Bosch Motorcycle Stability Control System
Maintaining 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.
