ABS or not?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 14,731
Likes: 2,536
From: Mountain Top, Alabama
My concern is that my dealer doesn't have a black arak with ABS at Has to find one. The next 2 closest dealers are 1 hour away in opposite directions from my house, and I'm not a fan of either one. The dealer I prefer to deal with will have to find me one, which will effect bargaining. Of course ABS is a good thing, but I've also heard that there are some problems out there with HD's ABS.
Why just settle for what you can get today?
I worked with a man in the early 8o's that ordered a new Trans Am to get exactly what He wanted. Few years later, He ordered a Silverado to get exactly what He wanted. It got me started, and I have been doing it ever since.
Get a brochure, look it over, examine the options, and in the peace and quiet of home - put it together. Go to the Dealer when ready, and place your order. Lots of Dealers have someone over "Internet Sales", that do this every day. Don't be afraid to demand a good deal, after all, it will not be on the floor or out on the yard - it is SOLD. Track it thru build orders, production date, shipping, delivery, the whole deal. It's fun, and it creates an attachment that is wonderful.
It may not be for everybody, but I would not buy a new vehicle any other way.
It's your money, get what you want.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20,880
Likes: 33,830
I am down to making a decision within the next 10-14 days on a 2016 Road King. I've heard about problems with ABS, I've heard people say it's a really smart choice, I've also heard people say it's no great thing.
Please chime in on this because I'm on the fence.
... and I'm deciding between red or black, depends what's available.
Please chime in on this because I'm on the fence.
... and I'm deciding between red or black, depends what's available.
This advise is coming from someone who knows how hard the pavement is and it's usually hot as hell too if you have to lay on it for a while.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 169
Likes: 27
From: the wild west
+1 on ABS. Saved my *** (and passenger's) when I had to stop quick and there was an unexpected patch of gravel in the road.
You won't know it is there unless you're to the point where you would be skidding.
You won't know it is there unless you're to the point where you would be skidding.
$790 option, if it saves you once, it saved you way more $$$ then the cost. Plus it turns emergency breaking to pin the lever stomp on peddle, the computer handles the rest.
There is not a single person on this board or talked about on this board that has a ghost of a chance of out preforming abs anywhere besides a race track conditions. (Perfect road)
There is not a single person on this board or talked about on this board that has a ghost of a chance of out preforming abs anywhere besides a race track conditions. (Perfect road)
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 10,061
Likes: 5,317
ABS saved me from t-boning another motorcycle that pulled out in front of me and stopped. We were one foot from each other when I stopped. Without ABS we both would have been injured.
Last edited by GalvTexGuy; Aug 21, 2016 at 09:06 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 476
Likes: 133
From: BlueGrass
Ones and zeros are way better at processing information fast. Our brains can't match it. Let the magic fairy dust do the thinking.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 4,133
Likes: 452
From: Pittsburgh
In a panic stop even experienced biker locks the wheels - it's a natural tendency to stand on the brakes. when the wheels stop spinning, stability is lost, balance is all you have left. Worse, if/when you get off the brake and depending on the attitude of the bike, the bike will likely will have a natural tendency to throw you. All that said, I don't have ABS. I can see the benefit, particularly for rookie riders on big twins.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,899
Likes: 3,412
From: OH
I am a fan of ABS on pretty much everything but a Harley. I don't like the way they linked the front and rears and quite frankly Harley has never been great on the technology side. Honda has a better thought out system for doing that. The Ducati that I had was really slick with the ability to control the level of intervention the ABS system.