Motorcyclists face a number of risk factors which do not affect car drivers. According to research, motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to experience a fatal accident on the road than those in passenger cars.
Head injury is a leading cause of motorcycle accidents, while a motorcyclist not wearing a helmet is 40% more likely to die of head injury than one who wears a helmet. Various studies have also proved the importance of antilock brakes. The rate of fatal crashes is 37% lower when motorcycles are fitted with Antilock Braking System (ABS) than those models which are not. Most responsible bikers will know the importance of ABS. Stopping of a bike is not as simple as stopping a car.
Bikes have separate brake controls for front and rear wheels. Braking of a car will at the most result in a skid while hard braking on a motorcycle could result in a serious and sometimes fatal fall. Braking occurs suddenly and unexpectedly. It all depends on the driver up ahead or on road surface conditions which are sometimes more slippery than they appear.
With ABS, the biker is able to apply brakes suddenly without the possibility of locking up. Antilock Brakes reduce brake pressure when brakes are applied and increase it when traction is restored. ABS also offers improved vehicle control and decreases stopping distances specially on dry and slippery surfaces. It does however pose a problem on loose surfaces and snow covered roads though, significantly increasing braking distances but at the same time still improving vehicle control.
Here is a brilliant example of how ABS saves the day. On a rainy day, KTM Duke 390 rider and his friend on Bajaj Pulsar decide to go out for a ride. While taking a turn, the Bajaj Pulsar rider, who was riding in front, loses traction and falls. Now, the rider and the Pulsar, both are skidding on the road, and just behind is the KTM Duke 390 rider. If it was not for ABS, the KTM Duke 390 rider would have also fallen. Watch the video below.
