I've had a 2010 Ultra and have a 2014 Limited, both with ABS. A rear wheel "chirp" is normal right before the ABS kicks in.

My advice would be, if you have ANY doubt about your brakes, and aren't comfortable addressing it yourself, take it to a qualified wrench that you trust. I wouldn't d*ck around with brake issues. Too much at stake.

 

It does seem like it shouldn't be activating under those conditions. I'd have it checked for sure.

 

ABS doesn't do anything until you get to the point of lockup... Thats when you'll be glad you have it. Up to that point theres no difference at all. Sometimes it doesnt matter how good you are... A hard braking situation and a little loose sand on the road and down you go... Nothing you can do - but with ABS theres that litle bit of extra insurance to get you through those rare events. I didnt go looking for a bike that had it but Ive been glad a time or two that it does

 

The ABS system is great. Needed it to avoid a crash and the bike stayed under complete control.

 

I'm upgrading to a new 14' RK JUST for the ABS

 

Could be a bad sensor or issue with the system. is yur right bag taken up by most of the ABS system. Don't think it would be with an 08 which means you should have the newer system with he ABS sensor in the bearing.

My question for you is are yo a heavy rear brake user? Most of your braking, anywhere from 75-90% of your braking is done with your front wheel. Quick little lesson from motor school.

When you brake, your inertia is still moving forward. As you slow, that inertia starts to compress the front suspension. As the suspension comresses that weight transfer applies pressure to your front wheel. That pressure actually flattens out the tire some putting more rubber in contact with the raod. Considering how much tire contact patch a motorcycle has any increase is good. While the weight is movig forward onto the front, the exact opposite is happening to the rear. That tire is getting light and creating a smaller contact patch. If you apply too much force with the rear and not enough with the front you will easily induce rear lockup, except with the ABS it won't lock, so you have activation. Unlike a sport bike, you will not get a HD tourer to stand on the front tire so don't be afraid to use the front brake. Don't use two fingers on the front, use all four and try to get your fingers all the way out to the end, or ball, on the lever. This will give you the most mechanical advantage. Becasue most people use their left foot to brake in an atuomobile, the tendancy is to use too much rear brake in a panic/hard stop; just a matter of instinct.

Good luck
Neil
RDMC

 

I had ABS on a 2012 limited and I didnt like them. I would rather feel a steady brake than a pulsing hammering clanging from the rear brake. they do eliminate a rear tire skid for someone that's not familiar with their brakes.

 

Never understand why people would want to disable ABS.

 

If you like ABS you should try the new Reflex Linked ABS on the 2014's.

I've been on the street for over 40 years and as good as I thought I could stop a motorcycle, that technology has my back like I never thought possible.

 

I think some people are so sure of their braking skill that they feel ABS is sort of demeaning. An analogy would be automatic transmissions on motorcycles.

If Al Gore had invented the internet decades ago, people would have posted about the same resistance to change from manual to automatic transmissions. Now almost everything, even big trucks and busses, has automatic transmissions. And a lot of people don't know how to drive a stick.

I think the day will come when ABS is as common as automatic transmissions and nobody will give it a second thought. Just as a lot of people ride motorcycles today that wouldn't have considered doing that in the past.