2014 DLX - Combined Brakes or not?

[curlyjoe]

I read through many interesting threads about brakes (rear in particular) on this forum. It appears that there were some problems with the rear brakes on the 2013, non-ABS models related to air in the rear brakes (were these issues resolved - Ferret?). I didn't find much information about the 2014 DLX brakes, which are ABS. I am throwing this question out there: Are the 2014 DLX ABS brakes combined (linked) or not? I saw threads with comments about the 2014 DLX brakes being linked, but I do not believe they are. My bike, a 2014 DLX, exhibits no characteristics what-so-ever of having a combined braking system. Page 14-5 of the Honda service manual states: "ABS model ('13 CB1100A only) is provided with a Combined Brake System (CBS)". Please respond with your comments.

With that said, can I please receive some feedback concerning the operation of the rear brake on a 2014 DLX with ABS? I did some tests yesterday to see how quickly the bike will stop from about 50 mph applying the rear brake only (I wanted to gain a better understanding of exactly what to expect from the anti-lock feature as this is my first motorcycle with ABS). Applying the rear brake only would slow the bike well, without locking up (as ABS is supposed to do). It felt like the wheel would lock momentarily when the brake was applied quickly with high force, then the braking force was reduced, allowing the wheel to rotate. My question is this: The ABS on my car seems to work much differently. On my car, you can definitely feel the ABS modulator cycling the brakes off and on at approximately 60 hz (my guess). On my bike, there is no such indication of the ABS cycling the pressure off and on quickly. Instead, the ABS on the bike seems to be modulating the brake line pressure, but not cycling it off and on completely like on my car. I can sense a cycling of pressure being reduced by the ABS, but not really being cycled completely on and off, and at a much lower frequency than what I experience on my car. Any responses are appreciated. Thank you.

My understanding is that cars and large Honda scooters use what Honda calls circulating ABS which uses a combination of valves and a motor driven pump to modulate brake pressure through sensors monitoring wheel speed. This system gives that high frequency pulsating feedback to the driver.

Our bikes and other motorcycles have a different system which uses a motor driven piston. The piston can move both directions and thus can increase or decrease hydraulic brake pressure depending on sensors monitoring wheel speed. Honda claims this system to be more precise and effective for motorcycles.

Here's the link: http://world.honda.com/motorcycle-techno...ke/p6.html

Here's an image from the link: You can see that from the graph on the right that the system on our bikes more precisely controls variations in wheel speed and hydraulic pressure.