ABS and path efficiency? With the brand new eBike ABS Professional, Bosch had the formidable objective to convey extra security and efficiency to the path. With sooner response occasions and optimized modulation, it’s aimed primarily at skilled riders. We took the Bosch eBike ABS Professional to the boundaries on the steep descents and difficult trails of the Dolomites. How did they fare?
Again in 2018, Bosch launched the primary ABS for pedelecs – a milestone in e-bike security. By 2022, Bosch had launched a brand new ABS system, which shortly discovered its approach on many trekking and touring bikes, just like the Bulls Sonic Evo AM3 ABS and Riese & Müller Delite 4 GT Touring. Nevertheless, regardless of making certain higher braking management and setting new security requirements, formidable e-mountain bikers remained unconvinced. The much less sporty design and the 2- or 3-finger brake levers didn’t meet the calls for of extra efficiency riders. Bosch have now responded:
Leveraging their expertise from eMTB racing, Bosch developed the eBike ABS Professional, which was developed particularly for racing and hard path situations, whereas additionally offering improved management and security for touring cyclists. Bosch promise a extra exact response, optimized modulation, and the power to shave off precious seconds in essential conditions. However does the system dwell as much as these claims? We put it to the take a look at to see if the Bosch eBike ABS Professional can really “brake” you to victory.
The brand new Bosch eBike ABS Professional intimately
The Bosch eBike ABS Professional is appropriate with two completely different braking techniques, which have been each examined extensively by our sister journal ENDURO’s of their large brake comparability take a look at: the MAGURA MT7 and TRP DH-R EVO.
The MAGURA MT7 makes use of an ergonomic 1-finger brake lever, which could be adjusted to your private necessities – a transparent enchancment over the earlier 2- and 3-finger brake levers used with the older ABS-equipped MAGURA MT C ABS. The lever attain adjustment requires instruments however permits for exact fine-tuning of the lever place.
The TRP DH-R EVO encompasses a four-piston calliper too, and combines it with a barely longer 1-finger lever. Lever attain adjustment is tool-free, making it simpler to adapt the place to your wants. Nevertheless, neither of the brakes have an adjustable chew level.
Essential notice: The brake really feel is set by the braking system itself, not the ABS. In response to the producer, the Bosch eBike ABS Professional can’t be retrofitted to different brakes and is just accessible for eMTBs geared up with Bosch’s Sensible System.
Our take a look at bike was fitted with the MAGURA MT7, that are paired with 200 mm brake discs on the entrance and rear. The rotors are geared up with a slotted sensor disc with 56 slots (tonewheels), an enchancment over the 50-slots of the outdated ABS system. The extra slots permit for far more exact detection of wheel velocity. In consequence, the brand new ABS Professional system can reply extra shortly and precisely to braking enter, notably with abrupt traction modifications. The ABS mechanism itself is discreetly housed in a small field connected to the left fork leg. Contained in the field, the entrance brake traces converge with {the electrical} connections for the entrance and rear wheel sensors. The ABS system attracts its energy straight from the eMTB’s major battery. Importantly: The rear wheel isn’t regulated by the ABS; it solely serves for velocity detection.
The highest 3 modifications – What’s new within the Bosch eBike ABS Professional?
- Sooner ABS response: The ABS now reacts even sooner to stop wheel lock, offering extra exact and safer braking, particularly at excessive speeds and on difficult trails.
- Optimised brake strain modulation: Due to the extra slots within the sensor disc, braking power is now distributed extra evenly and precisely, which means that the brakes adapt higher to completely different surfaces akin to gravel or free terrain.
- Exact intervention within the preliminary braking part: The ABS Professional kicks in notably early within the braking course of, primarily based on rider enter and accessible grip, serving to to minimise early braking errors.
The ABS Professional comes with two new adjustment modes: Path Professional for formidable riders and the Race mode for enduro racers.
Path Professional Mode:
Optimised for technical trails the place management and stability are key. The main focus right here is to maintain the rear wheel steady beneath braking, stopping it from lifting. The ABS intervenes extra strongly to stop rear wheel raise, which is essential on steep or free surfaces.
Race Mode:
Designed for optimum velocity and aggressive braking. On this mode, rear-wheel raise management is deactivated, permitting the rider to deliberately raise the rear wheel when negotiating tight corners and hairpin switchbacks. The ABS intervenes later and fewer strongly than in Path Professional mode, enabling higher adaptation to the terrain. This mode is meant for knowledgeable riders looking for extra flexibility and aggressive braking efficiency.
You’ll be able to simply disable the ABS system through the eBike Stream app or the settings menu on the show. The Kiox 300, Kiox 500, Purion 200, and Purion 400 shows additionally present further data akin to braking distance, length, and the variety of ABS interventions. After a experience, you’ll be able to analyse your braking behaviour within the eBike Stream app and evaluate the variety of braking occasions with and with out ABS Professional. At the moment, braking distance and length aren’t accessible on the brand new Purion 400.
Bosch eBike ABS Professional Check: How does the ABS Professional carry out on the path?
We examined the Bosch eBike ABS Professional for you within the Dolomites, piling up loads of vertical metres whereas sustaining our traditional braking habits to see the way it carried out in varied conditions. The ABS system really shines on easy, slippery surfaces and moist roots. Usually, in these conditions, the entrance wheel can lock up simply with standard brakes, resulting in lack of management and, within the worst case, a crash. Nevertheless, the ABS Professional intervenes within the braking power, stopping the entrance wheel from locking up. The wheel continues to roll in a managed method, permitting the rider to steer safely. Whereas, total, traction strongly is dependent upon the tires and floor situations, the ABS considerably enhances security by enhancing grip and serving to keep management of the entrance wheel.
Setting off on the path in Path Professional mode, the ABS engages early and easily, particularly on uneven surfaces and free gravel. Race mode, alternatively, ensures a extra aggressive braking dynamic: right here, the ABS engages later, and by deactivating the rear-wheel raise management, skilled riders can deliberately raise the rear wheel to navigate tight turns extra exactly. Even in quick sections, braking torque stays robust with out locking the entrance wheel. This enables for a managed but dynamic driving model. Nevertheless, learners ought to familiarise themselves with Race mode first because of the deactivated rear-wheel raise management. In steep sections, robust braking may ship you over the bars, so learners are higher off sticking with Path Professional mode, which provides extra security by stopping rear-wheel raise.
One of many key benefits of the brand new Bosch eBike ABS Professional over earlier variations is the extra refined and delicate management response. Whereas the outdated ABS system typically engaged fairly abruptly, affecting the driving expertise in a unfavourable approach, the brand new system works so easily that the intervention is hardly perceptible. Moreover, the brand new ABS Professional provides extra freedom in Race mode, the place it engages later and vigorously, with the rear-wheel raise management deactivated. This offers skilled riders extra management for dynamic and aggressive manoeuvres with out the system dominating the driving really feel.
Who ought to take a better have a look at the brand new Bosch eBike ABS Professional?
Because the title suggests, the Bosch eBike ABS Professional is especially aimed toward skilled e-mountainbikers who need to refine their technical expertise and enhance their greatest occasions on demanding trails. The Race mode particularly targets formidable riders who race with an energetic driving model however nonetheless need a system that gives security and management. Nevertheless, those that solely sometimes experience on easy trails won’t totally profit from the Race mode of the Bosch eBike ABS Professional and are higher off utilizing the Path Professional mode, which supplies extra management and security.
Conclusions in regards to the Bosch eBike ABS Professional
With the eBike ABS Professional, Bosch created a system that mixes security and sporty efficiency. The quick and delicate management response, in addition to the 1-finger brake lever, make it particularly appropriate for formidable riders. In contrast to the earlier mannequin, which was closely centered on security, the ABS Professional now brings the dynamic really feel that many riders have been lacking. Nevertheless, learners ought to first get used to the system in Path Professional mode.
Tops
- Delicate and quick management response
- Excessive efficiency orientation
- Will increase the sensation of security
Flops
- Novices ought to familiarise themselves with the system in Path Professional mode first
The primary e-MTBs geared up with the brand new Bosch eBike ABS Professional are anticipated to be available in shops by late 2024.
For extra data, go to bosch.com
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Phrases: Benedikt Schmidt Images: Mike Starvation
