Ducati Monster 1200S Owner's Manual page 80

Using the brakes correctly under adverse conditions
is the hardest – and yet the most critical - skill to
master for a rider. Braking is one of the most difficult
and dangerous moments when riding a two-wheeled
vehicle: the possibility of falling or having an accident
during braking is statistically higher than at any other
moment. A locked front wheel leads to loss of traction
and stability, resulting in loss of control.
The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) has been
developed to enable riders to use the vehicle's
braking force to the fullest during emergency braking,
adverse weather conditions or when pavement is
compromised. ABS is an electro-hydraulic device that
controls the pressure in the brake circuit when the
control unit, by processing information from wheel
sensors, determines that one or both wheels are
about to lock up. In this case, pressure decrease in
the brake circuit allows the wheel to carry on turning,
thereby preserving grip. After that, the control unit
restores the pressure in the brake circuit, to resume
the braking action. This cycle is repeated many times
until the problem is completely eliminated. Normally,
the rider will perceive ABS operation as a harder feel
or a pulsation of the brake lever and pedal. The front
and rear brakes use separate control systems.
The Monster ABS also features a "cornering" function
that widens ABS functionality to the conditions
where the motorcycle is leaning over, thus controlling
the front and rear brake systems depending on the
vehicle lean angle with the purpose of preventing
wheel lockup and slipping as much as possible, within
the physical limits allowed by the vehicle and by the
road conditions.
If desired, the system can be deactivated from the
instrument panel, setting the level to OFF within the
Riding Mode for which you wish to disable it.
Attention
Using the two brake controls separately
reduces the motorcycle braking power.
Never use the front brake control harshly or suddenly
as you may cause rear wheel lift-up and lose control of
the motorcycle (if the ABS is enabled).
When riding in the rain or on slippery surfaces,
braking will become less effective. Always use the
brakes very gently and carefully when riding under
these conditions. Any sudden maneuvers may lead to
loss of control.
When tackling long, high-gradient downhill road
tracts, shift down gears to use engine braking. Apply
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