Like or Dislike ABS?
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 35,506
Likes: 27
From: Calgary eh
There was a video posted a while ago, and I'm too lazy to look for it. It showed a competition between an abs equiped bike and a non abs bike. They switched up the riders on the non abs bike, they had an average type guy in some trials and a top road racer in some trials. The trials were done on wet and dry canditions at various speeds. The average guy lost to the abs bike every time. The road racer could in some cases marginally beat the performance of the abs bike, but not all the time, and not by much if he did.
So the bottom line, if you're a compeditive road racer you can forego the abs and get away with it. Everyone else can benifit from it. By the way, a race is usually won by who can brake the best coming into a corner. So if you're a street rider and think you can brake with the skill of a road racer, you're wrong.
So the bottom line, if you're a compeditive road racer you can forego the abs and get away with it. Everyone else can benifit from it. By the way, a race is usually won by who can brake the best coming into a corner. So if you're a street rider and think you can brake with the skill of a road racer, you're wrong.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 878
Likes: 0
From: Farmington, MN
Funny how the naysayers are unable to articulate WHY they don't like ABS.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 805
Likes: 4
From: The Live Free or Die State
Do you think that they will ever bring a kit out to fit ABS to non ABS fitted bikes? My 105th Anniversery Fatboy has terrible brakes, on a few occasions I have completely locked up both wheels and skidded for to long, luckily stayed on, but have little faith in the bikes ability to handle different conditions.
[quote=Tom84FXST;7716350]I hate ABS...I believe it is dangerous. I know that it gives shorter stopping distances on a smooth test track...but I drive in the real world. On a poorly maintained road(which is becoming more and more common) if your tire is bouncing...your stopping distances are much longer.[/quote]
Your tire doesn't bounce due to the ABS on a bike. The "bouncing" you feel in a car is variable pulsing working individually on each tire which transfers across the axel. You won't...or shouldn't have that sensation on a bike
Didn't want to spend the $ perhaps
ABS stands for Anti-lock Braking System
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
saves the bacon
Abs has saved my bacon a time or two in my car. When I first started looking at Road Kings, I noticed the Classic comes with them standard. The dealer told me they can't retrofit older bikes with them, so I did what I had to do, and got a new RKC. I'd have been happy with a regular RK, but the standard ABS sealed the deal for me. I know a couple of guys whohave had to use them, and they performed perfectly both times.
Good enough for me. Hope I don't have to use them.
Good enough for me. Hope I don't have to use them.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 17,625
Likes: 1,665
From: Blairsville GA
It was only a matter of time before Harley went from anti-stop brakes to anti-lock brakes. The pitiful stopping power of mechanical and juice HD brakes has led me to develop a very easy going riding style over the last forty-something years. My next bike will in all likelihood be a late model police Road King. I'm looking forward to experiencing the new technology.
Novice
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Nevada
My last two bikes have had it. If the Brembo system was not on the Ultra I would not have bought it. What I miss is the proportioned ABS that is on the BMW though. The original ABS system that Harley had took up too much storage space I would not have it.