Better Brakes, Car or Bike??

[BTB 500]

Doesn't that just mean the bike is flimsily built? After all they don't have to do NCAP tests etc. (AFAIK).

 

[prprandall51]

Ok, we need facts and figures and luckily I have found something verifiable. Unfortunately it completely contradicts my earlier assertion that my bike stops way quicker than my car...... Ah well.

From MCN:

MCN recently conducted a rigorous test of ABS to see how the latest and most sophisticated versions fared against more basic systems.

We also tested a standard family car with ABS.

The bikes tested were:

• BMW S1000RR – has a phenomenally sophisticated ABS system that will not only stop the front wheel locking, but – in race mode – allow a certain amount of rear wheel slip so you can back it into corners. As you do

• Honda Fireblade with C-ABS – this blew MCN away when we tested it last year. It’s incredibly smooth and allows ordinary riders to brake like national level racers.

• BMW’s K1300S – the ABS is a generation behind the S1000RR’s, but MCN’s testers say it has phenomenal braking performance because of its long, low chassis and Duolever front end.

• Yamaha XJ6 ABS – budget, older generation ABS system

• Harley Electra Glide Ultra Limited – heavy bike with older-generation ABS

The car was a Honda Civic diesel – typical family hatchback with typical car ABS.

Conditions were cold and damp.

The shock result was that the BMW K1300S beat everything, including the car.

In fact the big BM’s stopping distance was 4.8 metres less from 60mph than the car – an amazing result considering it was a battle between two small tyre contact patches and four big ones.

 

[iscaboy]

[S-TAG]In fact the big BM’s stopping distance was 4.8 metres less from 60mph than the car – an amazing result considering it was a battle between two small tyre contact patches and four big ones. [/S-TAG]

err, mebbe you want to read it again.

BMW bike stopped in 4.8 metres less than the car, and that from only 60 mph

 

[Sp!ke]

I meant, bike frames get bent under extreme braking without actually impacting anything...

Sorry but I've never heard of such a thing ever

...and I've been riding bikes a loooong time, not to mention having studied motorcycle engineering.

 

[Sp!ke]

Ok, we need facts and figures and luckily I have found something verifiable. Unfortunately it completely contradicts my earlier assertion that my bike stops way quicker than my car...... Ah well.

From MCN:

It doesn't say what the car was. It could have been a Morris Minor with drum brakes for all we know. Pretty poor reporting which is a shame as it is quite an interesting topic.

 

[iscaboy]

It doesn't say what the car was. It could have been a Morris Minor with drum brakes for all we know. Pretty poor reporting which is a shame as it is quite an interesting topic.

[S-TAG]The car was a Honda Civic diesel – typical family hatchback with typical car ABS[/S-TAG]

 

[BTB 500]

All depends what tyres were on the car.

When Auto Express do their tyre tests they cover braking distances, and get quite big variations depending on brand & model (when fitted to the same car).

 

[Sp!ke]

This was a 70mph test not 60mph from what I have read. the highway code lists 75m but the conditions in this test were wet.


1st BMW K1300S 47.8 metres

2nd BMW S1000RR 49.8 metres

3rd Honda civic 52.6 metres and MCN expected the car to win.

4th Honda fireblade 55.9 metres

5th Yamaha XJ6 60.3 metres

Last Harley electra glide 66.3 metres.

 

[Mactech]

That sounds about right! I had an hour or so on a 1300 BMW a couple of weeks ago and was very impressed with the brakes on Dunlops new Roadsmart tyres.
Mind you, it's a good job it stops well as you would hardly put it in the 'nimble' class to avoid anything
Parking it was like trying to berth a supertanker! And this is coming from a former S Class owner

 

[Pan]

I meant, bike frames get bent under extreme braking without actually impacting anything...

I've never seen/heard of a car getting distorted purely through braking... without any physical impact...
M.

I've been riding Bikes for 36 years across all continents - and watching Bikes race even longer - and I've never, ever, heard of any such thing.

The headstock area of a Bike frame, where the braking forces would be transmitted into the chassis, is always triangulated and is the most heavily braced area of the entire structure.
It won't bend short of an impact.

Peter

 

[NormanC]

This was a 70mph test not 60mph from what I have read. the highway code lists 75m but the conditions in this test were wet.


1st BMW K1300S 47.8 metres

2nd BMW S1000RR 49.8 metres

3rd Honda civic 52.6 metres and MCN expected the car to win.

4th Honda fireblade 55.9 metres

5th Yamaha XJ6 60.3 metres

Last Harley electra glide 66.3 metres.

So, if we apply governmental rules to these figures we come to the inevitable conclusion that only BMW bikes can stop quicker than a car but all other bikes are rubbish at stopping!

 

[prprandall51]

So, if we apply governmental rules to these figures we come to the inevitable conclusion that only BMW bikes can stop quicker than a car but all other bikes are rubbish at stopping!

It is certainly true that, except with an expert rider in perfect conditions, then an ABS-equipped bike is going to beat any other bike, yes.

Then it comes down to the particular bike being tested. Until recently, most bike ABS systems were pretty crude. BMW are the world leaders in bike ABS technology and, interestingly, their best performing bike in this test is one that has a unique, BMW-specific front suspension system, which clearly helped it set an even better stopping distance than its more sophisticated stablemate.

So it is indeed true to say that BMW bikes stop quickly and all the others are not so good.

 

[NormanC]

As the OP can I thank everyone who has given their opinions on this thread. It has been both entertaining and educating so thanks.

What's the conclusion?

I would venture to say that an expert rider on a bike will stop more quickly than a car would.......probably!!

 

[Benzowner]

So, if we apply governmental rules to these figures we come to the inevitable conclusion that only BMW bikes can stop quicker than a car but all other bikes are rubbish at stopping!

Problem is that the car then runs into the back of the BMW bike
My BMW R1150RT has ABS, servo assist and linked brakes, with the telelever front suspension I would put that up against most standard road cars stopping is a straight line. As has already been stated, BMW braking system is or seems to be well ahead of the competition.