Tricking the Rear ABS ?
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,686
Likes: 242
From: Glen Mills, PA
I would recommend to install higher quality pads and flush and bleed them. No way I am stopping my Road King with only the rear brake. My old sportster will slow down with the rear only and feels stronger as its a lot lighter. I only buy bikes with ABS now.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 9,281
Likes: 1,139
From: southeast PA
Most of your braking power should come from the front, so I don't see the problem. If you use only the front or the back you are not braking correctly, both should be used together with the front taking most of the braking force. The problem is not with your bike but your riding technique. Watch some instructional videos and even better, take a rider's safety course if they have such a thing near you.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,385
Likes: 1,416
From: Northern NJ
You should keep the ABS because it defiantly improves braking performance for people with poor technique (as you indicate that you use).
There are those that argue that they can stop, using proper technique, faster than ABS. I would argue that, if the ABS ever engages, you have already blown it and the ABS will only improve your stopping performance; i.e., the best braking/riding technique (on streets or highways) precludes engaging ABS. That said: ABS has saved my bacon when a deer jumped out in front of me. Those split hooved daemons of death come out of no-where and jump right into your path. If you have never seen it, you don't understand how fast it happens. Their instinct is to run straight at a predictor to get behind it (causing the predator to stop and turn while the deer escapes at full speed). This instinctive (or God given) defensive behavior fails miserably with motor vehicles.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 578
Likes: 522
From: Durango CO
I think the ABS is working properly. I agree with the others.I think the OP needs training with braking. No one, especially someone confident with their abilities wants to be told they are doing something wrong. Don't be defensive. Please take our advice and work on braking with both brakes. The harder you brake the more braking power power the front has. The weight shifts to the front as you brake. On a sport bike I used to have I could skid long distances with the rear locked up. During those times it seemed like the rear had almost no braking power. On a bike with ABS you can slam on the rear brake and seem to keep going and going and going as the ABS pulsates the brakes. At those times it seems like the ABS brakes have almost no braking power.
The fact that the ABS is kicking in tells us there is nothing wrong with the brakes.
For the riders that really think they can brake faster without ABS I'd like to see them in a controlled test environment to verify braking distances.
Well said. ABS is a major improvement to almost all riders.
The fact that the ABS is kicking in tells us there is nothing wrong with the brakes.
For the riders that really think they can brake faster without ABS I'd like to see them in a controlled test environment to verify braking distances.
There are those that argue that they can stop, using proper technique, faster than ABS. I would argue that, if the ABS ever engages, you have already blown it and the ABS will only improve your stopping performance; i.e., the best braking/riding technique (on streets or highways) precludes engaging ABS.
Last edited by Durango Dave; Dec 25, 2018 at 01:06 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 361
Likes: 56
From: Lancaster, CA.
It's possible his ABS is not working properly. I once had a 1995 Corvette with ABS and the breaks were terrible. Took it to the shop more than once, only to be told they could find nothing wrong with the breaks. I knew they weren't right. I sold the car because of the brakes. Perhaps this is why the previous owner sold the bike with only 5000 miles on it.
Thread Starter
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Stage IV
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Brazil - Brasília
So much ABS lovers here, never mind the ABS then, maybe its just the weight diference with my previous bike, but how can I get better stopping power on the rear ?
I'm almost going for an aftermarket caliper.
I'm almost going for an aftermarket caliper.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 130
From: Vancouver
I ride a fxdb 2015 single disc. I also race sport bikes. Although the brakes arent great, they do the job and I've never needed to think about upgrading them. Partly cause these things handle like boats no matter what you do to them, so I'm rarely ripping down a straight and need to thump the brakes before a curve.
I think you need to rethink your braking strategy before upgrading anything. It sounds you rely too heavily on the rear brake. As many have stated, most of the stopping power is coming from the front. It sounds like your primary method for braking is using a rear. That's so @ss backwards sorry to say. Get some lessons.
I think you need to rethink your braking strategy before upgrading anything. It sounds you rely too heavily on the rear brake. As many have stated, most of the stopping power is coming from the front. It sounds like your primary method for braking is using a rear. That's so @ss backwards sorry to say. Get some lessons.
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 961
Likes: 192
From: Chicago
take some classes you sound like you need em
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 961
Likes: 192
From: Chicago
better pads rotor and caliper. Also the stock rear master sucks but Ive yet to find a replacement