ABS Brake Test

[Mackeroni]

I am delighted to have ABS brakes to protect me from getting all twisted up when it gets slippery. However, I would like to know that they work...and how it feels when they engage so I know what to expect.

Any ideas about how I might test my ABS brakes without renting an ice rink for an hour?

 

[Toynut]

I am delighted to have ABS brakes to protect me from getting all twisted up when it gets slippery. However, I would like to know that they work...and how it feels when they engage so I know what to expect.
Any ideas about how I might test my ABS brakes without renting an ice rink for an hour?

A rain soaked parking lot would test your ABS system adequately. :nhl:

Be very careful and wear your safety gear!

 

[madmike2]

You're not stopping hard enough!

Yes, the brakes are THAT good. Though the Gen II brakes are different than the GenI, I can activate my ABS @ 25 mph while initiating an emergency stop during my "skills practice" at a local parking lot.

Er...uhm...you do regularly practice so you'll have muscle memory instilled and know how your bike will react....don't you?

 

[FJReady]

Just stomp on the rear brake at 30mph or so. If you leave skid marks, your ABS isn't working. If the pedal pushes your foot back and bike makes a loud chattering noise, your ABS is working correctly.

 

[Mackeroni]

You're not stopping hard enough!
Yes, the brakes are THAT good. Though the Gen II brakes are different than the GenI, I can activate my ABS @ 25 mph while initiating an emergency stop during my "skills practice" at a local parking lot.

Er...uhm...you do regularly practice so you'll have muscle memory instilled and know how your bike will react....don't you?

Actually, I do practice my emergency stopping in a parking lot... one with lots of shopping carts and little tykes running around. Maybe I've gotten so good at braking up to exactly the point of impending lock-up that the ABS is not necessary. Well...maybe.

Guess I need to throw caution to the wind and grab/slam 'em on once or twice.

 

[Timbo2015]

Back brakes are easy. As a previous poster said, just step down hard on the brake. If they don't work, the worst that will happen is you will leave a skid mark.

The front brake takes a bit more faith, because locking the front wheel will result in going down very quickly, probably faster than you can do anything about it. I test my front brake on an empty, straight road at about 45mph. Just start squeezing harder and harder. Eventually the brake lever will pulse in your hand. On my '05, the front ABS doesn't seem to make any noise, while the rear creates a load, rapid hammering sound. One of the more impressive things is the skinny long skid mark the front wheel leaves when the ABS is working.

You really need to test it. If you don't, you will never know exactly how fast you can stop when you need to.

 

[SkooterG]

Just stomp on the rear brake at 30mph or so. If you leave skid marks, your ABS isn't working. If the pedal pushes your foot back and bike makes a loud chattering noise, your ABS is working correctly.

Not so on the GEN II FJRs. No drama when the rear ABS activates like on the Gen Is. No pulsating, or noise, just smooooth stopping. They are quite impressive.

 

[flying junior]

One of the most amazing things about the FJR is how fast it stops. Get out on an empty supermarket parking lot some Sunday morning and work your way up to it. Try the rear brakes first, then bring in the front brakes. You'll be amazed.

You need to do this, just to know what max braking is like on your machine.

And, as some other posters have indicated, if the ABS isn't working, you'll know by the way the wheels lock up.

 

[mcatrophy]

I am delighted to have ABS brakes to protect me from getting all twisted up when it gets slippery. However, I would like to know that they work...and how it feels when they engage so I know what to expect.
Any ideas about how I might test my ABS brakes without renting an ice rink for an hour?

I've been amazed by how good the ABS is. On my '06 I have used/abused my brakes occasionally. As other posters have said, practise on a straight road from a reasonable speed (45ish), just squeeze the front brake harder and harder.

As you try to stop yourself from flying through the screen, you will be aware of some moderate pulsing.

Repeat for the back brake, then both together.

When you get comfortable with their behaviour, you find you can brake with total confidence over any surface (the usual suspects will start on about gravel and soft snow). But I still don't recommend riding on ice.

I can now happily take a late decision "Oh, bother, I wanted that next turn", hit the brakes really hard, and if I slow sufficiently, I can still make it! (The usual caveats about traffic behind, you can out-brake many drivers.)

There's an interesting test on ABS braking here. It's quite old (1992), but I think it is still an eye opener.