Has anyone every retro fit an abs system on an older Harley that never had it before?

After my collision last year I am sold on ABS braking. I really believe it would have saved me, my wife and our bike from a collision, and a lot of pain and agony.

Is it possible to buy the entire group of required components and put it on an older frame?

I realize it would take a lot of rerouting of the brake lines, the addition of the metering module, and the installation of the monitoring wheel bearings which might be the only real issue for fitment.

I'm just a few steps away from having my '86 Tour Glide fully repaired and I wish there was a way to put ABS braking on it.

I did not look this up on Google, or the board search, so if there's other info on it already just point me that direction if you know more about it than I do.

Thanks

 

I think there was a discussion in the Touring forum (gasp) years ago. IIRC, there were a number of reasons why it could not be done. Sorry, I don't have a link.

 

If you had enough money to throw at it, it could be done...but you will be the guinea pig to see if it works. If you want ABS, get rid of the 86 and get a bike that has it...that is the only thing that makes sense at the present time..and I don't see that changing...several company's have come out with retro-fit ABS and they always disappear in a short time...the liability is too high for any real company to touch it.

 

JohnnyC, here's a thread from HTT on ABS retro, and some TCB gizmo.

http://harleytechtalk.org/htt/index.php?topic=55386.0

Maybe you can just upgrade the brakes on your bike,
I don't know if you locked the wheels when you had a accident, which you really don't want to do, but if you don't have the braking power to do so, you can't get max braking up to the point of lockup.

Just a note, every once in a while, I practice panic stops 1 and 2 up, figure it sure can't hurt to know what to expect.

 

Schex3x

Thanks for the link, will check it out.

I had just put a fresh set of top of the line pads on back and the front were new in the last 2 years. Calipers are working perfect but have not been rebuilt since i owned the bike. Always worked real well without issues.

I was on patched over pot hole covered roadway, at about 35 mph and when I hit the brakes the rear locked up on loose asphalt and the bumpy roadway. I had to release and reapply and didn't have enough time to stop fully before impact. We got tossed to the side, the way the car was traveling, and slammed to the pavement. It could have been a lot worse. All I needed was maybe about 3" more open road.

I've done several panic stops too but the road surface was an issue along with the "last second" left turn of a car into my path.


And yes, a new bike is in my future but I really don't want to give up my '86. I just got it running perfect for about 3 weeks before the collision. And I mean it is running smoothly, quick and fast, and everything mechanically is perfect.

I'm compromising a bit on repairs with paint work to put her back on the road, but she will have a fresh, newer all white look for whoever buys her after I can replace her with a later model. Sure am going to miss my first Harley after 5 years invested and all the enjoyment we've had.

I was hoping to be able to ABS the brake system for under $500. I really don't have a grasp on parts cost or availability.

 

Just finished reading the linked chat posts. It's from a few years ago but they are saying that ABS takes longer to stop in most situations, and is only beneficial in wet payment or loose material.

Every demo I've seen shows the ABS cutting the distance under all conditions. However I will say that the standard brakes were never tested against ABS under good conditions. And the wet test shows the non ABS rider grabbing hard brakes on wet pavement and loosing all control. It even looks like they are steering it into a skid for demo purposes. Hmmmm.

Then I found the links to a traction control valve that is easily added. Not sure what to think about it but it seems to be a good device and a better idea for retro fitting.

Traction Control Braking Device Review

Traction Control Braking Manufacturer

Anybody here use these?

 

Johnny, in another thread on suspension, a fellow member described how he was following another Glide rider who hit a drop in the road, at a bridge. His rear wheel thumped into the hole and then bounced back, shocks fully compressed and with the tyre coming off the road briefly. Once it made contact again the rider lost control. Now that may either be because the wheel spun up faster, or locked up as he applied the brake. In either event it wasn't either brakes or the lack of ABS that did for him, it was crap shocks!

Now when solo the rear brake can be locked up even in good conditions, however you were riding 2-up and frankly I doubt if that is possible, unless you have a very heavy foot! IMHO it is quite likely that you were braking as you hit one of those patches or potholes, which your knackered old shocks were not able to properly damp out. Hence your rear wheel locked up, in similar circumstances to above.

So by all means look into installing ABS, however as a matter of urgency I suggest your first purchase should be a set of proper shocks. Don't stint, bear in mind that they can be transferred to another bike (or sold separately), just pick up the phone and call Howard at HDF sponsor Motorcycle Metal. You want Ohlins #3-3, same as Mrs B and I. Don't ask, just wave your credit card!!!! Mrs JC will love ya even more, thanks to the new improved and superior ride back there!

 

Good point GB, the #3-2.5 are awesome and save a bunch of coin, not listed on MM website, ask Howard about them.

 

Johnny, I be terrified to alter a brake system. Seems like all of those parts are made to work together as one system.


I've seen a lot of shock threads and am looking get a better sock for my 1998 Ultra. Can someone tell me who Howard is?? I've seen his name in a gazillion threads.

 

http://www.motorcyclemetal.com/

Handle on here is FastHarley