 |
 |
Difference in brake characteristics of motorcycles and automobiles |
|
The first thing to be considered in thinking about CBS, a
front and rear wheel interlocked brake system, is the difference
with automobiles. As compared with automobiles, the center of
gravity is higher and the wheelbase is shorter, this makes the
numerical value obtained by dividing the height of gravity center
by the wheelbase larger than for automobiles. This fact makes
the shift in the gravity center for motorcycles at time of braking
greater than that of automobiles.
That is why the braking characteristics of the front and rear
wheels largely differ in motorcycles. The front wheel brake
causes the shift of gravity center to the front wheel in accordance
with the extent of deceleration taking place, so a high deceleration
is obtained but the nosedive is large. The rear wheel brake,
on the other hand, cannot yield deceleration larger than the
front wheel, but the resulting nosedive is small.
The road surface conditions vary greatly by the pavement and
weather conditions, whether fine or rainy, affects the riders
ability to properly use the brakes of front and rear wheels
to suit with driving conditions, making the most of features
of respective brakes. CBS enables at anytime and for anybody
to properly distribute braking force between the front and rear
wheels in accordance with road surfaces.
|
|
Development requirements for CBS: front and rear wheel interlocked
brake system |
|
In conventional motorcycle brakes, the right lever
controlled the front wheel brake while the pedal (or the left
lever) controlled the rear wheel brake.
Honda aimed at simultaneous and effective application of the
brake on the front and rear wheels by one operation. In the
development of CBS, it has become necessary to assure that no
sense of discomfort will be felt on braking characteristics
and motorcycle body behavior by the riders accustomed to the
conventional independent front and rear wheel brake application.
Therefore, the following three points were aimed at in the development:
| 1. |
The braking force on the front wheel is to be raised
higher when power is applied on the right lever while
the same on the rear wheel is to be made greater than
the front wheel when power is put on the pedal (or the
left lever). |
| 2. |
Nosedive tends to become large as the front wheel brake
works when the pedal (or the left lever) is operated.
Make the dive as small as possible. |
| 3. |
Lessen the mutual interference between the right lever
and pedal (or the left lever) at time of joint operation. |
|
|
 |
|
|
