ABS on a bike...

[Notj7]

I've been reading about ABS and how it works, and I was wondering.

Can you put ABS brakes on a bike without ABS?

Not for a newbie obviously, as gauging distance from the car in front is all part of the learning curve.

Reason: After locking up the rear wheel a little more than I'd like (I don't really use the front brake enough actually), I'd love to know that I could hammer on and stop in the shortest distance possible.
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Left the forum.

[c_dug]

Or....


Leave a bigger gap.
Use more front and less back brake.



Simples.
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[lihp]

The rear brake is almost useless when scrubbing off speed, it's just a "control brake" kind of.

With most braking and heavy braking on dry roads, you should be using the majority of the front brake

[Notj7]

[.....]

[UrbanRacer]

[chillyman0]

Well yes you could obviously buy all the parts from and existing similar bike with abs and bolt them onto your bike....

Would be very expensive though!
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[MarJay]

Don't use the rear brake so much.

I have ABS on my bike... its called my brain.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

It would be very difficult to add abs.

For ABS to work the system needs to know the exact speed of both wheels. It needs sensors on the wheels to determine this far more accurately than the speedo. So you would need the sensors, the mounts for the sensors and he bit to sense on he wheel (normally a toothed ring).

You would need to electrics to plumb the control unit into for the ABS, so likely major chopping of the loom required (or better a new loom). Fair chance that there would also be changes to the clocks for warning lights, etc, so some bodging or new clocks required.

And then you need the ABS pump itself to bleed off pressure when it sensing the wheels decelerating too quickly.

It is possible I suppose, but I suspect that even if you had a bike where there was an ABS version using new parts it would probably cost more than just buying the ABS version of the bike.

All the best

Keith
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[Acemastr]

I'm amazed you're locking your rear wheel so easily, sounds like you're pulling the clutch in a bit prematurely and losing drive to the rear wheel.

I can honestly say that i don't touch my rear brake on my CBR unless it's wet or i've gone in way too hot into a corner/misjudged braking distance.
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[Glenben92]

[maria383]

Foolish me... I read abs instead of ABS... Got excited then
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Happiness is realising you have another gear left

[MinhDinh]

[hellbound]

Try rapidly applying and releasing the brakes


its the same as ABS but alot cheaper
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[maria383]

I was bored at work and the mind wandered....
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Happiness is realising you have another gear left

[Teflon-Mike]

Usually loads of ABS on bikes... I usually weld it back up with a soldering iron.....

Technology is the application of science to solving a problem.....

But in this instance 'the problem' isn't one of technology, but skill...

Far to often in modern society we look to technology to save us effort, that's fine, I really LOVE my dishwasher, washing dishes is tedius boring time consuming chore I really don't having to bother about... and a pocket calculator.... I can usually tally the weekly grocery shop in my head as I go along to within a fiver or so, but pocket calculator saves a lot of head scratching when I'm trying to work out the roling diameter of a wheel, and back through revs to road-speed through the gear ratios....

But point is I COULD do the washing up in the sink, or work out my sums with a bit of paper and a pencil and a little thought....

When we start using technology to do stuff we CANT do then we are becoming 'Technology Dependent' and using it NOT to save effort or make stuff easier, but do stuff we do NOT have the know-how skill or dexterity to do... in which case we ought to be asking SHOULD we be doing it?

GPS is a great system for accurately getting a fix on your location on a map.... and a Sat-Nav a really useful way to save time pouring over maps finding a good route or hunting around looking for land-marks to work out where you are on a map....

But how many people turn up one way streets the wrong way, or drive into rivers, becouse they just blithely do what the sat-Nav tells them, rather than using their own common sense and a little basic navigation skill?

Yes, possible to fit ABS Braking system to a bike, its been done, therefore it must be possible. How practical it is is another matter, but depending on the bike you want to equip, possible there may be an 'off the shelf' kit to fit it, or easily adaptable parts that can be easily installed, or you are into completely scratch building a system from components.....

Though probably easier and cheaper to simply buy an already ABS equipped motorcycle.

But what will it do for you, and WILL it solve the problem?

It wont give you a skill you don't have, in the degree of braking finesse and control you want.

Fact that it will 'kick-in' and moderate your control clumsiness if you are a bit ham-fisted may give you some comfort and a bit of extra confidence, but.... that could be as dangerouse as it is advantageouse, suggesting you can ride beyond your competance.... and what happens when you have got used to braking harder and getting away being clumsy on the controls, when you get on a bike with no ABS?

If you sort 'the problem' aquire better braking control, the root cause is dealt with, and you shouldn't NEED ABS, or any hassle or expense firring it or trading bikes to get it, AND you wont be riding beyond your capabilities...... THEN if you get an ABS equipped machine, it matters little, having the fine braking control, you should never activate it!

As for not locking the back wheel, and using too much rear brake, though I doubt ABS would do much if anything to help you at all, anyway.

Weight shift under braking sees most load on teh front wheel, most braking force transmitted through the front wheel.

Unloaded back wheel locks becouse with 90% of the bikes weight being supported on teh front wheel, you have bog all traction on the back wheel.

All ABS will do is stop the wheel locking, it wont help provide any more braking effort through the back wheel... all ABS will do is allow the back wheel to turn at the same rate as the front, and if you aren't hanging any more braking force on that, wont make a jot of difference....

If you MUST have a technical solution for your lack of skill and dexterity, you dont want ABS you want Guzzi style 'linked brakes' wit the foot-brake operating rear brakes and one of the two front discs... think some Hondas have that system these days, is it on the Pan-Euro, any-one?

But, as others, its not the bike thats at fault, its not the technology or lack of, its your riding skill, and THAT is a much easier problem to 'fix', rather than looking for technology to do it for you..
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[ws4936]

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[Notj7]

Fantastic answers in this thread, very interesting and informative. I need to put a little more faith in the front brake then. Thanks guys.
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Left the forum.

[c_dug]

I've never been convinced in the power of my front brakes and grip on any of my bikes, but I've been pushing the front a little more at a time with the CBR and I am seriously impressed by the grip available if you go about it the correct way, that is smooth and progressive. From three figure speeds you can stop impressively fast considering the actual contact patch.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Frost]

Just remember to use the front brake gradually. Just grab at it and you'll lock the front up from which there is little chance of recovery. Provided you pull the front brake on gradually and get harder and harder on the lever you'll have the back wheel off the ground in the dry.

[SirEdward]