any reason not to get abs?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,234
Likes: 462
From: Arizona
When ABS started becoming standard equipment in cars people were slamming into each other because they thought the ABS would stop them sooner and they could tailgate. It doesn't.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 128
Likes: 1
From: NE Illinois
ABS will NOT prevent a crash. It will ONLY prevent wheel lock-up, which may or may not prevent a crash, depending on your riding ability.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 709
Likes: 2
From: SO Cal
When ABS started becoming standard equipment in cars people were slamming into each other because they thought the ABS would stop them sooner and they could tailgate. It doesn't.[/quote]
This maybe part of it but the real reason was that if you have ABS and don't trust it to do its job and don't keep your foot on the brake pedal or levers it will actually take longer to stop. (It only works when brakes are fully applied, Don't pump the brakes .
This maybe part of it but the real reason was that if you have ABS and don't trust it to do its job and don't keep your foot on the brake pedal or levers it will actually take longer to stop. (It only works when brakes are fully applied, Don't pump the brakes .
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: California
I'm sure I'll get flamed and that's ok. I chose not to get it not because I couldn't afford it but because I have been down before with a bike with ABS and feel I could have done a better job braking then the ABS did.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I've driven cars for many years with ABS and only on one has it triggered. That was due to a tracking problem affecting front tyre grip. I have also done 50k miles on a non-Harley with ABS and deliberately set out to trigger it, without success. So in a couple of hundred thousand miles I don't feel I have derived any benefit from ABS.
I suspect the majority of riders will find they don't actually ride in a way that is likely to trigger ABS. We have three cars each with ABS and didn't have any choice about that. I can see the day will come when Harley owners don't have any choice either. When that happens, the majority of riders will never trigger it!
I suspect the majority of riders will find they don't actually ride in a way that is likely to trigger ABS. We have three cars each with ABS and didn't have any choice about that. I can see the day will come when Harley owners don't have any choice either. When that happens, the majority of riders will never trigger it!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
We bike riders don't have the luxury of four wheels, so stability is a real problem. Slamming brakes on very hard is not something most of us can actually do, as it is counter-intuitive. Doing so will likely involve coming off, with or without ABS. If the bike doesn't stay pretty darned straight ABS is not going to be much help.
I think it is over-rated for bike use, but then a lot us feel the same about EFI!
I had a time where I wish I had it.
I was in traffic when the pickup in front of me slammed on his brakes, and so I slammed on mine and locked the front wheel. I let off keeping the back on and re-applied the front but couldn't stop in time. I slowed as much as I could, but then leaned the bike just enough to keep from hitting straight on to avoid hurting the forks, but in leaning, I was able to get a good enough platform to hold the bike from falling until the truck moved and I could get back straight. It only resulted in a dented front fender and I could rode it home and took it off for fixing, but I wondered if it would have happened like that if I'd have had ABS.
I have done too much to my girl to trade for another, but I really do want the ABS
I was in traffic when the pickup in front of me slammed on his brakes, and so I slammed on mine and locked the front wheel. I let off keeping the back on and re-applied the front but couldn't stop in time. I slowed as much as I could, but then leaned the bike just enough to keep from hitting straight on to avoid hurting the forks, but in leaning, I was able to get a good enough platform to hold the bike from falling until the truck moved and I could get back straight. It only resulted in a dented front fender and I could rode it home and took it off for fixing, but I wondered if it would have happened like that if I'd have had ABS.
I have done too much to my girl to trade for another, but I really do want the ABS
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Joe Kucinski
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,639
Likes: 2
From: Australia
I am not an ABS fan, riding hard in dry weather I disable it. But it is good for when you are cruising along and you panic, or wet weather when things are very greasy. My bike stops a lot slower on a dry road when the ABS comes in, which is scary sometimes.
But to answer the OP question I tell everyone to get it and make up their own mind. Its easy to disable it if you dont like it and basically impossible to retrofit.
But to answer the OP question I tell everyone to get it and make up their own mind. Its easy to disable it if you dont like it and basically impossible to retrofit.