Anyone opt for ABS on their new Sporty? I've had them on BMW's before, and would not buy a new bike without them, but I'd like to hear input from new Sporty owners that have them.

Is it an integrated system, whereby if you activate by either peddle or grip both front and back operate?

What's your take on single disk ABS in the front, any issues?

Thanks,

 

I have not had ab's since my mid 20's lol........

 

If the system is as on the Touring models, there is a single ABS unit, into which front and rear brakes are linked, so I would call it an integrated system. I don't see any difference in single or dual discs, as far as ABS is concerned.

I've ridden over 50k miles on a BMW with ABS and wouldn't personally pay extra to add it. Many of us won't apply the brakes hard enough to activate it.

 

Ive read the hysterics for this and if you want it go for it, I've also read how genuinely hard it is to keep these working well on a bike, a bit of rust and they fail so you paid a bunch of cash for standard brakes, to fix them after failure is not hard but costly.

My advice is to read-up on the different forums, the pros & cons, look at how simple or complicated they are to repair / upkeep etc, and YOU DECIDE, dont listen to all the bubble-hype you will get from this post, educate and emancipate yourself from the dealers.

Cheers to all,

.

Fire at will . . .

 

i have them on an Iron 2014 , the night i needed them to work in rain and lousy conditions , they performed excellently ...

 

ABS is the only significant improvement to newer model Sportsters. I don't have it on my 2011 48 because it was not offered then. I strongly recommend it. My next bike, if ever I buy another, will have ABS.

Having that said, keep in mind that ABS works only when you are going upright and in a straight line, period.

 

Have ABS on my Sporty and on the one occasion I needed it I was glad it was there. Lashing with rain and someone pulled out in front of me.
I guess it is like insurance and safety clothing, you never know how good it is until you need it

 

Very happy to have ABS on my 72. It works well. I've only had one semi emergency stop and it did its job. No skidding.

Most cars now have this. Actually all mine for over 25 years now.

Why is this controversial?

 

You haven't looked around HDF?! The Sporties have only just got ABS, but the big twins have had it for many years, with the usual head-in-the-sand versus best-since-sliced-bread debate.

 

I have it on my 11 roadking and it has worked well with no issues and
helped me out of a few hairy issues where I came around a corner at speed
only to find the traffic stopped ahead all the while going down hill in heavy traffic..
(I deal with washington DC beltway traffic every day, if you live here you will understand what that means)....
While a roadking and sportster are quite different I can see where you I could benefit
from having ABS on a sportster, so I would recommend them...