Don't like ABS? Tough sh&*t! - it'll mandatory in 2016

[Rincewind]

The EU Parliament voted this week to make ABS mandotry on all motorcycles and scooters above 50cc.  It's conceivable that this decision will have an industry-wide effect that will impact the US market regardless of if our regulatory bodies vote likewise or not.



ABS mandatory on motorcycles from 2016
By Isabelle Smets | Wednesday 07 December 2011

Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) will be mandatory on all new motorcycles of more than 50cc from 2016, according to a vote by the European Parliament Committee on the Internal Market (IMCO), on 5 December in Brussels. It pushed forward by one year the date initially proposed by the European Commission in a draft regulation presented in late 2010 on the approval of Category L vehicles, namely two or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles. The industry is reluctant, pointing out that the measure will be costly. But according to the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), what is most important is that it should save hundreds of lives every year.

“Delaying mandatory introduction of ABS cannot be justified for reasons of availability or price,” commented the Director-General of the Brussels office of FIA, Jacob Bangsgaard. He notes that the cost of ABS is negligible compared with the total cost of a motorcycle – around 2% of the price of a 125cc vehicle – and its large-scale introduction will further reduce these costs. MEP Kerstin Westphal (Germany), who negotiated for the S&D group, shares that view: “I am strongly convinced that neither the cost of materials nor applications is exorbitantly high,” she said. Rapporteur Wim van de Camp (EPP, Netherlands) prefers to highlight the safety argument: “Seventeen percent of road casualties are motorcyclists, moped riders and scooter riders, while they account for only 2% of all traffic,” he noted.

The Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA) has concerns about another aspect of the report: MEPs introduce new provisions making technical inspections mandatory in case of substantial modifications to a vehicle, to improve its performances, for example. “This will mean that all the usual changes motorcyclists make for riding comfort, fuel efficiency or simply to suit their riding style will be illegal or will have to be checked and approved,” notes Aline Delhaye, FEMA secretary-general. This type of adaptation “has never been a problem so far and there is no reason why it should become a problem tomorrow,” in her view. The FEMA does not intend to give up and warns that it will continue to press for a change.

The report is expected to be put before the EP plenary, on 13 February 2012. Meanwhile, the Council, Parliament and Commission will embark on talks to try to come to an agreement at first reading (co-decision).
“Delaying mandatory introduction of ABS cannot be justified for reasons of availability or price”

http://www.europolitics.info/external-policies/abs-mandatory-on-motorcycles-from-2016-artb320515-46.html

[bomber]

Given the state of the EU economy, one would think they might have other priorities . . . .

Seems one would be mistaken.

Thanks for the heads up!

[bomber]

Lots of reasons not to like it, lots of reasons to desire an OFF switch . . ..

It is certainly useful, within certain parameters. I'm glad I have it on my big mile-eater.

But I'd like an off switch.

[Rincewind]

While I doubt that anyone will like the mandatory status of it, I'm rather sick of hearing from the "I can do it better" elite who think that ABS is the devil's work. It's a good idea, and while the idea of ABS could use some tweaking (like, an OFF switch for those who care to go off-road, I suppose), all things considered, it's a little short sighted and close-minded to just blindly bash ABS, IMO.

I'd like to re-post this feedback letter we got on The Pace about a real-world, no-do-over situation where ABS helped the rider... a rider who was a hard-core ABS hater.

Agreed.  But will the law prevent off-switches, for instance?  We shall see.  

Then again, it was prophesied about 5-years ago that we would have mandatory ABS by today, and that obviously didn't happen.  

[JReazor]

Agreed.  But will the law prevent off-switches, for instance?  We shall see.  

Then again, it was prophesied about 5-years ago that we would have mandatory ABS by today, and that obviously didn't happen.  

And what's next? Mandatory traction controll, air bags, 2 more wheels? Think bikes are heavy and expensive now? Give it a few more years. It happened to cars. We would be foolish to think it can't happen to motorcycles.

[bomber]

If this were PO, one might wonder if the Tea Party would tackle this issue, diminishing our rights as it will . . . . ..

But it's not.

;-}

[black hills]

doubt it will be that much of an issue, someone will come up with a product to disable it. "for off road use only" of course

[Cablebandit]

The ON/OFF switch added to my Vstrom was a simple toggle switch.  If you don't want to mess with that just pull the ABS fuse.  

[county]

Although I do not stop for the police I endorse ABS for lesser riders...

[Flyer]

Given the state of the EU economy, one would think they might have other priorities . . .

Mandated safety has been around since Ralph Nader.
The only puzzlement is how we managed to avoid the worst of it for so long.
Lawmakers see safety as a "Mom and apple pie" (or sauerbraten and 'kraut) issue, that only takes as much effort as a raising of hands. The Eurocrisis dealy; exponentially trickier and more calorie consuming.
I predict both issues will get worse before they get better.  

[X1Glider]

Although I do not stop for the police I endorse ABS for lesser riders...

To give lesser riders false confidence that they'll never have an accident?  ABS has it's limitations of usefulness.  

[jfurf]

That's four years from now. If you look at how quickly the motorcycle marketplace evolves, it seems to me that the vast majority of new motos sold in 2016 were destined to be equipped with ABS anyway.

[X1Glider]

I've had ABS on 2 bikes...both BMWs and thoroughly enjoyed having it.  In the rain and snow, it was most excellent, being able to stay straight and upright in greasy conditions.  Especially on long trips where highway hypnosis had set in and I needed to wake up at the last minute and grab a handful in a panic stop.  Never had to worry about going over the bars.

The flipside is ABS will not prevent you from highsiding while braking hard into a turn.  It won't prevent the wheels from sliding out from underneath you either.  Nor will it prevent you from running into the rear bumper of a car in front of you.

Riding a motorcycle still requires skill and experience to know how to apply brakes in any given situation.  Are up upright or leaned over?  Do you need more front?  More rear?  How much of each?  Is it dry or wet?

ABS can't make decisions based on suface conditions and surrounding situations.  It can only react based on readings from 2 wheel sensor rings.  Is the wheel moving?  At what speed?  Is there a difference in wheels speeds?  Did it slow impossibly fast?

I do like some benefits of ABS but like many others, always felt that it should be able to be actively switched off or on on the fly. None of this must be stopped first or turn the engine off crap.  Nor should all ABS systems be part of a linked brake setup.  May times on the Bimmers, I've wanted independent control of front and rear brakes.  Sometimes I wanted it off.  I've almost run into things in the road, like a car that crashed in front of me, because the ABS released the brakes to keep from locking up and extended my braking distance by nearly 5 feet.  A change of direction fixed that issue and I've lived to tell about it.

In order to mandate ABS on a single track vehicle, you really need some kind of stability control as well.  The 2 work in concert to be effective and safe.  But it will never work as well as a 2 track vehicle.

Those freaks in Brussels are the biggest wankers in the EU..moreso than the TUV.  Perhaps the UK will steer clear of them some day but I don't forsee the USA recieving boatloads of ABS bikes due to these 2016 requirements in the EU.  We'll still be buying bikes at 800-1500 less if we desire.

[cbsnbiker]

This topic, like helmet laws, just aren't important to me.

I have ABS on two of my bikes, and like it that way. The GS's ABS can be turned off, for riding in the dirt.

I want ABS on all my future bikes, irrespective of any law.

I wear a helmet, whether or not it's the law.

 

[Meemuh]

This might really bum me out in 2025 - cause it sure won't effect me until then.

[sprint_st]

That might be something of importance to the EU, but IMO, I can't see it even hitting the radar for a long, long time, if ever, in the USA.  Just seems to be a rehash of the "to use ABS or not to use ABS" argument.

[Giaka]

While I doubt that anyone will like the mandatory status of it, I'm rather sick of hearing from the "I can do it better" elite who think that ABS is the devil's work.

Meh I will take my ABS that works 100% of the time over my skills that are sometimes asleep. I probably will not buy another bike unless it has ABS and if its a big power liter+ bike I want traction control as well.

[Mookie]

The flipside is ABS will not prevent you from highsiding while braking hard into a turn.  

That must take some serious talent.  


Seems like initially it would be a significant weight penalty, but like everyone else says, as long as there's an off switch and doesn't require linked front/rear brakes I don't see much harm in it.  The weight is coming down already  and I'm sure in a few years it'd be nearly negligible.

[scottzilla]

Given the state of the EU economy, one would think they might have other priorities . . . .

Seems one would be mistaken.

Thanks for the heads up!

I'd like to hear your reasons for turning ABS off.

[Skee]

I believe that given time - perhaps 5 to 10 years - the free market system will resolve this issue without government intervention.

As others have pointed out, almost no one wanted seat belts in the '70s.  Today, almost no one will buy a car without them, and side airbags, ABS, traction controls, etc.

I predict it will be the same for ABS & TC on bikes.  As long as there is a switch for track use, there will be a balanced need for unknown road conditions and bad weather days.

As much as we as people like to think we embrace new technology, the market as a whole is resistant to new ideas.  It will catch on.


BTW I sure would like to know how CableBandit wired that switch to disable the ABS on his Wee.  (PS I also heard about this thing called GOOGLE)   ABS can be a bit scary on loose track downhills.  Thanks for the headsup that it can be switch disabled rather easily.  Hadn't given it any consideration because I figured there was probably some failsafe that got in the way.