Test / E-Bike ABS: ABS systems for e-bikes are designed to make cycling safer, especially for inexperienced cyclists. Overturning or locking and slipping of the front wheel are among the most common causes of accidents on the bike - mostly in panic braking. Industry giants such as Bosch already have ABS systems in their range, but these appear to be little integrated and visually rather distracting. The Italian manufacturer Blubrake is now enriching the market with an e-bike ABS system, which not only has the well-known safety advantages, but is also integrated in an elegant and hardly recognizable way.
We were able to take a first look at Blubrake's e-bike ABS at Eurobike 2019. Here is the report. In addition to the exemplary integration, we were able to get a first impression of the function in a short test. However, the time at the fair was very short. Blubrake therefore invited us to their company headquarters in Milan to take a look behind the scenes and to test the ABS system extensively.
Blubrake ABS: components and how they work
Viewed in detail, the function of an anti-lock braking system is of course highly complex. But in principle the Blubrake ABS system is similar to the systems from the automotive world in terms of its functionality. The aim is to prevent the wheel from locking up. Blocking usually means that the transition from static to sliding friction creates a state that can hardly be controlled. Transferred to the bicycle, locking the wheel can even lead to a rollover. In order to prevent this, the brake pressure must be regulated in such a way that, ideally, the wheel is completely prevented from locking. So that the system does not become too complex and too heavy, the Blubrake ABS – like the Bosch system – only controls the front wheel.
In order for the ABS to be able to regulate at all, it is dependent on various values. A sensor determines data about the acceleration and speed of the bicycle and the electronics compare these values with the speed of the front wheel. Its speed is determined using a sensor ring on the brake disc. A special algorithm in the electronics then controls the actual braking intervention.
In order to regulate the brake pressure if necessary, a piston in the so-called "brake actuator" can reduce the pressure within milliseconds. Different pressure conditions occur between the brake caliper and the brake lever and the ABS-typical pulsation occurs in the brake handle. At this point, the Bosch ABS works with valves to reduce pressure, which means that the brake lever "wanders" closer and closer to the handlebars during long emergency braking. By using a piston, this does not occur with the Blubrake ABS system.
An "ABS HMI" indicator light informs the driver about the function of the system: if it lights up blue, the function is guaranteed; Amber means the system is not active or there is an error. In this case, the braking performance is of course retained - just without ABS control.
Blubrake ABS: Impressions in the video
At Blubrake's headquarters in Milan, we were able to take a look behind the scenes of the young company. We also had the opportunity to install the e-bike ABS on one of the first production bikes with Blubrake ABS, a Bulls Copperhead Evo AM3 ABS to test extensively.
We show the collected impressions and slow-motion recordings of emergency braking with active ABS in the following video:
Blubrake ABS: Conclusion
ABS systems have been a legal requirement for motorcycles for some time and the safety benefits are undisputed. So why is the breakthrough in the world of e-bikes still a long time coming, especially since there are many inexperienced riders on e-bikes? A decisive factor was certainly the fact that the first ABS systems available on the market looked very clumsy and looked more like foreign bodies on the e-bike.
With ABS from Blubrake, a new manufacturer is entering the stage and it is refreshing to see that attention has also been paid to the look and overall appearance of the e-bikes. From a technical point of view, the system works perfectly and does what it is supposed to do: It reduces the risk of accidents in extreme situations and increases safety for inexperienced drivers! We are curious to see whether we will see significantly more models with ABS in the future.