ABS for motorcycles since 1988

The magazine "Popular Science" named BMW's ABS for motorbikes

one of the 100 most important inventions of 1988! 

After trying out different systems, with an adapted car ABS and a hydraulic-mechanical ABS, the choice fell on the electronic-hydraulic ABS from FAG Kugelfischer/ Hella, which convinced with the best test results in 1983.  The system was introduced by Lucas / Girling in 1985. 

The first series manufacturer was the company FTE automotive based in Ebern/Unterfranken (at that time still a division of the company FAG Kugelfischer)

In 1983, I was actually an eyewitness to the brake tests happend in the staff car parking area inside of the subsidiary of FAG Kugelfischer AG, who had bought the hydraulic know-how from my employer at the time, a specialist in hydraulic control technology, known for their hydraulic rescue shears Lucas for the fire brigade and systems for measuring film thickness, Frieseke & Hoepfner in Erlangen.

BMW was once again a trendsetter and generated a copycat effect ;-) 

History when ABS was offered from other trades:

1991: Yamaha FJ1200

1992: Honda ST 1100 Pan European
1993: BMW R1100/ R850

1996: Kawasaki GPZ1100

1997: Suzuki 1200 Bandit

Since January 1, 2016, EU Regulation 168/2013/EU has made a standard anti-lock braking system mandatory for new motorcycle models with an engine displacement of more than 125 cm³ and a power output of more than 11 kW.