Disabling ABS
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 728
Likes: 25
From: griffin ga
I cant speak for all race cars... but drag cars have no abs... never seen that set up in a drag car..i built a pro mod & never needed abs...
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 173
From: Simi Valley, CA
Absolutely not. There may be some lower-level classes somewhere with ABS, but not in any of the higher echelons of racing.
Last edited by 2black1s; Mar 29, 2012 at 11:39 PM.
Account Retired
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 12
From: Here
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.
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.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 173
From: Simi Valley, CA
The following is not fact but rather my opinion. It was not banned because it was "too good". It was banned because it had too big of an equalization factor between drivers. It made lesser drivers better while doing little for the best drivers. Braking skills are one of the biggest differentiators between the best drivers and the "also rans". Add to that, in F1 I'd bet that each team calibrated their ABS differently from week-to-week to suit the driver and the circuit they were racing on. That is a far cry from a basic calibration on a street vehicle in which the calibration is compromised to provide very general operation under a variety of conditions.
Again I'll say this. ABS is a great feature for the average rider under a wide range of conditions, and one who never pushes his/her bike to its limits. If you push your bike to its limits, you will find many situations where the factory calibrated ABS can be downright dangerous.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Payson, AZ within 400 miles of the best the west has to offer for riders
This thread really got off the path. BMW dual sport motors are equipped with a disable switch. I guess the owners are wealthy enough to self-insure.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
From: topaz,idaho
ABS is not required by Federal law, any more than intermittent wipers. If your ABS fails on its own, you can still legally drive the vehicle. 4x4's auto disable in 4x4 mode. Some sport bikes have a switch, albeit O.E.M. I say disable away if that's what you want. Your liability pays no matter, I talked to my insurance guy.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 536
Likes: 0
Again I'll say this. ABS is a great feature for the average rider under a wide range of conditions, and one who never pushes his/her bike to its limits. If you push your bike to its limits, you will find many situations where the factory calibrated ABS can be downright dangerous.[/quote]
I think Dirty Harry said it best "a mans got to know his limitations....."
I think Dirty Harry said it best "a mans got to know his limitations....."
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 787
Likes: 6
From: Charlotte NC
I do not know if this was mntioned or not, I read a lot of the posts but not all. But ABS does not work unless the bike is in a straight and upright position so I am confused as to how this is a danger. I have never raced a bike so I don't know what effect that may have but when going straight I don't understand how they are a liability.