Okay this may seam like a crazy question but I just bought an 09 SG and I don't know if it has abs or not. The gauge has a display for it but it never lights up when you initially turn it on. I really don't want to cram on the brakes to figure it out. Is there a sure way of telling?

 

Could be, Harley started putting abs on civilian tourers in 2008. The abs system should test itself on start (the abs light comes on and then goes out once you start moving if the system is working properly).
Look on the left side of the front wheel hub. If it has a black band, it has ABS. Also, there should be a sensor wire running down to the front wheel hub alongside the left brakeline.

 

No wires on either side so I'm guessing no abs

 

It doesn't look like it. If you had ABS, you would see this

 

Nope, bummer...

 

if it has abs the will be a wire coming out of the caliper

 

Well Bob, I hope you didn't mean that literally.

No wire will be coming out the caliper...out of the caliper area, yes...passing by the caliper, yes.

Maybe that's a possible explaination why some people think that calipers are different on an ABS bike

 

Grab a handful of front brake over 50mph and if you feel the handle bobbling as it does that release and grab thing ABS does you have it. Un-nerving the first time you feel it and why I bought without ABS specifically.

 

It would be simpler to follow the front brake lines.If they go straight from the master cyl. to the calipers,no abs. Abs line will go from master to abs unit under tank. And of course the wires from the wheel sensors to the abs unit.

 

Yeah could have worded it better, teach me to be in a hurry