Exactly. Yet the dummies at the dealership I bought the bike from kept telling me I didn't need to spend the money. I've already had occasion to use mine on my Breakout - would not buy a bike without it....

 

I agree. I was attempting to refer to the video. Those guys were intentionally pulling too hard, I want to see a legitimate comparison so nay-sayers can relax a little.

 

Good riding without panic. And ya, the ABS.

Glad you're Ok. Wish I got that ABS option on my Slim. You can't add it post-factory either. Sucks.

 

The ABS saved me a couple of months ago. Some stupid woman didn't want to wait for a bus coming down the street and decided to blow a stop sign. Conditions were also dry, the videos just showed the guys stopping on a wet surface but for the non pro rider the benefits are also worth it in dry conditions. Someone said they hadn't heard anything about ABS being mandatory but I seem to remember having seen exactly that somewhere. I want to say fox news but it could have been American Iron.

 

I wont buy a new bike without ABS. It has saved my bacon a couple of times.

 

I was also wondering about the conversation.

Glad it worked as expected and you are okay!

 

I have ABS on my 2012 FLHX and a couple times I gave felt the rear wheel ABS engage but I have yet to feel the front wheel ABS engage. I know the rear wheel gets lighter as braking is occurring hence the rear ABS engaging before the front. But I was wondering if my front ABS is working at all. I don't want to go out and perform a panic stop to find out if the front is working properly. But I would like to know if it is.
Is there any other way to find out if the front is working properly without making a panic stop with the front brakes?

 

It's a good read and I've read it multiple times even though I've been riding for 35+ years. When I get too old to learn better riding skills I'll quit riding.

Thanks for sharing.

 

On good pavement, and if you're applying the front brake properly, it's actually a little difficult to get a front wheel lock-up or ABS activation.

However, it's well worth activating it, so you know what to expect if it happens. The H-D system deliberately has a very significant pulse in the lever and pedal during ABS. This is so you know it's happening, but it can be disconcerting.

If you can find a good open area to practice, the easiest way to activate the front ABS is to deliberately mis-apply the front brake. Instead of squeezing, then progressing, just "snap" the front front brake lever on. This prevents there from being time for weight transfer to occur, so it will go into ABS much more quickly. This is probably the safest way to absolutely ensure you've got ABS, since if it's not there, you will get a locked wheel skid, and be in a safe environment to release immediately.

Another way to learn something about your machine, which seeing how ABS works is brake on a gravel road. You will get less perceived pulse in the lever, and it will likely initially seem like the brakes aren't working. What is really happening is the brakes are giving you all they can without locking, which - on a bad surface - is not much.

Now, before you start off on these exercises, make sure you're not getting any error messages from your ABS.

When you start the motorcycle, you should have a flashing ABS light. This should go out once you get moving above 3 MPH, then go out, and stay out, until you next shut off the machine.

If you get an ABS light (steady or flashing) your system has an error, and is inoperative. You still have brakes, but you do not have ABS.

Harris
Denver, CO

www.youtube.com/conedown

 

ABS makes me feel like I need to start slowing down sooner than I did on my 06 without ABS. If it takes a longer distance to stop with ABS then what is the advantage?