[REPORT]
HONDA REVEALS WORLD’S FIRST ELECTRONICALLY-CONTROLLED “COMBINED ABS”
During the first Honda Technical Workshop on Motorcycle Safety, on June 9th, Honda presented a new innovative safety feature for Super Sport bikes. More than 150 motorcycle experts from all over Europe convened at the LUK Driving Centre near Baden-Baden (Germany). Attendees included press, media and representatives from several scientific branches and technical associations.
The fundamental ABS advantage of wheel lock avoidance and the basic CBS advantages of easier control and higher stability are already well established. In the new Electronically-controlled “Combined ABS” for Super Sport motorcycles these functions are supplemented with special characteristics required by Super Sport motorcycles. Due to its short wheelbase, a Sportsbike tends to pitch. The new advanced combined “brake by wire control” system overcomes this, providing enhanced stability, controllability and deceleration.
The application of Advanced Brake Systems has been extended over nearly the whole line-up and market acceptance has been growing all over Europe. Honda President Takeo Fukui has confirmed Honda’s commitment to offering these state-of-the-art brake systems on almost every model of 250cc displacement and over, by 2010.
Since launching the first motorcycle series disc brake on the CB750 Four in 1969, Honda has continually been evolving brake systems that make motorcycle control easier and more effective.
In 2006 after 15 years of research and development Honda released the world's first motorcycle airbag. Honda’s commitment to motorcycle safety also includes the Motorcycle Riding Simulator and the Riding Trainer, both of which are used for hazard prevention training. Research is also being done to improve vehicle recognition through enhanced conspicuity, and to develop vehicle communication technologies.
Honda fully supports the EU targets for traffic fatality reduction and is well on its way to fulfilling its safety commitments under the European Road Safety Charter. While expanding its own safety activities and technologies, Honda also encourages a common approach to safety by the entire Motorcycle community, believing that general market acceptance of all safety technologies is essential to exploit their full potential.
[INDEX]
ETSC DRAWS ATTENTION TO MOTORCYCLING SAFETY
EP ADOPTS LEGISLATION ON HIGHER SAFETY STANDARDS FOR ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE
THE TECHNOLOGY
The system’s effectiveness is down to four main factors:
- Electronic control of the CBS, allowing more advanced control of brake force. This provides a more sensitive distribution of brake force over both wheels.
- Measurement of rider input force on each lever. The ideal brake force on both wheels is generated accordingly, providing optimum distribution and minimising vehicle body reaction.
- An “ABS modulator” which ensures late triggering of ABS, and smooth ABS intervention.
- Small size meaning that the system’s components can be well integrated in the motorcycle’s package. Thus mass-centralisation, a key feature for Super Sport bikes, is supported.