I applaud Harley for the innovation. But I would've said that when they first came out with ABS, and look how that went south for so many people because of the brake fluid moisture issue. I work in tech, have since 1983. I'll be the first to say tech is more amazing than I ever imagined it would be in my wildest dreams. But I'm getting grumpy in my middle age, and getting burned out from tech in my face everywhere I turn.

My '14 has ABS but I didn't even know that until I was driving off the lot with it (last year, used). I've never needed it, thankfully. I guess my point in all this is I'd like my bike to be more bike and less computer. Not that my opinion amounts to a hill of beans.

 

In all honesty I think the RDRS is a little over the top. Technology and computers will never replace common sense and good skills.

 

For an around-town bike its definitely overkill. But do a lot of long-distance tours, especially when weather can vary from sunny and warm to some light morning snow on the road in July at Glacier or Yellowstone, yes having features like traction control, definitely absolutely is beneficial. Its why most manufacturers out there put these things on their touring bikes--they assume people will tour with them and this is going to include widely varying weather and road conditions in a lot of situations.

Everyone's needs and likes are different. But one thing I have noticed is that many people who own the big SUV touring bikes don't really do a lot of touring and the bikes are mainly used for typical around-town cruising or weekend stuff. That's fine. But your chances of encountering any scenarios where you actually can benefit from this type of feature set is next to nil. And a lot of people tour on Dynas and Sportsters and get along fine. I just prefer to have it. Kind of why I have been shopping around elsewhere lately for the dedicated long-haul touring rig to add.

In order of desirability, the things I wish I had when touring long distance:

-- traction control (things can really get iffy especially on wet mountain roads , especially when it snows as mentioned, and it does that quite frequently at places and usually when not expected)

-- adjustable windscreen..On long highway sections, sometimes I would like a lot of air in the face. sometimes I want to chill.

- on-the-fly suspension settings,especially when going from cruising straightaway highways to hitting twistys in the mountains.

- adjustable throttle maps---comes in handy for same reason above.

- heated seat--not real important priority-wise, but a lot of other manufacturers offer this standard these days on touring bikes.

Harley is probably a long way from offering most of this stuff in the touring line...they are adding traction control now as an option but that wouldn't be enough alone just given the cost compared to other offerings.

 

Might think different when you hit a patch of morning black ice on going to the sun road in July.

Not glacier but a pretty good idea of what its like in June....

 

Just don't forget to drain and flush that brake fluid every two years.

 

HD can't even make basic abs system that works right...then they want to rape you for dealer only parts. All that stuff to me is just a major headache waiting to happen...most likely out of warranty. Looks like I'll hang on to my bike with its crappy tbw, and faulty abs...those are enough. Can't even imagine being out on a ride in the middle of no where and the linked leaning anti wheel spin thingy sensor gets a raindrop on it and shuts the bike down, no thanks.

 

I gotta agree with this, and why wouldn't you design a system that uses Dot 5 ? When i bought my streetglide all i wanted was the cruise, nothing more. Now you don't have many choices.

 

because dot5 is not well suited for abs. it foams too much.

 

If the technology worked reliably, didn't disable the bike when it failed, and wasn't a few mortgage payments to fix (which is inevitable), then OK. But I guess that's a tall order.

 

I'll say it... I actually like the new technology, at least on paper. And flushing my brake fluid every two years, I consider "maintenance"; having had to rebuilt a couple of master cylinders because of water in the lines, this doesn't bother me in the slightest.

YMMV.