In the past 10 years or so, the tech stuffed into our bikes has taken massive leaps forward. Gizmos like throttle-by-wire, once found only on high-end bikes, are now standard even on entry-level models. And advanced rider aids like cornering ABS and lean-sensitive traction control have also filtered down to more accessible models. But in the world of cars, there’s one tech making waves that could change the game entirely: brake-by-wire.
Of course, this advancement comes from none other than Bosch, a company that has been developing a bunch of advanced automotive and motorcycle tech for years. It announced that it recently completed a major test involving over 3,300 kilometers across multiple climates for its supposedly revolutionary brake-by-wire technology on four-wheeled vehicles.
The tech works pretty much how you think it would work. Like the now-ubiquitous ride-by-wire, brake-by-wire replaces mechanical connections—in this case, hydraulic hoses and cylinders—with electronic actuators. According to Bosch, this change allows for more flexibility in design and better integration with electronic systems like stability control (ESP), and eventually, autonomous cars. This gives the car’s brain the ability to adjust braking pressure as needed.
Now sure, you could say that this tech makes sense in cars, especially with the dawn of autonomous vehicles. And indeed, Bosch plans to bring brake-by-wire to cars as early as next fall, but what about motorcycles?
Modern bike brakes are among the best we've seen—powerful, reliable, and equipped with advanced systems like ABS and integration with other rider aids. So, what’s the real advantage of a brake-by-wire system? Well for starters, the biggest benefit would be how seamlessly it could integrate with other systems, allowing for more refined braking performance and a more compact brake design. Think Tesla Cybertruck and its funky steer-by-wire system. So maybe, electronic braking could pave the way for a cleaner, more streamlined system.
But there’s a catch, and here’s where it gets scary.
In large-scale applications like on boats and planes, electrical systems are the backbone of control, and while they’ve proven reliable, planes, boats, and other large equipment come with multiple redundancies, and not to mention, extremely stringent regulations and inspections. And still, these things fail catastrophically in very rare occasions.
But motorcycles? Dirt, weather, and rough conditions are far more unpredictable. If a wire gets pinched or dirt clogs the sensor, could it leave a rider with no brakes? A failure in such a crucial system could lead to catastrophic consequences, not just for the rider but for everyone on the road. For brake-by-wire to be viable on motorcycles, it would need extensive fail-safes and redundancy—ensuring that a malfunction wouldn’t put the rider in immediate danger.
That means proper maintenance is even more critical than ever before, which could be an issue for riders who can’t even manage to keep their chains lubed and tires in check.
While the tech is impressive, it has potential issues surrounding reliability and safety in the more unpredictable motorcycle environment. But still, Bosch’s brake-by-wire could offer more adaptive, precise braking, but it would need to prove itself under even more real-world conditions, and over a much longer period of time.
So yeah, if this tech can overcome the potential reliability issues and offer failsafe systems, we could see a future where brake-by-wire is standard on motorcycles. But for now, the challenge remains: can we trust a fully electronic braking system on a motorcycle, where failure isn't just an inconvenience, but a matter of life and death?
Source: Bosch
