abs pros/cons
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 671
Likes: 5
From: D.C suburbs
I'm not convinced by ABS, especially on a bike. I've ridden with it for 50k miles and despite braking hard on several occasions it hasn't activated, so I haven't had any benefit from it. I suppose if you live life on the ragged edge it may help, but to put blind faith in it is very unwise!
We should switch, my ABS kicks on all the time. If I hit a tiny bump while braking, it totally releases the brakes for a second.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 671
Likes: 5
From: D.C suburbs
Hmm...bought a used 09 Ultra...and frankly don't like the ABS. I am sure if they worked better they would be a great addition, but as noted in the above post about calibration, mine release the braking many times in good traction situations when it seems there is no reason they should. Going over a bump or even a rise where it takes some weight off the rear and it kicks in. What is even way more irritating to me is when it kicks in while you are coming to a stop and down shift. It will 'release" my manual braking for what seems like s second or so in a high traction scenario for no reason at all. It is not a "fast' system. Have ABS on all my cars...kicks in and releases what feels like a hundred times a second...the HD system feels like it kicks in and releases what feels like 1 time every few seconds.
No warranty...but I am guessing my frustration lies with the calibration...so it looks like I'll be paying to hopefully tighten things up...
Many thanks,
Steve O!
No warranty...but I am guessing my frustration lies with the calibration...so it looks like I'll be paying to hopefully tighten things up...
Many thanks,
Steve O!
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 137
Likes: 22
I am living proof that ABS works. I won't bore you with the details but in each case I was able to maintain full control of the motorcycle because of the abs and MISS the moving object in front of me. This was on tour a looong ways from home...
For those of you whom are better riders me and more manly - you just keep on thinkin that you are too good to have it...and enjoy the life changing event that may result because you lost control and crashed.
There is download for the 09's to fix the early activation
For those of you whom are better riders me and more manly - you just keep on thinkin that you are too good to have it...and enjoy the life changing event that may result because you lost control and crashed.
There is download for the 09's to fix the early activation
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,498
Likes: 19
From: East Alton, IL
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 459
Likes: 13
From: Cincinnati, OH
I had a 2008 RK with ABS and the ABS kicked in all the time. It was getting to be annoying. Last March I got a 2013 RK with ABS and yesterday was the first time they kicked in. It seemed much smoother than the 2008. I hit the brakes hard and the bike came to a perfectly straight stop. I'm just an average rider with about 8 years experience. No racing or off roading, just cruising around. With that said, I would never own a bike without it.
Tourer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 297
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles County
My '10 RK rear ABS is always going off with no reason, actually more dangerous since I get uncontrolled releasing of the brakes when my foot has it under control. My cars all do the same, just not as over-the-top sensitive like the Harley.
Maybe the new ones are better, but ... every vehicle I have owned since they invented ABS has had the abs "solenoid" fail, necessitating a pricey repair in a system that is otherwise working fine.
I avoid it whenever I can, I trust my feet under pressure.