To ABS or Not to ABS

Message

RhadamYgg · #1 Post by **RhadamYgg** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 5:04 pm

So, as some of you already know I'm looking for a bike. The bikes I look at - many of them offer ABS.

I like ABS in my cars - no question. I can feel it on the pedal - even lately in my cars - Honda Accord and Honda Odyssey.

So, of course, the first choice is to avoid weather conditions that would trigger ABS.

But I think ABS triggers even in dry conditions - and that's my question.

Does ABS trigger and stop wheel locking (front or rear) on motorcycles in any weather condition (including dry) or does it really only work in wet conditions.

Even if there is a chance that ABS would prevent me from doing something stupid - say panic and lock the rear wheel and then let the rear wheel gain traction and high-side. If this can be prevented by having ABS - it is worth it to me.

RhadamYgg

Johnj · #2 Post by **Johnj** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 5:13 pm

#3 Post by **fireguzzi** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 7:24 pm

ABS works regardless of the weather.

JC Viper · #4 Post by **JC Viper** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 8:07 pm

I believe BMW allows you to turn off ABS for its offroading bikes.

Honda's new ABS on its Fireblade (CBR) is garnering a lot of positive feedback from the press in the UK.

ABS works quite well in both the wet and in the dry and if you like to ride in the rain a lot it'll be a godsend (from what I've heard, never got to ride a bike with ABS in the rain).

RhadamYgg · #5 Post by **RhadamYgg** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 4:22 am

fireguzzi wrote:ABS works regardless of the weather.

Yeah, that's what I thought - it depends on wheel speed during braking and if one wheel starts to slip (regardless of source) the system should reduce the braking to that wheel.

So, those problems with being overzealous with brakes can be alleviated with ABS. Most of the time when I see reviews of bikes with ABS - the reviewers just say it was great on wet surfaces.

It just didn't make sense to me.

RhadamYgg

RhadamYgg · #6 Post by **RhadamYgg** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 4:27 am

JC Viper wrote:I believe BMW allows you to turn off ABS for its offroading bikes.

Honda's new ABS on its Fireblade (CBR) is garnering a lot of positive feedback from the press in the UK.

ABS works quite well in both the wet and in the dry and if you like to ride in the rain a lot it'll be a godsend (from what I've heard, never got to ride a bike with ABS in the rain).

I like the Fireblade - it is the bike that House uses on House with the Repsol paint job.

On cars you don't see much of a difference in ABS systems, I'm surprised there is with motorcycles. But then again, I think the differences in bikes is more pronounced than with cars - especially handling characteristics.

RhadamYgg

follow · #7 Post by **follow** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:04 am

If it stops you from being in an accident, isn't worth it?

Have ABS on Honda. It's an option on the ST's.

RhadamYgg · #8 Post by **RhadamYgg** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:21 am

follow wrote:If it stops you from being in an accident, isn't worth it?

Have ABS on Honda. It's an option on the ST's.

Absolutely. At the dealerships they (in general) have been scoffing about the ABS. One guy was like - you don't really need it if you have skill enough to be a good rider.

But to me, even good riders have bad days. If I slop it up on the front brake (which I did once) a little technology to save my butt is worth it.

I was turning in to a Rite Aid parking lot and I was still on the front brake (dummy) as I went up the lip for their driveway. As soon as I hit the lip, the front wheel locked and I came to an abrupt stop.

I was going so slow that I just put my feet down and was a little shocked about the stop. No car behind me (so I didn't get run over) - I looked around - nobody saw it... And I pulled the rest of the way in to the parking lot.

But if I'd been going faster and made a mistake like that - well high-sides as I understand it are never funny - except when that guy tried to fight his speeding ticket and took off and high-sided immediately...

RhadamYgg

RhadamYgg · #9 Post by **RhadamYgg** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:16 am

You know, I'm such a dork. I just looked down a few threads and we already have a good thread on ABS.

Seems like a lot of us would like to have it, with questions as to what it'll actually do in certain circumstances.

Personally, though, I've never lifted the rear wheel in stopping, but that may be because my baby ninja can't do it.

Honestly, though that would probably scare the s*** out of me.

RhadamYgg

follow · #10 Post by **follow** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:20 am

But who's to say how skilled one is. We all make mistakes even in a panick situation a skilled rider may or may not make an error/mistake.

I really dont know too many, actually none....people that have a license that say professional MC rider.

I confess I make some, even write some down...I too can be a dork..(hehe)