(Above) Chris Meyers tests the BMW Anti Skid System on simulated wet
ice at the FAG test track. (Right) The self-contained ASBS modulator with
the piston assembly on the right and the li near motor in t he middle.
The rea r wheel unit as it appears on a BMW K1 00; the unit was t ested in
various road conditions w ith favorable reviews .
BMW takes aim at
anti-lock brakes
By Chris Myers
It's impressive: I tried a BMW Kl 00 with the
two-wh eel Anti Sk id Bra ke System (ASBS)
on a wide variety of tricky surfaces, including
simulated wet ice, and stopped safel y each
tim e. Brakin g was unca nn il y
smoo th a n d acc ura te a n d full
co n tro l wa s a lways maintained .
A
. d ' F C'
S .we a r r r ve
a ~ A. s test
20
track It s ta rted sn o w rng light lv r ight o n time 10 prove a real test o f
ASIBS. ed th e ASBS o n di ffer ent sur' tri
faces: sand o n tarmac, co b bles, ta rmac. was h board co ncre te, deep grave l
a nd a p las tic su rface tha t w hen flood ed
with water has a coefficien t of Iricli on o f slig h tly less th an smooth wet
ice. On th e wa shbo a rd - a ser ies o f
10ng sh allowramps -the KlOO lOok
a lo ng lime to stop from 60-70 m p h ,
hUI thi s was a severe res t since th e
whee l was u p in the a ir most o f the
time . Howev er , wit hou t AS BS th is
would hav e p resent ed a serious problem , esp ecia ll y with a softly- sprung
bik e li ke th e KI 00 .
Brakin g ha rd o n wet tarma c a nd
cha rg ing into dry sa nd was a sever e
test : th e ASBS p rovided hard braking
·u nt il th e fr ont -wheel- hit th e sa nd,
th en ra p id ly let th e pressure o ff a nd I
stopped safe ly with full fo rce 01 1 the
bra ke lever. Brak in g fro m we t ta rm ac
to wet co b bles a nd ba ck o n 10 wet
tarmac aga in present ed no probl ems
even from speed s a s hi gh as 50 -fiO
mph .
For th~ e i test I swu c h ed . fro m a
'
o r t e Ice
co n ,:en tlona l bike 10 o ne whi ch had
outrigger w!leel s 01.1 l.o n ~ d:!llIped
a rms - bu t I wa~ stil l imposs ibl e 10
.t
fa ll o ff. Braki ng dis tan ces were much
I
