How Valuable can ABS be??

dangerdan

Interesting read in the Self Help about ABS brakes

ABS Brake Information - Harley Davidson Community

09ultra

I think if you are a pro rider you may be able to match or even out perform the ABS. But for the vast majority of us riders that are not a pro rider ( I mean a real pro) ABS IMO is a great deal. I love them on my bike and know that even after 30+ yrs of riding, I can stop safer and quicker with them. Ride safe.

biglew55

My argument for the detractors is this:

If I use proper braking technique, my ABS should never kick in anyway. It should only kick in when I need it. I can't think of a single instance when I would prefer to a tire slide as to not, except if I am horsing around.

If I find a negative issue with ABS, I'll be the first to scream, but I've had it for 15 years in my trucks, and the above applies to this as well.

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glider

Check on the stopping distances between ABS and standard brakes. You may be surprised even though the ABS does it a bit more controlled.

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biglew55

But aren't the tests done ensuring activation of the ABS?

Stopping Distances With ABS - Harley Davidson Community

How do ABS equipped bikes stop if you use proper technique? I suspect the 5% would disappear, IMO.

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glider

Under slippery surfaces they work as intended but under other circumstances it can actually take longer to stop than regular brakes.

Take a look at that link again.

Stopping Distances With ABS - Harley Davidson Community

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biglew55

I still don't see where it says an ABS equipped bike, while not engaging ABS was tested against non-ABS equipped machines.

My point is that dry testing was done in a manner that the tester was required to overbrake in order to activate the ABS, not brake in order to stop in the safest manner possible. If ABS is ACTIVATED, it stands to reason that it would require a longer distance to stop when comapred to a comparable non-ABS machine, regardless of the surface, due to the nature of hte pulses. I didn't read anywhere in the test where it states that an ABS system on a motorcycle increases breaking distances if the system doesn't activate.

Maybe I missed it (again)?

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Drew

A big part of my gettinga an '09 FLHRC instead of an FLSTC is due to ABS option for The King... Oh, and also because I like the bike better

The Associated Press: Study: Antilocks trim fatal motorcycle crashes

I had a business school professor who once said: "if you torture a statistic long enough, you can get it to say whatever you want." So I always read "scientific" studies with skepticism, and know that data can be massaged in a way to further someone's agenda. People will always argue about the merits of various safety features (e.g. helmets). Fact of the matter is, there are always exceptions to the rule, and always that one time, where going against consensus would have resulted in a better outcome.

As for me, I choose to go with the overwhelming likelihood or probability of an event happening (to the extent these studies have convinced me that they are objective and true). RE:ABS, I feel there is a much higher probability of them helping ME than hurting (same reason I wear a FF helmet). In blackjack, you may hit a hard 18 and pull a 3. Good for you! But I'd like to see your success rate utilizing that strategy over time (however, you may be in the top .002% card counters in the world, in which case you would have an edge in this regard. And while others at the table may think you are crazy, or even dumb, you are in fact in control). Is this making any sense? I feel like I've gone on a tangent... ah well.

We're all adults, we can make our own decisions as to what makes sense for us, and respect others' who think differently.

respectfully,
Drew

Sharky1948

My view is that while it is true that on dry pavement, a non-ABS bike can stop shorter than one with ABS, that assumes that you brake perfectly on a non-ABS bike. The problem is that in situations where ABS is likely to come into play, it is an emergency/panic stop and it's highly unlikely that one will brake as well as you would in practice or in a more relaxed setting. ABS doesn't care if you're braking nearly perfectly or just frantically hitting the skids. Practicality wins over theory on this one IMHO.

BTW, on Sunday I saw baggers smoke tires while stopping on two separate occasions in the group I was riding with. And, they were both good riders.

I'll keep my ABS!

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glider

Let me see if I can explain this properly.

Under certain conditions like for example if the rear tire goes over a tar snake or something similar and momentarily lost traction and you were braking to avoid an accident or a stopped vehicle ahead of you, the front brake will also momentarily not give you full or reduced braking and you become a trunk ornament.

It's a one in many chances of this happening but how would you feel if you were in this situation and grabbed a handful of brake and there was nothing there?

I'll stay with the non ABS bikes myself.

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