Patent ID: 7794026

Claim:
A braking apparatus for a motorcycle, said braking apparatus comprising: a brake actuating unit for receiving input from an operator of the motorcycle; a master cylinder working in conjunction with the brake actuating unit; a wheel brake member for applying braking force to a wheel by means of hydraulic pressure operation; a main brake path which connects the master cylinder and the wheel brake member; a normally-open electromagnetic on-off isolation valve provided in the main brake path, the normally-open electromagnetic on-off isolation valve being closed during a braking operation; a hydraulic modulator driven by an electric actuator; a hydraulic pressure sensor for detecting hydraulic pressure applied to the wheel brake member; an electronic controller for controlling operation of the hydraulic modulator, wherein the hydraulic modulator and the wheel brake member are connected via a two-way supply and exhaust path, the supply and exhaust path being provided with a single normally-closed electromagnetic valve, wherein the hydraulic modulator is operable to selectively increase or decrease the hydraulic pressure applied to the wheel brake member, the hydraulic pressure sensor constantly detects the hydraulic pressure applied to the wheel brake member, and the electronic controller constantly monitors the braking state of the wheel brake member based on the detected pressure and controls the hydraulic modulator based on the monitored braking state; and an antilock brake system (ABS) which adjusts the hydraulic pressure of the main brake path on a side closer to the wheel brake member relative to the normally-open electromagnetic on-off isolation valve by operation of the hydraulic modulator to control a slip ratio between a braking wheel and a road surface, the hydraulic modulator being controlled to supply hydraulic pressure to the wheel brake member, during the braking operation, according to the operational state of the brake actuating unit, wherein the apparatus is configured such that during ABS operation the isolation valve is closed to prevent fluid communication between the brake actuating unit and the hydraulic modulator so that pressure variations caused by the ABS are isolated from the brake actuating unit; wherein when the vehicle speed has become a predetermined speed or less when the motorcycle is being braked by the brake actuating unit, the pressure of the main brake path on a side closer to the master cylinder relative to the normally-open electromagnetic on-off isolation valve, and the pressure of the main brake path on the side closer to the wheel brake member relative to the normally-open electromagnetic on-off isolation valve are detected, and are equalized by operation of the hydraulic modulator before opening the normally-open electromagnetic on-off isolation valve.