Breakout ABS removal
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 14
From: Canadian in Germany
Did I say that - No, but thanks for the insult!
Well thanks for that insight
And you know this from your own extensive experience I'm guessing?
I think you'll find they did it because they are trying to open their market up and if they want to get people off BMW's and Honda's they have to add the things that these customers expect, I'm not sure about this but I would also imagine there is some euro law that requires it.
Well done at least you had a choice
I can only assume that you ride like a ***** then or have absolutely no feeling for what your bike is doing. Mind you if you've only done 6800 miles in two years your hardly a regular rider and with that not really qualified to tell me what to do.
I was hoping not to get into an argument about how good or bad ABS is but seeing as you feel you know everything about it I will tell you that I have had several situations where the ABS has cut in and if circumstances had been different could have been very dangerous for me.
Whilst coming up to the end of a road I started braking a safe distance from the junction and noticed there was an excessive amount of sand on the road, the ABS cut in and I had no brakes at all. I wasn't able to stop in time and ended up going across the road. Fortunately there were no vehicles in sight and I got away with it. Without ABS I do think I would have had a better chance of stopping.
There are also quite a few dirt roads where I live and the ABS doesn't like those either, from years of riding motocross bikes I can tell you that locking up the wheels and skidding to a stop is much quicker than waiting for the ABS on dirt.
I would also like to add that I have had many bikes and still have bikes other than my Harley and none are fitted with ABS, I've never felt the need for it and have never wanted it. My opinion my bikes my decision. Harley have sold the Breakout without ABS so they obviously think it's safe to do so.
To be honest I never mentioned safety, urban legends or Harley wishing to charge me more, I simply asked for some helpful info as to removing the system.
When I'm braking I would like to concentrate on lever pressure, road surface and whats going on around me, I don't want some electronics butting in and distracting me from what I'm doing.
You are a fan of ABS, paid extra for it and wish to justify that by ranting on my thread. I would appreciate it if you would keep your ill informed opinion to your self, or at the very least have the courtesy to ask me what my reasons are before doing so.
Well thanks for that insight
And you know this from your own extensive experience I'm guessing?
I think you'll find they did it because they are trying to open their market up and if they want to get people off BMW's and Honda's they have to add the things that these customers expect, I'm not sure about this but I would also imagine there is some euro law that requires it.
Well done at least you had a choice
I can only assume that you ride like a ***** then or have absolutely no feeling for what your bike is doing. Mind you if you've only done 6800 miles in two years your hardly a regular rider and with that not really qualified to tell me what to do.
I was hoping not to get into an argument about how good or bad ABS is but seeing as you feel you know everything about it I will tell you that I have had several situations where the ABS has cut in and if circumstances had been different could have been very dangerous for me.
Whilst coming up to the end of a road I started braking a safe distance from the junction and noticed there was an excessive amount of sand on the road, the ABS cut in and I had no brakes at all. I wasn't able to stop in time and ended up going across the road. Fortunately there were no vehicles in sight and I got away with it. Without ABS I do think I would have had a better chance of stopping.
There are also quite a few dirt roads where I live and the ABS doesn't like those either, from years of riding motocross bikes I can tell you that locking up the wheels and skidding to a stop is much quicker than waiting for the ABS on dirt.
I would also like to add that I have had many bikes and still have bikes other than my Harley and none are fitted with ABS, I've never felt the need for it and have never wanted it. My opinion my bikes my decision. Harley have sold the Breakout without ABS so they obviously think it's safe to do so.
To be honest I never mentioned safety, urban legends or Harley wishing to charge me more, I simply asked for some helpful info as to removing the system.
When I'm braking I would like to concentrate on lever pressure, road surface and whats going on around me, I don't want some electronics butting in and distracting me from what I'm doing.
You are a fan of ABS, paid extra for it and wish to justify that by ranting on my thread. I would appreciate it if you would keep your ill informed opinion to your self, or at the very least have the courtesy to ask me what my reasons are before doing so.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 287
Likes: 1
From: Montreal
I personally prefer to be in control of my situation.....long before ABS was around we all had our share of spills and thrills.....we adapted to what we had as brakes and handling on our rides . you need to learn how to feel your bike and the way it reacts to road conditions ...that's what makes you a better rider..... if you ride like a tit and crash ....well ....deal with it .....ABS won't make a bit of a difference .
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 953
Likes: 127
From: Rome, NY
Mind you if you've only done 6800 miles in two years your hardly a regular rider and with that not really qualified to tell me what to do.
Whilst coming up to the end of a road I started braking a safe distance from the junction and noticed there was an excessive amount of sand on the road, the ABS cut in and I had no brakes at all. I wasn't able to stop in time and ended up going across the road. Fortunately there were no vehicles in sight and I got away with it. Without ABS I do think I would have had a better chance of stopping.
There are also quite a few dirt roads where I live and the ABS doesn't like those either, from years of riding motocross bikes I can tell you that locking up the wheels and skidding to a stop is much quicker than waiting for the ABS on dirt.
I would also like to add that I have had many bikes and still have bikes other than my Harley and none are fitted with ABS, I've never felt the need for it and have never wanted it. My opinion my bikes my decision. Harley have sold the Breakout without ABS so they obviously think it's safe to do so.
You are a fan of ABS, paid extra for it and wish to justify that by ranting on my thread. I would appreciate it if you would keep your ill informed opinion to your self, or at the very least have the courtesy to ask me what my reasons are before doing so.
Hmm, I need to justify paying extra for ABS? 
Ill-informed?...naw, just the facts. But yes, I should have questioned your reasons before your reasoning. 
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 287
Likes: 1
From: Montreal
Furry.....perhaps you should just be happy driving your car .... and probably wear a helmet while doing so ......you can never be too safe you know . As for the rest of us......we will take our chances as they come .
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 211
Likes: 1
From: West Sussex, England
It's called anticipation. Everyone has a different riding style, and I prefer to stay alive and in one piece for a few more years.
Have you ever read the article comparing motorcycling to meditation - Concentrating on a single thought - Meditation allows the rest of your brain to run free and process thoughts from your conscious and therefore resolve any issues and calm your mind. Whilst riding and concentrating on a single thought it enables your subconscious brain (the bit that isn't ****ed up with crap from the world) to instinctively make decisions on what is happening without any input from your conscious mind. I'm not sure my subconscious mind knows what ABS is.
This is probably sounds like nonsense to some but as our riding styles are all different how we do it is also different.
The ABS did what it was supposed to do - keep you upright in a bad situation. When ABS in cars first came out there were lots of tests to prove that it really did stop quicker. Skidding creates a liquid barrier between the road and the tire, extending the distance to a stop. On sandy roads, the sand acts like ball bearings between the road & tire. Skidding would have most likely caused an even longer stop, provided you were still upright. On ice is pretty much the same.
You're 100% right on dirt. When you skid in dirt, the treads dig into the dirt, increasing your stopping power. That can't happen on pavement because it's technically a solid surface, and anything like sand acts like a liquid to the tires.
None of my previous bikes had ABS either.
I get your point of view furry, it's just very different from mine.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 953
Likes: 127
From: Rome, NY
I agree with you that everyone has a different riding style. Mine and where I ride doesn't allow me the luxury of much anticipation, I can come round a corner or over the brow of a hill and there's a tractor doing 15mph. If I was to anticipate or expect that at every corner or over every brow each journey would take weeks. So instead my style is more seat of my pants.
But seriously, with the width of some of the country roads you have there it's amazing to me that more people don't get run over.
Have you ever read the article comparing motorcycling to meditation - Concentrating on a single thought - Meditation allows the rest of your brain to run free and process thoughts from your conscious and therefore resolve any issues and calm your mind.
I'm not disputing the fact the ABS did it's job, I just don't like or agree with it and think I could have done a better job. On this occasion it's job was to deprive me of my brakes, MY brakes.
When anything comes out with money behind it there are always tests to show how good it is... it's called marketing.
Glad we agree on something
(did I get that right?... too much "Ashes to Ashes")
What bothers me about the world today in our health and safety society is that perceived danger is something to be scared of. It's not, it's a good thing, danger heightens our senses and makes us more aware than we know, this puts us in a state that keeps us alive. After 30 years of riding bikes with no ABS your still here, don't allow some electronics on your bike to rob you of something that is part of what makes riding a bike great. Feeling alive.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 597
Likes: 8
From: 42.5833° N, 114.4667° W
My buddy and I put a 7* rake triple tree, new fork lowers and a 23" front wheel on his '14 SG which left only one caliper/ rotor on the front.
The ABS interruption is VERY noticeable, under normal braking conditions.
He also wants to remove his system.
Hes gonna unplug it and ride without it before we get too crazy.
If he decides its gotta go, we figure we'll remove it, call spiegler for custom lines, add spacers in place of the sensors, and possibly replace the ECM with an ECM off of a non-ABS SG. Maybe one that was crashed or being parted out. Not sure about that part yet.
Of course, this will require a new dyno tune but he knows it'll cost some $.
Hardest part I can figure is pulling the ABS's wiring harness from the bike.
The ABS interruption is VERY noticeable, under normal braking conditions.
He also wants to remove his system.
Hes gonna unplug it and ride without it before we get too crazy.
If he decides its gotta go, we figure we'll remove it, call spiegler for custom lines, add spacers in place of the sensors, and possibly replace the ECM with an ECM off of a non-ABS SG. Maybe one that was crashed or being parted out. Not sure about that part yet.
Of course, this will require a new dyno tune but he knows it'll cost some $.
Hardest part I can figure is pulling the ABS's wiring harness from the bike.