The EU Commission is lobbying for anti-lock brakes to be mandatory on motorcycles as part of an effort to reduce the road death rate among motorcyclists.

This requirement is part of the recently presented draft framework regulation for motorcycles and is intended to apply to motorcycles larger than 125cc.

The proposal is currently passing through the EU legislative procedure and will likely be adopted in 2011 to come into effect from 2017.

On the basis of a new generation of brake control systems, Bosch has developed an independent series for motorcycles for the first time.

"The ABS 9 systems for motorcycles are the world’s smallest," says Dr Werner Struth, president of the Bosch Chassis Systems Control division. "This is our way of encouraging manufacturers to install this life-saving safety system in all motorcycles equipped with hydraulic brakes."

Bosch began producing the motorcycle ABS in late 2009.

HIGH-RISK GROUP

In 2008, 5520 motorcyclists were killed in the European Union - 14% of all road deaths. The number has hardly changed since 1997 but the number of dead car drivers fell by 49%, as an analysis of 17 European countries shows.

According to the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), the risk of death is 18 times greater for a motorcyclist than for a car driver, assuming the same distance travelled.

Although the first anti-lock brakes were installed on a motorcycle in 1988, only 16% of all new motorcycles made in Europe are equipped with this safety system – one in six.

In cars, by contrast, a commitment on the part of automakers made ABS standard in 2004 and the system has been providing more safety for drivers since then.

Suppliers all used to use car ABS technology as the basis for their motorcycle anti-lock systems. Now, the experts at the Bosch engineering centre in Japan have for the first time designed a series specifically for motorcycles that are much smaller and weigh only 0.7kg half the size and weight of their predecessors.

CREDIT TO BOSCH JAPAN
 
This makes it by far the most compact system in the market. Its design is also cost-effective, which is important if it is to be used widely in all motorcycles with hydraulic brakes. ADAC, the largest automobile association in Germany, has recognised this new system by presenting its Yellow Angel award in the innovation and environment category.

Bosch produced its first motorcycle ABS as early as 1994.

A benefit analysis conducted for the European Commission showed the proposed regulation would reduce the number of motorcyclist deaths by more than 5000 over 10 years.

A study presented by the Swedish highways authority in October 2009 showed 38% of all motorcycle accidents involving personal injury and 48% of all serious and fatal accidents could have been prevented with the help of ABS.

This active safety system allows motorcyclists to brake safely in critical situations without locking its wheels, and thus without having to fear an inevitable fall. Braking distance is also reduced considerably.