BMW R 1200 GS 2014, Rider'S Manual

Page: 103 / 197

How does ABS work?
The maximum braking force that
can be transferred to the road
surface is partially dependent on
the friction coefficient of the road
surface. Gravel, ice, snow and
wet roads offer a considerably
lower friction coefficient than a
dry, clean asphalt surface. The
poorer the friction coefficient of
the road surface is, the longer
the braking distance will be.
If the maximum transferable brak-
ing force is exceeded when the
rider increases the brake pres-
sure, the wheels begin to lock
and driving stability is lost, and
a fall can result. Before this sit-
uation occurs, ABS is activated
and the brake pressure is ad-
justed to the maximum transfer-
able braking force. This enables
the wheels to continue to turn
and maintains driving stability re-
gardless of the road surface con-
dition.
What happens when
rough roads are
encountered?
Bumpy or rough roads can briefly
lead to a loss of contact be-
tween the tires and the road sur-
face, until the transferable brak-
ing force is reduced to zero. If
braking is carried out in this sit-
uation, ABS must reduce the
brake pressure to ensure driv-
ing stability when restoring con-
tact to the road. At this point in
time, the BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS must assume extremely low
friction coefficients (gravel, ice,
snow) so that the running wheels
turn in every imaginable case and
the driving stability is ensured.
After detecting the actual con-
ditions, the system adjusts the
optimum brake pressure.
How is the BMW Motorrad
Integral ABS noticeable to
the rider?
If the ABS system must reduce
the braking forces due to the
conditions described above, then
vibrations can be felt at the hand-
brake lever.
If the handbrake lever is pulled,
then braking pressure is built up
at the rear wheel with the integral
function. If the footbrake lever is
first actuated after this, the brake
pressure already built up can be
felt earlier than the counter-pres-
sure, than when the footbrake
lever is actuated before or to-
gether with the handbrake lever.
Lifting off rear wheel
However, during extremely heavy
and rapid deceleration it is possi-
ble that the BMW Motorrad Inte-
gral ABS will not prevent the rear
wheel from lifting off the ground.
6
101
z Technology in detail