Traction control
Like ABS, the term ‘traction control’ covers a multitude of set-ups, from very basic ‘safety’ systems that are aimed at stopping you from falling over if you open the gas too much in a gravel car park, to the very latest ‘performance’ systems designed for advanced track use.
The first bike to come with a TCS (traction control system) was the 1992 Honda ST1100 Pan European, which had a combined TCS/ ABS system. That set-up merely cut the ignition sparks if the rear wheel started spinning faster than the front – the engine used carburettors, so there was no way to reduce fuelling by turning off fuel injectors or close a ride-by-wire throttle. Wheel speeds were measured by the same sensor rings used by the ABS system, which we’re all very familiar with these days.
Up until fairly recently, roadbike traction wasn’t much more advanced than that system. If the traction ECU saw the rear wheel spinning too quickly, it would cut the engine’s power by retarding ignition timing, or even turning off some sparks altogether (which gave that cool popping and banging as unburnt fuel backfired in the exhaust).
Some systems like the 2008 ZX-10R didn’t even have wheel sensors, instead analysing the acceleration of the crankshaft – if it span up too quickly, the rear wheel must have lost grip, since the bike couldn’t be accelerating as fast as the crank was. ‘Hmmm’, as we all said at the time.
Ten years on, more powerful engine management systems, together with ride-by-wire throttle control and IMU sensor packages mean engineers can build much more sophisticated traction control algorithms. Like ABS, more powerful algorithms, sensors and computing power means they make far better and faster decisions about cutting torque to the rear tyre – and they are also much more controllable for the rider, with multi-stage settings on most systems now. PROS – adds safety, encourages more aggressive throttle use out of bends CONS – might be used as a replacement for rider skill
THE RECKONING?
GOOD AIDS –
on balance, a top TC system is a good thing. You can turn it down as your skills improve, and it’s a useful safety net as you go