To ABS or Not ABS

[CaptainSlow]

Incredible how many people who don't understand what AS does, particularly those who think it's macho not to have it.

Agree. My first bikes in the 1970s had SLS drum brakes so it good it was better to drag your feet, so I learnt to ride without using the brakes much at all. In the 1980s & 90s I had bikes with disc brakes that wouldn't work in the wet.

Coming back to bikes three years ago I opted for ABS on the 650 Bandit I bought, because it was there and I had had three cars with ABS. Although I only set it off once in a car I never drove thinking "I can drive without thinking 'cos I've got ABS" - it's just a further safety factor that's there if you need it, like an airbag or helmet etc.

The Bandit's ABS only activated once, on a dry road in Central London whilst avoiding a lane hopping white van. The noise scared me a bit but less than falling off in heavy traffic would have.

My '09 GS has it and I wouldn't be without it as I wouldn't be without armoured riding gear - it's there if you need it. I don't think about it at all, like I don't think about the traction control etc. The brakes are good as I once instinctively applied them very hard to avoid a lane hopping car in Newport IOW and the bike stopped dead - yes dead. Never ever seen that on a bike before.

If you don't like it you can turn it off anyway, but that's a bit like not wearing a seatbelt or a helmet. One day you'll need them and then you'll look a bit of a mess...

 

[its all poo]

ABS works for mortal people !

last night I was riding my servo abs (brakes now working !) K1200LT with a confirmed I dont like need ABS servo friend on the back. So on a cobbled wet street I just yanked on the braked as hard as I could and we ABSed to a controlled stop. He was quite impressed and said along the lines of you Bustard that was fricken good ! I then rode around the corner onto tarmac still wet and slippy and did it again this time the tyres held and we came to a stunning, very quick controlled halt. Except for him banging into the back of me. His words were bloody hell there is no way I would have thought that was possible there is no way he would have ever thought we could stop that quick and controlled. ABS can and does save lives, its saved mine more than once ! (by the way I brake like a mortal not like a race god many of which I have met and read about!)
If I had a loved one on the back or riding a bike I would want them to have ABS.