ABS let me down
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 666
Likes: 5
From: Bay Area, CA
About rear ended a woman who had slammed her brakes on for a school bus letting kids off. I've got ABS and the pedal violently pulsated enough to throw my foot off. Had to veer to the right side of her to miss hitting her. First time its done this. I've read that on uneven roads, if the tires lose contact with the raoad, it can do this, but I'm thinking the road was level.
ABS will only prevent your tires from locking up, and has little to do with stopping distance which may have been the real issue here with a woman who had slammed her brakes.
Sound like you did everything right too. Hit the brakes, didn't panic, and swerved. Good job!
I've had the ABS download done and it does prevent the ABS from being so sensitive on the rear brake and kicking in on bumps.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 390
Likes: 1
From: Ozark, AL
So, the bus driver in front of the woman in front of you Slamed on the brakes and both you and her had to slam and swerve to miss the sudden stopping school bus?
I'm going to hear about this remark........
I'm going to hear about this remark........
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 69
From: Al Bu Ker Key, New Mexico
Dont think the problem was the ABS......I am trying more and more everyday to keep a larger distance between me and the vehicle in front of me just for this very reason when riding my bike.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 322
Likes: 2
You should be using your front brake for most of your stopping power, even more so with ABS as it prevents the front wheel from locking. Stopping distances are huge if you are only using a rear brake.
About rear ended a woman who had slammed her brakes on for a school bus letting kids off. I've got ABS and the pedal violently pulsated enough to throw my foot off. Had to veer to the right side of her to miss hitting her. First time its done this. I've read that on uneven roads, if the tires lose contact with the raoad, it can do this, but I'm thinking the road was level.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 323
Likes: 1
From: Elwood, IN
About rear ended a woman who had slammed her brakes on for a school bus letting kids off. I've got ABS and the pedal violently pulsated enough to throw my foot off. Had to veer to the right side of her to miss hitting her. First time its done this. I've read that on uneven roads, if the tires lose contact with the raoad, it can do this, but I'm thinking the road was level.
About rear ended a woman who had slammed her brakes on for a school bus letting kids off. I've got ABS and the pedal violently pulsated enough to throw my foot off. Had to veer to the right side of her to miss hitting her. First time its done this. I've read that on uneven roads, if the tires lose contact with the raoad, it can do this, but I'm thinking the road was level.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 6
From: Michigan
If your ABS prevented you from having a high-side crash, it did its job.
ABS will only prevent your tires from locking up, and has little to do with stopping distance which may have been the real issue here with a woman who had slammed her brakes.
Sound like you did everything right too. Hit the brakes, didn't panic, and swerved. Good job!
I've had the ABS download done and it does prevent the ABS from being so sensitive on the rear brake and kicking in on bumps.
ABS will only prevent your tires from locking up, and has little to do with stopping distance which may have been the real issue here with a woman who had slammed her brakes.
Sound like you did everything right too. Hit the brakes, didn't panic, and swerved. Good job!
I've had the ABS download done and it does prevent the ABS from being so sensitive on the rear brake and kicking in on bumps.
Also my understanding is, usually a highside happens when the rear wheel does lock up, and you let off the brake when you are sliding sideways, which allows the skid to break, and adds instant traction, since the inertia of your bike is sideways, the bike flips over in a high side.
I'm by no means an expert, so I may be "whistling dixie" just sharing my thoughts on the issue. Bottom line, I'm glad the OP and his bike are in one piece!!
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,005
Likes: 53
From: ID Ho
Might want to increase your distance AND remember the front brake is your PRIMARY brake!
