From: Las Vegas Review-Journal
After pioneering the concept of anti-lock brakes on motorcycles 23 years ago, BMW Motorrad USA has announced that it is the first motorcycle manufacturer to offer ABS as standard equipment on its entire range of 2012 model-year motorcycles.
"At BMW Motorcycles of Las Vegas, we're really excited that BMW has made ABS standard for the 2012 motorcycles. As an avid rider for the past 30 years, there hasn't been another technology that makes such a dramatic impact on the safety of motorcycling than ABS," said Mike Hansen, general manager of BMW Motorcycles of Las Vegas. "The 2012 K1600GT and K1600GTL have amazing handling and power and with the added benefit of ABS, incredible stopping ability."
"We commend BMW for taking the lead to improve motorcycle safety," said David Strickland, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "Motorcycle fatalities and injuries have been on an upward trend for the past 10 years, and ABS and other safety technologies can help reduce these tragedies."
A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety revealed that motorcycles equipped with anti-lock brakes are 37 percent less likely to be involved in a fatal crash than models without ABS.
"I commend BMW for taking the lead in making ABS standard across the board," said Adrian Lund, institute president. "Our research results show ABS on motorcycles saves lives, and riders are taking note, too. A recent survey found that a majority of riders said they would look for ABS on their next bikes."
According toth institute, many factors contribute to motorcycle crashes, but improper braking was identified as a major factor in a study of motorcycle crashes. When brakes are applied too gently, the rider risks colliding with an obstacle. If brakes are applied too hard, wheels can lock and cause an overturn. ABS is crash avoidance technology, meaning it helps reduce brake pressure by detecting an impending lockup and then increasing pressure again when wheel traction is restored. Brake pressure is evaluated by a sensor multiple times per second, so riders may brake fully in a straight line without fear of locking up.
Many law enforcement agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, concluded after testing that ABS reduced the number and severity of accidents and now mandate them on their police motorcycles. Internationally, BMW is the largest seller of motorcycles for law enforcement use. More than 80,000 BMW police motorcycles are currently in official use in more than 150 countries on five continents. In the United States, more than 225 law enforcement agencies have BMW police motorcycles in their fleets of patrol vehicles.
BMW Motorcycles of Las Vegas is hosting an open house this Saturday to showcase the new 2012 K1600GTL with standard ABS. The open house runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, and will also feature a variety of other BMW motorcycles, a dynamometer to measure the horsepower and torque of your motorcycle, a free barbecue and much more.
For more information about the 2012 lineup of BMW motorcycles, or information on the open house, visit BMW Motorcycles of Las Vegas at 6675 S. Tenaya Way, call 454-6269, or go online at www.bmwoflasvegas.com.
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