Motorcycles Technology

Introduction of Honda's Advanced Brakes

Introduction of Honda's Advanced Brakes


1.Evolution of Honda's Brakes

Honda has a long history of advanced efforts in the field of brakes, including the DREAM CB750FOUR in 1969, the first mass-produced motorcycle equipped with disc brakes, and the RCB1000 endurance road racing machine in 1976, which featured front and rear wheel linked brakes. Since then, the company has continued to develop and evolve a wide range of braking technologies, aiming for "brakes that enable more people to get the most out of their performance". From commuters to super sports, we have a lineup of advanced brakes for each type and model.

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The 1969 DREAM CB750FOUR, the first mass-produced motorcycle to be equipped with disc brakes

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1976 RCB1000, an endurance road racing machine equipped with front and rear wheel linked brakes



2.Honda's advanced brake lineup

CBS (combined braking system, or front and rear wheel linked brake system)

In general, the front and rear brakes of a motorcycle are operated separately. The CBS (combined braking system, or front and rear wheel linked brakes) are designed to activate the brakes on both wheels by operating only one side. There are two types on the Honda CBS.

1. Dual Combined Brakes

When the front brake is operated with the right lever, braking force is also distributed to the rear brake. When the rear brake is applied with the brake pedal, braking force is also distributed to the front brake. The purpose of this system is to obtain stable deceleration by minimizing changes in vehicle behavior while braking at high speeds, and it has been installed in large sports models.

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2. Combination brake

When the rear brake is applied with the left lever, the front brake is also activated. This system is designed to help a wide range of riders, from beginners to experienced riders, get efficient braking control with simple operation when riding on city streets, and is mainly mounted on small motorcycles and scooters.

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ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)

ABS is a device designed to detect when the wheels lock up during braking and quickly restore the rotation speed of the tires to keep the vehicle stable.

ABS uses sensors mounted on the front and rear wheels to detect the rotation speed of the front and rear wheels, and if there is a difference, it determines that the slower wheel is locked. For the locked wheel, the system loosens the brakes to recover the rotational speed and then brakes again. This process is repeated in 1/1000th of a second increments to ensure braking power and maintain the stability of the vehicle. Various types are lined up according to the type of vehicle and the rider's requirements.

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1. Single-type ABS 

The Single-type ABS is activated only for the front wheel, where wheel locking can easily lead to a fall of the vehicle.

2. Dual-type ABS 

The Dual-type ABS is activated for the front and rear wheel to improve stability even at higher speeds.

3. Super Sport-type ABS

The Super Sport-type ABS detects the behavior of the vehicle and suppresses excessive nose dive and also supports braking while cornering. It is designed for harder riding such as circuit riding.

4. Off-Road-type ABS

When the rider decides that it is necessary to use the front and rear brakes differently in situations such as off-road riding, the Off-Road-type ABS allows the rider to deactivate the ABS for the rear brake with only a switch.

[Technical Description] Overview of the Super Sport-type ABS

You can see an overview of the Super Sport-type ABS installed on the CBR1000RR and other models.

[Technical Description] Overview of the Off-Road-type ABS

You can see an overview of the Off-Road-type ABS installed on the CRF1000L and other models.

Large Tourer-type Electronically Controlled Combined ABS

The Large Tourer-type Electronically Controlled Combined ABS combines front and rear wheel linked brakes, which automatically and appropriately distribute braking force to the front and rear wheels, and "ABS," which inhibits locking.
When the front brakes are applied, braking force is also distributed to the rear brakes, and when the rear brakes are applied, braking force is also distributed to the front brakes. By activating the front and rear brakes simultaneously and in a balanced manner, excessive nose-dive caused by braking is controlled, resulting in a high-quality ride.

In addition, the Dual-type ABS also inhibits wheel locking. Since this system is suitable for riding long distances in comfort, it is installed in the large tourer "Gold Wing".

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[Technical Description] Overview of the Large Tourer-type Electronically Controlled Combined ABS

You can see an overview of the Large Tourer-type Electronically Controlled Combined ABS installed on the Gold Wing.

Honda will continue to take on the challenge of creating brakes that will give more people, from beginners to experienced riders, a sense of security, and that will further enhance the appeal of the bike, which is to be controlled as desired.