Motorcycle ABS is now Smaller, Lighter and more Affordable

ThetwochannelABSMK100MABisshowcasedforthefirsttimeattheEICMA. Continentalcreatesownorganizationalunitforbusinesswithelectronicbrakesystems formotorcycles.

FrankfurtamMain,Germany,October22,2013.WiththeMK100MAB,theinternational automotivesupplierContinentalhasdevelopedanewantilockbrakesystem(ABS)for motorcyclesthatisapproximately50%smallerandlighterandthuslowerinpricethanprevious systems.ThisnewtwochannelABSwillbepresentedforthefirsttimefromNovember7thto 11thattheEICMAmotorcycleshowinMilan.TheMK100MABissuitableforallmotorcycle typesandwillinitiallygointoseriesproductioninEuropein2015. Thisenhancedsystemisnotonlyapproximately50%smallerandlighterthanthetwochannel ABScurrentlyonthemarketmoreover,duetoitsenhanced,sturdierfeatures,theMK100MAB canbemoreeasilyadaptedtodifferentmotorcycletypes.Thestandarddesignofthenew systemincludesnotonlytheABSfunction,butalsoarearwheelliftoffprotectionsystem(RLP). Dependingonindividualcustomerrequirements,asportABSfunctionadaptedforracetrack operation,anoffroadABSforoffroaddriving,andatractioncontrolsystemforcompensating fortractionlossduringaccelerationarealsopossible. Continentalconcentratesmotorcyclebusinessinownorganizationalunit Foraslongastenyearsnow,Continentalhasdevelopedandproducedantilockbrakesystems fortwowheelerstocontinuouslyimproveactivedrivingsafetyformotorcycles.Inmid2013, businessdevotedtoelectronicbrakesystemsformotorcycleswasconcentratedinitsown organizationalunitwithintheVehicleDynamics(VED)BusinessUnitoftheChassis&Safety Division."Continentalintendstofurtherexpanditsalreadygrowingmotorcyclebusinessinthe yearstocomeaneworganizationalunitdedicatedtothisbusinessformsthebasisforthis expansion,"explainedRonanLeRoy,HeadofthenewlycreatedorganizationalunitMotorcycle Business. Justasforpassengercars,antilockbrakesystemsareimportantformotorcyclestoensurethat thevehicleremainsstablewhenslammingonthebrakesandthatthefrontwheeldoesnotlock, thuspreventinguncontrolledskidding."StudiesbyADACandDEKRAshowthat20%to30%of allaccidentscanbepreventedbyequippingmotorcycleswithanABS,"saidRonanLeRoy. "WithtothewidespreaduseofABSsystemsinmotorcyclesandscooters,thenumberofpeople seriouslyandfatallyinjuredcouldbeloweredconsiderably."TheEuropeanUnion(EU)has alreadyreactedtothis:ABSsystemsaretobemandatoryinEuropeforallmotorcyclesover125 cubiccentimeters.Thisregulationwillbeeffectiveasof2016fornewlydevelopedmodelseries, andforallnewmotorcyclesfrom2017onwards.

Continentaloffersanumberofdifferentelectronicbrakesystemsformotorcycles,allofwhich arebasedonthetriedandtestedABStechnologyforpassengercars: TheonechannelABSissuitableforsmallermotorcyclesandscootersandwasspecially developedformorecostsensitivemarkets,suchasAsia.Itpreventsthefrontwheelfrom lockingduringbraking,therebyreducingtheaccidentriskforthedriver. ThetwochannelABSfromContinentalhasalreadybeeninproductionsince2008thefurther enhancedMK100MABwillalsobereadyforserialproductionstartingin2015.ThisMotorcycle AntiLockBrakesystem(MAB)offersimprovedbrakecontrolandthusoptimaldecelerationfor addeddrivingsafety. TheMotorcycleIntegralBrakesystem(MIB)allowsthebraketobeappliedtobothwheelsevenif thedriveronlyactivatesthefrontbrakelever.Thesystemdetectsthebrakingintentionand activelybuildspressureontheotherbrakecircuit,causingbothwheelstodecelerate.