ABS > non-ABS
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 14,262
Likes: 15,534
From: Tulsa
There are valid concerns and then there are worry warts of the OCD variety. Worrying that your brakes are going to quit on you on a fully functional bike that has shown no issues falls into the latter category IMO. If you think your braking system is defective take it into HD for service. If it isn't defective but you just go in and say you read online the ABS system might just fail and you will crash and you want it ripped off the bike, they are going to look at you funny and have a WTF moment.
Personally, I have had no issue on three bikes with ABS. The SuperGlide and my former Limtied which I just sold for a Road King last year. I road the first two to sturgis twice, florida, montana, NY, az...rode in hurricane rain nonstop from Flordia to Ohio two years ago on the limited. My heated grips went out and water got into one of the lighting units and fried a bulb. But the ABS and brakes worked like a charm. I never even think about it. The bike is maintained, it runs fine, have had no issue of any kind with the brakes and have 62,000 miles on the Limited in three years and 30,000 on the superglide. Just hit 5K on the road king and have had no issues either.
Personally, I have had no issue on three bikes with ABS. The SuperGlide and my former Limtied which I just sold for a Road King last year. I road the first two to sturgis twice, florida, montana, NY, az...rode in hurricane rain nonstop from Flordia to Ohio two years ago on the limited. My heated grips went out and water got into one of the lighting units and fried a bulb. But the ABS and brakes worked like a charm. I never even think about it. The bike is maintained, it runs fine, have had no issue of any kind with the brakes and have 62,000 miles on the Limited in three years and 30,000 on the superglide. Just hit 5K on the road king and have had no issues either.
I don't have a problem with the brakes per se. If mine stop working when I need them, well, I don't have any control over that and I'll either stop or I won't. However a forum member suggested he'd like to remove his ABS system to ensure that didn't happen to him and the third reich dogpiled his *** for it. You don't have control over every single aspect of your life. You handle what you can and roll with the rest, but if it's not your bike, why are you even worried? By "you" I mean the third reich, not you specifically.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 1,967
From: PA
So I bled my brakes, then went down the street and engaged ABS a couple times. Went back in the garage and bled again - nothing but clear pure DOT 4 coming out. No evidence at all of any old fluid was still in there. I had this confirmed by a former HD tech, who says HD would prefer you to think you need to go to the dealer for a flush, but you don't.
Having said all that - if you get air in the ABS module, then you ARE going to have to go to the dealer, and they have to use the "Digital Technician II" to get the air out.
I like that my bike has ABS. I'll like it more if it doesn't malfunction. I plan to change the DOT 4 every 2 years as recommended. Or sooner if I feel inclined. It's $5 of fluid and about an hour of work.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 804
Likes: 92
From: Texas
Theoretically, failure of ABS should not affect normal breaking.
If you read the CDL handbook (Commerical Drivers License Handbook) it says in there about 100 times (exaggerating) that ABS only prevents the wheels from locking up, it does not affect normal breaking, if the ABS fails you still have normal breaking. Obviously, this is written for commercial vehicles, but I assume it is true for all ABS, even when on a motorcycle.
If you read the CDL handbook (Commerical Drivers License Handbook) it says in there about 100 times (exaggerating) that ABS only prevents the wheels from locking up, it does not affect normal breaking, if the ABS fails you still have normal breaking. Obviously, this is written for commercial vehicles, but I assume it is true for all ABS, even when on a motorcycle.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 1,967
From: PA
In this video an ABS module (from a car) is disassembled, and you can see how the valves work. I have to think it's very similar to a moto unit. I'm not seeing how a valve failure, open or closed, would prevent normal braking. Not saying it can't happen, but I don't see how.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
In this video an ABS module (from a car) is disassembled, and you can see how the valves work. I have to think it's very similar to a moto unit. I'm not seeing how a valve failure, open or closed, would prevent normal braking. Not saying it can't happen, but I don't see how.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKi5O3ZlSu4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKi5O3ZlSu4
So your rationalizing that because on big rig ABS systems, the units fail SAFE like they are supposed to that it can't happen to a Harley??? You know harley issued a free flush already and there has been numerous threads on this forum about exactly this. OF COURSE they should NEVER lock out the brakes when they fail. That's absolute stupidity on the MOCOS behalf. BUt sir, that is exactly what is occurring and why its such a big deal.
Theoretically, failure of ABS should not affect normal breaking.
If you read the CDL handbook (Commerical Drivers License Handbook) it says in there about 100 times (exaggerating) that ABS only prevents the wheels from locking up, it does not affect normal breaking, if the ABS fails you still have normal breaking. Obviously, this is written for commercial vehicles, but I assume it is true for all ABS, even when on a motorcycle.
If you read the CDL handbook (Commerical Drivers License Handbook) it says in there about 100 times (exaggerating) that ABS only prevents the wheels from locking up, it does not affect normal breaking, if the ABS fails you still have normal breaking. Obviously, this is written for commercial vehicles, but I assume it is true for all ABS, even when on a motorcycle.
Carry on.
Last edited by bikerlaw; May 20, 2018 at 09:53 AM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 1,967
From: PA
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 578
Likes: 522
From: Durango CO
The fact of the matter is that even Harley Davidson did not expect these ABS units to fail in such a way as to have brakes go out. Normally when an ABS module goes out the brakes still work but may lock up. This is an uncommon situation but it's what HD modules are experiencing.
Last edited by Durango Dave; May 20, 2018 at 10:13 AM.
Novice
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 7
From: Chicago burbs
ABS delete how to post
Theoretically, failure of ABS should not affect normal breaking.
If you read the CDL handbook (Commerical Drivers License Handbook) it says in there about 100 times (exaggerating) that ABS only prevents the wheels from locking up, it does not affect normal breaking, if the ABS fails you still have normal breaking. Obviously, this is written for commercial vehicles, but I assume it is true for all ABS, even when on a motorcycle.
If you read the CDL handbook (Commerical Drivers License Handbook) it says in there about 100 times (exaggerating) that ABS only prevents the wheels from locking up, it does not affect normal breaking, if the ABS fails you still have normal breaking. Obviously, this is written for commercial vehicles, but I assume it is true for all ABS, even when on a motorcycle.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; May 20, 2018 at 09:55 PM.
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Novice
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 7
From: Chicago burbs
2014 and up are a different system. Time will tell if it's better than this one but on the surface the engineering is better. They link the front and rear brakes, so if you apply front brakes it also applies partial rear brakes like a proportioning valve in a car. Same if you apply the rear brakes I believe it also applies pressure to one front caliper. I have to see the hydraulic schematic for it before I would say it's good or bad, and how the ABS module functions.