Off-Road ABS

Words: Brian Catterson

Photo: BMW

Just a few short years ago, sport riders were fairly certain that anti-lock brakes would never be used on the roadrace track. The Race ABS that debuted on BMW’s S1000RR superbike changed everyone’s minds about that. And now BMW, through its Husqvarna subsidiary, is poised to change dirt riders’ minds about ABS.

At last November’s Milan Show, BMW announced that it has been developing Off-Road ABS at its Enduro Park in Hechlingen, Germany. Employing the same basic hardware as the S1000RR, this works much as the superbike’s system does in Slick mode, preventing skids only at the front wheel; the rear tire can be locked-up at will to allow brake-slides. Dual channels could let dual-sport riders select between Dirt and Street modes.

Off-Road ABS is currently available only on the flagship TE449, but not yet in America.