Out-braking the ABS Myth

Summary

This script discusses motorcycle ABS systems, emphasizing that despite their life-saving potential, riders often default to ineffective braking habits in emergencies. It explains how ABS works in three phases to prevent wheel lock-up, but skilled riders can outperform it using 'threshold braking'. The video concludes by urging riders to practice braking techniques for better control and safety, highlighting the importance of vision with a promotion for Flying Eyes riding glasses.

Takeaways

• 🛑 Modern ABS systems on motorcycles are designed to stop the bike faster than a rider can manually.
• 🏍️ In serious motorcycle crashes, 80% of riders either don't brake at all or only use the rear brake.
• 👮‍♂️ Retired police sergeant Ryan Austin explains that the front brake is more powerful but riders often default to the rear in emergencies.
• 🚗 Car ABS systems are different from motorcycle ABS, with four wheels and a larger contact patch, allowing for more sophisticated braking.
• 💡 The script explains the three phases of ABS operation: normal use, emergency use with sensor activation, and active shedding of brake pressure to prevent wheel lockup.
• 🚫 Despite ABS, skilled riders can still outperform the system by using a two-stage braking technique known as threshold braking.
• 🇨🇦 The script humorously points out that even in icy conditions, ABS can be outperformed by proper braking technique.
• 🔍 Riders can predict tire grip better than the ABS system, which is only reactive to slides.
• 🏁 ABS prioritizes steerability over straight-line stopping distance, which can be a lifesaver in avoiding accidents.
• 👓 The video concludes with a reminder of the importance of good vision for safe riding, promoting Flying Eyes riding glasses.

Q & A

What is ABS, and how does it function in vehicles?

ABS, or Anti-lock Braking System, is a safety feature designed to prevent wheel lockup during braking. It uses sensors to monitor wheel speed and adjusts braking pressure to maintain traction, allowing the driver to retain steering control while braking.

How does motorcycle ABS differ from car ABS?

Car ABS is more advanced due to the four-wheel setup, where each brake is independently controlled by a four-channel ABS system. Motorcycles, however, have two wheels with significantly less contact with the ground, making the braking dynamics more sensitive to weight transfer and rear-wheel lockup.

What are the phases of ABS activation during braking?

There are three phases of ABS activation: Phase 1 occurs during normal use when hydraulic pressure is applied to the brakes. In Phase 2, the ABS pump intervenes if it detects a slide, holding braking pressure at a safe level. Phase 3 happens if a wheel locks, and the system releases pressure to restore traction.

Why do many motorcyclists use only the rear brake in an emergency?

In emergencies, about 80% of riders instinctively use only the rear brake due to fear of flipping over the handlebars or losing control. This reaction is often hardwired and leads to inefficient braking because the front brake provides more stopping power.

What is threshold braking, and how is it different from slamming the brakes?

Threshold braking involves applying the brakes in a controlled, two-stage manner, allowing the front tire to build traction as the weight transfers to it. Slamming the brakes, by contrast, puts the ABS into crisis mode, causing it to constantly adjust and reducing braking efficiency.

Can a skilled rider outperform an ABS system during braking?

Yes, a skilled rider can sometimes outperform ABS, particularly when using threshold braking. A human can anticipate weight transfer and apply braking pressure more strategically, whereas ABS is reactive and may prioritize stability over maximum stopping power.

Why is ABS still considered a critical safety feature despite its limitations?

ABS is statistically proven to save lives because it reduces the likelihood of wheel lockup, helping riders maintain control in emergency situations. While a skilled rider can sometimes brake better without ABS, most riders benefit from ABS as it compensates for common mistakes.

What common braking mistake do motorcyclists make in crashes?

Many motorcyclists fail to use the front brake or use it improperly in crash situations. In about 80% of serious motorcycle crashes, riders either don't brake at all or rely solely on the rear brake, which offers much less stopping power.

How does ABS handle braking on surfaces with limited traction, like ice?

ABS can extend stopping distances on surfaces with limited traction, such as ice, because it constantly releases and re-applies brake pressure to prevent wheel lockup. This process is similar to driving an old car on ice, where braking control is more difficult.

What practice is recommended to improve emergency braking skills for motorcyclists?

Riders are encouraged to practice threshold braking, which combines controlled use of both the front and rear brakes. This helps develop the instinctual ability to brake effectively in emergencies and maximizes the benefits of ABS without simply relying on it.

Outlines

00:00

🏍️ Motorcycle ABS System Explained

The script discusses the modern Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) on a Honda motorcycle. It explains that despite the common belief that one should brake gently to avoid locking the wheels, the ABS system allows riders to slam the brakes without worrying about skidding. The script introduces Ryan Austin, a retired police sergeant and crash investigator, who explains that most motorcycle crashes occur due to poor braking, not speed. He notes that while the front brake is more powerful, many riders instinctively use only the rear brake or freeze in emergency situations. The script then delves into how car ABS systems differ from motorcycle ABS, with the latter being more complex due to the need for individual control of each brake. It describes the three phases of ABS operation: normal use, emergency use where the system senses a potential slide, and active shedding of brake pressure to prevent wheel lockup. The script concludes by suggesting that while ABS can be outperformed by a skilled rider using a two-stage braking technique, it is still a lifesaver in many situations.

05:02

🛑 The Importance of Proper Braking Technique

This paragraph emphasizes the importance of learning and practicing proper braking techniques on motorcycles, especially when equipped with ABS. It points out that while ABS is designed to prevent wheel lockup and maintain control, it can be less effective than a well-executed threshold braking technique. The script explains that threshold braking involves a soft initial pull followed by a harder pull once the bike's weight is transferred, which can be more effective than simply slamming the brakes. It also notes that ABS systems prioritize steerability over straight-line stopping distance, which can be a disadvantage in certain situations. The script concludes by encouraging riders to practice their braking skills to improve their safety on the road. It also promotes the use of proper riding glasses for better visibility in emergencies, with a shoutout to Flying Eyes for their commitment to safety and the quality of their products.

Keywords

💡ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)

ABS is a safety system designed to prevent a vehicle's wheels from locking up during braking, allowing for better control, especially in emergencies. In the video, ABS is compared between cars and motorcycles, highlighting how it is more effective in cars due to the larger contact patches of tires and more sophisticated systems. The script emphasizes that while ABS is a critical safety tool, skilled riders can sometimes outperform it by using threshold braking.

💡Threshold Braking

Threshold braking is the technique of applying the brakes just to the point where maximum braking force is achieved without locking the wheels. The video discusses how threshold braking is often better than slamming the brakes and relying entirely on ABS, particularly on motorcycles, because it allows riders to maximize tire grip before ABS kicks in.

💡Weight Transfer

Weight transfer refers to the shift of a vehicle’s weight toward the front or rear during acceleration or braking. In the context of the video, weight transfer onto the front wheel during braking gives it more grip, allowing for harder braking on the front. The video explains that ABS systems react to weight transfer but a rider can predict it and adjust braking accordingly, which can sometimes lead to better stopping performance.

💡Solenoid Valve

A solenoid valve is a key component in ABS systems that controls the flow of brake fluid. In the video, it is explained that solenoid valves in the ABS system cycle through phases to control braking pressure and prevent wheel lockup. The speed and precision of the solenoid valves are highlighted as being faster than human reaction time, crucial for ABS functionality.

💡Rear Brake Usage

The rear brake is often underutilized or improperly used in emergency situations by motorcycle riders. The video emphasizes that 80% of motorcyclists involved in serious crashes either do not brake at all or only use the rear brake. This is problematic because the rear brake alone does not provide sufficient stopping power due to minimal weight transfer, and over-reliance on it can lead to skidding or longer stopping distances.

💡Phase Three ABS

Phase Three of ABS operation is the 'crisis mode' where the system actively sheds brake pressure to avoid wheel lockup. In the video, this phase is triggered when the rider slams on the brakes, causing the ABS system to constantly adjust, often leading to longer stopping distances. The script uses this to argue that skilled riders can outperform ABS in controlled situations by avoiding Phase Three.

💡Stopping Distance

Stopping distance refers to the total distance a vehicle travels before coming to a complete stop after braking is initiated. In the video, stopping distance is a critical theme as it compares how ABS, threshold braking, and improper braking techniques impact how fast a motorcycle can stop. It is argued that slamming the brakes into ABS mode results in longer stopping distances compared to controlled threshold braking.

💡Emergency Braking

Emergency braking refers to the act of braking suddenly in response to an imminent collision. The video focuses on how many motorcyclists mishandle emergency braking situations, either by freezing up or relying solely on the rear brake. The message stresses the importance of practicing proper braking techniques to avoid this instinctive error and reduce the likelihood of a crash.

💡Computer vs Human Reaction

The video contrasts how humans and ABS computers handle braking situations. While ABS is reactive, adjusting to slides after they begin, humans can anticipate and adjust their braking before the computer engages, sometimes achieving better results. The script argues that this ability to predict and react gives skilled riders an edge over ABS in certain scenarios.

💡Practice

Practice is emphasized throughout the video as the key to improving motorcycle safety. The video encourages riders to regularly practice combining front and rear braking under controlled conditions to improve instinctive responses in emergency situations. It suggests that learning to properly balance threshold braking with ABS can drastically improve stopping performance and save lives.

Highlights

Honda's modern ABS system allows for safer braking without the need for threshold braking.

In motorcycle crashes, 80% of riders either don't brake at all or only use the rear brake.

Front brake has more stopping power, but many riders avoid using it fully during emergencies.

Speed is not the main cause of motorcycle crashes; bad braking and lack of practice are.

Car ABS systems are different from motorcycle ABS due to the number of wheels and contact patch.

Motorcycle ABS systems work in three phases: normal use, emergency use, and active shedding of brake pressure.

ABS systems can be outperformed by human riders who understand the dynamics of braking.

Threshold braking combined with ABS can yield better stopping distances than just relying on ABS.

ABS systems prioritize steerability over straight-line stopping distance.

Human riders can predict tire grip better than ABS systems, allowing for more controlled braking.

ABS is a lifesaver in daily use and is statistically proven to reduce accidents.

Riders are encouraged to practice threshold braking to improve their skills and safety.

Flying Eyes offers a range of riding glasses with a lifetime warranty, emphasizing safety.

Proper riding glasses are crucial for being able to see and react to emergencies.

The video is a PSA made possible by Flying Eyes' commitment to safety.

Transcripts

hello and this Honda is equipped with a

modern ABS system so forget threshold

braking and just slam the pedal and this

computer will stop itself faster than

you can say Fabio carteraro oh

[Music]

what just happened is so scandalous I

worry you'd never believe it from me so

I've baited a professional to explain

I'm Ryan Austin retired police sergeant

major crash investigator

[Applause]

I don't see any skid marks really common

in motorcycle crashes we see 80 percent

of riders involved in serious crashes

either don't break at all or break with

only the back brake we've seen this

through thousands of crashes over the

years it sounds ridiculous every

motorcyclist in their manicurist knows

the front brake has more stopping power

and will use more of the front brake in

daily use however when thrust into an

undaily situation an impending Collision

that will definitely hit and the only

question is how fast that's when a hard

wire in our toddler brain takes over

eighty percent of us go I can't pull the

lever that hard or I'll Endo this big

wheel so we either freeze or slam just

the pedal like a car driver

speed's not the cause of most motorcycle

crashes it's bad braking if everyone

drove around at 200 kilometers an hour

but never crashed in anything why would

I want to write tickets for that it's

not the speed it's bad braking and lack

of practice but that's what ABS is

supposed to fix right it's supposed to

make any meatball a pro level breaker

right well first let's realize the car

ABS is dissimilar and this monstrosity

has four wheels and a combined contact

patch bigger than my inferiority complex

and there's one idiot pedal to engage

all four brakes get a four Channel ABS

system that articulates each

individually to maximum effect

whoa not even the soap opera stars from

F1 could outbreak car's ABS system

but on the motorcycle

[Music]

we're going to test front braking too

but the only way you'll believe the

results is if we first understand what's

happening inside your little puddle here

normal use the lever pushes hydraulic

pressure which flows straight into

pinching the pads

phase one emergency use the wheel's

speed sensor goes damn that's a slide

risking amount of D cell so now the ABS

pump closes its upper solenoid valve

blocking off the lever and holding your

braking pressure at its current level

this is phase two now if our wheel

continues to decelerate and locks the

ABS pump opens its lower solenoid valve

allowing this release circuit to bypass

brake fluid back to the reservoir now

we're actively shedding brake pressure

until the wheel accelerates again this

is phase three

solenoid valves are incomparably fast

your control module can cycle through

all three phases in a tenth of a second

which is faster than a meatloaf can even

register a slide so how did we beat abs

while slamming the rear pedal

immediately puts our ABS system into

phase three that crisis mode bleeds

braking pressure every hundred

milliseconds and when you subtract all

those increments of no breaks you get a

shorter stop every Canadian is familiar

with this and drive a hunk of junk

through winter Peg and you'll quickly

realize the ABS stopping distance is

halfway to Moose Jaw motorcycles are

very much like an old car on ice and the

weight transfer is so severe there's

only five ten pounds over the rear wheel

so the available grip before lock up is

minuscule however the opposite is true

for the front wisdom on threshold

braking says to do a soft and hard lever

pull because the tire can withstand more

braking Force once the weight is

transferred onto it here we're doing

exactly that slamming both levers with

ABS on versus threshold braking with abs

off

two things are happening and the early

moments our ABS is forced into that

third phase lest we lock the front

before it's loaded in the last moment

ABS is again entering crisis mode to

prevent this stopping

see humans can do stuff the computer

can't for one we can predict that atar

will have less initial grip than when

it's loaded by weight transfer and we

can make that two-stage lever pull

whereas ABS is only reactive the

computer must see a slide before it can

make an adjustment second a human can

weigh the consequences of their maneuver

if knocking up a 12 o'clock stoppie

means not hitting the bus I'll gladly do

it whereas ABS systems always prioritize

steerability and they will sacrifice

some straight line stopping distance if

it means keeping the rear grounded The

Unbelievable Truth is that you can

outbreak your ABS system sometimes

nope

I can afford these mistakes in

repeatable skid pad tests but not in the

once for a lifetime moment of a real

world's crash and that's why ABS is a

statistically proven Lifesaver in daily

use and I would never recommend

disabling yours but

you don't have to we know slamming your

abs into phase three is worse than

threshold breaking but threshold braking

should only correspond to the first two

phases meaning you can achieve very

nearly the best stopping distance with

abs left on

summarily when faced with an impending

unavoidable impact the average Rider

will only break with the rear but the

average Rider can learn to instinctually

combine threshold break and the average

ABS system will benefit from that versus

simply slamming the levers so don't be

average go practice and save your life

thank you very much to Flying Eyes and

their commitment to safety that made

this PSA possible look at all these

colors look at all these shapes look how

they slide easily into any helmet the

reason Flying Eyes offers all this and

lifetime warranty is all this is because

I think everyone should have a proper

pair of riding glasses shatterproof

polycarbonate and your prescription

bifocal if need be because you can't

break for the Emergency if you can't see

the emergency

[Music]

to me