132 TECHNOLOGY IN DETAIL
GENERAL NOTES
More information on the topic
of technology is available at:
bmw-motorrad.com/technik
ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM
(ABS)
How does ABS work?
The maximum braking force
that can be transferred to the
road is partially dependent on
the coefficient of friction of the
road surface. Gravel, ice, snow
and wet roads offer a consider-
ably poorer coefficient of fric-
tion than a dry, clean asphalt
surface. The poorer the coeffi-
cient of friction of the road is,
the longer the braking distance
will be.
If the maximum transferable
braking force is exceeded
when the driver increases the
brake pressure, the wheels
begin to lock and driving
stability is lost, and a fall can
occur. Before this situation
occurs, ABS intervenes and
adjusts the brake pressure
to the maximum transferable
braking force. This enables
the wheels to continue to
turn and maintains riding
stability regardless of the road
condition.
What happens when rough
roads are encountered?
Bumpy or rough roads can
briefly lead to a loss of contact
between the tires and the road
surface, until the transferable
braking force is reduced to
zero. If the brakes are applied
in this situation, the ABS must
reduce the brake pressure to
ensure riding stability when
road contact is restored. At this
point, the BMW Motorrad ABS
must assume extremely low
coefficients of friction (gravel,
ice, snow) so that the running
wheels turn in every imagin-
able case and the riding stabil-
ity is ensured. After detecting
the actual conditions, the sys-
tem adjusts the optimum brake
pressure.
Lifting off rear wheel
During extremely heavy and
rapid decelerations, however,
it is possible under certain
circumstances that the
BMW Motorrad Antilock Brake
System cannot prevent the
rear wheel from lifting off the
ground. In these cases, the
motorcycle can also flip end
over end.
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