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Towards a generalization of motorcycle ABS from next year

The ABS braking system is expected to become widespread in motorcycle production as of next year due to lower costs and market developments. The first system, designed in 1988 by FTE Automotive for BMW, has indeed evolved considerably…

The ABS (anti-block system) braking system, developed for the first time by the German FTE Automotive in 1988 for BMW, is currently only fitted to a minority of motorcycles. Several manufacturers have taken an interest in the question (Honda in particular, which equips certain models with ABS or Dual CBS), but the system should not experience any real generalization until next year. In fact, the exclusive contract between FTE Automotive and BMW expires in 2002: other manufacturers will therefore be able to benefit from FTE technology, and a European manufacturer of sooters should also announce soon that some of its 2002 models will integrate full ABS. One of the main reasons is the lower cost of production: the system currently costs around 7,500 FF but FTE Automotive, one of the leading manufacturers of ABS components, recognizes that the new generation ABS Mark II does not cost than 3000 FF. Ian Elliott, the business development manager of FTE, explains that "for safety reasons, manufacturers want to improve braking reliability, especially for inexperienced drivers. Our inexpensive ABS system is the perfect solution". Due to the boom in the two-wheeler market, many new drivers want to benefit from advanced safety systems, to the detriment of what some purists might call the" raw "pleasure of motorcycling. Finally, the new ABS system II from FTE, due to its lightness (4 kg compared to 10 previously), can now be fitted to small displacement machines.

Eric MICHEL

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