I agree...life saver

@@MCrider Yes sir!

Agreed.

Love ABS, wouldn't buy a street bike without it, but I gotta say the helmet takes the top spot, hands down. It's the only thing that even approaches the seatbelt in cars. And, not to belabor the point, I might even add quality, professional training and dedicated practice in the #2 slot (such as provided right here on this channel !)

@@irishcurtis1 Helmets are great but ABS is an improvement to the motorcycle whereas a helmet is part of a rider's gear.

The technology has improved a lot too. It's possible that someone who could out-brake early ABS could not out-brake newer ABS.

That’s a load of Bull. Everything you can achieve with non-ABS you can do with ABS. ABS does nothing until the wheel locks up. A rolling wheel is more effective at braking than a skidding tire. Therefore you can not brake in a shorter distance, the maximum braking threshold is exactly the same. ABS improves over braking, where you would normally lose traction and increase your stopping distance. When you train braking your goal is not not have ABS kick in while achieving your shortest stopping distance. Riders either overly rely on ABS and brake too hard or out if fear of ABS activating the don’t brake hard enough. Both conditions will lengthen stopping distance. The facts are that modern ABS bikes are way better at stopping. Hands down. Arguing otherwise just makes a person look foolish. The shorter stops during practice is a demonstration of rider skill, not mechanical capabilities.

@@PetrolJunkie It's pretty much a known fact that some riders can outbrake some abs systems in some situations. The first guy stated this while acknowledging that abs is actually better in the vast majority of cases. As far as i can tell, you agreed with him while also calling it bs. Perhaps you should reevaluate who you consider a fool.

@@Lucas12v I have no idea how you managed to get the idea that I agreed with him. I called him out on false statements. Science says a human can not brake any better with or without ABS, it simply is not possible. ABS was not a factor in whether those riders improved their stopping distances, it was rider skill in braking as hard as possible before the tire would skid, or activate ABS, also known as threshold braking. Multiple experiments under controlled circumstances repeated multiple times in different parts of the world using the best riders and by extension brakers in the world says that is exactly how it works. They are not out braking ABS. They are actually improving their skills at threshold braking.

@@PetrolJunkie Try an older abs system vs a good rider on gravel or dirt and get back to me. Abs is better in almost every situation but there are exceptions.

way better than loud pipe

Hahaha especially your wife has no abs

Does any Harley bikes even come with ABS equipped? I'm genuinely asking

Your comment needs a way lot more upvotes. Self-deluded riders believe ABS will save them from their inattention and reckless behaviour.

I always appreciate having the ABS as a backup.. Could of had my beautiful face wiped in a low side kiss the asphalt due to a locked rear brake in a hard corner. Saved by the $2.95 snap on Face shield! 23 stitches in my chin are now a battle scar! Like seat belts, should be standard safety stuff. You're always welcome to unplug or flash it out.

👍🏽

That’s an excellent point.

I second that. Excellent point! 😉👍

Excellent point. I can't say I felt confident practicing emergency braking without ABS. One can start training having ABS kick in a low speed, and when gaining confidence, increase the practice speed to a safe, but still higher speed for more realistic training.

Once one really understands the physics behind ABS, they will realise that no amount of years of riding experience can outperform this technology, ever. Bikes that are registered for public roads should to be built for maximal safety, for every participant, experienced or not

@@quarq111 I had to study physics at the university while in graduate school. I do understand the physics. I am just not convinced by their data, or how THEY interpret it. I am not opposed, per se, to ABS, just not a supporter. As far as built for safety, sure, but if safety is truly the issue, why do they always seem to charge SO MUCH MONEY for OUR safety? No, I'm not convinced they are a necessary item on a bike. People should learn how to ride the bike properly. Long before ABS, people got in bike accidents, now that they have been on bikes since the 80s, people STILL get in bike accidents, ABS bikes included!!!

Yep. The reason why manufacturers are going to proportional braking is that studies show that in a panic stop most riders only pull the front brake. So if the front brake to also engages the rear by a percentage then they can effectively compensate for rider error. It's still better to learn how to use both brakes because the systems engage the rear brake conservatively, so you never get the full braking potential.

My 2008 VFR800 Interceptor also has DCBS, and I waited almost a year to find one with ABS (was optional then) as well. Well worth the wait, as in almost 50 years of riding, almost all of my spills have been related to changing road surface conditions. Boy, is this bike a great (and safer) ride!

Grow a pair. If you have abs you’re not a traditional rider.

@@Micflare1 Cant become a traditional rider if you become a dead rider... let the kiddies choose their bikes that allow them to then buy classics without abs when they are more experienced.

I had a 2012 Triumph Rocket III Touring and it was not equipped with ABS. It was also a 900 Lb bike and the back brake locked the tire so easily that I eventually stopped using it… and every time it locked, the rear of the bike would start sliding to the right, which meant I had to hold the lockup until the bike was completely stopped. I have a 2022 Versys 1000 now and while it’s “only” a 600 Lb bike, the ABS (along with an incredible electronic suspension) makes it almost impossible to crash the bike unless you’re really doing something dumb on it.

I have had several like that too...just practice that braking. ;)

I agree, you should be able to turn it off when off-road.

The reason why you didn't stop is that you locked up. It's a holdover of bad techniques to lock up your wheels to stop off-road. About the only time where locking up your wheels while braking is actually the best choice is to skid the rear around to make a tighter turn. Rolling wheels generate more stopping power on any surface. I would suggest doing some threshold braking drills on flat dirt or gravel. For reference, I ride an R1250GSA off-road. Most of the time I'm on 70/30 tires and I don't turn off the ABS. I ride the same trails guys with knobbies skidding around with no ABS. I haven't regretted it yet. The key is to not outride the traction you have. That sounds like what you did.

No, your reply is 100% incorrect. The only time you stop faster with ABS is on clean dry hard surfaces. If you lock your brakes on loose surfaces you will stop considerably shorter, providing you can maintain control. ABS on loose surfaces will not allow you to stop your machine, which is what happened to me. I nearly blew a corner and that would have dropped me of a big axx cliff. Once I pulled my ABS fuse, and could lock the wheels, I could actually speed up and take the corners faster while still being able to stop.

@@derweibhai I ride with ABS on all the time. You are not fooling me, you are fooling yourself. You out-road the traction you had and nearly had a serious accident. Instead of admitting your mistake you're blaming the machine because then you don't have to admit that you made a mistake. I've seen lots of guys do this. Believe what you want.

Why do all true ADV's have an ABS off switch? If you ride like a 90 year old, sure ABS is ok all the time. Go run the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands and see how well that works for you. All new ADV's can switch to front only ABS for a reason.

Grow a pair.

​@@Micflare1 😢 Aww. Someone not get enough love from mum? 😅

I was thinking the same thing.

This man knows what he's talking about.

False statement. With ABS in panic situation you grab full brake and it will ALWAYS stop in shortest distance under all conditions except maybe those rare instances under 10 mph where loss of control due to rear wheel lift is less of an issue and the stopping difference might be less than 2 feet. It is equally false, laughable, thinking that any human can modulate brakes better than a modern ABS ECU that can perform this function hundreds of times a second. It is like comparing early chess computers vs Grand Masters who could routinely defeat them 20 years ago. Now the Grand Masters really have no chance. The world has changed in favor of the machines. Time to accept the new reality.

👴 🤔

How’s it feel being ‘kinda old?’ (I’m REAL old. The Good Lord has really blessed me)

@@davidthelander1299 is it really a blessing now, extreme age i mean. No offense intended here sir. Ride safe!

Practicing hard braking is very important. If you ride with a passenger, it's doubly important. Pun intended. Your passenger needs to experience full braking effort so they don't freak out if you need to do an emergency stopping maneuver.

The abs will work, but there's a reason he didn't get into what happens, and what he means by it may not work for the situation. Some modulate extremely different, some are violent, some are different. I don't have linked braking, so I assume the feel of that type of system is the same for both brakes, but I don't know. On my street triple, the front brake quickly but gently pulses when abs is working. The rear brake is much less gentle, but not violently so. Abs isn't a universal saver. On new bikes with 6 axis imu, it's pretty universal, but most bikes won't have that, so in a corner, abs may allow some loss of traction, or it may prevent it entirely. Abs isn't universal. There's a ton of different ways to set it up, and on higher end uses, almost as many ways to measure its effectiveness. I couldn't care less about rear abs. Front abs prevents that front tire tuck that kills riders, and I won't own a bike without it.

I feel ya. The ones Im looking at are the XJ6 (ABS was optional until 2015) or the MT07 (more common and most if not all have ABS) . Unfortunately I think the MT07 has a snappy response and too much engine brake. I also prefer the smoothness of 4 cyl. Less likely to lose control if I whiskey throttle it

If I'm coaching a new rider my advice would be to ONLY buy a bike with ABS or not buy one at all until you can afford one. The probability of a newbie getting into accident is many times higher than a more experienced rider. It is the modest cost difference for the right bike vs. Incurring a permanent lifetime disability or loss of life. What is your life and well-being worth? If it's not worth at least $2K greater investment for the right bike then it says something about rational thought vs. impulsive thinking and one's ability to manage the need for instant self-gratification. This is no longer the 70's, 80's, 90's, early 2000's where lack of cost effective, reliable safety tech was an acceptable standard for the risk of riding a motorcycle. There is now the right alternative and right decision. Why would anyone in this age of advanced, cost-effective, reliable tech tolerate greater risk to their livelihood on the line for some near-term gratification? When I started riding in early 80's I was admittedly very ignorant about the risks of riding a motorcycle and blinded by infallibility thinking of youth due to lack of life experiences. At the time there was no internet to learn about the realities of motorcycle tradgedies. The industry as a whole has a very poor track record compared to autos driven by the false machismo of many ignorant riders. Even though cars have had mandatory ABS since 2011, motorcycle manufacturers in the entry level models refuse to offer them as standard option in U.S. even though in Europe they are mandated by law. Consider the cost for ABS is an insignificant $300 premium on most models of which you get back a portion during your next upgrade. Value derived for ABS for money paid is best insurance policy you will ever buy.

How about explaining how modern motorcycle top of the line ABS with IMU modulates front/rear brake application. I need ONE Question answered: Do I need to use the rear brake at all with an ABS/IMU control system? If so when? thanks!!

@@markhall3434 rear brake is used for very low speed no lean cornering, straight line hard acceleration to prevent wheelies, holding park when stopped, entering a corner (sometimes) to get the suspension to squat. During emergency/panic braking on a BMW with ABS the front brake lever can be squeezed hard because it will activate front and rear brakes, never rear brake alone hard unless you want to slide the rear on dirt etc.

I think ABS is a very worthy upgrade.

When it comes to ABS on a road bike not having a choice is probably a good thing and can see it going same way here in US in the not so distant future. Driven by both manufacturers and insurance industry etc. "According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, fatal crashes on a motorcycle are 31 percent lower when motorcycles have ABS. By the same token, the Highway Loss Data Institute reported that accident insurance claims for motorcycles using ABS are filed 20 percent less often than for motorcycles without ABS."

Agree, should just be mandated. An ABS model is typical $500 more than the non-ABS version (here in the US).

I think you are doubly missing the point. The very people who are less safety concious are the ones who really need ABS as they are the ones more likely to self implode on a bike.

@@johnpd1639 I do not disagree with your statement at all; everyone on street bikes are better off with ABS. My point was one of curiosity regarding the statistical interpretation of the 'magnitude' of the stated effect. Specifically, what proportion of the variance in the data is accounted for by ABS vs. no ABS vs. the proportion of the variance accounted for by possible sampling bias in terms of rider behaviour. An interesting comparison to determine how it all sorts out would be to also have some within group comparisons of highly safety conscious riders on ABS vs. non-ABS and hooligans on each type of bike: in other words have a methodological research design to carry out a two way ANOVA (analysis of variance). Clearly there would be a statistically significant main effect of ABS vs. no ABS. I just think it would be interesting to see if there may also be a statistically significant main effect related to the behaviour of the rider. I think there would be but the question is how much of an effect? I appreciate these are academic questions of curiosity.

​@@lylemacdonald6672totally valid point, because the reduction in accidents could be in a large part due to riding more responsibly.

Anti-Lock Braking System

ABS is helpful in learning appropriate braking skill because it lets you practice progressive braking and what those limits of traction feel like without actually locking them up.

Totally disagree with your statement and it is not supported by real world data. ABS does not hamper your skill development and for inexperienced riders it can be difference between life and death from a typical newbie mistake. You are also thinking about proper usage of ABS in a wrong way. If you are activating ABS frequently it means you are braking too late or not reducing braking force as wheel speed starts to rapidly decrease. It is like a free braking training aid that doesn't bounce you off the pavement. In a true panic situation with ABS you need to have different instinct to grab full brake as quickly as possible. Modulating brakes as if ABS doesn't exist decreases your initial rate of braking, increases the distance travelled, and results in potentially higher impact speed than necessary when their is no path out. If their is a path out ABS will give you more time to find that path at a much lower controllable speed.