The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 ABS (antilock braking system) will be launched globally as the world’s first production model fitted with the Bosch motorcycle ABS 10 system. The 2018 model of the Suzuki GSX-S125 ABS will also have the system that is 30% lighter and 45% smaller than the current ABS 9.
This, per Bosch, makes ABS 10 especially suitable for the small two-wheelers that are particularly popular in emerging markets.
By 2021, approximately 160 million two-wheelers will be produced annually, roughly one-third more than today. Nearly 90% of these will be built in China, India, and Southeast Asia.
Every year, 21,000 fatal bike accidents occur in Indonesia and Thailand. Studies by Bosch accident research indicate that, if every two-wheeler were equipped with motorcycle ABS, approximately one in four of these accidents could be prevented.
The theory is that motorcycle ABS gives riders more confidence, allowing them to react faster and brake harder. ABS prevents the wheels from locking during emergency braking, so the bike remains stable, helping riders to stay upright. However, some studies on automobiles with ABS show that it allows drivers to be more aggressive.
Motorcycle ABS is Becoming Standard
Worldwide, an increasing number of countries are mandating motorcycle ABS – not surprising since this is the regulatory path that most safety systems follow as production grows and prices fall. In the European Union, motorcycle ABS legislation will be applied from the beginning of 2017 to all newly registered vehicles with an engine displacement over 125 cc.
Similar legislation will also apply in Japan and India from 2018, and in Taiwan from 2019. Brazil plans to mandate ABS for all existing vehicle types with an engine displacement over 300 cc, with legislation being enacted between 2016 and 2019. Motorcycle ABS will surely follow at some point in the United States, Australia, and Ecuador.
Since 1995, Bosch has manufactured more than two million motorcycle ABS units. In 2013, Bosch developed motorcycle stability control (MSC), the world’s first “all-in-one” safety system for two-wheelers. By monitoring two-wheeler-specific parameters such as lean angle, the system can instantaneously adjust its electronic braking and acceleration interventions to suit the riding status. This prevents the bike from low-siding or righting itself when braking. SVA uses ultrasonic sensors, side view assist that detects blind spots and helps riders avoid collisions when changing lanes.
