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The Malaysian authorities have finally mandated the fitment of ABS to new motorcycles 150cc and above beginning next year. It is something many quarters including motorcyclists and transportation safety experts have requested for a long time.

However, we need to understand more about what it is and how it works, because there is no point of having the feature without knowing so. In fact, there are many fallacies about ABS that could endanger the rider’s life and limbs instead being useful.

Misconceptions about ABS

Let us start with this before explaining further.

  • “ABS activates whenever I brake”

Not true. ABS only activates if the rider brakes so hard that the wheel is starting to lock up (stop moving). It is only so when the system triggers, not during every facet of braking.

From MCN. Please click on photo for the full story.
  • “ABS helps me stop quicker and in shorter distance.”

Not necessarily. The system does help the bike to stop quicker if one brakes super hard over a dry, grippy surface as the threshold between maximum braking power and the wheel locking up is much higher.

However, maximum braking over a slippery surface may take a little longer as the tyre is more prone to locking up/sliding i.e. hard braking over wet painted road lines. As such, the system activates earlier/easier to let the wheel continue turning, resulting in a longer stopping distance.

  • “ABS prevents me from braking harder.”

Not true. ABS activates because the rider has exceeded the tyre’s available traction, thus he cannot brake harder even without ABS.

  • “ABS adds too much weight.”

This was true with the older systems which weighed 11 kg in 1988. Current systems could weigh as little as 0.7 kg.

  • “I can release the lever and reapply braking quickly if the tyre loses traction.”

True, but no human can match the ABS’s 24 Hz frequency, besides applying the correct amount of brake pressure.

What does ABS do?
  • ABS stands for anti-lock braking system.
  • It avoids the wheel or wheels from locking up (becoming stationary), especially when hard braking is applied whether in panic situations or over slippery surface.
  • Locked wheel/wheels result in loss of control and skidding.
  • Therefore, ABS assists the rider to slow down or stop while in control.
  • Depending on the motorcycle’s speed, the rider can also swerve to avoid the hazard (example: a car pulling out in front of you) because the wheel(s) continue to roll.
ABS vs. no ABS
Advantages of ABS
  • Most effective braking is at the threshold of wheel lock-up. In other words, just when the tyre is about to lose traction and cause the wheel to stop moving.
  • Therefore, with ABS, the rider can brake at maximum pressure without losing control.
  • Prevents wheels from locking up and skidding under heavy braking.
  • The rider can still steer the bike during extreme braking.
  • Better control under hard braking on slippery surfaces.

How does ABS work?
  • A small metallic ring gear is attached to each wheel (for dual-channel ABS).
  • The ring gear is also called tone ring or tone wheel.

  • A magnetic sensor is placed over the tone ring.

  • The resulting electrical pulses from the sensor are sent to the ABS electronic control unit (ECU).
  • The ECU is linked to the ABS pump.
ABS module. The black portion is the ECU
  • There are valves in the pump.
  • The ECU measures the frequency of the pulses from the tone ring.
  • If the ECU senses a dramatic and sudden drop in the pulses, it knows the wheel is about to lock up.
  • When the pulse reaches zero (the wheel has stopped rotating), the ECU will close the valve in the pump to reduce the brake fluid’s hydraulic pressure.
  • The drop in pressure eases the brake pads away from the brake disc.
  • The wheel will rotate again due to the bike’s forward momentum.
  • Brake pressure will resume immediately following the release, as long as the brake lever is pressed.
  • The pressure release/re-application happens up to 24 Hz (24 times per second).
  • The process will continue as long as the brake lever is held down or until the bike stops.
IMPORTANT NOTE TO RIDERS
  • ABS only activates when the wheel(s) start to lock up.
  • The brake lever(s) will pulsate when ABS activates.
  • Do not release the lever(s) when they pulsate if you still need to continue braking.
  • ABS provides the chance to steer or swerve away from the hazard (example: That cat crossing the road), so look away from the hazard to avoid target fixation and STEER!

We reported in July that Pierer Mobility – the parent company for KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas and WP Suspension, besides 50.1% owner of MV Agusta – is set to cut jobs. However, the company did not specifiy the number of employees who will  lose their jobs.

Now, it has been reported that 200 employees will be axed in the third quarter of 2024. These poor souls are the latest addition to the 373 who were already let go since the start of 2024.

Pierer Mobility is also planning to decrease their Austrian manufacturing quota by 25%, besides focusing on higher manufacturing numbers in India and China. Additionally, they are planning to reduce their sporting activities.

These plans follow lacklustre sales which has since seen the company’s net debt rise to €1.469 billion (RM7.21 billion). They had earlier confirmed that performance in the first half of 2024 had dropped compared to previous years. Overall sales for 2024 is also expected to drop by 15%.

Currently, Pierer Mobility has a total of 6,024 employees, after adding the 213 resulting from their consolidation with MV Agusta.

Anti-lock brake system (ABS) is mandatory for motorcycles 150cc and above starting January 1, 2025.

That’s what the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi when speaking at the Launching Ceremony of the Asian Road Safety Conference (CARS) 2024 yesterday.

According to him, the government took this initiative considering that the majority of road accidents involve motorcycle riders and pillion riders.

“Let’s start by making motorcyclists safer because 65 percent of the total road deaths last year involved motorcyclists.

“So starting January 1, 2025, all new motorcycles with an engine capacity of 150cc and above must be equipped with ABS,” he said.

Also present at the ceremony were the Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke and the Minister of Human Resources, Steven Sim.

Ahmad Zahid said the government decided on the matter because based on a World Health Organization (WHO) report, ABS was able to reduce the rate of fatal accidents by 31 percent.

“Malaysia is one of the countries in Southeast Asia facing this issue. Although the death rate per 100,000 people decreased from 27 percent in 2000 to 22.5 percent in 2019, it remains one of the highest in the world.

“So I am confident that this initiative will reduce the death rate due to road accidents in Malaysia,” he said.

He also hopes that the initiative involved can be an inspiration to other ASEAN countries to implement similar measures to make motorcycles a safe vehicle to use.

In addition, Ahmad Zahid suggested that the Motorcycle Assessment Program in Malaysia (MyMAP) be implemented in all ASEAN or Asian countries.

He said, MyMAP, which gives a rating to motorcycles based on the vehicle’s standards, is able to give users an advantage to make an evaluation before buying the vehicle.

“So far, MyMAP has evaluated 28 types of motorcycle models produced by seven manufacturing companies and these vehicles have been given a ‘star’ rating,” he said.

The Thai motorcycle market, which had boomed for the last three years, begins to see a drop in the first half of 2024.

Industry players reported that they delivered 904,135 motorcycles in the first six month of the year. While that is a huge number compared to us in Malaysia, it was actually a -9.9% drop compared to H1 2023. Thailand is the world’s sixth largest motorcycle market.

The country’s economy is now seen as the weakest in the region due to what the Bangkok Post calls “over-consumption.” The demand for consumption has stripped the supply of cash from income, leading to inadequate domestic liquidity.

The president of Honda Thailand, Yuichi Shimizu said that, “High household debt that stands at 91% of GDP and weak consumer purchasing power caused people to be more cautious about spending. They are worried about the current economic situation.”

It was hoped that 2024 will see the economy rally again, but it is not to be. The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has reduced its 2024 growth forecast for Thailand’s economy to 2.2%–2.7%, down from the previous forecast of 2.8%–3.3% predicted in November 2023. The outlook for 2024 is weaker than previously projected due to dimmer export and public investment prospects.

As such, market leader, Honda saw a -7.5% drop, while their arch rival, Yamaha lost -12%. Piaggio, in third saw a large -34% drop, and in fourth, GPX saw a precipitous hit of -62.2%.

However, electric motorcycles are seeing a sustainable growth. Honda and Chinese are well positioned to exploit this sector. Having sold 13,600 units thus far, Honda expects to sell a total of 30,000 units in 2024, up from 21,000 in 2023. In fact, the company is planning to have at least 44 battery swapping stations and increase their share in the motorcycle rental sector.

Thai rider, Somkiat Chantra will move to the MotoGP class in 2025.

The news was a source of pride for the people of Thailand as he is the first rider from that country to take part in the premier class. Somkiat, 25, has been recruited as a rider for the LCR Honda satellite team, replacing Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami.

“Going to MotoGP has always been my dream, and I will finally make it happen.

“I am determined to learn, give my best, and enjoy this new adventure. It will be difficult, but I will give my best,” Somkiat said in a statement.

Somkiat has won two races in Moto2 since making his debut in the class in 2019 and finished last season sixth in the riders’ standings.

He is currently 10th in the championship this year with 64 points from 11 races.

A CFMoto 675 NK prototype was spotted wearing camouflage in China.

It could well be the naked version of the recently launched CFMoto 675 SR-R sportbike. The 675 SR-R is the manufacturer’s first three-cylinder engine. As such, the new bike is expected to carry the 675 NK name.

The naked prototype looks to share similar if not the same chassis as the sportbike’s, such as the swingarm mount, aluminium swingarm, upside-down forks. All in all, the bodywork looks strikingly similar to the old Kawasaki Z1000 and Ducati Streetfighter. The engine’s power ought to be the same as the sportbike, namely 95hp, too. Other features should include TFT screen, quickshifter, ABS, traction control, LED lighting, and so forth.

The CFMoto 675 NK will put it in the same company with the Triumph Trident, Honda CB650F, Suzuki GSX-8S, Kawasaki Z650, Yamaha MT-07, among others.

We look forward to the bike to be revealed at the EICMA 2024 show, and the fully production ready version in 2025.

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