Reflex™ Defensive Rider Systems (RDRS)

Reflex™ Defensive Rider Systems (RDRS) is a new collection of technology designed to match motorcycle performance to available traction during acceleration, deceleration and braking. The systems are designed to aid the rider in controlling the vehicle while accelerating and braking in a straight line or while in a turn. A rider may find the systems most helpful when riding in adverse road conditions and in urgent situations. The systems are electronic and utilise the latest electronic brake controls and powertrain technology. The features of RDRS are bundled together except where noted. RDRS features are standard on Ultra Limited, Street Glide® Special, Road King® Special, Freewheeler®, Tri Glide™ Ultra, CVO™ Limited, CVO™ Street Glide®, CVO™ Road Glide® and CVO™ Tri Glide™.

Advanced Braking
Traction Control Systems
Drag Torque Slip Control
Vehicle Hold Control
Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Watch the animations below and learn about the advanced Reflex™ Defensive Rider Systems (RDRS) technologies. NOTE: The red motorcycle in some animations represents a motorcycle without the specific RDRS feature being demonstrated.

ABS

Antilock Brake System (ABS)

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) is designed to prevent the wheels from locking under braking and helps the rider maintain control when braking in a straight-line, urgent situation.

ABS is standard on all MY20 motorcycles. 

ABS assists the rider in maintaining control when braking in a straight-line urgent situation. ABS operates independently on front and rear brakes to keep the wheels rolling and prevent uncontrolled wheel lock.

 

C ABS

Cornering Enhanced ABS (C-ABS)

Cornering Enhanced ABS (C-ABS) is a variant of ABS that is designed to balance braking and cornering loads at the tire contact patch while under combined cornering and braking.

C-ABS is standard on MY20 CVO™, Trike and Touring Models (except FLHT).

C-ABS is a variant of ABS that tailors brake pressure to longitudinal slip based on motorcycle lean angle or trike lateral acceleration. The system is intended to preserve lateral grip at the tire contact patch while under combined cornering and braking loads.

 

C ELB

Electronic Linked Braking (ELB)

Electronic Linked Braking (ELB) applies braking effort to both wheels when the rider uses either the hand lever (front) or foot pedal (rear) brake control, which can help riders achieve better braking performance.

ELB is standard on all MY20 Touring and Trike models.

The Electronically Linked Braking (ELB) system allows for more balanced front and rear braking under a wide variety of brake applications. The system provides more linking when the rider is applying heavier braking and reduces or eliminates linking for light braking and low speeds. When linked, applying the front brake lever alone will cause the system to also dynamically apply an amount of braking to the rear. Applying the rear brake pedal alone will cause the system to also apply an amount of braking to the left front caliper.
C ELB

Cornering Enhanced Electronic Linked Braking (C-ELB)

Cornering Enhanced Electronic Linked Braking (C-ELB) takes into account the motorcycle lean angle or Trike lateral acceleration. C-ELB will alter the proportioning of brake pressure between the front and rear brakes when braking while cornering in an attempt to improve the ability of the motorcycle to maintain the rider’s intended path.

C-ELB is standard on all MY20 CVO™, Trike and Touring Models (except FLHT).

C-ABS is a variant of ABS that tailors brake pressure to longitudinal slip based on motorcycle lean angle or trike lateral acceleration. The system is intended to preserve lateral grip at the tire contact patch while under combined cornering and braking loads.

 

More Grip, Less Slip

C TCS

Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System (C-TCS)

Traction control is designed to keep the rear wheel from "spinning out" when the motorcycle is accelerating while leaning, and enhances rider control and confidence, especially in wet weather.

C-TCS is standard on all MY20 CVO™, Trike and Touring Models (except FLHT).

The Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System (C-TCS) is designed to prevent the rear wheel from excessive spinning under acceleration when going straight or cornering. C-TCS can improve rider confidence when available traction is compromised by wet weather, a sudden unanticipated change in the surface, or when riding on an unpaved road. The rider may select one of two traction control modes: Standard Mode is optimized for dry surfaces; Rain Mode is optimized for wet surfaces. The system can also be turned off. The action of C-TCS is also tailored when cornering based on lean angle.

Slow Your Roll

DSCS

Drag-Torque Slip Control System (DSCS)

Drag-Torque Slip Control (DSCS) is designed to reduce excessive rear-wheel slip under deceleration, which typically occurs when the rider makes an abrupt down-shift gear change or decelerates on wet or slippery road surfaces.

DSCS is standard on all MY20 CVO™, Trike and Touring Models (except FLHT).

When DSCS detects excessive rear wheel slip under deceleration it will adjust engine torque delivery to better match rear-wheel speed to road speed.

Steep, Steady & Ready

DHC

Vehicle Hold Control (VHC)

The primary function of VHC is to use brake pressure to keep the motorcycle from rolling, making it easier to ride away when starting on a hill, a bridge or a parking ramp.

VHC is not intended as a substitute for a parking brake in any situation.

This feature is standard on MY20 CVO™ and Touring Models (except FLHT).

The Vehicle Hold Control (VHC) applies and holds brake pressure when activated by the rider and prevents the motorcycle from rolling after the rider has released the brake controls. The primary function of VHC is to prevent the motorcycle from rolling when it is stopped – for example at a stop sign on a hill, in stop-and-go traffic on a slope, or on a steep decline out of a parking structure. VHC is designed to make it easier to ride away with confidence by minimizing the number of coordinated controls needed to pull away smoothly. The system applies brake pressure until the rider actuates the throttle and clutch to pull away. VHC may also be engaged when the motorcycle is stopped on a flat surface if the rider wants to maintain position without applying pressure to a brake control.

The rider activates VHC by momentarily applying extra pressure to either the front-brake hand lever or the rear-brake foot control after the motorcycle has come to a complete stop. If rider brakes very hard to a stop, and holds the brake pressure after stopped, VHC may also set without any added pressure. The VHC indicator light will illuminate to confirm that the rider has activated VHC, and the ABS system will hold brake pressure after the rider releases the brake control. VHC is disengaged automatically as the rider begins to pull away from a stop, or if the rider applies and releases either brake control.

VHC is not to be used as a parking brake. It will also disengage if the rider lowers the side stand (on models with a side-stand sensor, not a feature in all markets) or shifts into neutral on models without a side-stand sensor, or if the engine is turned off. In most situations after five minutes the indicator light will flash and the VHC will release if there is no rider action.

Know You’re Good to Go

TPMS

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

TPMS alerts the rider to low tire air pressure. Maintaining proper tire air pressure is important both for vehicle performance and tire life.

This feature is standard on MY20 CVO™ and Touring Models (except FLHT).

The TPMS displays current front and rear tire pressure on the Boom!™ Box GTS screen (or on the odometer on Road King® models) and displays an indicator to alert the rider when tire pressure is low, and the pressure should be checked.

TPMS is a feature of RDRS and is also available as a stand-alone accessory through P&A for MY20 Touring models (except Japan) equipped with Original Equipment or Accessory wheels that accept a TPMS sensor.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Reflex™ Defensive Rider Systems (RDRS) is a new collection of technology designed to match motorcycle performance to available traction during acceleration, deceleration and braking. The systems are designed to aid the rider in controlling the vehicle while accelerating and braking in a straight line or while in a turn. A rider may find the systems most helpful when riding in adverse road conditions and in urgent situations. The systems are electronic and utilise the latest electronic brake controls and powertrain technology. The features of RDRS are bundled together except where noted. RDRS features are standard on Ultra Limited, Street Glide® Special, Road King® Special, Freewheeler®, Tri Glide™ Ultra, CVO™ Limited, CVO™ Street Glide®, CVO™ Road Glide® and CVO™ Tri Glide™.

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