I've said it before... the ONLY reason I might sell my current ride is to get the same (newer) model with ABS. I love this bike but that is the only reason.

 

Red9, not gonna shoot you, but have to take you to task. True, ABS does not cure stupidity. It does help you react to the stupidity of others, say when they suddenly make a left turn without signaling in your path, or pulling out from a side steet at the very last moment when you have no choice but to grab all the brakes you can to avoid t-boning them. Having ABS does not encourage anyone to ride above their skill level, anymore than having ABS in an automobile (100% of new cars sold in the US are now so equipped BTW) encourages the average motorist to believe that they are suddenly endowed will Dale Ernhardt Jr's driving skills and drive like such.

Fact is that ABS prevents wheel lock up during maximum braking, which allows the operator to maintain directional control of the vehicle. In the case of a motorcycle there is the added benefit of directional stability (you don't swap ends/high side/lowside). It does not reduce stopping distance. It does not add magic handling properties to the bike. I did not see any posts here claiming any such thing, nor are there any claims in the media, or even in "urban legend" Fact is, people don't expect ABS to be a cure all for "Lack of attention or ability" as you phrased it. The cure for that has not, nor never will be invented. If you choose not to have ABS on your bike, fine. You are free to choose and live (or die) with your choices as you see fit. Don't come off that ABS is only for people who can't ride or who have their head in the clouds. It only exposes your collosal ignorance!

 

Of course I could by it and ride it for a year or 2 then probably sell it for what I paid for it. That's not my question, as I replied in an earlier post. I have been riding for 40 years on many different bikes none with ABS. I commute to work everyday in North Florida and get caught in the rain a lot. In 40 years I've had a lot of close calls. So far so good my skills have kept me upright. I love my Roadking Classic but it's a bear when you grab a hand full of brake.

If it wasn't for the rain ABS would never cross my mind

 

I really like my '98 RKC now that I have it set up for "me". Only way I change the King is to upgrade to a bike w/abs. Thinking of adding a sidecar to the RKC 'cause my wife wants to give that a try. Debating on finding an EVO with abs or look at new. I would hold out for what you want.

 

I've a 09 Ultra, non-ABS. This is my 6th Harley and my 3rd FLH, a 92, a 01 and this one. Every bike up till now I would have gladly taken any claimed braking improvement that was offered but these Brembos are such a vast improvement over ANYTHING in the past as to make it unrecognizable as a Harley. I have had 3 close calls and one of them was 1 1/2' away from the dip sh*t in the pocket rocket that pulled out in front of me. If I had ABS would that distance been greater? Maybe. I can say for sure that if I was on any of the other 5 it would have been bad. The back will lock up if you push hard enough but that front brake is a miracle. Straight line braking, hold the bars tight and squeeze that brake as hard as I can and it will haul me down right now. ABS is by most accounts well worth the cost but it is not a miracle worker. It will not save you if you are not paying attention, or riding too fast for the conditions. Fully expecting every single person on foot or in a vehicle to do the absolute worst thing possible in front of you will go farther to protect you than any kind of brake ever could. Trust no one! If you can get a great deal on a non ABS 09, don't let ABS stop you from enjoying all the improvements made on the new touring bikes. Freakin' love mine! Good luck!

 

Yea, what he said!

 

Wow! Thanks for not taking me to task... you know, me and my collasal ignorance. lmao

Take a chill pill slick.
Here is how it is and if you don't agree with it fine but... maybe you better re-examine your riding technique.

First, you hit someone from behind (the point I was responding to), you're the idiot. You were following too close and you are right, ABS won't help you stop any quicker so you are still going to hit them because.... you were following too close or riding too fast for the conditions. Either way, your fault, you're not paying attention and driving defensively.

Second, car turns left in front of you without signaling or pulls out in front of you, you hit them, you're still the idiot and need to examine your riding technique. No one turns left in front of me that I am not prepared for or pulls out a side street that i am not prepared for. Also since as you indicated ABS does not help you stop quicker, you still hit them and you are still not paying attention or riding too quickly for the conditions.

Third, you catch yourself going too quickly around a curve and need ABS to keep you upright, you're the idiot. Proper technique entering a corner is to be able to see through it at an appropriate speed. And since as you pointed out ABS doesn't stop you any quicker, you crash, you're still not paying attention.

Unfortunately every post in here where ABS saved the rider was because of rider error. ie; kept me from losing control when I went hard on the brakes to avoid hitting something I shouldn't be near, when road conditions were adverse and I was riding above my ability or when I just wasn't paying attention at all.

So now you tell me. If these riders aren't relying upon ABS to keep them alive and are riding within their skill levels yet constantly relying upon their ABS to save them, are they just stupid or not paying attention?

In fact slick, I hate to tell you this but.... ABS was designed to try and save the driver or rider or pilot who wasn't and isn't paying attention or riding or driving above their ability for conditions. It does not come on at any other time.

 

Well said! Oh and by the way........I don't think you need worry about being shot. By the time they got the gun out of the safe and the barrel lock and the trigger lock off of it and then got it loaded, you'd be long gone!

 

I know someone who ran into the back end of her husbands RG on her Softtail Deluxe because she was screwing around with her I Pod in Sevierville TN (heavy traffic) instead of paying attention to what she was supposed to. After it was all over and she was home (with a broken leg and 2 banged up bikes) the first thing she wants to do is trade her bike in for one w/ ABS. News flash!!!! You are still going to run into people if you continue to ride like that, ABS or no ABS. While your assessment of the attributes of ABS are correct, I believe you are gravely mistaken as to the competency of some riders. And frankly, with you being a peace officer I would think you would have a far more pragmatic view of the skill level of the general public, 2 wheels or 4. I drive for a living and have for over 25 yrs. I watch what people do every day and I feel safe in saying the the overall skill level of todays drivers has declined greatly. Too many distractions and not enough focus on the task at hand. And for you to make a judgement of ignorance is inaccurate at a minimum. If you think there is not a sizable portion of the riding community who are under trained and under skilled, then perhaps it is you sir, who is ignorant.

 

Bravo sir! Well said!