Softail Slim Question?
Novice
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
If you need abs you probably shouldn't be riding a motorcycle in my opinion. If you get in a situation where you have to slam on your brakes then you weren't paying attention or following someone to close. So for me abs isn't worth the cost.
You get in a situation where you have to use abs, and most likely you're screwed anyway.
Last but not least, having abs may make you subconsciously over confident and drive less safe thinking you can always just "slam on the brakes".
You get in a situation where you have to use abs, and most likely you're screwed anyway.
Last but not least, having abs may make you subconsciously over confident and drive less safe thinking you can always just "slam on the brakes".
Novice
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
Hey, Goldtop...no, it can't be added after the fact. I asked about that when I got mine and was told it couldn't be done.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
Have to disagree with you, SlimShadey. More than once I've been cruising along fine in the right lane and had some idiot fly up beside me in the center lane, pull in front of me by inches, and immediately slam on their brakes to make a right turn. Nothing I did wrong and nothing I could do about it except "slam on my brakes." SO glad my Slim has ABS.
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: ct
Just bought my 2014 Slim paid full price for a abs bike. I have bought 15 new Harleys in my 40yrs of riding none came with option for abs and now that it was available I made sure I was going to get it. I dont think it matters how you ride or how far for us who ride know that you never know when you are going to use it and it does not have to be your fault ever have a animal jump out in front of you. Dont look at the 1200. Thats a small price to pay to better your chances of not wrecking your bike or worse.
Last edited by 442johnl; Feb 4, 2014 at 11:38 PM.
Stage II
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Dacula, GA
my '14 came with ABS, works extremely well when testing in a vacant parking lot. For added safety, I'd recommend the ABS (sure wish it was the linked system). But if you're wife plans on putting custom rims on the bike, then don't get ABS. The ABS system is tuned to the stock rims and will not operate on anything else (per the owners manual).
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 631
From: NorCal Rocklin
If you need abs you probably shouldn't be riding a motorcycle in my opinion. If you get in a situation where you have to slam on your brakes then you weren't paying attention or following someone to close. So for me abs isn't worth the cost.
You get in a situation where you have to use abs, and most likely you're screwed anyway.
Last but not least, having abs may make you subconsciously over confident and drive less safe thinking you can always just "slam on the brakes".
You get in a situation where you have to use abs, and most likely you're screwed anyway.
Last but not least, having abs may make you subconsciously over confident and drive less safe thinking you can always just "slam on the brakes".
I welcome ABS brakes on FAT Heavy bikes like Harleys.
Let me know how that goes when you skid and lock up your tires then crash onto oncoming traffic because you though ABS was not cool to have.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: NW Arkansas
If you need abs you probably shouldn't be riding a motorcycle in my opinion. If you get in a situation where you have to slam on your brakes then you weren't paying attention or following someone to close. So for me abs isn't worth the cost.
You get in a situation where you have to use abs, and most likely you're screwed anyway.
Last but not least, having abs may make you subconsciously over confident and drive less safe thinking you can always just "slam on the brakes".
You get in a situation where you have to use abs, and most likely you're screwed anyway.
Last but not least, having abs may make you subconsciously over confident and drive less safe thinking you can always just "slam on the brakes".
Get ABS, should be standard on all bikes.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 526
Likes: 4
From: North Atlanta Georgia
Not trying to ruffle SS's feathers , but anytime anyone says I don't need...it's a red flag to me they probably need it a lot worse than some other folks.
In this case it's ABS, but it could be seat belts in a car, food when you been drinking all day, etc....anything. If you don't think you need something that could save you because you do things better than the folks that do use it???
Oh well, live and learn. I'm sure I won't change his mind if he hasn't thought it through by now. (If he's serious with his response that is. For his sake, I hope he's jerking us around.)
In this case it's ABS, but it could be seat belts in a car, food when you been drinking all day, etc....anything. If you don't think you need something that could save you because you do things better than the folks that do use it???
Oh well, live and learn. I'm sure I won't change his mind if he hasn't thought it through by now. (If he's serious with his response that is. For his sake, I hope he's jerking us around.)
Last edited by atlantaallen; Mar 3, 2014 at 02:50 PM.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post