ABS OR NO ABS...that is the question....

[TheJoker]

Just read all thr stuff about ABS and wondered why you are better switching it off when you go off road. surely if you are slipping on mud etc having ABS helps?

In theory yes, but in practise no - if there's reasonable grip, then it's good. However, you might find yourself in a situation where you've go so low grip that the ABS decides that whenever it applies the brakes, it'll have to release them again - in practice this will have you doing silly stopping distances - and this is where locking up the wheel would stop the bike faster - probably by digging down deep into the dirt.

Blah blah blah

 

[SQD8R]

To me the more brakes the better. Those test they do where ABS v rider skill doesn't account for the unexpected. What I mean is that the rider knows when they are going to start stopping. In a real world emergency situation you don't have that luxury. If it had been an option I would not have bought it sincei t was $1,500 more. But having had it now on my bike I'm glad I do have it.

 

[Clive]

Just read all thr stuff about ABS and wondered why you are better switching it off when you go off road. surely if you are slipping on mud etc having ABS helps?

In my limited experience on wet muddy hills - the ABS on can mean you get no braking effect at all - without the ABS on even with the wheel locked and going sideways - it slows you down a bit

 

[Spout]

Just read all thr stuff about ABS and wondered why you are better switching it off when you go off road. surely if you are slipping on mud etc having ABS helps?

The unevenness of off road ground means that the wheel will be in 'mid air' momentarily between stones/rocks etc. So on rocky descents the ABS is operating all the time = no braking. This is SCARY Without ABS the wheel 'locks' between each bump but is easily forced into motion again by recontact with the ground and can slow the bike down. (Sort of artificial locking).
Mud isn't too bad, but braking distances are increased as the tyre can't 'dig in' as it can when it's locked (or near to).

 

[njgt]

Ah that makes sense. I did some off roading when CCM ran thier Off Road School. Used to scare the s**t out of me when the wheel locked up and slid but at least it did slow you down a bit.