08 vs 09 ABS Brakes
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
ABS could indeed become another 'oil' or 'tyre' topic! In my experience of my BMW the only effect it has had on my ownership is a big bill to have it repaired, because of an electronic failure. I have ridden the socks off the thing without it ever activating, so I am not a fan.
By contrast with the front wheel only braking I bought my first Harley new in 1974. The handbook actually recommended using the rear brake only for light braking. I never took that advice, as it seems as muddled as using the front only!
I hope you all use both brakes? Here in the UK a friend watched a BMW slide down the road and stopped to help the rider. Turned out he was American on a hire bike, had used the rear brake only and locked up. Sends a shiver up my spine thinking of that....
By contrast with the front wheel only braking I bought my first Harley new in 1974. The handbook actually recommended using the rear brake only for light braking. I never took that advice, as it seems as muddled as using the front only!
I hope you all use both brakes? Here in the UK a friend watched a BMW slide down the road and stopped to help the rider. Turned out he was American on a hire bike, had used the rear brake only and locked up. Sends a shiver up my spine thinking of that....
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,876
Likes: 3
From: Washington State
That's not the case at all Jonny. I've been a huge ABS fan since 2002 and have had it on three BMWs and my Yamaha. Works fantastic on those bikes and it's VERY DIFFICULT to activate the ABS even under hard braking.
But on the Harley all it takes to trigger the ABS is hitting a bump while only moderately using the brakes, then the bike lurches forward instead of slowing down.
Harley needs to recalibrate the ABS because now it activates much too easily.
But on the Harley all it takes to trigger the ABS is hitting a bump while only moderately using the brakes, then the bike lurches forward instead of slowing down.
Harley needs to recalibrate the ABS because now it activates much too easily.
I was mearly saying that people who don't have ABS, see/hear people with it, complaining and nit-picking at every aspect of it's operation. If Harley over-worked a few of the sytems on the 09's and there's a problem, get it in and have it fixed.
I have had to brake hard on many occasions, and the ABS hasn't kicked in yet, nor has the bike lost traction yet. Now, going over bumps and braking is just the nature of the beast. Most of the bumps your referring to when cornering are referred to as braking bumps; pavement rippled under braking from vehicles doing it over and over again. In the NW, we have a lot of them as blacktop pavement is used more than concrete.
If you plan on riding your bike in a road racing fashion, be prepared for run-ins with these bumps; and even under normal riding conditions be aware. Your back tire is in fact losing traction, all be it minimal, it is enough to send a message to your ABS module that you've lost traction and the ABS does it's job.
Even my cars ABS has kicked in over these bumps, but I can push it harder into corners and feel more comfortable; why? because it has 4 wheels and a cage around it, air bags, seat belts, etc etc.....
If you feel your ABS has problems have it checked and keep testing it until they get it to your liking. Good luck!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,368
Likes: 14
From: Yokohama
None of my other bikes's ABS kicks in while I'm braking over bumps, only my FLHR. Had the ABS checked at the dealer yesterday and it is indeed the latest calibration so no re-flash needed. Guess that's just the nature of the beast.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 645
Likes: 15
From:
I have to disagree with those that say ABS is not a good option. I don't know about Harley's versus BMW or others but I don't think there is any way someone can sense when a tire is close to locking up better than the computer. I can see where if you come to a washbord section of road that with unweighting of the bike that ABS might kick in but it should release when it hits the next rise in pavement. Whatever. I once went down on wet pavement because of a lock up of the front wheel. Fortunately I was not going too fast, maybe 15-20 mph, and I suffered no injuries. The point I want to make is that I went down in a blink of an eye. I was down before I knew what was happening. ABS may not work perfectly under every conceivable condition but chance of a panic stop just at the time of hitting a washboard is a risk I will take to be covered under all other conditions.
Bill
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Toulouse (SW of France)
ive been slammed more than once because of my dislike for abs if the motor company offered the 09 sg in white i would buy one in a heartbeat just to get away from abs.
The abs on both the front and rear brakes activate too early. Just this afternoon i applied rear only, i was nowhere near locking up and almost as soon as i hit the brake the pedal popped up once and the brake went away completely.
The abs on both the front and rear brakes activate too early. Just this afternoon i applied rear only, i was nowhere near locking up and almost as soon as i hit the brake the pedal popped up once and the brake went away completely.
jj
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 513
Likes: 0
To respond to the first four or five posts after my initial post......
As indicated, the new download was delivered to the dealerships in Dec. 08 so if you received your 09 model year bike before that, you might want to take it to your dealership just to make sure that you've got the upgrade.
No, the MoCo is not doing a recall but all the dealerships have been notified to do the upgrade as a warranty issue, free to the owner.
Yes, you are supposed to apply both back and front brake when stopping on the 09s.
In short, if you're not sure, talk to the service dept. of your favorite dealership.
As indicated, the new download was delivered to the dealerships in Dec. 08 so if you received your 09 model year bike before that, you might want to take it to your dealership just to make sure that you've got the upgrade.
No, the MoCo is not doing a recall but all the dealerships have been notified to do the upgrade as a warranty issue, free to the owner.
Yes, you are supposed to apply both back and front brake when stopping on the 09s.
In short, if you're not sure, talk to the service dept. of your favorite dealership.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
Ive been slammed more than once because of my dislike for ABS If the Motor Company offered the 09 SG in white I would buy one in a heartbeat just to get away from ABS.
The ABS on both the front and rear brakes activate too early. Just this afternoon I applied rear only, I was nowhere near locking up and almost as soon as I hit the brake the pedal popped up once and the brake went away completely.
The ABS on both the front and rear brakes activate too early. Just this afternoon I applied rear only, I was nowhere near locking up and almost as soon as I hit the brake the pedal popped up once and the brake went away completely.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,639
Likes: 2
From: Australia
Well then quit doing that. The front brakes on abs are the key. The weight transfer to the front is the key to stopping these heavy bikes. Grabbing a handful of front brake in a emergency is not what most people do. But with abs the front brake does most of the work and the rear just helps. If you use the rear in stop and go traffic that's ok or at slow speeds. If your not using the front it's not the abs's fault.
He was applying the rear in a normal controlled stop, no panic about it. The ABS came on for no good reason and the brakes just dissapear. My bike does the same thing. Drag the rear brake as you come up to a stop light, if there is the slightest bump or ripple in the road the ABS comes on and all of a sudden you aint going to stop in time.
My bike did the same thing.....until that fuse got pulled.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,368
Likes: 14
From: Yokohama
Disabled the rear only? How is the braking performance now? Do you get a warning light flashing all the time?