Keith Chapman said:
I can cadance brake if I need to.
Nothing wrong with cadence-baking, but when the sh*t and the fan meet on a greasy road at night and the drunk that stepped off the kerb is staring in your lights, then ABS is my idea of a good buy.
When I bought mine I chose ABS against a similar bike that didn't have it. I have no idea if it ever comes on, and haven't noticed any bells and whistles once I pull away and the lights go off.
I have braked heavily on numerous occasions in my daily progress through parts of London between the Blackwall Tunnel and Islington as pedestrians appear in front of my from behind buses and trucks etc. Dalston and Hackney must have the monopoly of w*nkers that walk in the road without looking!
I do ride with the idea that it may happen, but it can still need a slam-on and I like the idea that the ABS might stop my arse and the ground coming into contact, especially on the MX style roads, gravel and crap that accumulates as they don't employ road sweepers, and the wet.
I have heard that having the comfort zone of ABS that riders become more aggressive, but I think this is a reaction from the Top Gear small-dick viewers, like Clarkson, and is mainly car dirvers not bikers.
In this week's MCN there's a myths and legends piece and they make the assertion, or rather Phil McCallen makes the assertion, that only new or inexpereinced riders need it. But even at 125 mph round the IOM he never had some dopey tart pushing her brat step out between two buses right in front of him to contend with on a daily basis?