Yesterday I came close to T-boning a tourist's rental at 100 clicks (60 mph). If it wasn't for my '09 Road King's ABS brakes, I think I would still be flying.

I'm from Cape Town, and it's summer now over here. Beautiful scenery, hot weather for the Europeans, and they flock to the fairest Cape for a bit of sightseeing, safari-ing, whale watching and wine drinking. Well, that's what Cape Town offers you, so no wonder there was on that hot and sunny Saturday a white el cheapo rental out driving the coastal route around the city.

I was on my RK, on my way to my weekend beach house outside of town, when just cresting a small hill I saw this white sedan making a U-turn right in front of me. Well, it was like 50 metres to the car, and I was cruising at 60, I guess.

At first the car was still in his lane (it's a two lane road, next to the cliff; mountains to the left, ocean to the right, no yellow shoulders...). But he didn't stop. He just kept on crawling forward, 90 degrees turned around. So, smack bang side on as I approach.

I jumped on both brakes. Maybe I could've gone harder on the front, but I'm a newbie biker, only started riding since August. But I slowed down. Then I stepped harder on the back brake. The ABS kicked in, the wheel locked and opened, and locked and opened.

For a couple of seconds I was out of breath, idling in the middle of the road, lunch hour. Still in sixth. Then I got going again. Followed the guy for a couple of kilometres until I could overtake him. Yanked the hooter (it's got a pretty loud one, the King) and showed him with my fingers to "open your eyes".

A couple of days ago on this forum there was a guy that asked if he should buy an earlier model King ('00 to '05) or one of the later ('09 and younger) ones. Don't know since when ABS was standard, but with my six speed and new, stiffer frame and ABS standard I'm pretty chuffed. That brakes certainly helped me from my own inexperience.

 

glad that the outcome was a good one, it certainly could have been worse.

you definitely could have gone more on the front. the front brake provides 70% of your stopping power.

 

Glad you made it okay! I've read a lot of stories about ABS brakes and how great they are. I wanted it on my bike but there wasn't one avalible with it. If it was possible and I could afford it, I'd have them added on. I'm sure at some point, I'll wish I had them.

 

+1 for ABS & your save

 

Glad to read that you were able to stop safely. It is also a good idea to down-shift as you are coming to a stop. It can save you from being rear ended if the car behind you fails to stop. It gets you ready for a quick takeoff.

 

Good save! I love ABS. Saved me a few times.

 

I have a 2008 FLHTCU with ABS the first time I had to apply the brake hard it scared the crap out of me. No skidding at all I now she was not going to stop the rear brake peddle was jumping up & down then I had both of my feet on the ground dam it works. I think I like them?

 

that's where you went wrong.
You should have stopped the people and throw them out of the car.
You got some pretty wild and aggressive animals in SA. Use them. Feed them. If people can't stay on a road without endangering other users they should be given to the lions for lunch.
This way you help other fellow good road users and help maintaining the world-envied wildlife nature of your country.

 

Im glad the OP is ok, but ABS or not, stomping on the rear brake is the slowest method to stop, even with engine braking, which adds zero braking power in a quick stop.

When yall are told in a BRC that the front brake does 70% of the braking they are not selling you snake oil. It is tue and it is much harder to lock up the front, and if you put real non Harley not rock hard tires on they work even better, without locking the wheel.

This should be a wake up experience to the OP to relearn how they brake and not rely on ABS to keep the bike rubber side down, because thats all it did for him. Proper braking would have stopped them sooner, and without locking any tires up.

The rear brake is there to assist, not a primary brake.

 

Thanks for the great feedback.

Yes, I do realise now that one has to relearn from car-habits to bike-habits.

In a car the first thing is to stamp on the brake pedal. The Harley, with it's nice big rear brake pedal, was that first habitual thing that came to mind.

Front brakes feel a bit more unnatural, as if you're gonna topple over, but I guess if you want to stop quickly, that's the way to go. Maybe some training or practising hard stops would do the trick.

Oh, and yeah, wanted to feed the tourists to the Big Five (!), but was so shaken... completely forgot about using the horn even. I think being a right hand drive country as well played a role for the guy's slow turning - everything in the car sits on the other side, as well as traffic's direction. But really, he should've checked for oncoming vehicles and then make a quick move.

Regards