all debate aside. I thought the poster was more interested in knowing IF he could disable with a switch probably so when on that trail road he could disable? I ride my ultra on dirt roads often and surely would rather not have the abs functional then.

 

I must be missing something important. I thought the whole purpose of ABS was to prevent tires from skidding on surfaces without enough traction - pea gravel, ice, loose sand, etc. If the ABS system senses a wheel has or is about to stop rotating, it releases the brake in pulses enough so the wheel keep rotating. Seems like dirt roads would be the classic situation where ABS would help prevent problems. Am I wrong?

 

But rake out, stretched out, rear brake only choppers are all good. Really. Hate ABS. If it was disonnected it should be just like the Non ABS version, which should be safe...No????

 

yes it will work as a normal brake system

 

I guess I am confused on why people don't like a feature that makes our hobby safer... when used properly they beat the alternative hands down. Do people disconnect them on their cars also?

 

Because the ABS is only safer under certain conditions - not all conditions.

There are conditions where ABS is a detriment.

I'll give you this much. ABS is a GREAT safety feature for the vast majority of average Joe's.

But for those who have had some kind of performance driving/riding and/or racing experience, and they were good at it (this is a key point - good at it), they will tend to experience situations where the ABS is a liability moreso than the average Joe.

It's pretty easy to tell who's who by their responses to this debate.

 

I guess I am the Ave. Joe Group. Although riding for 38 years I don't race my ride on the roads, more like a cruising and enjoying the scenery. If they want to race their rides I guess non ABS is a good deal for them.

 

In my case, yes. Happened to me twice, that's all I could stand. There are intersections that develop wash board bumps in the surface approaching the intersections. With light brake pressure applied for a gentle stop in mid summer, the tires would jump off the bump and stop rotating while in the air, by the time the tire touched the pavement again, the brakes had been released by the ABS, once the tire was rotating again, it would "jump" off the next bump and stop again, the ABS would again release the brake, and so on. Result, NO BRAKES on a sunny, clear summer afternoon because the ABS can't "read" the pavement. I pulled the fuse and have been a happy camper ever since with brakes just like the ones I grew up with. Until ABS becomes "smart" enough to tell the difference between a skid and a tire temporarily off the pavement from a bump, I've got no use for it.

Once a rider knows he can clamp down on the brakes with all of his adrenaline boosted strength and the ABS will give him a controlled stop, if it ever fails and he is startled, his automatic reaction means he's going down because his ABS trained response will now be the wrong way to do it.

 

And there is nothing wrong with being in the average Joe population. Everyone should ride and enjoy whatever style of riding it is that they prefer.

The problem as evidenced in this thread and others like it is when someone on one side of the debate can't see it from the other's perspective.

ABS has its place - But it also has places it should never be.

 

Curious to know if racing motorcycles are ABS equipped. Race cars?