Insurance industry pushing for anti-lock brakes on bikes

[ducatiz]

It will probably happen just like airbags, tps, and catalytic converters, all of which add cost

[Greg]

I would welcome the addition of more ABS bikes, and wish my Monster was equipped with it. Maybe if insurance companies would offer a 30% discount to bikes equipped with ABS we would see more demand for them.

It also wouldn't bother me if ABS was mandatory, and if all bikes had them then maybe the cost would come down a bit as well. I do think there should be an over ride switch to enable people to turn it off though.

[ducatiz]

That's the problem.  I don't know if my ins co offers a discount for abs.  If they do I would consider it.  Of course I'd prob remove it and ebay it

[Raux]

issue with all these safety features also, is that the more unique and sofisticated these things get, the less likely you'll be able to mod the bikes, putting a lot of people out of business in the aftermarket arena.

just think about steering wheels for instance. years ago, you could buy momo and tons of other sport wheels for your cars, now if they are available they are super expensive, and not something you can do at home. yeah lets unhook and rehook up a 200mph airgun... no thanks.

[superjohn]

That's the problem.  I don't know if my ins co offers a discount for abs.  If they do I would consider it.  Of course I'd prob remove it and ebay it

Why? Do you pull the seat belts and airbags out of your cars and sell them?

[ducatiz]

Why? Do you pull the seat belts and airbags out of your cars and sell them?

If I could, I might.  But it is a federal crime to do so and operate the car on the road.

Probably not on a car, but then again, you throw 700 lbs of stuff onto a car (airbags, catalytic system, heavy mufflers, etc) and gas mileage goes down.

I don't like the way ABS operates on a bike -- i've ridden for 25 years and it would mess with me -- esp given i own a bunch of vintage bikes.

[superjohn]

If I could, I might.  But it is a federal crime to do so and operate the car on the road.

Probably not on a car, but then again, you throw 700 lbs of stuff onto a car (airbags, catalytic system, heavy mufflers, etc) and gas mileage goes down.

I don't like the way ABS operates on a bike -- i've ridden for 25 years and it would mess with me -- esp given i own a bunch of vintage bikes.

Interesting. I said the same thing about ABS in cars 20 years ago, but now I welcome it. I'm perfectly capable of threshold braking in most situations, but there are just too many variables on the street for me to think I could confidently handle all of them.

I'm also of the opinion, based on what the auto industry did to guys like Tucker, that without mandatory regulations to install safety equipment they wouldn't install any and the cars would cost the same with bigger profit margins.

[Popeye the Sailor]

I'm also of the opinion, based on what the auto industry did to guys like Tucker, that without mandatory regulations to install safety equipment they wouldn't install any and the cars would cost the same with bigger profit margins.

Given that safety is a selling feature, I doubt it. It's one of the reasons people buy Volvos.

[superjohn]

Given that safety is a selling feature, I doubt it. It's one of the reasons people buy Volvos.

It is now, but looking back I don't see where it would have gained hold historically given automakers tried to pass padded dash's off as safety equipment, but who knows.

[ducatiz]

Interesting. I said the same thing about ABS in cars 20 years ago, but now I welcome it. I'm perfectly capable of threshold braking in most situations, but there are just too many variables on the street for me to think I could confidently handle all of them.

I'm also of the opinion, based on what the auto industry did to guys like Tucker, that without mandatory regulations to install safety equipment they wouldn't install any and the cars would cost the same with bigger profit margins.

I have a different view of cars and bikes. 

I can see the utility on a car -- the vast majority of car drivers are idiots.  Completely untrained and license testing is a JOKE. 

However, the idiots on bikes either end up dead or posting their bike parts on ebay.  They don't stay bike riders for ever (or they ride so rarely that they lower their risk factors for dying).

I see the real solution to "increasing safety" to be better driving training and testing (for bikes and cars).  Give me a graduated driver license system -- you score 100%, you get to drive pretty much where and however you want.  If you score 80%, you have to stick to no faster than 50 on the highway and may never enter the left lane except to exit the highway.  Score 65% or lower and you are only allowed to drive 35 max, during daylight, and no highways.

[pennyrobber]

Question for those in the know. Do the current moto-ABS systems operate on both front and rear brakes? I recall seeing obvious front ABS rotors on BMW bikes but never really looked at the back. The reason I ask is that inexperience riders seem go heavy on the rear braking and lock rear wheels up pretty often. It's actually kind of silly how often I see riders around town locking the rear up trying to panic stop in traffic or at stop lights.

[ducatiz]

The ones I have seen do.  Even combine one front rotor and the back

[Randy@StradaFab]

 I have BMW K1200GT with anti-lock brakes, and yes it operates on both brakes. Unless you're in a panic situation you're never gonna know you have anti-lock brakes. Yeah, it adds weight, but other than that it's no big deal.

[superjohn]

I see the real solution to "increasing safety" to be better driving training and testing (for bikes and cars).  Give me a graduated driver license system -- you score 100%, you get to drive pretty much where and however you want.  If you score 80%, you have to stick to no faster than 50 on the highway and may never enter the left lane except to exit the highway.  Score 65% or lower and you are only allowed to drive 35 max, during daylight, and no highways.

Now that we can agree on. I have always been a proponent for a graduated license system with reduced/eliminated fines for speeding on rural Interstates for someone who has had advanced training.

[Triple J]

i think it's more a function of the type of bikes that ABS has been delivered on.

i don't think many sport bikes have them.  mostly tourers.

which are ridden far less aggressively overall.

I believe the CBR1000RR is the only sportbike where ABS is currently available...maybe the S1000RR as well? I'm also pretty sure all major race organizations have banned ABS...maybe why it hasn't been showing up on sportbikes yet (I'm sure Derby will clarify the rules for us  ).

It's pretty hard to argue that not having ABS is superior to having it. Sure...a very experienced rider may stop quicker without it in ideal conditions. ABS isn't designed for that though...it's designed for panic situations and less then ideal road conditions..

My only complaint with modern ABS on bikes is that it makes bleeding the brakes more difficult.