Bare with me on this but... on the 09s, 10s, and 11s it was pretty easy to tell if a touring bike had ABS by looking at the left side of the front axle (as you're setting on the bike). You would see the black ABS sensor wrapped around the axle just outside the brake disk. I noticed that when the 12s came out, the dealer tag would state that the bike had ABS yet you could not see this black sensor. Now that I am drooling over the new 13 models setting on the floor, I notice that the dealer tag may say the bike has ABS and sometimes that black sensor is present and on others it is not. On the ones that do not have the black sensor, I do notice a metallic object in the right brake disk that is not present in the others. Clear as mud right? Anyway, is this another style of sensor? If so, what gives? Why is there a difference?

 

If an 08 or later tourer has ABS, it will have the black sensor on the left side of the wheel. If it does not have ABS, it will only have the regular spacer (what I think you are seeing as a metallic object). If a dealer lists it has having ABS and there is no sensor, it does not have ABS.

 

And the extra wire running with one side's brake line.

Plus, no one is shocked if their dealer screws up the listing of individual bikes.

 

there will be 2 ABS brakelines running on right side of frame at triple tree

 

Pull right side cover off and you will see the control module.

 

Not to sure dealers going to embrace someone pulling off side covers.

 

I am sure a dealer will accommodate the buyer to make a sale. Just ask the dealer to show the ABS module. If the Dealer doesn't then they really do to want to sell. My dealer will even pull the bike out and put a dealer plate on it for a test ride.

 

just ask, and be forward. it does or it does not!