Worked on abs cars for a number of years, and dealt with more then a few customers of cars with abs. I never bought a new car with abs, and wont until it cant be done. ABS is like 4wd, and automatics, it cant compensate for good driving and good sense. Had way too many people come in, after they drilled the rear of another car, or lost control in a curve, and say, "my abs doesnt work, something must be wrong, I couldnt control the car!". It cant overcome laws of physics, if your going too fast for conditions, your going to wreck regardless. It may help you maintain steering control, which can be good. However, if you notice, how many cars and trucks wreck in wet and winter weather, and they have abs. It inspires over-confidence, and the feeling you dont have to slow down as much for that curve, or look as far ahead. Drive correctly for conditions, and I'd go on a limb and say nearly all situations wont warrant ABS. Ice is about the only situation Ive seen ABS really pay off, especially when its black ice. Other then that, sand, snow, etc, ABS I find is a hinderance, andhow much of that is goingto affect us? We've gone this long without ABS, is it a must have now?lol. If one wants to get ABS by all means get it and enjoy it, and the first model run headaches, just dont get that false sense of coziness, and ride safe.

 

Man I wish I could retrofit my 07 with ABS... I'm not just talking about for rain.... I use the front brakes probably more and harder than I should and you know gravel, slick asphalt and the likes - darn near killed myself a couple of times..

I'd definetly get it - wait to get it - or whatever. I'm thinking that extra 750 will pay for itself the first time you don't bite the dust.

 

You can add the police abs system used since 05, Ive seen the setups on ebay before.

 

efi was an option too. soon abs will be standard, along with the radiator

 

Man, I don't mean to bash anyone's opinion. Maybe I just don't have the riding skills of a lot of you. But.... my 99 Road King has 114K on it, by 2005 BMW R1200RT has 43K on it. The BMW is a daily commuter, I do 105 miles a day in DC traffic. I for one would add ABS to the Road King in a micro second if I could. In heavy traffic emergency stops are common place. I know the ABS on the BMW has saved me NUMEROUS times. Not to mention the added benefit of not having to worry about high siding...
Again, my hat is off to you guys that can out brake ABS, I can't and have a strong suspision there aren't very many Harley riders that can...
I'm building a custom bagger and I"m using Brembo brakes just to help some.

 

The last 150 or so bikes my dealer( since 2005 ) delivered to the LEO's who ride every day.. have come back 100% positive..

 

I didn't get it on my 08 ultra classic. I am sure it may help in a panic situation, but I haven't had it this long, and I didn't buy the new gold wing with the air bag either. it's 800 bucks.... that more than pays for the new pipes. I trust ABS, I think it helps, but it adds issues for reliability. If the question was..."would you buy the 09 with ABS", I would say yes, but it's the first year in 08 (at least this system anyway), I'll let someone else be the test subject.

 

The way I look at it is that I have lost alot of people in my life so the wife that will ride on the back, the $795 for ABS is worth it.

 

I´m not saying that I can outbrake abs(I´m still NOT wanting abs on my bike) or think that I´ve got skills to outperform every other rider on the streets,cause I don´t. I just don´t like the idea of added electronics etc stuff, always more things that can cause you problems.

And as I think someone already mentioned, people rely too much on those safety equipments, having the false sense of security. We have seen it here in Finland, when people buy new cars w/ABS, airbags, antislipping devices(or what the heck those are called, prevent you to do burn outs..)and all thatother safety equip,there has been numerous cases when people drive TOO FAST, especially on the winter, and end up crashing their cars. I think that abs etc are ok, but NOT if you rely on them too much and think that they will save yer sorry a*s everytime you make a mistake..And again, I don´t want abs on my bike..Next step is propably airbags, anti-rolling devices, cages etc etc......Hope not...