My initial thought on reading the letter from Mike Abbot (Reaction, BDN April issue) was that the introduction of ABS on all 125cc and over machines should have reduced accidents, but if you don’t know where the limit is, then ABS isn’t going to help you. Also, if you are not taught how to steer when heavy braking, then a skid is almost inevitable.
I think his proposal to introduce brake training is an excellent idea. Modern brakes and tyres allow a phenomenal amount of braking power to be used, but the rider has to be prepared (and practised enough) to use all the braking power available. From my 2023 BMW R1250 R ride data, I can see that my last three rides had a maximum braking effort of 0.7g, 0.8g and 0.9g. But at no time did I feel that I was anywhere near the maximum braking capability of the bike and its tyres. I will certainly be practising maximum braking when safe to do so, I am obviously not quite at the limit yet! By the way, on modern BMW bikes, the use of the back brake is pointless in an emergency stop as the ABS system is already working it for you.
Compare the BMW with my 1979 Suzuki GT250 X7 and the braking power is woeful, combined with a complete lack of feel from the front brake. I certainly have to leave a lot more space up front! In this case, the rear brake is a valuable asset. Training would have to reflect different types of machines and technologies, not just current bikes.
Finally, a brief perusal of YouTube (or similar) will show that a lot of riders are still incapable of identifying hazards and are riding too fast for any given situation.
Dean Faria, Inskip, Lancashire