| General
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Integral ABS
BMW's new Integral ABS technology has been developed separately from
the previous system and the entire layout of the system has been
newly conceived from the ground up.
Capitalizing on progress in technology in both hydraulics and electronics,
the development engineers have succeeded in simplifying the architecture
of the system while at the same time enhancing its functions. The
result is stopping power and very short stopping distances even without
electrical power assistance on the brakes.
The new Integral ABS is no longer based on the plunger principle
or, respectively, the ram pressure process used on previous generations,
but instead is conceived as a valve system. Carried over from automotive
applications, this control concept is now able to ensure a very high
standard of all-round comfort and convenience.
In particular, feedback of brake pressure modulation on the brake
lever has been reduced by recent development of the control valves
and management to such an extent that it no longer has any kind of
adverse effect, thus paving the way for introduction of the new system
in other BMW motorcycles.
The new Integral ABS system applies brake pressure on the front wheel
brake solely by means of a hydraulic circuit, thus acting entirely
in response to the operating forces applied on the hand lever. This
is claimed to provide a more direct feeling of the brakes particularly
important to the sports-minded rider. Also, the rider should no longer
have to get used to any change in control or operation of the brakes
when switching over from a motorcycle without ABS.
The new system naturally maintains the proven semi-integral function,
which is automatic activation of the rear-wheel brake when operating
the front-wheel brake. Pressing the rear brake alone, however, the
rider, as in the case of a conventional system, activates only the
wheel brake at the rear.
As with the previous system, the advantages of this integral brake
are ideal brake force distribution on both wheels under all conditions,
naturally taking load conditions into account, as well as enhanced
control enabling the rider to detect at an early point the risk of
the rear wheel lifting off when applying the brakes all-out, and
to take appropriate counter-action.
To provide the desired integral function, brake pressure for the
rear-wheel circuit is generated and built up by an electronically
controlled hydraulic pump. This offers the advantage of pressure
management and control completely independent of the front wheel
circuit - which is the prerequisite for dynamic, adaptive and, ultimately,
consistently ideal brake force distribution to the rear wheel as
well as fully independent brake management and control.
In the event of any deficiencies in the hydraulic pump or electrical
components, the rear-wheel brake acts hydraulically as with a conventional
system, overriding the integral function. This has no effect on the
proper operation of the front-wheel brake, the only difference being
that the ABS function is no longer operative in the event of such
a deficiency.
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