coolhands
Registered user
if so, what's it like, with normal street / road driving? Any good? (have you tried it?) Would you recommend going for it if you had a choice, or not? (thinking of xchallenge here mainly)
Any of your's got abs fitted?
- Thread starter coolhands
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barrym
Registered user
I've had numerous bikes with ABS. On the F/G650s why would you not have it? Other than the cost if buying new. I figure that I need all the help I can get if having to brake in an emergency, so I'd go for it every time if it were available. That said, I wouldn't turn away from a bike that didn't have it. If I bought it and never used it that would be great. The only time I was aware of it was on a CS when I braked on some loose gravel whilst filtering past some cars. It wasn't a drama, I hardly new it had kicked in, but it might have been a different story if it weren't there.
HTH
HTH
My XC has ABS. I have some road miles to do before I get off road and as any normal bike I am grateful I had it. It is easy to switch off once off road. If majority of use is off road then maybe no need but the XC is a great dual purpose bike so yes. I hope this helps. Hugo
CaptainSlow
Registered user
Had a Bandit GSF650 K6 with ABS and I only had one experience of it coming on in central London when it stopped me coming off when I nearly did a "stoppie" to avoid a lane changing white van man. Made a lot of noise but kept the bike upright and going in a straight line.
My '09 GS has whatever servo-assisted partially integrated system that it comes with and the brakes are sooo goood! If you don't like it you can turn it off anyway.
My '09 GS has whatever servo-assisted partially integrated system that it comes with and the brakes are sooo goood! If you don't like it you can turn it off anyway.
Nah, don't bother on a XChallenge.................not worth it
Peculiar to the airshock on the XC, when you brake hard on the road this loads up the front and shifts the weight forwards and the shock extends (no spring).
This takes the weight off the rear wheel and renders the rear brake totally useless on the road...............90% of the time
I've done plenty of emergency type stops and the non ABS bike pulls up fine (just forget about using the brake, unless your bum is sat on the rear rack)
With ABS, this would just increase the braking length, because the rear brake is completely ineffective
Forget what others are saying on other types of bike with ABS, they are not XChallenges and their bike's supension works in a completely different way and therefore their comparisons are not accurate
Peculiar to the airshock on the XC, when you brake hard on the road this loads up the front and shifts the weight forwards and the shock extends (no spring).
This takes the weight off the rear wheel and renders the rear brake totally useless on the road...............90% of the time
I've done plenty of emergency type stops and the non ABS bike pulls up fine (just forget about using the brake, unless your bum is sat on the rear rack)
With ABS, this would just increase the braking length, because the rear brake is completely ineffective
Forget what others are saying on other types of bike with ABS, they are not XChallenges and their bike's supension works in a completely different way and therefore their comparisons are not accurate
barrym
Registered user
I appreciate your knowledge on the subject is one of experience, however BMW do fit it and I would optimistically assume that it would improve and not detract from braking performance.
It is a fact of course that ABS will only ever lengthen stopping distance over well applied non-ABS brakes, but will help keep you upright in the event that a (front) wheel locks up on a poor surface.
MikeMike
Registered user
Came as a package with my bike.
Never thought I would need ABS (or heated handgrips in the tropics but lo and behold for mountain rides they are the cats asz).
I can honestly say I had my doubts until it saved me from t-boning a pick up that pulled in front of me as I can honestly say I wouldn't have been able to stop in that distance without an uncontrolled slide.
I am now a fan of ABS. I'd say it's worth it.
Never thought I would need ABS (or heated handgrips in the tropics but lo and behold for mountain rides they are the cats asz).
I can honestly say I had my doubts until it saved me from t-boning a pick up that pulled in front of me as I can honestly say I wouldn't have been able to stop in that distance without an uncontrolled slide.
I am now a fan of ABS. I'd say it's worth it.
I specifically ordered my bike with abs and have long since lost count of the times its been used.The rear abs is disconected,I have a hand rear brake(rekluse autoclutch) and the front abs is left on all the time.The vast majority off my mileage on it is off road and countless times off joining road from lane on mud filled knobbly in rain or cold have had the lever chattering and in the rallies have on many occasions I believe stayed upright with the lever pulsing like mad when braking like a loon to avoid running over fallen riders in front.I accept more talent would be beneficial but as an offroad event day drags on fatigue and concentration loss affect even the best of riders and I'll take all the help I can get.
I have way more fun if I'm not anxious.
I have way more fun if I'm not anxious.
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