Thread: BMW's Electronic Traction Control for Motorcycles

Quote: Originally Posted by Calicoonass Seems to me that traction control makes more sense for street bikes than for race. Yes Moto GP bikes have traction control for their ourageous horse power. Thing is that the power is put down on a consistant surface without worries of sand, oil or water around the next turn. Can you say "trailer cheat" in the mountains. Its not necessarily about always gettin the power down, it can be about...

What do we really want....what does a rider need? What's the best overall displacement for bike that has to carry a rider or two over as many types of surfaces as possible? The idea here is to do all this in the most survivable style as possible....if traction control means less chance of losing control of the bike it does not have to mean less fun to push the edge, it means you now have more choices. I'd be very interested in say...

Quote: Originally Posted by pinecone Dem wacky Germans! Only they could take something simple like a braking system and make it complicated. Here's a good traction control system tip fer y'all. If it's nasty outside, SLOW THE FUCK DOWN! I agree. I ride my 1945 Harley and I think, why make the brakes so complicated. Then I get on my 1970 BSA. Shit, drum brakes are tits. Stupid GS with 3 (not one, not two, BUT THREE) discs. Dem...

Quote: Originally Posted by SFDOC ... As long as you can turn it 'OFF' ... For which BMW's have a good rep for. All their DSC equipped cars have the option to completely disable that function, as opposed to others (Mercedes, Porsche, etc.), where that gizmo is never really off, just subdued.

Quote: Originally Posted by jaek No kidding, I mean traction control is clearly unsuitable for high-performance riding, and a skilled rider can do better than the computer under optimal conditions. If that wasn't the case, you'd see it on every bike in MotoGP. Er...

Quote: Originally Posted by ShortOnSkill Can anyone give statistics about accidents that might have been prevented with traction control? What's the benefit for a mediocre rider (myself) who is against pushing limits outside the race track environment? SOS, Statistics no, real-world riding there are really only two causes of a 'High-Side' crash: Locking the rear wheel in a braking manuever, having the bike slide sideways and...

Quote: Originally Posted by dieter von hexhead Electronic traction control? I'm re-registering as Dr.ETC right now.... Yeah I don't want some computer deciding when I can spin my wheels and when I can't. What happens if it fails? We will have to go back to residual traction control.

Didn't honda have one of those a few years back? I think it was the ST1100 with ABS and ETC... which basically works on a reverse ABS thing, like on honda cars... Sounds like a gimmick to me..

Quote: Originally Posted by dieter von hexhead Electronic traction control? I'm re-registering as Dr.ETC right now.... OMG I nearly fell out of my chair! Jim

Yup, that what we need...more gadgets so riders can get by with less skills. Excellent idea.