KTM 1190 Adventure, which features the Bosch Motorcycle Stability Control System
KTM 1190 Adventure, which features the Bosch Motorcycle Stability Control SystemBosch Motorcycle Stability Control SystemMaintaining smooth control is more vital on a motorcycle than on any other type of vehicle; even relatively minor miscalculations can cause some serious—and potentially dangerous—problems.
Thanks to modern technology, help with preventing those potential control problems is now available. And it benefits the novice and the expert rider.Robert Bosch LLC has developed Motorcycle Stability Control (MSC), claimed to be the world’s first all-in-one safety system for motorcycles. MSC is designed to measure key motorcycle data and intervene in critical situations, resulting in improved rider safety — without compromising motorcycle performance.The MSC system, based on a Bosch anti-lock braking system (ABS) and featuring a lean angle sensor, constantly measures wheel speed, yaw rate, lean angle and pitch angle to modulate braking and acceleration, ensuring optimal safety in all riding situations, including difficult maneuvers and cornering.The system applies acceleration and braking proportionally to prevent the wheels from locking, spinning, or lifting from the ground, and monitors the riding situation to achieve maximum deceleration in straight-line braking.Each year, nearly 5,000 motorcycle fatalities occur in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and 80,000 deaths happen worldwide. By combining the benefits of ABS and MSC, the Bosch system helps riders gain more precise control and improved safety performance for their motorcycles.“MSC is the next big step in motorcycle safety,” according to Frank Sgambati, director of marketing and product innovation for Chassis Systems Control, Robert Bosch LLC.“With nearly half of all motorcycle fatalities occurring along curves, this technology will help riders to pilot safely through these challenging situations. MSC and ABS for motorcycles are examples of leading-edge solutions that do not interfere with the thrill of the ride, but aid us in reaching our goal of accident- and injury-free driving.”Bosch offers a modular approach to motorcycle safety technologies, including ABS units to suit any type of motorized two-wheeler that features a hydraulic brake system. The portfolio ranges from a single hydraulic brake channel to control the front wheel, to a dual-channel system, to the top-of-the-line ABS 9 enhanced system, which features an electronic combined brake system function that automatically optimizes brake performance on both wheels, regardless of which brake the rider applies.MSC was first launched in 2013 on KTM’s 1190 Adventure models. In September 2014, KTM announced it will install the system on its new 2015 1290 Super Adventure. The technology also was recognized during the recent 2014 “Dinner for Winner” event in Brussels, Belgium, where it received an Innovation Award in the safety category.For more information, visit www.boschusa.com , www.bosch.com.mx, or www.bosch.ca.
Hello everyone and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly Podcast—Motos and Friends.
My name is Arthur Coldwells.
This week’s Podcast is brought to you by Yamaha motorcycles. Discover how the YZF-R7 provides the perfect balance of rider comfort and true supersport performance by checking it out at YamahaMotorsports.com, or see it for yourself at your local dealer.
This week’s episode features Senior Editor Nic de Sena’s impressions of the beautiful new Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST that is loosely based around the original FXRT Sport Glide from the 1980s. Hailing from The Golden State, these cult-status performance machines became known as West Coast style, with sportier suspension, increased horsepower, and niceties including creature comforts such as a tidy fairing and sporty luggage.
In past episodes you might have heard us mention my best friend, Daniel Schoenewald, and in the second segment I chat with him about some of the really special machines in his 170 or so—and growing—motorcycle collection. He’s always said to me that he doesn’t consider himself the owner, merely the curator of the motorcycles for the next generation.
Yet Daniel is not just a collector, but I can attest a really skilled rider. His bikes are not trailer queens, they’re ridden, and they’re ridden pretty hard. Actually, we have had many, many memorable rides on pretty much all of the machines in the collection at one time or another.
From all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!