Abs upkeep cost
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,067
Likes: 394
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
That's what everyone is so upset about...it would be one thing just to loose the ABS part of it and still have normal brakes but apparently when this happens you have no brakes at all on either front or rear or in some extreme cases no brakes in the front and rear at the same time.
Very very dangerous.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 212
If you need to bleed the fluid in the ABS module for some reason, you HAVE to use a tool to cycle it. You can try the old school way all you want, but it's a real bear to get air out of that module and is so much easier to just run the cycle.
If you stay ahead of it you can do the old flush, activate ABS on the road (dirt/grass and grab a lot of brake!) a few times to mix all the fluid, repeat. Works well on cars, can be riskier on bikes due to less wheels.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 716
From: Pennsyleffinvania
Bottom line, if you can afford a new bike, you can afford one with abs, and you can afford to maintain it properly, this is no place to pinch pennies.
Last edited by LoneWoolf; Mar 18, 2018 at 03:35 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 12,233
Likes: 4,943
From: England
Bottom line, if you can afford a new bike, you can afford one with abs, and you can afford to maintain it properly, this is no place to pinch pennies.
ABS is mandatory in quite a few countries now.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 348
Likes: 122
From: Wichita
When I cold start my 17 Road King the ABS light stays on. When I pull the front brake at idle on startup, I feel some type of motor running or a vibration in the brake system. After taking off the light goes out, it no longer feels that way. Do you think it's the pump running, circulating the fluid for a short time ?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,332
Likes: 3,873
From: Upstate New York
I consider this part of the routine maintenance of any bike with ABS. Several times a season activating the ABS with a hard grab or hard peddle and you can feel the pulsing of the abs module valves. I would do it on the street, but only with no traffic, and a straight road ahead, and you don't have to be going fast.
Bottom line, if you can afford a new bike, you can afford one with abs, and you can afford to maintain it properly, this is no place to pinch pennies.
Bottom line, if you can afford a new bike, you can afford one with abs, and you can afford to maintain it properly, this is no place to pinch pennies.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 12,233
Likes: 4,943
From: England
When I used to take my bike for its bi-annual service a brake fluid flush was built in and the cost was very little as the time it takes to do isn't very long. I have read some US dealers have really milked the costs for doing a brake flush on the ABS bikes. With a vacuum device it should only take an hour to do for an experienced person, in my estimation.
I bought the ITM tool and did a fluid flush a few weeks ago now. I also changed the pads. There was a noticeably good change in the way the brakes work. The kit will pay for itself the next time I do a fluid flush.
I bought the ITM tool and did a fluid flush a few weeks ago now. I also changed the pads. There was a noticeably good change in the way the brakes work. The kit will pay for itself the next time I do a fluid flush.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,553
Likes: 3,977
From: San Diego, CA
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 972
Likes: 1,016
From: Knoxville
If I had an ABS bike Id get the ABS kit and run my own, that and helping a few mates would be enough to justify the cost.
Thankfully and by choice none of my HDs have ABS. Ive never been helped or assisted by ABS on any bike, it only aggravates when hard braking.
Been on some sketchy oil soaked, freshly rained upon roads that were a challenge and while traction control has saved my *** countless times, ABS never has.
For new or novice riders its a good thing, stops the panicked front lockup low side.
I recommend that my novice mates to get the ABS. After I get my old man rant on - get on a 125 or 250 dirt bike first, spend some time in gravel and dirt slipping and sliding. Fall down, learn to bail off the bike. Learn body positions and how they affect the bike, learn to steer with the foot pegs. Even if youre not riding aggressively it will pay off in emergency maneuvers.
Really, I have immense respect for a new rider that jumps straight to the street. I wouldnt have made it to grumpy old man age without my dirt experience.
Thankfully and by choice none of my HDs have ABS. Ive never been helped or assisted by ABS on any bike, it only aggravates when hard braking.
Been on some sketchy oil soaked, freshly rained upon roads that were a challenge and while traction control has saved my *** countless times, ABS never has.
For new or novice riders its a good thing, stops the panicked front lockup low side.
I recommend that my novice mates to get the ABS. After I get my old man rant on - get on a 125 or 250 dirt bike first, spend some time in gravel and dirt slipping and sliding. Fall down, learn to bail off the bike. Learn body positions and how they affect the bike, learn to steer with the foot pegs. Even if youre not riding aggressively it will pay off in emergency maneuvers.
Really, I have immense respect for a new rider that jumps straight to the street. I wouldnt have made it to grumpy old man age without my dirt experience.