Just rode the BMW s1000RR. Fully loaded with ABS and traction control it lists for just under $17,000. It is very impressive. I'm just wondering how the new Erik Buell Racing 1190RS is going to stack up against that? Is there any hint it has ABS, traction control or any of the other electronic goodies?
It will be a Buell...raw and visceral with handling like a razor....skilled riders only need apply...no electronic whiz bangs or geegaws...you set it up for you and ride it as well as you can...traction control is in your right wrist...at least thats what I guess....it wouldn't be a buell otherwise...
Is there any hint it has ABS, traction control or any of the other electronic goodies?
My understanding is there are are very few people working at Erik Buell Racing (like 5.) I don't think any of them are computer programmers. At which point the question becomes can you buy stuff like ABS and traction control off the shelf. If you can't, I wouldn't expect to see it on their first generation bike, custom development of stuff like that is expensive.
Now there was a rumor (and even a picture) that the 2011 Uly was going to have ABS brakes. If that's the case, then someone has already developed them, and perhaps they are suitable and still available.
If it was ABS it would need some kind of sensor to detect wheel speed. On BMW's they have that inner ring on the brake rotor with the little slots. The sensor reads the notches and can determine how fast the wheel is spinning, so it can figure out if it has locked up or not.
I don't see anything similar on the Buell, but there is more than one way to measure wheel speed.
adding teeth to the inside of the disk looks pretty easy. They could integrate the sensor into the caliper. The disk would then play two roles...very Buellish.
It's most likely a hall effect sensor. The tooth is either there or it isn't. A tiny movement in or out won't make any difference. The sensor sends voltage spikes to the computer, it's only going to produce those spikes at the transition between the tooth being there and the tooth not being there. A minor variation in the distance from the sensor to the tooth won't change whether or when the spike occurs.