ABS for Motorcycles

[Crynryan]

Do you feel that ABS is an essential safety feature when considering a purchase?:ride

 

[Squidfield]

Without a doubt, NO! Personally I wish motorcycles were more unforgiving, the continued pussification of bikes with ABS, traction control, etc is somewhat annoying to me. Dont get me wrong, safer is better. But safer riders trump all. I want motorcycles really scare people when they get on them, then maybe more people will show some respect where respect is due.

 

[jraice]

Not necessarily as I am riding from a sportier standpoint. For touring or especially commuting in all year weather conditions ABS may be a necessary safety feature.

 

[sixtytwo]

Well, it's been shown time and time again that over almost every conceivable surface, ABS beats no ABS.

However, it's no substitute for proper training, attentiveness, and judgement. If you end up buying a bike with ABS, don't let it lure you into a false sense of security.

 

[Gragorin]

For me, if it's offered on the bike I'll get it and it makes a large factor on bikes I'm looking at for a more commuting / touring aspect. It's not as an important requirement for a weekend carver but if the option is there, I will get it..

 

[plumber]

OH NO not this again.:shocker

 

[QuaiChangKane]

1. SEARCH is your friend, especiall on repetitive and devisive topics as this one. Are you sure you didn't want to ask about everyone's opinion on motor oil??

2. ABS brakes serve absolutely NO PURPOSE on streetbikes. Because, as everyone knows, skill trumps all - and skilled riders NEVER crash....

:facepalm

 

[islemann]

Since I'm a Certified Cheap Fscker - (I don't buy new motorcycles) - I don't look for ABS on the bikes I buy. If I'm going upmarket, then it becomes one of those - "Gee, that bike was offered with ABS, I think I'll focus my search on finding one that had it".

For the everyday rider / commuter / all weather rider I heartily suggest ABS if it was offered on the motorcycle you're interested in. Keep in mind, linked brakes and linked ABS systems may be less beneficial than a straight non-linked ABS setup.

 

[Cereal KLR]

Like the ABS or not, its getting better and more user friendly/invisible. The May issue of Cycle World has an article about the Honda CBR600RR-ABS. They write it in a positive note. About $1000.00 more as an option. Front page screams best brakes ever!

 

[Grease_Monkey]

Like the ABS or not, its getting better and more user friendly/invisible. The May issue of Cycle World has an article about the Honda CBR600RR-ABS. They write it in a positive note. About $1000.00 more as an option. Front page screams best brakes ever!

I dont like the fact that Honda's ABS system is Complete Fly by wire. When you pull the brake lever, you are telling a computer to apply the brakes.

Don't get me wrong the Technology is great, I don't like Automatic or Flappy Paddle Transmission, for the same reasons I don't like ABS, I want to be in complete control.

Well, it's been shown time and time again that over almost every conceivable surface, ABS beats no ABS.

Wrong. A person properly modulating the brake pedal keeping them on the verge of Lock Up, can out brake ABS in dry conditions. (threshold braking).

 

[Dove]

:facepalm

 

[afm199]

I think that ABS is vastly over rated. I prefer PVC brakes myself.

 

[plumber]

I think that ABS is vastly over rated. I prefer PVC brakes myself.

PVC is old school. THHN can handle the heat better.

 

[GAJ]

Check the bike specific forums on any ABS bike you are considering for any "issues."

Most ABS systems seem to work great in all conditions, others (a minority) can be fooled by bumps. I had a bike whose ABS was "fooled" by bumps in the dry resulting in adding two bike lengths to the expected stopping distance so I traded it in for the non ABS version which I have now.

The new Honda system seems to be the best ABS system thus far.

 

[boney]

opcorn

Edit:

AAAAHHH! I cant' resist.

Do you feel that ABS is an essential safety feature when considering a purchase?

I feel that if you're buying a bike to ride everyday, in whatever conditions may arise, regardless of the weather, then yes, ABS is something you should consider.

However, if you're just going to buy something to play on the weekends when the weather is nice and go squidly on 9, or ride a bunch of track days, or lots of dirt roads, then no, you probably shoudn't consider it.

 

[megaspaz]

Wrong. A person properly modulating the brake pedal keeping them on the verge of Lock Up, can out brake ABS in dry conditions. (threshold braking).

I'm assuming you mean properly braking on both an ABS and non ABS bike. There's another ABS thread on here where someone said the same thing, but I'm not sure how accurate that is or if the difference in stopping distance between an ABS and non ABS bike, with the brakes applied properly, is that significant... Although there are corner case situations where it could be significant. In a situation where you do lock up your wheels, everything I've seen shows ABS out performing non ABS bikes.

On another note, the ABS on my SV can get fooled on speed bumps... :-/

 

[afm199]

To tell the truth, moto accidents have zip to do with ABS or non ABS brakes. When someone turns left in front of you at 40 mph ABS does not make a bit of difference, you hit them anyway. I doubt ABS has had that much real effect on moto injury and death stats. Guys crash because of car drivers being morons and because they ride over their heads. And over their heads for some riders means they got on a motorcycle in the first place.

So by all means, go for the ABS, I'd love to have it on a touring bike but don't really care that much. It's just one more thing that might keep Dr. Death from paying a visit. It's not going to increase your chances so much that you need to go out right now and buy a bike with it. Really.

As far as the braking distance arguments, in the close to forty crashes I have had, none of them would have been prevented by ABS, as far as I can remember.

 

[Grease_Monkey]

Sure it is a good safety device, and give unskilled riders more room for error. But, ABS on a bike takes all the skill out of braking. Racing, it is not needed, but everyday riding, especially wet weather for newbies, its a great idea. But unfortunately it can be used as a crutch and mask ones lack of abilities and give a false sense of security

 

[megaspaz]

To tell the truth, moto accidents have zip to do with ABS or non ABS brakes. When someone turns left in front of you at 40 mph ABS does not make a bit of difference, you hit them anyway. I doubt ABS has had that much real effect on moto injury and death stats. Guys crash because of car drivers being morons and because they ride over their heads. And over their heads for some riders means they got on a motorcycle in the first place.

So by all means, go for the ABS, I'd love to have it on a touring bike but don't really care that much. It's just one more thing that might keep Dr. Death from paying a visit. It's not going to increase your chances so much that you need to go out right now and buy a bike with it. Really.

As far as the braking distance arguments, in the close to forty crashes I have had, none of them would have been prevented by ABS, as far as I can remember.

Sure it is a good safety device, and give unskilled riders more room for error. But, ABS on a bike takes all the skill out of braking. Racing, it is not needed, but everyday riding, especially wet weather for newbies, its a great idea. But unfortunately it can be used as a crutch and mask ones lack of abilities and give a false sense of security

Yeh. I can't disagree with anything said so far. Although, is it ABS or the rider that makes the crutch? ABS, in and of itself, doesn't make it impossible to develop braking skill as you can practice that with or without ABS. Although, I can see a false assumption of some riders with ABS thinking it will save their bacon everytime and not developing proper braking skills...

 

[serazin]

ABS? What's that?

Some sort of overblown sales gimmick?

:laughing

Seriously, I think it is great but I can see how a rider who gets too dependent on it could find their butt in a world of hurt if it stopped working at an inopportune time.