3 Facts/Myths about ABS

There is a lot of misunderstandings of what ABS is and what it does and more importantly, what it doesn't do.

Let us discuss it with a listing of what I think are 3 facts and myths surrounding ABS and why it could save your life someday.

ABS is Anti Brake-Locking System

As the name implies, it prevents brake locks - the heart-stopping panicking moments of wheel locking up if we apply brake too suddenly.

Brakes? Kinda are more important than the engine themselves.

This can cause awesome skids which could be attractive if you are a stunt rider and are stunnting. Whereas, if you are trying to stop because you are riding head-on onto oncoming traffic; I have no clue why you would be; but that wouldn't spell good for you, so stopping the biking when you want it to stop is critical for riding.

ABS is any system that prevents the wheel lock, by releasing the pressure on the brake disc, if it senses a wheel lock. This is done using motion sensors, which in turn power a pump that reverses pressure brake (master kit - more on that later) releasing the brake.

Myth 01 - ABS causes you to lose braking distance

(ie) you could stop quicker if you are an expert in riding the motorcycle. There will always be a few who argue that they are soo good that if the dear god walked down from heaven and crapped on their head, they would still ride in all-glory and never crash. 

 

 Kind advice to beginners who are starting to ride- learn to distinguish this all-glory-buggers from veteran motorcycle riders. ABS saves lives all day every day and it has been proven statistically as well. These jerks are only out riding motorcycles because they believe it is a replacement to Tinder app, or maybe thhaat hasnt been working so well for them either. 

 

Quick Watch to Prove the fact: Braking Distance with ABS and without

Myth 02 - Sometimes ABS on few bikes is Bad

That it might not be worth the price that is paid for it (ABS Dominar or NonABS?)

Few bikes sport ABS systems that are not very smooth. The reverse pump hits soo hard that the lever feels its hitting back at you. It might not be the smoothest pump action, heck sometimes it feels like someone you get confused if the lever has broken. It surely isn't the Mercedes of ABS systems. It is not at all a cherry and roses feelings.

 

But it sure feels better to feel the pain of a pulsating brake lever than skin scraping on asphalt. Maruti 800 but maybe not as comfortably as a Mercedes but gets the job done. And so does a ABS stop the bike from skidding just like a better engineered ABS unit.

 

Quick Watch - A Beauty of a Machine, but without ABS

Myth 03 - ABS is a driving Aid, safety net and not an Iron Man armor

Maybe Jesus riding motorcycle wouldn't need ABS, but we sure will. And having ABS sometimes instills confidence in us to ride a little faster, attack that corner a little faster, accelerate a little more aggressively. But the fact is that riding a few digits slower can indeed be a lifesaver. Countless times we have had close calls that we all know that if we were a little faster, we would have screwed up.

Imagine ABS kicking in, and yet biting the dirt? those would be times you hopefully, wake up in a hospital and think that if you had ridden few digits slower on the speedometer, it could have been a close call just like how it always was before.

 

This is a myth because even if you blame the ABS for the crash, the fact is without ABS, the crash is likely to have been worser. 

Quick Watch - Riding Gears and ABS - Bring it on "said the tree"? 

The only situation where ABS isn't useful is low-traction (dirt and gravel) where you are riding in slow speeds. In relative terms, in speeds where you can jump off the bike without getting hurt. Then ABS is a hindrance as it prevents intentional over braking. If you can't jump off the bike, you are going faster than you care to switch off ABS.

There you go guys, more to come very soon. A read through on what a slipper clutch is for the everyday consumer. To help you make an educated purchase with the next motorcycle you buy!

PS. I am no way related to the videos tagged above and do not know a crap about video editing anyways :P They are simply present because they are informative.