had it on my 16 flss, skipped it when i bought my 18 rk

 

I opted for no ABS as well.

If you need them and they work that's great, but if it fails when you need it, what good is it?

 

NOT the same, however, if you have one, you have the other. Two different functions installed on the same system. ABS does what it does, linked brakes applies both front and rear brakes whether you want it to or not.

 

Those people who "laid the bike down"? On rare occasions it's the right move, but most of them locked up the rear tire and lost control.

Some riders are good enough to work the brakes properly for maximum stopping without losing control. The statistics show that many aren't.

 

I wasn't aware of failures in the abs system. Is this common? The abs came standard on my bike with 114ci engine.

 

I doubt Harley makes the abs system, it’s probably a Bosch system.

 

To be sure, Harley doesn't produce much on their own. The Harley ABS system I had was manufactured by BWI (Beijing West Industries, in China). The knock is, Harley specs everything to a price that outside contractors build for them (to maximize profits). Someone in the engineering department must have been dumbfounded when they found that the failure of the ABS system resulted in a complete loss of braking. There's not one thing wrong with making a profit, I applaud anyone who can do it. But, knowingly doing it at the risk of someone else's safety is unacceptable to me. When the 2008-2011 generation of ABS came out it was "the greatest thing since sliced bread" and then, as more was found out about the system and failures started happening, that bread got a little moldy. Historically, HD isn't the brand you look to for technological innovation. HD only started putting a crude form of ABS on their bikes to compete with BMW for the California Highway Patrol contract.

All that said, Harley is my brand and in five years when they get a handle on the M8 platform problems (and/or the aftermarket supports fixes for the problems) I'll buy another; provided it's a an engine, a gas tank, two wheels and a seat. Anymore technology or intrusion than that and I'll just keep buying used ones. I fully understand the desire to have ABS on a motorcycle and I'm not opposed to it, I just don't want ABS from Harley. They're still busy refining the 45 degree V twin engine that's been in production since 1909. There are people riding 2017-18 and 19 motorcycles that have had to have the engine replaced at less miles than an oil change. If they don't have a handle on that, why would someone expect them to have a handle on something like ABS? It's a safety feature and if it truly works just one time for the rider it may well have been worth it. However, if a buyer opts for ABS on a Harley they should understand that there may be a cost or safety legacy down the road. If they're good with that, they'll never be disappointed.

 

According to a review on Motorcyclist of the 2017 Road Glide Ultra, it is a Bosch system.

 

Me personally , old school , i do not want anything that can think for me , yet pulse my brakes . I have an 08 UC and would love to remove the abs ! I love my 57 buick because it does what I want and does not think for me !!!! OLD SCHOOL WORKS FOR ME !!!!!!

 

BWI purchased Delphi’s chassis and brake division in 2009. On some bikes they were/are using a Delphi system now owned by BWI. Im curious what my fat bob uses, the module looks like your typical Bosch but who knows.