ABS or not?
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,328
Likes: 154
From: Lake City, Florida
Why are you asking? Guys that don't have ABS bikes are going to say you don't need it and they can stop their bikes just as fast as an ABS bike. It's a fact on wet, oily, slick, a little bit of sand or gravel an ABS bike will stop in a shorter distance, Period.
Even professional riders can't match the shorter stopping distances of a bike with ABS verses a non ABS bike.
ABS have a lot better resale value, a lot of guys like myself won't even consider buying a bike without ABS brakes anymore. Fact.
Even professional riders can't match the shorter stopping distances of a bike with ABS verses a non ABS bike.
ABS have a lot better resale value, a lot of guys like myself won't even consider buying a bike without ABS brakes anymore. Fact.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 193
From: Las Vegas, NV
My 09 has it, no issues. Saved my but once too. N
There is absolutely no reason to not have it. For those of you who say they can brake as well, fine. It'll never kick in for you then so no harm.
There is absolutely no reason to not have it. For those of you who say they can brake as well, fine. It'll never kick in for you then so no harm.
ABS well worth it ,people drive so much differently now a days we need all the help we can get .
I've had ABS on my last two bikes and if I have a choice I will have it on my next bike. On my 09 Road King the ABS would activate somewhat prematurely IMHO but Harley flashed a recalibration to fix that.
After more than 100k using ABS I can say it has saved my *** once when I thought I wasn't going to be able to stop and broadside a car that made a left turn in front of me. I was new to the bike and as I was looking at the side of the car squeezing the front brake thinking this was it I'm not going to make, nope ABS did it's job and I came to a stop (the idiot cager actually just stopped the car in the middle of the intersection realizing he should not have turned).
I also enjoy the extra margin of safety when riding in the rain, it's just a little piece of mind. In a perfect world having the proper skillset is most important, but the world and riders are not perfect.
I guess the only disadvantages I can think of is something else to fail on the bike and it's makes it harder to work on yourself. Have not had these problems but any added component is something that can fail.
btw I once did a test with a buddy on Suzuki 1200 Bandit (non abs) in a parking lot and I could out brake him every time on the Road King. I'm sure he could stop shorter but I was willing to brake harder every time without to much fear. Just my 2 cents
After more than 100k using ABS I can say it has saved my *** once when I thought I wasn't going to be able to stop and broadside a car that made a left turn in front of me. I was new to the bike and as I was looking at the side of the car squeezing the front brake thinking this was it I'm not going to make, nope ABS did it's job and I came to a stop (the idiot cager actually just stopped the car in the middle of the intersection realizing he should not have turned).
I also enjoy the extra margin of safety when riding in the rain, it's just a little piece of mind. In a perfect world having the proper skillset is most important, but the world and riders are not perfect.
I guess the only disadvantages I can think of is something else to fail on the bike and it's makes it harder to work on yourself. Have not had these problems but any added component is something that can fail.
btw I once did a test with a buddy on Suzuki 1200 Bandit (non abs) in a parking lot and I could out brake him every time on the Road King. I'm sure he could stop shorter but I was willing to brake harder every time without to much fear. Just my 2 cents
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 592
Likes: 46
From: Connecticut
There is no doubt that the HD ABS system is inferior to most (all?) other motorcycle companies ABS. Even with that limitation, I'd go ABS. Big part of why I sold my 07 Dyna and bought a 14 RK. Justified some of the expense by saying to myself, "now you have ABS and a saferr bike."
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,083
Likes: 1,959
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
It's a piece-of-mind thing. You'll have to ask yourself if that extra 6-10 feet is worth it? As mentioned, it may affect resale and also check your insurance guy if they discount for ABS.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 185
From: Mountain West, Big Sky Country
i have multiple road glides, both abs and non abs.
i cannot tell the difference in stopping other than i can lock the rear wheel on the non abs bike and can't really unless i try extremely hard on the abs bike, and then only for a second till the system takes over.
multiple factors to take into consideration
personally i could give a rip about resale. when i get rid of a bike either someone wants it more than i do and pays for it, or its got a couple 100k miles on it and its value due to mileage is low anyway.
its your money, get what makes you happy
i cannot tell the difference in stopping other than i can lock the rear wheel on the non abs bike and can't really unless i try extremely hard on the abs bike, and then only for a second till the system takes over.
multiple factors to take into consideration
personally i could give a rip about resale. when i get rid of a bike either someone wants it more than i do and pays for it, or its got a couple 100k miles on it and its value due to mileage is low anyway.
its your money, get what makes you happy
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