to ABS or not to ABS ?
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 7
From: The Great Northwest
Like the Monkeyman says, you can't practice a panic stop.
I used to be one of the guys that said ABS was total bullsh%#t and that I had been riding for 40 years and could stop just as quick or quicker than anyone. Blah, Blah, Blah. Truth is that I have been riding for 40 years and hav'nt died yet.
Last year on my non-ABS 08 Ultra, a black lab pup popped out of the brush and I hammered the brakes and locked the rear. I was lucky enough to have not let off after the lock. Ended up a little sideways in the shoulder gravel but didn't go down. A f%#k'n miracle. Pups OK. Went home and put the 08 up on the Pitbull and put all the stock crap back on. Sold it within a week and got a new 09 with ABS. That cost me $4k but worth it to me for the ABS. Plus all the kick-*** changes on the 09.
My insurance gives me a discount for the ABS and security.
Then there's the re-sale issue. Go back and read these or any other ABS threads and you will see that 9 out of 10 people will NEVER buy another bike without ABS. Selling a used bike is hard anyway but a LOT harder if you are eliminating 90% of the buyers.
Just my .02. Good luck with whatever you decide and have a blast on the new ride.
I used to be one of the guys that said ABS was total bullsh%#t and that I had been riding for 40 years and could stop just as quick or quicker than anyone. Blah, Blah, Blah. Truth is that I have been riding for 40 years and hav'nt died yet.
Last year on my non-ABS 08 Ultra, a black lab pup popped out of the brush and I hammered the brakes and locked the rear. I was lucky enough to have not let off after the lock. Ended up a little sideways in the shoulder gravel but didn't go down. A f%#k'n miracle. Pups OK. Went home and put the 08 up on the Pitbull and put all the stock crap back on. Sold it within a week and got a new 09 with ABS. That cost me $4k but worth it to me for the ABS. Plus all the kick-*** changes on the 09.
My insurance gives me a discount for the ABS and security.
Then there's the re-sale issue. Go back and read these or any other ABS threads and you will see that 9 out of 10 people will NEVER buy another bike without ABS. Selling a used bike is hard anyway but a LOT harder if you are eliminating 90% of the buyers.
Just my .02. Good luck with whatever you decide and have a blast on the new ride.
Last edited by Clint55; Aug 22, 2009 at 06:54 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 189
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
"Can't practice a panic stop" You dang Right!!!!!!!!
I was riding down the freeway access road and a van pulled out of the gas station in front of me, not time to do and thing..........Hospital or Meet your maker type of situation.
I hit the front brake hard before my foot was able to apply the back brake.........I don't even what to hear about practice makes the difference on this issue.
I locked up the front brake and the front wheel yanked to the left very hard and fast.
Thank God I did not hit the van for he panic stopped as well and I missed him by inches, however when the wheel yanked to the left I manhandled it with all my might (remembering in retospect) and I did not go down but what I did do was pull all the muscles in my right shoulder and I , not wrecking , still spent time at the hospital in rehab with shock and ultrasound treetment.
I for one look forward to owning a bike with ABS and am going to do so when I can afford to do such. (looking forward to a Limited if I can swing it)
No matter what anyone says, ABS is a need addition. You must get it! IMHO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[ more than a high side preventer because of rear tire lock up ]
I was riding down the freeway access road and a van pulled out of the gas station in front of me, not time to do and thing..........Hospital or Meet your maker type of situation.
I hit the front brake hard before my foot was able to apply the back brake.........I don't even what to hear about practice makes the difference on this issue.
I locked up the front brake and the front wheel yanked to the left very hard and fast.
Thank God I did not hit the van for he panic stopped as well and I missed him by inches, however when the wheel yanked to the left I manhandled it with all my might (remembering in retospect) and I did not go down but what I did do was pull all the muscles in my right shoulder and I , not wrecking , still spent time at the hospital in rehab with shock and ultrasound treetment.
I for one look forward to owning a bike with ABS and am going to do so when I can afford to do such. (looking forward to a Limited if I can swing it)
No matter what anyone says, ABS is a need addition. You must get it! IMHO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[ more than a high side preventer because of rear tire lock up ]
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 759
Likes: 0
From: Hampton, VA
When I was still in the Navy I was a MSF instructor, one class a guy had a bike with ABS (I think it was a BMW but I am not sure). When we did the braking excercises, his bike always stopped shorter and straighter than anyone else in the class. Watching him ride for two days like this convinced me this might be a good thing. I recently went from a 2007 Ultra to a 2010 Ultra and one of the biggest reasons for the new bike is ABS. Haven't needed it in the 900 miles I have ridden so far but I sure feel better having it.
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 760
Likes: 2
From: South Carolina
I just took delivery of a non-ABS '09 FHTR, but wondered whether to ABS or not when I was thinking about moving to the FLTR. The dealer made it easy, as they had the bike I wanted, but none with ABS. While I'm confident in my braking skills, I wonder whether some situations (like those described here) would've made me wished I held-out for ABS.
Since getting this bike, a HOG buddy of mine told me about these bleeders which prevent wheel lock-up on non-ABS equipped bikes.
http://www.tcbbrakesystems.com/
Sounds good on the website, but I don't know anyone who's tried them. Has anyone tried these? Do they work? How well? If this topic gets lost in this thread, perhaps I'll start another on this system to see what others think.
Since getting this bike, a HOG buddy of mine told me about these bleeders which prevent wheel lock-up on non-ABS equipped bikes.
http://www.tcbbrakesystems.com/
Sounds good on the website, but I don't know anyone who's tried them. Has anyone tried these? Do they work? How well? If this topic gets lost in this thread, perhaps I'll start another on this system to see what others think.
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