elvisncheese
Registered user
I'm definitely against ABS. I also think you should walk everywhere barefoot because we should be able to feel the pavement with our toes and slalom adroitly through the turds and broken glass. 
Is ABS a dealbreaker on this one?
- Thread starter Boatfip
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Maybe Luddite would be more appropriate than Arkwright given the history of the name
the last thing an airhead needs is anti lock brakes.
Maybe Luddite would be more appropriate than Arkwright given the history of the name
I've been unemployed for a while and would interested in the position of walking in front with the red flag if it becomes available.
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That is without a doubt so true!
I'm not really a Luddite, I embrace a lot of new technology as long as it's reliable and beneficial, I not convinced that ABS, particularly on bikes is either. There is a 1200RT today whose ABS has failed, complete with servo brakes and is being removed as it is an uneconomic repair, but a long way from a straightforward job to sort the electrical implications! This technology is fine on newish bikes that are still under some form of warranty, the 1200RT is an '05 model and therefore well out of that.
Blind Lemon Ade
Registered user
(ABS on an F650GS twin...)
I've just got the Haynes manual for it, with a view to servicing it myself.
Under "Brakes" it says something like (and I paraphrase liberally): If you take the brake system apart, or change the fluid, then you MUST reset the on-board computer using the BMW diagnostic tool before riding. Don't even think about riding it to a Dealer, take it in a van.
So there's a nice tie-in to Dealer servicing at least every 2 years, when the fluid should be replaced. Or, is there a way round it? Can independent or amateur mechanics get hold of the BMW diagnostic thingummy, or the equivalent on a laptop?
Anybody know?
And, of course, the salesman told me at purchase time, "Oh, you must have ABS, it'll hold its value so much better..." Hmmm...
I've just got the Haynes manual for it, with a view to servicing it myself.
Under "Brakes" it says something like (and I paraphrase liberally): If you take the brake system apart, or change the fluid, then you MUST reset the on-board computer using the BMW diagnostic tool before riding. Don't even think about riding it to a Dealer, take it in a van.
So there's a nice tie-in to Dealer servicing at least every 2 years, when the fluid should be replaced. Or, is there a way round it? Can independent or amateur mechanics get hold of the BMW diagnostic thingummy, or the equivalent on a laptop?
Anybody know?
And, of course, the salesman told me at purchase time, "Oh, you must have ABS, it'll hold its value so much better..." Hmmm...
AberdeenAngus
Registered user
GS911 ?
Well, I looked for a non dynamic pack 1200 by choice & had no bother part exchanging my old non ABS GS .... so everyone was happy! 
The only time I ever wish for ABS is in icy conditions or shitty dark nights, even though ABS would not save me in either circumstances, unless braking at the time.
If ABS was standard I would accept it, but while it's a £1500 dynamic pack option ... I will avoid it thanks!
The only time I ever wish for ABS is in icy conditions or shitty dark nights, even though ABS would not save me in either circumstances, unless braking at the time.
If ABS was standard I would accept it, but while it's a £1500 dynamic pack option ... I will avoid it thanks!
Time Traveller
Registered user
ABS is bollocks off road - no serious off roader would have it..... or on a road with any gravel , lose chippings, any other road crap, mud etc. Wait! that sounds like the back roads I ride!
why? because without ABS, the initial lock of the wheel will make it dig through the lose crap and find a surface underneath, then the tyre has something to grip - and this (IMHO) aids the breaking function.
with ABS the wheel just keeps turning - not the ideal braking aid.
Now do you want ABS?
Stopping distances can be significantly less without ABS. Just learn to feel the road and learn how to brake - spent that extra grand on a day course.
why? because without ABS, the initial lock of the wheel will make it dig through the lose crap and find a surface underneath, then the tyre has something to grip - and this (IMHO) aids the breaking function.
with ABS the wheel just keeps turning - not the ideal braking aid.
Now do you want ABS?
Stopping distances can be significantly less without ABS. Just learn to feel the road and learn how to brake - spent that extra grand on a day course.
ABS is bollocks off road - no serious off roader would have it..... or on a road with any gravel , lose chippings, any other road crap, mud etc. Wait! that sounds like the back roads I ride!
why? because without ABS, the initial lock of the wheel will make it dig through the lose crap and find a surface underneath, then the tyre has something to grip - and this (IMHO) aids the breaking function.
with ABS the wheel just keeps turning - not the ideal braking aid.
Now do you want ABS?
Stopping distances can be significantly less without ABS. Just learn to feel the road and learn how to brake - spent that extra grand on a day course.
You forget one of the prime functions of ABS .... the ability to steer under severe braking.
Whilst you "gods of the road" may reduce your braking distance by 6", we, the pond life who shouldn't be allowed on the road due to our lack of skill, will just steer around the obstruction!
The other reason you brainless twats can stop quicker than with ABS is that you get more grip on tarmac due the extra weight of those enormous egos that you carry with you.
Can't be pestered to find post, but one of the ego crowd stated that you shouldn't panic and just apply the brakes progressively ...... Stupid fuckwit!
Don't panic? You on the cast of Dad's Army?
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Maybe decent Observation, is more use on a bike than ABS
I'd never have another bike with ABS, by choice..............if at all possible
Deleted account 211025001
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ABS is bollocks off road - no serious off roader would have it..... or on a road with any gravel , lose chippings, any other road crap, mud etc. Wait! that sounds like the back roads I ride!
why? because without ABS, the initial lock of the wheel will make it dig through the lose crap and find a surface underneath, then the tyre has something to grip - and this (IMHO) aids the breaking function.
with ABS the wheel just keeps turning - not the ideal braking aid.
Now do you want ABS?
Stopping distances can be significantly less without ABS. Just learn to feel the road and learn how to brake - spent that extra grand on a day course.
And there was me thinking that on the GS you can turn the ABS off for that very reason
FWIW I've had my ABS GS for 7 years now and it has, on one occasion, done its job and saved me from a serious accident in that time.
None of my other bikes have ABS and it has never been a consideration to me when buying a bike whether or not it has ABS.
Andres
Which is of course the best practice for self preservation but don't expect that to work every time! There are motorcyclists out there that just can't be seen by some multi-wheelers, even at a range of 20', despite having lights, viz ,
Which is of course the best practice for self preservation but don't expect that to work every time! There are motorcyclists out there that just can't be seen by some multi-wheelers, even at a range of 20', despite having lights, viz ,
Well, if that's the case
I'll rely on my own observation and anticipation, to avoid drivers like that then - instead of them doing it
that's it, in a nutshell.
you don't actually need to be a riding god. experience is probably more useful.
You don't know who those drivers are that will pull out in front and then stop halfway across, leaving you few places to go, as they sadly don't have door magnets advertising 'I will pull out just before you reach me...watch!'
Deleted account 211025001
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True............but..........if you've observed correctly and anticiapated what may happen you will have adjusted your speed, given yourself an escape route or done whatever was necessary to make sure that 'if' said driver acted the goat you wouldn't hit them.
Andres
Time Traveller
Registered user
Hmmm. Did I?
Problem I have is that I don't know what road conditions are around the next bend, let alone for an entire journey, and not having brakes just when I need them because they refuse to lock as I slide on lose stones.
Just think how many steep hill roads have got loads of tooot at the bottom because of the recent rain...and I'm in Essex.
Anyway, I was discussing A reason why ABS doesn't work in certain (many, if you ride the little back lanes that I do) conditions. And it is not the panacea that the marketing peeps would have you believe.
Nothing to do with being a God...though you can pay me your tithes if you wish
Just learn / get experienced to brake properly and you will beat the ABS. - go and do RoSPA or IAM or something - its more a case of technique rather than "special ability". Certainly wouldn't make anyone worse.I had ABS on my KTM990 Adventure - the only time it ever kicked in was on lose surfaces, where it was a total pain in the arse. I wouldn't have ABS again from choice.
Sorry but I do not believe for one minute that every T-boner that ever occurred is/was partially down to the rider not fully concentrating and anticipating the possible scenarios.
There will always be the incident where, no matter how much awareness the rider applies, he/she can still be taken out, or at least put into a position of having to take emergency action. Escape routes aren't always available and this can be down to numerous circumstances - one such circumstance 'could' be the lack of ABS.
Nobody rides/drives with 100% concentration 100% of the time and the best riders in the world can fall. The armchair theories are the first steps to complacency.
A child can run out between parked vehicles with no pre-warning whatsoever and nobody with locked wheels will ever steer around that child, and before you say it, people do not ride bikes in built up areas permanently anticipating the gap between every single parked car they approach. If they did then there would be no speeding tickets for riders in 30/40mph areas and bikes would create tailbacks. With a potential impact distance of 30' at 30mph you will not avoid that child with a locked wheel.
ABS is not there to assist braking, it is to assist the control and avoidance of an accident in emergency situations. In short, it takes over where human instinct is lacking, or at least that is what it was designed to do.
It may be that you have never been in a situation of requiring assistance in an emergency and so feel comfortable that your own theories and reactions will always keep you shiny side up - but then not all situations are the same are they?
Blind Lemon Ade
Registered user
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