ABS and Motorcycles

 

Study shows antilocks good for motorcycles too
Option is not widely available; reduces fatal crashes by 38 percent

The Associated Press
updated 10:35 a.m. ET, Wed., Oct. 22, 2008
WASHINGTON - Antilock brakes could help motorcycle riders avoid fatal
crashes, according to a study by the insurance industry.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said Wednesday that the
fatal crash rate involving motorcycles equipped with optional antilock
brakes, or ABS, was 38 percent lower than the rate involving similar
motorcycles without the systems.

Antilock brakes, like their counterparts on cars and trucks, help
motorcycle riders stop their bikes abruptly without locking up the
wheels or fishtailing. The system evaluates the brake pressure
multiple times per second, allowing motorcycle riders to fully brake
both wheels in an emergency situation and avoid hitting the pavement.

Antilocks are more typically found on touring bikes and have been
available on a limited number of motorcycles since BMW AG introduced
ABS on the K100 in 1988.
<whack>

“You keep a bike from swerving out of control one time, and it’s worth
(it),” he said.



the rest of it is here http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27313063/

 

While I agree with the basic premise, the statistics appear to be faulty.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the report, researchers studied eight motorcycles that offer antilock
brakes as an option. They found there were 6.6 fatal crashes per 10,000
registered motorcycles without antilocks in 2005-2006. The rate for the
same bikes equipped with antilocks was 4.1, or 38 percent lower, during the
same period.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anti-lock brakes are only available on touring  or sport touring bikes.
Statistically, these bikes are involved in fewer fatalities in general than
the average for all bikes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a second study, the IIHS found that antilock brakes appeared to reduce
collision claims — insurance losses were 21 percent lower for motorcycles
with antilock brakes compared with similar motorcycles without the
equipment. The findings were based on a data set of 72,000 insured years of
2003-2007 model year Honda, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha bikes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once again, is this based on per cycle or a total sum of loss?
After a week with ABS I will probably never buy another bike without it as
my main ride. Interesting that BMW was excluded from the study when that
brand more than any of the others would likely provide a better "same
model" comparison.

--
Bob Mann

Cap'n, ah need moor pow'r.

 wrote:


as with anything statistically


I figured per motorcycle not a total gross sum


"In the report, researchers studied eight motorcycles that offer
antilock brakes as an option. They found there were 6.6 fatal crashes
per 10,000 registered motorcycles without antilocks in 2005-2006. The
rate for the same bikes equipped with antilocks was 4.1, or 38 percent
lower, during the same period."

I took this as they used 8 bikes of the same brand model that had abs
and 8 bikes of the same model brand that did not, I did not see where
BMW was excluded, in fact bmw would most definitely have to be
included as there are not 8 other brand or model motorcycles in the
U.S. that have ABS, BMW is the only brand that carries ABS over the
model range (except for some of the new dirt bikes) but all the k
bikes have it (no option to buy without abs) all the GS models have it
(with a option to buy without abs)

ok the ST and GW have abs, but Yamaha only has the FJR with ABS and
I'm sure the new C-14 by Kawasaki is too new to be included in this
study. (they all can be purchased with or without ABS last I knew)

"In a second study, the IIHS found that antilock brakes appeared to
reduce collision claims — insurance losses were 21 percent lower for
motorcycles with antilock brakes compared with similar motorcycles
without the equipment. The findings were based on a data set of 72,000
insured years of 2003-2007 model year Honda, Suzuki, Triumph and
Yamaha bikes."

This was another study, generally taking into account the models with
ABS and without ABS, probably because there just is not enough bikes
with ABS as a option to be compared equally from BMW.  that's about
all I can figure on that.  

 

This was the part I was th8inking of when they excluded BMW.
I would have thought that BMW had the largest percentage of the same model
with and without ABS.
Other than the GW I don't think that any of the others had all that many
ABS bikes available or on the road.

--
Bob Mann

Cap'n, ah need moor pow'r.

 wrote:


outside the FJR and now the brand new Kawasaki the only ones I knew
were the GW and sT series........ who knows, heck them even including
the HD or Kawasaki is ridiculous IMO they are both to new on the
market with ABS, then we have the whole helmet and helmet less rider
to add into the equations,  it;s time for a enw and updated hurt type
report I guess.  
one thing is for sure, ins companies are best with the numbers, they
are doing it for their bottom line, not to inform us.