ABS.....is going to kill me.

[Dickieboy]

We'll have to disagree Michael.. as ever..

BUT: ABS will stop you in the shortest possible distance in an emergency.

ABS is just an automated system of cadence braking and not a particularly efficient system either, with practice it's possible to beat it, in a car it's pretty easy to. The only problem with that though is in an 'Oh f**k' type of emergency will you perform the same.

 

[jtw000]

Some prick changed lanes on me this evening and I had to slam on the anchors and steer away from him. The ABS did its thing and the bike stopped nice and easy with no additional fuss. I hate ABS and had it turned off all afternoon but was just nipping out for a visit to the shop and didn't turn it off. I hate the way it skips about but and I do think the bike would have stopped just as easily without ABS but it did its thing and I'm here to talk about it....

 

[original_concept]

How do you permanently disable the ABS....

Has anyone found that under heavy breaking, you are all under control giving the lever the correct amount of squeeze for slowing up, wether that's pulling up behind traffic or in a bend...you hit a small bump, then it's like the breaks fail and and you suddenly have to grab them hard and it's like they don't work at all.....anyone esle had this, I disabled the ABS and went back and hit the breaks over speed bumps (to test)....no probs, plenty of feel etc.

It's happened a few times as i am bearing down on slow moving traffic.....throws your judgement and timing right out....blind panic sets in as you pull everything.

it's going to catch me out one day.

Is this on a F800GS?

If so, this is a common (since 2006) complaint about the ABS used on the F800 series; it is not the same as the ABS system used on R1200s, so do not compare them.

Check out the F800riders.org forum for further information, but there is no fix.

Recommendations include softening up the rear suspension to not using the rear brake. I've experienced the ABS 'release' three times on a F800 bike in dry emergency conditions which were the scariest moments I've ever had on a bike [1] and I'd rode 200K miles on BMW and Honda ABS equipped bikes prior to the F800 without ever having a similar incident.

I like the F800 bikes, but the ABS system is not IMHO up to the job. BMW's view will differ.

[1] apart from the 'famous' F800 cutout; once in the dry, how I wasn't highsided I'll never know (oh, yeah I know, coz I didn't panic and brake!) and once in the wet, causing a big slide which was preferable.

 

[tastiehastie]

Is this on a F800GS?
e.

Indeed it is...and it goes exactly how you describe it, I'm not against ABS....This just doesn't feel right..

 

[divelandy]

You guys are making me feel like an old dodderer - probably not ragging it enough and missing out on the "will i break and stop in my 1ft safety zone" moments. I've not knowingly had the ABS enguage - and it sounds like i would notice - you must be spending too much time on the breaks

 

[GS Biker]

I guess like anything, ABS has pros and cons. For me, this system is just fine, can honestly say that it has saved my bacon a couple times. It does go a bit wonky over the bumps but it has done its job on other occasions. +1 for ABS.

 

[Blobby]

You guys are making me feel like an old dodderer - probably not ragging it enough and missing out on the "will i break and stop in my 1ft safety zone" moments. I've not knowingly had the ABS enguage - and it sounds like i would notice - you must be spending too much time on the breaks

It's worth experimenting with under controlled conditions so in the event that you have to use it in anger, it doesn't come as a big surprise. Find a nice quiet tarmac road, ride in straight line and stick the rear brake on hard and it will kick in very quickly with a slight juddering (and not much braking effect). Do it at low speed first time, say 20mph, then try it faster. Then do the same with the front brake but apply gradually as the braking force required for it to kick in is quite strong and you have to brace yourself against it a bit. The forks will just about fully compress before it kicks in but again, you will feel the judder and it may lock the front wheel for a fraction of a second but it will bring you to a very quick stop - it's quite impressive really. I tend to play with the ABS on most outings just for amusement to see how it works on different surfaces.

 

[Myke Rocks]

You guys are making me feel like an old dodderer - probably not ragging it enough and missing out on the "will i break and stop in my 1ft safety zone" moments. I've not knowingly had the ABS enguage - and it sounds like i would notice - you must be spending too much time on the breaks

To explain the differnce:
I have been saved from several near misses by ABS. Unfortuately, I was too busy filling my trousers to pay attention to the cadences described.
However, I have, in straight line, dry, at circa 40mph, intentionally triggered it.
The cycling cadence speed is incredible. A massive shudder from the front of my 1200, and the bke appears to stop Dead.

The description you are getting here of the 800 is a different scenario, similar to my smart fortwo.

You are on a dry, straight stretch of road, coming downhill to a T junction at which you must stop.
Speed at start, circa 30 mph. Gentle braking is required.
You apply brakes. ABS instantly disables them, but instead of reapplying them, keeps them off.
Apply maximum braking pressure. Eventually they come in sort of, and you grind to a brown trouser halt in the middle of the stop junction.
The problem is, you know that without the ABS, if you had applied maximum braking pressure, you would have stopped 15 or more metres before the junction.

As someone who is fanatical about ABS on bikes, and would not buy or ride a bike without it, I know that, occasionally, a manufacturer gets it wrong.
When someone has had this experience, it would be very difficult to persuade such a person to order a bike with ABS again.
Myke

 

[Ducksbane]

If you think the ABS on the F800GS is a problem you should try an R1100GS with ABS. I now have the 800 and I think it does a pretty good job. I don't even turn it off on gravel unless there is a steep, corrugated, loose downhill. Riding the 1100 taught me how to ride like you don't have ABS and prevent the ABS coming on if you don't want to ... think cadence braking. Panic usually overrides this skill however!

My major complaint is that the rear with ABS is a bit "wooden" and lacks feel, but I don't use the rear brake on the road very much anyway. I like the "security" that ABS gives you on the road, especially in the wet.