I have an issue with seat belts...whats your point?

I am just curious why everyone has to voice negative opinions...the guy clearly does not like the ABS system...so instead of either coming up with a valid reason other than skewed stats or feelings....everyone has to bash him...

Personally, I would not want it on my bike either....but that is MY choice...just as I choose to leave the seat belt right where it is and collecting dust...

 

The ABS bearing is more expensive than the standard bearing and is a HD only part. There are better bearings than the HD bearings (non ABS) but you can't use them on the ABS side of the wheel. Safety wise, a wheel bearing failure can be a big deal.

HD ABS units have had some failures causing either the lever or the pedal to freeze which renders that brake inop. All that said, one of my Harleys has ABS, it's OK but nothing to write home about. With only 9 triggers in the bearing it doesn't update as often as a dedicated ABS tone ring on say a BMW or Honda. That design is a concession to appearance.

Should the ABS unit ever fail on my Road King it is certainly a possibility that I might remove it. It just depends upon the cost of the unit and whether the failure (for instance a frozen lever or pedal) was substantial enough to cause me concern for the future.

In general, I think ABS is a good thing; not essential for me, but a good thing none the less. Linked brakes not so much. I will say this; if you have ABS on a Harley I would flush the system at the very least every 24 months. The accumulated moisture in system appears to be the culprit in the ABS unit failures.

Before everyone climbs on the "my ABS unit is fine; I run ATF in it and haven't changed it for 2.3 million miles" shtick I'll say there hasn't been an epidemic of these failures but there have been enough to take note and precautions.

 

Good info there Nomad, thanx.

 

For all the noise talkers, I can see where the ABS would ideal for the heavy cruisers, yea, no doubt. If I had a bagger with all the bells and whistles I'd be looking different at the ABS, but I don't.
My lil Deluxe is in for another makeover soon, wheels and the freight train nacelle. My preference is to trash the ABS if I can and I'm fairly sure it can be done.
Individuality, it's everything. I survived years without ABS, surely I can enjoy the rest of my years without it...*laffs

 

Funny thing about "choices"...you have every right to make them and equally we have every right to ridicule you when things go wrong, you get a ticket (seatbelts), etc. People were screaming for years for HD to finally get ABS because HD has a bad rep of being behind on tech that is actually useful. They make it standard and then the other side complains. Just remove it and don't make a thing about it and we won't make a thing about your thing.

 

There are pros and cons to EVERYTHING...! Opinions/choices are based on risk benefit factors that are different for everyone.....

Yet, this ABS debate sure brings out a lot of self-righteous people who immediately look down on the "obvious idiots" who just don't get their point of view..... It's one thing to debate an issue, another to just dismiss someone as stupid because they don't see things your way....

Remember the idiots who refused to accept the obvious fact that the world is flat...?

I have two bikes, one with ABS & one without. I'm not rushing to take ABS off the one, nor do I feel I am in grave danger when I ride the one without ABS....

Let's try to keep everything in perspective. Riding a motorcycle can be dangerous, period. I'm sure there are tests that show ABS can stop faster... great. There are a lot of ways to mitigate the dangers of riding a bike, stopping fast and/or ABS is just one of them....

Personally, I am not fond of the current trend of techno nannies doing everything for me in the name of keeping me safe.... In many cases, I'd rather have my safety in my own hands... and yes, I'll accept full responsibility for my choices....

For all those who believe that anyone who doesn't take full advantage of all available technology to make it safer to ride a bike is an idiot... Please, show me the pics of the full roll cage, 4-point safety harness, and helmets you wear while driving your cars..... You're obviously not stupid enough to get into a car without the benefit of those safety devices....

 

If HD would have put an ABS system that is not set up like it was designed in the 50's...it might be different...

and why not, instead, not ridicule and accept the fact that we all have choices...
I do not ridicule you for those tight jeans you wear :P ....so why ridicule me for not liking seat belts...or ABS for that matter...or...well lets not get too carried away :P

 

You cant beat ABS with bare hand, but you can get close. I locked up my front second day of ownership of my bike and I kept locking it up on regular basis during first 15k miles (this is how long the stock Dunlop lasted), my hand came so experienced handling lockups I'm pretty close to ABS. Never had my front washed away, I think you need a hand cramp for that?

 

No tight jeans on this guy

 

HAHA...good to know....