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Bosch motorcycle stability control makes taking bends safer – Jan 17, 2014– Stuttgart, Germany (Techreleased) – If an obstacle suddenly appears when the motorcycle is already leaning into a bend, even experienced riders will struggle to cope. If they brake, either the front or the rear wheel might lose their grip and slide out – […]
Bosch motorcycle stability control makes taking bends safer – Jan 17, 2014– Stuttgart, Germany (Techreleased) – If an obstacle suddenly appears when the motorcycle is already leaning into a bend, even experienced riders will struggle to cope. If they brake, either the front or the rear wheel might lose their grip and slide out – making it almost impossible to keep the motorcycle under control. This is one of the reasons why one in two fatal motorcycle accidents on Germany’s roads occurs in a bend. The new Bosch MSC motorcycle stability control supports riders when braking hard in bends, which means this motorcycle assistant system can defuse thousands of critical situations and significantly bring down the number of fatalities in bends.
Bosch motorcycle stability control
If the rider brakes or accelerates too hard, MSC reduces the brake pressure or the acceleration to a level that allows the motorcycle to be steered much more safely. “MSC makes even the tightest bend safer,” says Gerhard Steiger, president of the Bosch Chassis Systems Control division. The system was first applied at the end of 2013, in KTM’s 1190 Adventure and 1190 Adventure R. Now ADAC, the leading German automobile association, has recognized this major safety improvement: on January 16, 2014, it awarded the Bosch MSC its 2014 Yellow Angel in the “Innovation and Environment” category. This is the second Yellow Angel to have been awarded to Bosch motorcycle safety technology, ADAC having already honored the then new ABS Generation 9 with a Yellow Angel in 2010.
More than 100 measurements per second when leaning
Motorcycle stability control brings together a whole range of safety functions to provide support during braking and accelerating, both on straight stretches of road and in bends. For the first time, and as far as the laws of physics will allow, this control system now works when the motorcycle is leaning hard. To achieve this, the experts at the Bosch center of competence for powered two-wheeler safety in Japan have added a sensor box to an existing powerful ABS. This box can measure or calculate the pitching and rotary motions on all axes more than 100 times a second. This makes it possible to adjust brake pressure, braking distribution, and engine torque extremely quickly – whether it is a case of the rider pushing a little too hard or of the bend getting unexpectedly tighter. This significant increase in safety puts MSC in the same class as Bosch’s other major safety innovations. “Motorcycle stability control is the ESP of the two-wheel world,” Steiger says, in reference to the anti-skid system for passenger cars.
At the same time, the system embodies Robert Bosch GmbH’s strategic imperative “Invented for life”. “We want to save thousands of lives,” says Fevzi Yildirim, who headed up the system’s development. One of his school friends had an accident on a moped and died at the age of 16, a tragedy that to this day drives Yildirim’s determination to develop safety systems. Together with his colleagues, he is especially keen to provide young and inexperienced riders with the support of Bosch assistance systems. But in dangerous situations, experienced riders also stand to benefit from these electronic systems.
Safety solutions for motorcycles and scooters worldwide
MSC technology represents the cutting edge of Bosch safety systems for powered two-wheelers. But, as Steiger says: “Whether it’s small Chinese scooters or powerful Italian racers, Bosch offers the appropriate safety systems for two-wheelers around the world.” MSC is predominantly aimed at premium motorcycles in Europe, Japan, and the United States.
The market for antilock braking systems continues to enjoy strong growth. Bosch has taken a modular approach, offering multiple versions for a variety of applications ranging from the basic system for entry-level motorcycles to ABS with a whole series of additional functions. For budget motorcycles and scooters – particularly in Asia – Bosch also offers what is called a front ABS. This 1-channel ABS controls just the front wheel, which on many motorcycles in Asia is the only one equipped with a hydraulic brake circuit. This function, too, will save lives: in India alone, 40,000 people die each year in motorcycle accidents.
