ABS warning!!!
There is a stretch of road by me that has a washboard type surface and the ABS does some strange (to me)stuff on it at low speed. It was so unexpected to me that I go to that area to practice enagaging ABS (its very easy to do). This is a low speed practice coming to a Stop-Sign 3-5 mph might sound slow but not when you think you can't stop at the intersection (or the back of a car).
What has worked for me is to apply more brake front and rear, ABS I guess is not engaging both brakes so while one is enagaged the other is not. It's a little disconcerting when you come to that surface engaging just the front or rear feels like you are surging forward. I brake differently with this bike more so than any other bike after 32+ years of riding.
With that said and with practice I feel I can stop quicker for the most part with this bike. I hit the brakes harder when I have had to in an emergency situation. I sort of trust the ABS and use both brakes hard. In the classic left turn in front of me the ABS has engaged flawlessly and was a big help.
After attending a few drivng schools for work one thing one instructor told us (this was the 80's) hit the brakes hard don't pump/modulate it let the ABS do it's job.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...libration.html Look what was just posted.
What has worked for me is to apply more brake front and rear, ABS I guess is not engaging both brakes so while one is enagaged the other is not. It's a little disconcerting when you come to that surface engaging just the front or rear feels like you are surging forward. I brake differently with this bike more so than any other bike after 32+ years of riding.
With that said and with practice I feel I can stop quicker for the most part with this bike. I hit the brakes harder when I have had to in an emergency situation. I sort of trust the ABS and use both brakes hard. In the classic left turn in front of me the ABS has engaged flawlessly and was a big help.
After attending a few drivng schools for work one thing one instructor told us (this was the 80's) hit the brakes hard don't pump/modulate it let the ABS do it's job.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...libration.html Look what was just posted.
Last edited by EricD10563; Jul 30, 2009 at 09:16 PM. Reason: Link posted
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 344
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From: Finland
Of course I was too close, I hit the car ;-)
My "ten feet" and "walking speed" where just figure of speech of driving slow and thinking its going to stop. I don't know the exact figures. The fact is that I would have ABS in the future too, BUT STILL, when I hit my front break hard in slow speed, depending of surface conditions (table spoon of sand, water, drop of oil, what ever) the ABS is in its worst. Your mind says its going to stop, but those "conditions" tell to the ABS it have to pulse a bit and in critical distance that pulse might be too much.
That being said, OF COURSE I WAS TOO CLOSE ;-) my mistake, but I'm saying also that in certain conditions the pulse of ABS can surprise you and give you the feeling not having breaks at all.
My "ten feet" and "walking speed" where just figure of speech of driving slow and thinking its going to stop. I don't know the exact figures. The fact is that I would have ABS in the future too, BUT STILL, when I hit my front break hard in slow speed, depending of surface conditions (table spoon of sand, water, drop of oil, what ever) the ABS is in its worst. Your mind says its going to stop, but those "conditions" tell to the ABS it have to pulse a bit and in critical distance that pulse might be too much.
That being said, OF COURSE I WAS TOO CLOSE ;-) my mistake, but I'm saying also that in certain conditions the pulse of ABS can surprise you and give you the feeling not having breaks at all.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 344
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From: Finland
Have to repeat my self; "I think you turn inexperienced driver when its raining and the deer is suddenly running in front of you" THEN ABS helps you to reduce your panic effect and let you still DRIVE the damn thing instead of turning your bike upside down and being a passenger of your own bike.
I still rely on ABS, but as a reminder, it's not all ;-)
I still rely on ABS, but as a reminder, it's not all ;-)
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,368
Likes: 14
From: Yokohama
That's very true with the Harley-Davidson ABS. My Yamaha's ABS work more seamlessly because it cycles much quicker.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 356
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From: Midland, TX
Okay according to this thread link below, there is an issue with the 2009 abs brakes engaging over washboard like surfaces at slow speeds and it was upgraded in 2010. You can call customer service and get the upgrade. I think I will do that for mine.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...libration.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...libration.html
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
If someone is such a professional riding their bike like they all think they are then ABS wouldn't ever be a factor. Even on a bike equipped with it, if you are as good as you say then you would never reach the threshold of braking so that the ABS kicks in anyways. So saying that ABS increases braking distance might be true, but it only kicks in when YOU apply too much brake. I practice emergency stops all the time, and can stop without kicking in the ABS, but I will always have it just in case.
$0.02
$0.02
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Finland
My RKC is 2008, I think no upgrade for me ;-(
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: California
New Calibrations Are Available
What year bikes are you guys riding?? If they're 09's, HD has just come out with an updated ABS calibration to address these very concerns.
http://www.box.net/shared/34jxn83y10
http://www.box.net/shared/34jxn83y10