Dave

 

[quote=Markk9;11408560]For riding on a public road, were the surface is changing every foot you travel, you will not be able to thresh hold brake as well. On a closed course, with a known conditions, thresh hold braking works great.

ABS is not prefect, you still must know to use your brakes, but I would much rather have the ABS, knowing it's short comings.

I think a lot of riders assume ABS is the save all, end all of using their brakes. They never learn how to properly brake a bike, ****, there are still many riders that believe in using the rear brakes only. I work with a guy that has gone through 3 sets of rear pads and is still on the factory front pads.[/quote]


Unfortunately, it is MUCH much worse than this... MANY riders have no idea what counter-steering is and STILL believe that 'laying the bike down and riding it like a skate board' is THE thing to do... Sad/SCARY...

In addition, regarding the ABS discussion; There are a LOT of riders who do not have ABS, wish they did, and can do nothing but find-fault/poke-holes in the technology... I understand the skills involved, heck I have been riding since mid-60's, been in an awful wreck (Toole, Utah) going XC/back to college, and I understand human nature that may be 'behind the (financial/re-sale) curve'... But FWIW, if/when YOU do the homework, you will eventually conclude that (integrated/combined) ABS is THE way to go... The sooner you get there, the better... I am praying for YOU...

 

For THOSE that knock ABS, put it this way: If you're activating the ABS, you're probably not as good as braking as you think anyway.

 

I'm not sure if I've ever activated it. Would I know, like slap me in the face, I'd know if I had activated it?

 

You will know.....the brakes will start pulsing much faster than you could do it by hand or foot

 

I don't leave home without it.

 

Will never buy a touring bike with out them.

 

I purchased a 2005 BMW K1200LT with ABS. At my second service with 12000 miles. I mentioned this to the service tech. I had never activated them, and wondered how well they worked. He told me to ride on a wet road, with no traffic, go at least 35 MPH, and grab the front brake handle like nobody's business. Then do the same with the rear, and then try both.
I did that a few days later, scared about what to expect. But......Wow. It was so cool to come to stops on a wet road without control issues.
The Harley antilocks seem a bit less refined, but work well all the same. This is my fourth bike with antilocks. They are a must have now.

 

You would definitely know it. With the rear brake it feels to me like somebody hitting the bottom of the brake pedal with a hammer or something. Similar to the way it did the other night when I braked too hard driving my wife's Honda Odyssey As far as the front brake for me it was a little more subtle but it feels like the lever is kind of vibrating I guess. Like others have said a wet surface is a good place to try it out on in part because it's a lot easier to get it to activate.

 

What year/models did they start offering ABS?