BMW K bikes (Bricks)


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1Back to top Go down   ABS road testing Empty ABS road testing Thu Aug 15, 2013 1:01 pm

JGT

JGT
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My recently acquired K75 is fitted with ABS braking. It carry's out its checks on start up and all is well. Or is it? How do I know they will work if ever I really need them? Do I find a quiet, straight, wet road and stand on the brakes? or is it safe to rely on the start up checks. John

    

2Back to top Go down   ABS road testing Empty Re: ABS road testing Thu Aug 15, 2013 1:13 pm

Guest

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I have to ride mine down a gravel track for 800 meters before I get to tarmac - they get tested every trip! Lots of muddy roads in your area, I used to live near there.

    

3Back to top Go down   ABS road testing Empty Re: ABS road testing Thu Aug 15, 2013 4:42 pm

MikeP

MikeP
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It's pretty easy to get the rear to work and you'll know it's working by the clattering sound.

I'm not sure why you need the reassurance of knowing that it's going to work? The best thing is to ride as though it doesn't work and if you ever get into a situation where it does kick-in and it limits the harm, then it's a bonus.

    

4Back to top Go down   ABS road testing Empty Re: ABS road testing Thu Aug 15, 2013 5:01 pm

JGT

JGT
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Yes, your quite right, I'm no hard rider relying on the brakes, its just that its a novelty. John

    

5Back to top Go down   ABS road testing Empty Re: ABS road testing Thu Aug 15, 2013 5:21 pm

sidecar paul

sidecar paul
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Actually, John, it's surprising how hard you can brake (without ABS) before the front wheel locks. I can do it on the outfit, but I'd never brake that hard on the solo. affraid 

Perhaps some stabilisers for testing??  ABS road testing 44271 

Paul.


__________________________________________________
'84 K100RS (0014643) (owned since '85), 86 K100RS (0018891) with Martello sidecar (built as an outfit in '88),
'51 Vincent (since '67),'72 Montesa Cota (from new), '87 Honda RS125R NF4 (bought 2015) 
....No CARS never ever!
    

6Back to top Go down   ABS road testing Empty ABS and Braking Thu Aug 15, 2013 6:24 pm

K100LT Notts

K100LT Notts
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When I first got my K, I had 10hrs one to one instruction with a retired Police motorcycle instructor.

His comment on braking was if your brake lights come when you are not in the final stage of stopping it indicates that your skills of observation and anticipation could be improved.  I now apply this skill to riding and driving - one benefit is the pads and discs seem to last indefinitely.

He was no slouch his "Making progress" = bat out of hell in my book.

In 9 years (37k miles) of having my K I think the ABS kicked in once when "blind" person pulled out of side road - so nice to have it Very Happy

    

7Back to top Go down   ABS road testing Empty Re: ABS road testing Thu Aug 15, 2013 8:20 pm

92KK 84WW Olaf

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There is one thing I always do though is use the brakes when slowing down to activate the rear brake light. Mostly engine braking and the right gear will slow you down but the only warning to following traffic is the brake light. The trick is actually to try driving as if you have no brakes. Anticipate everything but in a lot of traffic that will frustrate other road users. You cant win but you do stay alive as they say.


__________________________________________________
1992 K100LT 0193214 Bertha Blue 101,000 miles
1984 K100RT 0022575 Brutus Baja Red 578 bought 36,000 now 89,150 miles
1997 K1100LT 0188024 Wotan Mystic Red 689 58,645 now 106,950 miles Deceased.
1983 K100RS 0011157 Fricka 606 Alaska Blue 29,495 miles Damn K Pox Its a Bat outta Hell Now 58,200 miles. 
1996 K1100LT 0233004 Lohengrin Mystic Red 38,000 miles currently 51,800 miles.
1983 K100RS 0004449 Odette R100 colours 58,000 miles. Sprint fairing now 63,390 miles

Past:
1968 Yamaha 80 YG1
1971 Yamaha 125 YAS-1
1968 Honda 125 SS
1970 Honda CD 175
1973 Honda CB500-4
Honda CX 500
    

8Back to top Go down   ABS road testing Empty Re: ABS road testing Fri Aug 16, 2013 3:56 am

MikeP

MikeP
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Life time member
I know that this is going to raise some debate but:

Brakes are for slowing down.

Gears are for acceleration and maintaining a desired speed.

    

9Back to top Go down   ABS road testing Empty Re: ABS road testing Fri Aug 16, 2013 5:10 am

Guest

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MikeP wrote:I know that this is going to raise some debate but:

Brakes are for slowing down.

Gears are for acceleration and maintaining a desired speed.
 
I would prefer to say that BMW gave you brakes and gears - use them how you want to, and not how someone else tells you they should be used.

    

10Back to top Go down   ABS road testing Empty Re: ABS road testing Fri Aug 16, 2013 6:39 am

charlie99

charlie99
VIP
VIP
true that 92 ....

quite often I use the rear brake pedal to indicate to riders behind that im slowing down or .. that its a "pucker up" type corner at the speed that we are travelling at, for bike mates behind  ...three times before the big brake event ...or just as a warning to get heads up ...should the need arise ...like heading into a oblique bridge crossing with sand across the road , that just took out the rear end a little...  

we tend to ride with a good distance between us ..thankfully,  rather than the ...if I fall... im taking you with me types.

quite often im on the down shift fairly solidly already, rather than the brakes .  for many of the k s, they are sewing machine quiet from some distance to the rear ..so no engine braking noise  apparent-feedback is happening ...till you get behind seanii or alby ..... with that loverly cackle .......grin


__________________________________________________
cheezy grin whilst riding, kinda bloke ....oh the joy !!!! ...... ( brick aviator )

'86 K100 RT..#0090401 ..."Gerty" ( Gertrude Von Clickandshift ) --------O%O
'86 k100 rs.. #######..  "Fred " (f(rame) red ) ( Fredrick leichtundschnell ) - -
bits and pieces from many kind friends across the k100 world ...with many thanks ..
1987 k100rs ########   "Red"  - (red sports rs TWB style )
1989 K100rt #009637   "Black Betty"  (naked rt ala Nigel , now sporting an rs main fairing )
    

11Back to top Go down   ABS road testing Empty Re: ABS road testing Fri Aug 16, 2013 7:00 am

xpc316e

xpc316e
Gold member
Gold member
Using acceleration sense to roll off the throttle, remaining in your current gear, until the desired speed to negotiate the hazard is reached, and then selecting another more appropriate gear if necessary is very different to just changing down through the gears on the approach to a hazard.

'Gears to go, brakes to slow (when acceleration sense is unable to provide enough deceleration)' is a very sensible mantra.  If there is following traffic, then enough brake to just illuminate one's brake light is also a good move.

In slippery conditions, many riders and drivers resort to coming down through the gears rather than brake - this is not good practice as it concentrates the desired amount of braking force through only one wheel (or pair of wheels if in a 2 wheel drive car).  It is far better to spread that identical amount of slowing force over all the vehicle's contact patches by using the brakes.  By all means roll off the throttle at an early stage if it is slippery and use acceleration sense to get to the correct speed, but do not just bang down through the 'box.

Ettore Bugatti once remarked, when one of his cars was criticised for poor brakes, "Why would you want brakes? They slow you down."


__________________________________________________
VIN 0191428, 1991 K100LT, formerly owned by Lancashire Constabulary. This old warhorse is now 'out to grass' and living in retirement in Suffolk, where it will be showered with appropriate love and care.

VIN 6459609, 1992 K1100LT, another ex-Police machine, even though she now looks like she is a former fire engine.
    

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