Would you holdout for ABS
I DID hold out for ABS. When I was ready to buy a 2010 RK, several dealers had the bike without ABS on the floor and tried to play down the need for ABS. But only one dealer offered to to see what they had in allocations and found that one was to be built a few weeks out and offered to have ABS included on it. I bought it on the spot, but had to wait 3-4 weeks for delivery. I would definitely do it again.
Mike
Mike
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 469
Likes: 2
From: Downriver, MI
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 469
Likes: 2
From: Downriver, MI
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 20
From: Salem, Or
There was a forum member not to long ago that rear ended a car because his rear tire lucked up. If that person had abs their back tire would have never locked and they might not have lost control.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
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From: Connecticut
You don't know a guy like me. I'm 34 and been riding 29 yrs. Do the math.
you know, i knew a guy like you. thought he was a better braker than the abs. bought a new bike, had abs, didn't really want it, but wanted the bike. bitched about having to pay for it. one day, something unexpected happened, and he had to hitch on the binders, hard. swears by abs now, and says that if he didn't have it then, he would have most likely locked up the rear and probably have gone down. won't buy another bike without it.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 775
From: Ponte Vedra Beach FL
I'll chime in. If ABS is available I'd take it. That said, what's more important is you having confidence in your braking abilities and knowing how to brake efficiently to the threshold even in emergencies. Period. Skill is the utmost important thing here. I have had the privilege of training with my local sheriff's dept. and one of the biggest drills was threshold braking and the brake and evade drill. You will always, no matter how aggressively you ride, have a possible emergency moment. Be confident in your skills first. ABS is a good thing, but even good things fail. Find a rider's course that emphasizes those braking skills. (Big bikes can easily be used for threshold braking practice).
Okay, off my soap box.
Okay, off my soap box.
What got me thinking about ABS was last fall while riding home from work I got caught in a T storm, normal for FL. Had to panic stop on the highway. Didn't nearly go down, actually stopped pretty fast but got pissed at myself how much front and rear brakes I applied before keeping wheels from locking up. I almost grabbed both brakes as hard as I could only instinct stopped me from locking up the wheels.
I'm getting older and commute to work 25 miles each way on the highway often in the rain. I think I'm going to take the advice of the majority and hold out for ABS.
Thanks to all for the input