ABS Concerns
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,184
Likes: 0
From: The Peoples Republic of Massachusstts
ABS from Harley does not work leaned over into a curve. What happens is it uses up most of the traction leaned over and it messes up the ABS. Even the CD that they give you with the bike will explain it better then I ever could. IF, as on my 08, you brake hard the wheel may start bouncing. When the bouncing wheel is in the air the computer thinks that it is on ice and thats the feeling that you will get. Here is the link to the ABS CD..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ6R8vNm7_M
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
The point Lance is trying to make is the ABS prevents you from extracting the shortest possible stopping distance under ideal conditions. Hitting the brakes hard enough to make it skid only makes it a test to see if you can lock up the brakes. He also stated that he thought that after riding both bikes that the ABS equipped bike would stop shorter in less than ideal conditions even with skilled riders aboard which is I believe the real benefit of the ABS for 90+% of the riders out there.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 875
Likes: 1
From: Rochester, NY
ABS from Harley does not work leaned over into a curve. What happens is it uses up most of the traction leaned over and it messes up the ABS. Even the CD that they give you with the bike will explain it better then I ever could. IF, as on my 08, you brake hard the wheel may start bouncing. When the bouncing wheel is in the air the computer thinks that it is on ice and thats the feeling that you will get. Here is the link to the ABS CD..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ6R8vNm7_M
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 641
Likes: 2
From:
I bought a 2009 FLTRSE3 that came with ABS. I dont care for it much.
I like to skid the rear tire and slide the bike to my right. This comes from my dirt racing days. If it becomes necessary to leave the bike I leave my right foot on the brake and begin exiting stage left. At high speeds I would fall to my back and slide.
Well a guy pulls out from a stop sign and near tags me. As I begin to brake hard both front and rear I feel the tires begin to lock up like I expected then all of a sudden I found myself straight up and heading for the side of his pickup. I didnt like the feel at all. I now know what to expect and not sure still what my exit strategy would be should the occasion arise.
I like to skid the rear tire and slide the bike to my right. This comes from my dirt racing days. If it becomes necessary to leave the bike I leave my right foot on the brake and begin exiting stage left. At high speeds I would fall to my back and slide.
Well a guy pulls out from a stop sign and near tags me. As I begin to brake hard both front and rear I feel the tires begin to lock up like I expected then all of a sudden I found myself straight up and heading for the side of his pickup. I didnt like the feel at all. I now know what to expect and not sure still what my exit strategy would be should the occasion arise.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,816
Likes: 2
From: New Hampshire
I posted a month or so back on "testing" my ABS unexpectedly. was following to close behind a tractor trailer (mea culpa) and as I was coming up to an intersection I could not see that the light was red until it was too late. Grabbed a handful and pedal-ful of brake...the abs kicked in and I came to a controlled and safe stop fully upright...so much I did the correct foot sequence at a stop they teach you in MSF class lol
Point being that the ABS performed exactly as it should have and in this case probably prevented me from locking up and sliding right into the intersection.
Not for everyone but I'm a believer
Point being that the ABS performed exactly as it should have and in this case probably prevented me from locking up and sliding right into the intersection.
Not for everyone but I'm a believer
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,132
Likes: 25
From: NorCal
First, let me say I am a believer in ABS. I've tested it many times and feel it stops the bike much quicker and with better control. However, the first time I braked hard was not long after I first got my 09 RKC (with ABS option). I wasn't paying a lot of attention and came up too fast on a turn I was going to make. I braked hard with just the rear brake and it clicked hard then all of a sudden I felt like I was on ice. The brake released and I felt like I had no brakes and went right past my turn. I've tried stopping hard again and again with just the rear brake and it does the same thing every time. When applying the front at the same time they work great (stops hard and fast). I just hope that in an emergency situation I can train myself to grab the front at the same time. I've been practicing. Has any one else had this same experience?
Rear brakes don't do squat for stopping a 900lb bike.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 922
Likes: 2
From: Hampstead, MD
The point Lance is trying to make is the ABS prevents you from extracting the shortest possible stopping distance under ideal conditions. Hitting the brakes hard enough to make it skid only makes it a test to see if you can lock up the brakes. He also stated that he thought that after riding both bikes that the ABS equipped bike would stop shorter in less than ideal conditions even with skilled riders aboard which is I believe the real benefit of the ABS for 90+% of the riders out there.
ExACTLY!!! :-)
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 241
From: Highlands, NJ
That's why you should brake before going into a turn and accelerate through the turn.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 171
From: Simi Valley, CA
Ideally, most of your braking should occur before entering the turn, then even throttle through the turn, and acceleration exiting the turn.
Of course there are no on/off switches between these events, but rather gradual transitions from one to the next with the corresponding brake/steering/throttle inputs. Every turn is a little different, different vehicles handle differently, and riding/driving styles vary, but the concept remains the same.
Make sense?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,368
Likes: 14
From: Yokohama
I generally use 70-30 front/rear braking bias on my road king, and 80-20 for my other bikes.