Would you holdout for ABS
Club Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,481
Likes: 4
From: Georgia
If you ever push the envelope you will probably get caught and in that case ABS can be a lifesaver. Situations can arise out of nothing also and you don't have to be flogging it to have to stop in an emergency. I've got ABS now after having a few exciting moments in earlier rides that I was just lucky to get out of alive. The coin could have landed on the other side and I wouldn't be here to tell you about it. The choice is yours.
Last edited by BigGdawg; Feb 21, 2012 at 06:16 AM.
Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 950
Likes: 0
From: ENGLAND
I'm not a fan of abs personally ,
but if you panic and want to grab and stand on everything (normal reaction) , it will stop you faster than a skid will
i would hope it would stop the front end locking up and going under you in the rain as well ,
and I'm sure there are some statistics with breaking distances that can be found somewhere in its favour ,
but i just don't like the disconnected from the bike feel it gives you , its the same in cars....
but over here in the U.K all new bikes will have it as standard soon
E U rules ...
so we are going to pay for it even if we don't want it ......nice
but if you panic and want to grab and stand on everything (normal reaction) , it will stop you faster than a skid will
i would hope it would stop the front end locking up and going under you in the rain as well ,
and I'm sure there are some statistics with breaking distances that can be found somewhere in its favour ,
but i just don't like the disconnected from the bike feel it gives you , its the same in cars....
but over here in the U.K all new bikes will have it as standard soon
E U rules ...
so we are going to pay for it even if we don't want it ......nice
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
i don't follow. unless you 'activate' the abs, the braking is the same. if you have activated the abs, then that means if you didn't have it, then you would be in a wheel lock situation. how is that 'connected to the bike'?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 4
I have had 4 touring models without it and 2 with it. I'll tell you straight out that if I had a choice I would get it everytime. but, I would not let it stop me from getting a good deal on a bike without it... $14,500.00 on a 2011 is a pretty damn good deal.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,582
From: Wisconsin, USA
There have been threads where aggresive riders complain about ABS coming on prematurely on bumps, trail braking. If I was buying a touring bike I would want ABS. Hard to panic brake my FLHTCUI compared to my Vulcan 750.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 846
Likes: 13
From: Out there!
A SG is a big heavy bike, it has pretty good brakes but also suffers from 'dive' which is off putting if you grab a handful rather than feed the front brake on progressively.
I consider ABS to be a very good benefit on such a bike - in particular it is worth noting that most riders won't use more than approx 70% of their braking potential (some even still insist on only using the back brake). Now consider you have an emergency and can activate 100% of the efficiency simply by holding that lever and not letting go (that's a mistake that many make)
So for me I would say yes hold out for one with ABS
I consider ABS to be a very good benefit on such a bike - in particular it is worth noting that most riders won't use more than approx 70% of their braking potential (some even still insist on only using the back brake). Now consider you have an emergency and can activate 100% of the efficiency simply by holding that lever and not letting go (that's a mistake that many make)
So for me I would say yes hold out for one with ABS
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,932
Likes: 4
From: 46th State, USA
I've changed my opinion of ABS over the past couple of years.
I've been riding for almost 45 years with conventional brakes. Since I've had my '09 UC with ABS I've had to avoid collisions a couple of times and I'm convinced I could have easily lost control and possible gone down with conventional brakes.
I've been riding for almost 45 years with conventional brakes. Since I've had my '09 UC with ABS I've had to avoid collisions a couple of times and I'm convinced I could have easily lost control and possible gone down with conventional brakes.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 8
From: Detroit, the asshole of America
Standard ABS was one of the reasons why I bought a new '11 RKC vs. a used model. I'm happy with it, for the most part. As mentioned above if you're riding aggressively it is not the best system, I would definitely disable it if I were to ever do a track day. But for normal commuting and pleasure riding I'm glad my bike has it.