in while you race? How many tracks have ongoing road construction while the race is in progress? You know the answer. IT’S NONE!

    I used to race when I was younger. One of the joys of racing was everyone and their machines were pretty evenly matched, we all went in the same direction, everyone knew the rules and heeded them for the most part, and we did not have to deal with all those things that come with road riding. Even the most seasoned professional will tell you that street riding is far far more dangerous than the worst road course simply due to all the crap that is going on around you.

    So your arguments about professionals or you honing up your braking skills to a higher level just don’t hold water when it comes to daily riding which is what most of us do. I seriously doubt that all the competitions run in one year make up even 1/10 of a percent to all the miles clocked on everyday streets by the daily riders of the world. ABS is by far safer than non ABS and the stats are there to prove it. Manufacturers such as BMW are not known to voluntarily spend millions of dollars on R&D for devices that don’t have merit or a beneficial purpose. They also believe, for the most part, that such products will save lives and make things safer which will help boost their product sales and I for one do not believe that manufacturers are stupid people. They can’t be and survive in today’s marketplace. Nuff Said.

    • The stats are there to prove it?

      Highway crash stat studies comparing ABS & non ABS versions of the same bike and their crash rates are called confounded studies. Conservative riders buy the conservative options and they tend to ride conservatively too and lo and behold, crash less. The studies also dont analyse the crashes to identify whether lack of ABS was a root cause of the crash. The other thing is that most studies are based on cruisers, tourers & in some cases scooters.

      Good practiced riders regularly outbrake simple ABS packages in the dry. You dont have to be a racer and can match ABS in damp conditions. Hat’s off to ABS in rudely wet conditions though – it does excel there.

      Until recently ABS hasn’t been up to scratch on sports bikes – it’s taken 30 years to get the technology approaching right – but they’ve had to disconnect the rider from the road to do it – e.g., Honda’s brake by wire technology.

      Sports bikes have more extreme dynamics than tourers and cruisers – and the danger is to overlay the simplistic understanding gained from such bikes and confounded studies and apply the view across all bikes.

      Not all ABS packages are the same. Some work on slip, some decelleration of the wheel, some a linked with the rear, some are independent and some will release the braking effort on the front wheel if the rear has gone air born or is locked up.

      Do NOT bring over a simplified understanding of ABS gained from an inherently stable vehicle like a car and apply it simplistically to bikes. Decide how you ride and whether the design of the ABS package you’re looking at will help or hinder you in the extreme moments you activate it.

      Do NOT think that ABS will help you avoid a collision – it’s still your bike to control. You still need to have skills. ABS might stop you from washing out the bike in a panic grab and therefore avoid you sliding into an obstacle – but you might ride right into the obstacle instead.

      The rider is still a bikes biggest safety feature.

  15. Well, I’ll start off by admitting I’ve had my wreck. Locked up rear wheel, slid sideways and well, we know how that ends. (In my defense, a rather large rock punctured my rear tire, and when I braked, I was oh so fortunate to be riding on top of the rock instead of the tire, so, no traction what-so-ever. Lucky me.)
    ANYWAY. That being said, I’m still torn. On the one hand, I appreciate simple machines, and let’s face it, this adds complexity. But the safety advantages are undeniable. I haven’t ridden an ABS equipped bike, but I trust it on my four wheeled vehicles, why shouldn’t I trust it on two? Granted, I won’t be able to afford a brand new BMW anytime soon, but I welcome them becoming more available. (I just don’t want them mandatory.)

    • I think Tom that most of us harken back to the days of simple machines but, with the exception of a few like Royal Enfield or the new Enfiled based Musket V twin, those days are gone. As far as riding an ABS machine, you should try it. Most Honda dealers will let you take out a demo machine. It’s not at all like most of the cars where you get that nasty pulsation on the pedal or the lever. It’s 100% smooth and you don’t even know it’s there. There are some who will argue about possible processor failure but I think in the long run mechanical failures will be rare, much rarer than over braking with non ABS systems. As far as legislation is concerned, they haven’t done it yet with cars so I don’t see this on the horizon for a long while just yet.

    • You don’t need to buy a new BMW to have ABS-BMW has used it on certain models for years, with other makes in the last 10 or so. i.e. five grand will get you a nice, ABS-equipped used bike.

    • Thank you B50 Jim and I consider your remark a complement. I got my first bike when I was 14, a Francis Barnett with a 49cc Villiers engine so I know exactly what you mean about the B50’s “ABS” system you referred to. And I also remember that special feeling about mastering a kicker instead of a button, setting my own carbs, and rebuilding my own engines. I wish that I had had the forethought to keep a few of the dinosaur’s around for Sunday afternoons but alas, I don’t have that kind of money. (I spent a great deal over the years on tuning parts, gummy tires, and chrome. The rest I just wasted on food, lodging, clothing and other stuff for the family. LOL) So, like most, I ride what is out there today and I just pray to the Gods that some halfwit lawmaker doesn’t draw a bead on those “Biker” types to try and shut us down permanently.

  17. Manufacturers take note – i will no longer purchase a bike without ABS.
    Specifically, Ducati is going to sell me my next bike, rather than Triumph,
    solely because of this.

  18. Whilst i can’t deny any of the above arguments. I don’t like the direction this is going in.
    Contemporary bikes are already too complicated for my liking (and yes i probably would forego the lid from time to time if it were legal). If your ever going to ride on a gravel road you should have an off switch for sure and ABS should never be a substitute to learning how to and practicing reguarly emergency stops. lock ups are not the root cause of acidents stupidity is and ABS sure won’t fix that (maybe make it worse in some cases).

    • Actually Stan, gravel roads are exactly where ABS shines. Last year I was booting it along on an unknown paved highway and rounded a bend to fine the asphalt ran out to 2-3 inches of loose washed gravel. There was no time or room to pull an emergency stop and the ABS handled the rock almost as well as the pavement. Admittedly it was a pucker factor in the neighbourhood of a 9 but it most likely would have been much worse had I not had ABS.

      • Actually Norm on loose surfaces you can often stop quicker if you lock the wheels as material builds up in front of the wheel effectivley giving you more grip. I while concede however that this won’t save you from a lowside whereas ABS might. Glad to hear you didn’t bin it.

        • You may be right about piling up. My experience has shown though that washed rock, such as this was, has a tendency to move off to the sides and act more like ball bearings. I any event, I didn’t bin it as you say and that was more than enough excitement for one day. No signs or any warning of any kind. The same type of thing happened about 30 years ago going to a rally near Riondel in British Columbia here in Canada. Around a bend and construction. Into the toolies and the bush my friend and I went carving out separate trails through the brush. Had a great time getting back out to the road only to find that at least five others had created their own trails…… We heard later that weekend that someone was seriously hurt on that turn and when we were going home the Department of Highways had seen fit to post signage……..

  19. Electronic systems are making everything with an engine so much better and safer and faster and…. . Thinking of everyday traffic or simple sunday riding, we need everything we can have in terms of support systems. Today, almost every ordinary car has ABS, ESP, GPS, ACC and so on and nobody argue it was better without them. On bikes we have just started to move in the same direction, where ABS and launch control are the latest steps on clever bikes. Of course there is more to come and all of it is more than welcome. Biking can only be better, even without kickstarting.

  20. I have ridden bikes with ABS before and personally I don’t like it. So for me this is just yet one more reason I would never own a new BMW motorbike. For most riders (particularly those with limited experience) I would image it would be very beneficial and certainty can save lives, but I love the motorcycle for it’s minimalist simplicity and I just don’t NEED it… But I realize I’m unique, as I also think a motorcycle should not weigh more than 400lbs… after all it’s just a bicycle with an engine… just my 2 cents.

    • Curious how you can “not like” an ABS-equipped bike. There is no difference in braking action under normal conditions, so I’m genuinely curious what caused you to dislike it.

      /asking sincerely

  21. Well, I just hope they make it work this time. As an R1150GS Adventure rider whose abs/servo brakes suddenly stopped working riding through Cambridge city centre in rush hour (BMW call it “Residual braking” – I call it heart-stopping….) I now have no faith in the system. At £1500 to replace and with multiple electronic ‘triggers’ that can result in “Residual [no] Braking” I had it surgically removed. At least I now have brakes that I know will work when I use them. Oh, and if you think this is an isolated case google ‘BMW 1150 servo failure”. Affects 1200s too….
    Your choice.

  22. I went with a friend yesterday when he bought his BMW. No ABS. I don’t think it mattered much; it was a clean R65 for $1100. I’m sure if the bike originally came with ABS it wouldn’t have lasted much longer than the ABS on Chris’s R1150GS.

    Maybe this is the real reason; the manufacturers are realizing that they are loosing sales 100:1 to used bikes. I just bought a super clean, low mileage ’93 Monster 900 for an amount that would have barely put a dent in a down payment on a Multistrada. 18 years from now I doubt there will be many functioning Multistradas on the road and people might be forced to consider buying new.

    Safety benefits aside, how long do electronic gadgets last these days before they start failing? I’m no Luddite I just think, if manufacturers are going to start including more and more electronics on motorcycles, they darn well should start trying to make them last at least as long as the rest of the motorcycle.

    -todd

  23. I suppose if I was going with a big touring rig I’d take the ABS. Otherwise, no thanks. I have this bad feeling though that this feature will be mandated in the future for any bike that’s street legal.
    I had a R1150GS with ABS. Good bike, but off pavement that ABS had to be OFF! It DID NOT SHINE. It STUNK! So offroad I had to go through the start-up routine to turn it off, then the warning is flashing at me the whole time.

  24. Leaving aside the ABS or non-ABS debate for a minute (I am a fan, BTW), I would like to focus on the video. It is interesting to me that this is produced by an insurance group that is actively lobbying for mandatory ABS. As such, this video rates as propaganda and should be seen as such. It is dramatic, though how “true to life” is it? Of that I am not sure. How many, beyond a rank newbie, just grabs a fist-full of front brake in the rain? f course, the benefit of ABS is that you can do just that. Perhaps that is the point?

  25. I would never base my decision to purchase a motorcycle soley on the availability of ABS brakes. I couldn’t care less to be honest. If you feel they are necessary for you to be comfortable riding more power to ya. If I buy a bike that happens to have them it doesn’t matter. I get used to whatever brakes I have and adapt my riding accordingly.

    Quoting insurance company statistics as a basis of debate over ABS is a complete waste of time. Their whole industry of government sanctioned extortion exists soley because of skewed statistics used to lobby legislation in the name of safety. For their financial benifit of course.

    I have just two words for all people who speak of ‘manditory safety devices’ and utter rubbish such as ‘if only person is saved it’s worth it’. Those two words are NATURAL SELECTION. Stupid people should die, just as nature intended. Hopefully before they reproduce and foul the gene pool with their stupid offspring.

    You won’t find an insurance company sponsored stastic to support my claim, but I believe that safer cars are the number one cause of accidents. People that have no buisness behind the wheel survive accident after accident, causing more and more of them. But hey, lets make sure to pass some laws to help save them from themselves so we can rest assured there will always enough stupid people around to make a left hand turn right in front of me.

  26. BMW are toting this as there way of seeking to keep there customers safe..What is not said is that under proposed European Union regulations ABS will be standard on most bikes..I say “Most” because the committees that draft the regulations have not decided if all bike will have ABS..ie: A honda 50cc ???
    Personly!! My main bikes for the last 10 years have had ABS. A Honda Pan European 1100 and 1300. I have never had to use the ABS on either machine in 250,000 odd miles on these bikes in all weathers riding all over Europe..I use the bikes all year round and here in Ireland we do get a lot of rain at times. Therefore you get used to riding in all weather conditions.. Paul asked can you beat the rider with ABS?..YES you can. BUT only with proper training and experience..In fairness not that many will have it, so it might be an asset to those that lack the skill or training.. The problem? Cost and complexity. It makes our hobby (and passion) less attractive to those that wish to start Biking..Part of that attraction is working on your own bike.. I’m an advocate of KISS… Keep It Simple Stupid.

  27. The question if you can beat a rider with ABS is irrelevant. Sure, you can go to the track and try to brake under controlled conditions, and if you know your bike and judge the surface right you may do as well as with ABS. But it’s in situations where you lock up your wheel(s) where the ABS comes in. I’ve had a K75S with ABS and tried it out just to see how it worked. I wasn’t too impressed. Never used it again but a few thousand miles later I got cut off by a car and slammed both brakes in a panic reaction – the ABS set in and saved my ass (and my bike!) because I would have gone down for sure without ABS.

    • How much emergency braking practice had you done Klaus?

      All through out these comments I see a recurring theme, ABS will save you from poor skill application. The next step are the SAFERIDER systems that are being worked on with merge and frontal collision warning systems, intersection management systems, throttle control via digital speed maps and cornering assist…

      This is the slippery slope peoples. Enjoy the saccarhin motorcycling experience.

  28. As someone who learned to ride in the dirt, and spent 15 years riding off road (including a bit of flat track) before buying my first street bike in my late 20’s, I always apply the back brake before I apply the front if I need to use the front brake. I’ve never ridden a bike with ABS, but it seems like it would preclude a very useful maneuver; locking up the back wheel to intentionally lay the bike down in a low-side. I don’t see how 2 wheel ABS could do anything but increase the rider’s chances of going over the high side, and that is most unpleasant. It seems to me like it’d be a good idea on the front brake only.

  29. This is a sad moment. The BMW ABS is unreliable and there are many reports worldwide of a failure fault on the F800 that sees some bikes lose brakes for up to 2 car lengths when they ride over a small bump or dip in the road while braking. To date BMW have no solution for this fault. I would not have ABS fitted to any future BMW till I knew this had been fixed. If you jump into any of the forums or use google you’ll get to learn more.

    BMW have an attitude of if they have no solution there is not a problem. I am very concerned at this step taken by BMW as it potentially puts more riders at risk.

  30. I also have no faith in BMW ABS systems. I have an 2003 1150rt iAbs which has exhibited ongoing brake problems- going to residual (ie dangerous) function at unexpected moments- was going down a steep hill two up fully loaded. lights go red at the bottom brakes on- lights all start flashing and no brakes- have no idea how I managed to stop in time. Many other issues and heart in mouth moments, till the system finally gave up. Binned the whole system (£1700!!!!!), and now have brakes that actually work in a predictable way. BMW ignore the whole issue. Last BM I own