Would you ABS again?

[radman]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: testing brake performance, when involved in such an enterprise, is a whole lot different than when faced with an emergency maneuver. Racing is not streeting. When testers are involved in such, the mindset is with the program at hand-they know whats going on, and whats expected to happen, a whole lot different than when cruising along the highway, aware of whats around you, but not totally concentrating on emergency maneuvers to come. This is where ABS shines-it can save an OH SHIT!!!!!!!!!! moment like almost nothing else. I have ABS, tried to get a bike without, but not sorry I failed in that. While I haven't had occasion to test it out in a true emergency, I have seen where having it would have probably saved a couple situations I've been very close to. I have banged the rear a number of times when braking hard and downshifting as in a fast corner approach-it's a nice reminder that I'm at the limit of rear tire adhesion, a real side benefit of the system. I know that, where I'm comfortable in a car without it, it makes a lot of sense on a big fast bike like the Feej. Anything that can help maintain rider control, as long as it isn't intrusive (traction control, for one) is a plus in my book.

 

[05fjrBluedevil]

Yep, I would get ABS again if the choice presented itself.

 

[rockwells]

My FJR dosn't have them. My Beemer does. The FJR does have plenty of stopping power, however, I still wish I had ABS on her.

 

[OlyFJR]

+1 On the pro-ABS responses. I've practiced emergency braking with my '03 (non ABS) and always had a hard time getting a feel for the rear brake so as to not lock up the tire when all that weight transfers to the front. After I got my '06 I had an opportunity to put what I practiced to test in the real world when a minivan stopped in a traffic circle for a pedestrian to cross at a crosswalk. When I grabbed a big ole hand of front brake and dropped a boot on the rear brake the ABS kept the back tire from locking up and kept the rear in line with the bike. The bike stopped so fast that I'm sure the back tire left the road for a moment. Still, without the ABS I'm sure that incident wouldn't have turned out very well at all since I started braking in a turn.

My $.02

 

[maddawg46]

I have an 05 with ABS. Its ok, but I probably would not get it on another bike. Adds wt, dollars, and may be a problem in the rain if your going down hill. Also, when its time to put SS braided lines on it will cost a fortune to replace all of the extra hoses. I like haveing the control myself.

 

[Hit the Road Jack]

All it takes is one incident to make ABS worthwhile! I've had mine activate even when I didn't realize there was a hazardous condition.

I kinda like the logic behind the Linked Braking System (or whatever it's called) on the Gen-2 bikes also.

 

[Toecutter]

Saved my ass just last week. Wet road, person in front of me was cut off. Had to brake hard, the ABS kicked in and I stopped just short of his bumper...theres no doubt in my mind that if i didnt have the ABS I would have slid right into him, or wrecked before I got there.

And what's that worth in dollars?

I once had a front-row seat to watch a BMW 5 Series get stopped in an insanely short distance, when he didn't notice the car in front of him had stopped to yield to the fire engine at a green light. He went from 60 to stopped about 4 inches from the rear of the lead car, after my captain and I had already planned on witnessing a horrific rear-ender. I was sold right then and there.

I'm dismayed that ABS is STILL optional on many vehicles. IMHO, people who base their choice of safety equipment on cost are taking much more risk than I'm comfortable with.

I tested the ABS on my Land Cruiser by hauling ass down a dirt road, then making a simulated panic last-minute right-hander down another dirt road. A non-ABS vehicle would have slid right on by, but the Cruiser performed better than expected.

Since I'm not a professional racer on a track, I'll always specify ABS on any vehicle I purchase in the future, which means I must now wait a while to get a deal on a used KTM.

Any Harley's have ABS yet? Not that I want one or anything....Never mind, a quick search confirmed that they do.

 

[El Gordo]

I was a skeptic at purchase, but after 25,000 km. I'm completely sold on ABS. Go for ABS, yes it just might save your life. I read an article somewhere...skilled riders couldn't beat their own abs stopping distance with same model of bike without abs.

 

[keithaba]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: testing brake performance, when involved in such an enterprise, is a whole lot different than when faced with an emergency maneuver. Racing is not streeting. When testers are involved in such, the mindset is with the program at hand-they know whats going on, and whats expected to happen, a whole lot different than when cruising along the highway, aware of whats around you, but not totally concentrating on emergency maneuvers to come. This is where ABS shines-it can save an OH SHIT!!!!!!!!!! moment like almost nothing else. I have ABS, tried to get a bike without, but not sorry I failed in that. While I haven't had occasion to test it out in a true emergency, I have seen where having it would have probably saved a couple situations I've been very close to. I have banged the rear a number of times when braking hard and downshifting as in a fast corner approach-it's a nice reminder that I'm at the limit of rear tire adhesion, a real side benefit of the system. I know that, where I'm comfortable in a car without it, it makes a lot of sense on a big fast bike like the Feej. Anything that can help maintain rider control, as long as it isn't intrusive (traction control, for one) is a plus in my book.

GUNNY!!!!

Aside from the oh-shit moments, the reminder that you get when you get on the rear brake is something that I really like. I had a tendency to drag my rear tire on my honda 919.

 

[Flyguy]

Would not use them on the track or be without them off.

 

[Lancaster]

Can't imagine riding without ABS anymore. Sure helps to diffuse tense road situations.

 

[Ignacio]

Haven't used front ABS yet, but like to know it's there. And use the rear a bunch of times as it's like deploying a drogue parachute to not dip the nose when at FJR Nominal speeds in the middle of nowhere when the V1 goes spastic. ....and guess a couple of other times when something was in my way.

 

[cota95]

Didn't have them on my 04' but have them now on my 06'. I like the feel of the ABS, especially on the rear, and wouldn't want to be without them again.

 

[bikerskier]

IMO, unless you are a professional rider, you cannot come close to using regular brakes as effectively as the ABS system and keep your bike upright or out of a crash. I would put ABS on any street bike I ever ride in the future.

PS: I do have ABS on my '05.

 

[djsmith1000]

For all the reasons mentioned above, ABS is good. Have used it on the rear as mentioned above, but not on the front. Only takes once to make it worth having.

 

[extrememarine]

I've got an '04 ABS, 1st bike with ABS. I also have a '02 H-D FXSTB softail (no abs, brakes are now considered marginal at best compared to the FJR). For commuting, especially in less than ideal conditions (re: rain), ABS is worth every penny. Keeps the rear in line during moderate to heavy braking that would normally have it walking left & right. In panic stops, it can't be beat, IMHO. I definitely would/will have another ABS bike.

my .02 cents...

 

[ZZR12]

On a bike where ABS is available, I say, yeah get it. But it isn't a deal-breaker for me: I bought my ZX-14 without much care about the lack of ABS. However, if it were available with ABS, as it is in Europe, I probably would have gotten it.

I think there is a pretty narrow set of operational conditions under which ABS will do you any good, but why not give yourself every advantage that you can get your hands on? I certainly don't think ABS does any harm...

 

[Dan23]

I wouldn't want to be on a bike as heavy as the FJR without ABS. Particularly the rear brake.

Now we're getting to the point: any motorcycle that is 200 pounds heavier than it should be should have ABS, especially on the rear.

BMW introduced ABS in what, 1985?, and Yamaha copied it in the late '00's or so. Motorcycle deaths and injuries have increased as ABS has become standard.

The insurance industry gave 10% discounts to autos with ABS when ABS first appeared, but dropped the discount when there was absolutely NO difference in the accident rates for ABS equipped cars.

I'm glad my FJR has ABS since it's so overweight and with shaft drive I can ride it in wet weather when ABS is good to have.

 

[mdisher]

Oh hell yeah...

While the FJR brakes are plenty good w/o, it's certainly a good thing. Drew commented about using his recently, and I believe he was behind me at EOM when I got to exercise mine.

I absolutely, positively knew I wasn't going to stop in time and was picking out my place to crash, when low and behold, I was stopped.

I hadn't practiced as many panic stop maneuvers as I should have, and certainly not under the conditions in which we were riding.

+1 to an ABS Save.

 

[twowheelnut]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: testing brake performance, when involved in such an enterprise, is a whole lot different than when faced with an emergency maneuver. Racing is not streeting. When testers are involved in such, the mindset is with the program at hand-they know whats going on, and whats expected to happen, a whole lot different than when cruising along the highway, aware of whats around you, but not totally concentrating on emergency maneuvers to come. This is where ABS shines-it can save an OH SHIT!!!!!!!!!! moment like almost nothing else. I have ABS, tried to get a bike without, but not sorry I failed in that. While I haven't had occasion to test it out in a true emergency, I have seen where having it would have probably saved a couple situations I've been very close to. I have banged the rear a number of times when braking hard and downshifting as in a fast corner approach-it's a nice reminder that I'm at the limit of rear tire adhesion, a real side benefit of the system. I know that, where I'm comfortable in a car without it, it makes a lot of sense on a big fast bike like the Feej. Anything that can help maintain rider control, as long as it isn't intrusive (traction control, for one) is a plus in my book.

GUNNY2!

On my way home from Sunday's ride, I pulled off in the turn-out where I had my recent crash. Skid mark is still there in places. As I reflected upon the incident and noting the laser straight skid, I concluded that had my bike been equipped with ABS instead of Dumb-Ass, I may well have saved it and made the turn.

My Wee has ABS and that system doth truly rocketh!