Traction
control will only make riding safer
Traction
Control is an important feature on performance motorcycles, especially those
with a huge power output. Traction Control
Systems help the rider to accelerate, brake and steer in an efficient way
making riding safer. Most riders don't have complete control over their bikes
on wet, slippery or surfaces covered with sand. Traction control can aid the
rider to stay on the road by maintaining enough grip under these circumstances.
Traction
refers to the grip of a tyre on the road. Traction control was designed to
prevent loss of traction of the vehicle on the road. Without a certain amount
of traction, it is difficult to accelerate, brake or steer the motorcycle.
Motorcycles have got a very less area of contact to the road surface through
tyres. The amount of traction utilized by our tyres depends on the application
of throttle, road surface which can be slippery, wet, uneven or sandy as well
as the condition of the tyres. The tyres can be inadequately inflated, old or
new, or unevenly worn out. Traction control helps to maintain required traction
regardless of all these factors.
How
does it work?
The ABS sensor continuously monitors the wheel speed. As the engine is connected to the rear wheel through the chain, the rear wheel speed is an important factor to determine loss of traction. Loss of traction of the rear wheel creates a difference between the front and rear wheel speed which is detected by the ABS sensors. The sensors relate this data to the bikes ECU that controls various actuators connected to the engine to ensure an ideal performance. ECU has the ability to control and monitor the throttle position, power delivered and engine speed along with several other parameters.
Depending
on the available traction, real time wheel speed sensor and engine speed data,
the ECU determines the difference in the front and rear wheel speed and
triggers a response to match the rear
wheel speed with the front wheel speed and denies the bike from skidding or
slipping. The action taken by the ECU to prevent the loss of traction can be in
the form of delay in the ignition timing, create an intentional misfire by
skipping fuel injection in a cylinder or adjust the throttle position. All
these actions taken by the ECU result in modulation of the engine torque until
traction is regained at the maximum possible efficiency.
1. Delaying the ignition timing has an
immediate but slow response.
2. Creating an intentional misfire by skipping
fuel injection in a cylinder has a faster and better response as a cylinder
drop creates an immediate decrease in the engine torque.
3. Adjusting the throttle is slower but has
the ability to provide 100% torque drop.
Anti-lock
Braking System (ABS) is one of the most common forms of traction control which
stops the wheels from locking if the situation demands braking hard and in turn
stops the bike from skidding.
