Abs Or Non-abs

[dcwarden]

Getting ready to purchase an ST1300, I am 49 and rode bikes from 16 to 35 then took a 12 year break. I rode Gold Wings for the majority of that time but I have never riden a ABS equiped bike. I like the idea of not being able to lock up the brakes. I have read many articles on both the ABS and NON ABS but am still confused which to get. Please Help!!! :bow1:

[John Anthony]

I've got an '03 with ABS and love it. I'm sure the old school guys scoff at ABS, but from a riders' perspective, I've yet to figure out why.

[Kennedy]

I have ABS and hope I never have to use it but at least its there if called on. Old school riders can scoff all they want. For me and my wife's safety it was worth it.

[Wes]

:04biker: ABS: Better to Have it and Not need it than to Need it and not Have it!!

[sttourer]

:biker:

ABS here too. It's no substitute for safe riding but it is an extra safety feature that can save your bacon when the unexpected happens.

Pat

[Wes]

:biker:

ABS here too. It's no substitute for safe riding but it is an extra safety feature that can save your bacon when the unexpected happens.

Pat
ABS is very Handy to have on "SNOW DAYS"

Wes :04biker:

[The Highwayman]

ABS all the way....

Not a subsitute for solid rider skill's, but as a compliment to those skills in real world (ie. less than ideal) riding conditions.

My $.02 (Canadian)

[tccox]

One vote totally against ABS from a rider of 35+ years, 40 motorcycles and hundreds of thousands of miles on motorcycles, one accident (rider stupidity) in all that time and never once, never once in all that time found himself in a position where ABS would have been useful. More time spent on learning and practicing proper braking procedure and less time debating the merits of ABS might be a good idea.

[nm6r]

I read a while back (rainy winter day) of a test done on several bikes with ABS and also done with the ABS disabled. The skilled riders could not stop nearly as quick without ABS in the same adverse conditions. On the other hand, tests on clean, dry pavement showed a slightly shorter stopping distance with non-ABS. These tests were performed in a controlled environment with skilled riders. That said, the riders were not in a panic type situation where even they might have locked up the brakes on the non-ABS.

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[Dorian]

Its a personal choice. If you were buying a Corvette, would you choose the one without ABS to save some coin? Same decision with the ST.

36 + years of riding, 34 of them on the street. MSF instructor starting in 1980. Knock on wood, I've never been down on a street bike. But I still bought ABS when the reliable option was available. It has nothing to do with experience. I've never needed a helmet, but I still wear one all the time.

Once again, its a personal choice. A rider that never makes mistakes will never need ABS. I look forward to meeting that rider.

[Killtimer]

A rider that never makes mistakes will never need ABS. I look forward to meeting that rider.

Very well said.

Steve

[Carl_T]

ABS, yes, if at all possible, without a doubt.

[Pino]

Another vote for ABS here. The ABS and LBS made by Honda is one of the beST.

[dcwarden]

THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR REPLIES AND RESPONCES. TODAY I LOOK FOR A 04-05 ABS-EQUIPPED ST. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT SITE !!! :bow1: :biker: :04biker:

[alan]

I bought my 03 ST without ABS because the cycle magazines had printed a few horror stories about BMW ABS systems that in slow tight turns had actually caused the bike to crash. Also the BMW's had problems on loose dirt while going downhill, the ABS would disable the brakes completely! Going downhill and no brakes. :eek:

A couple of years later and because of all the positive raves in the ST forums, I have changed my opinion and if I buy a new ST1300 I will get the ABS.

[beastie]

You will notice that all the replies except Terry's are in favor of ABS. I read somewhere that 1/3 of the ST1300s and 1/2 of the GL1800s were ABS. If that is true, then 2/3 of the STriders are on non-ABS. But they do not reply to this type of discussion, not neccessarily because they wish they had ABS, but rather they do not want to get flamed by the ABS proponents.

That said, ABS is great, but I don't have it. Maybe some day, but not today.

[Mellow]

It seems to work very well on cars... as long as you are aware you have it and know how to activate it and know that you wouldn't pump your brakes on an ABS equiped car for the fastest stop...

so, why not on bikes too, maybe I'm just a technology junkie and have to have the most current cool stuff...

The typical survival instinct, when stoping is the desired outcome, is to hit the brakes, sometimes hard. On a non-ABS bike that might get you into trouble. But, as long as you know it's a non-ABS bike you can handle that situation just fine.

It is necessary? Nope

Does it work? Sure

Can someone stop faster without it? Probably

Do I want it on my bike? Yes, so I got it.

Does everyone want it? Nope

Is someone who choses to get it Smart and therefore everyone without it stupid... No, that's just another choice we have available to us... Some people think it's crazy to look over a windshield, or ride with a helmet other than a full face.

Those with non-ABS bikes are confident in their abilities to stop their bike and confidence is something we all need to ride with in order to endure this great hobby of ours. Going into a corner with any measure of doubt in your mind provides a level of hesitation that, to me, can be far more dangerous.

Those of us with ABS are confident in the bikes' ability to remove a certain level of doubt/hesitation we might have in our braking abilities.... Maybe THAT's not a good thing, who knows...

Me, I've got ABS and I'll still wave at the non-ABSers out there....

Now, what about the BSers out there? That's the real problem...

[Carl_T]

but rather they do not want to get flamed by the ABS proponents Don, we are little Angles of sweetness, light, and puffy cotton balls. We NEVER do any friendly teasing, even a little bit. :rolleyes: I would hope there wouldn't be any flaming for a different opinion on the subject.

I would mainly guess that the economics had more to do with the number of ABS bikes bought new, than anyone thinking the Honda version of ABS doesn't work (Honda has done an amazing job with their ABS compared to the Beemers with their servo). It was hard paying out that much extra $$$ for the ABS, but I'm glad I did.

[Kennedy]

I say to each there own choice and would never flame some one for not choosing ABS as I did. No I do not doupt my riding ability but it is worth the extra $$ for what might some day be a well spent $$. If just one time that ABS kicks in and stops you from going down then all was worth it. Not to mention I would imagine an ABS bike selling for more at re sale time. See my avitar with my grand son on the back of that bike. His safety is my responcability when he is back there and worth the extra to me.
My .02 cents Canadian

[MNwing]

For me it was the money issue, and being used to non ABS brakes on my 98 wing. I talked to a couple of different dealer, and got the same respone from them. "if you do a lot riding in the mountains then you should consider getting them, if not, probably not worth the extra money".

When I take my experience riders course later this month and do the panic brake thing, I will have a better idea if I should have spent the extra for ABS. In the past when I've taken the class on the Wing, was never able to lock them up thanks to the linked braking system.

Again it's a personal choice, like which helmet, tires, etc.

[Putt]

Locally, the only one I could get was the non ABS version... ABS versions
were rare as hens teeth.. I was NOT gonna let the summer go by waiting
for an ABS version..... :D

[nm6r]

The ST1300 is rare enough to find in most dealerships. There is one larger dealer about 30 minutes away from me. They only ordered non-ABS in an effort to keep the price down. I found the same thing when helping my daughter shop for a Ford Focus last year. The local dealer only ordered non-ABS. I had no idea you could even buy a car without ABS.

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[Actionfigurejoe]

I had a choice between ABS and non-ABS. After a long discussion with the dealer and a test ride, I decided on non-ABS. The linked system does give an added margin of safety already. I found the ABS system to have a somewhat mushy lever feel. My dealer said the same about other ABS bikes he's had. He sells very few ABS bikes. I've had my ST in a downpour already. I got a feel for what it takes to lock up the rear wheel as well as the bikes charactor in such a situation. The bike has a nicely balanced linked system. Personally, I saw no need for ABS.

[Fastraveller]

This is interesting stuff. I thought ABS was developed to the point that it was a given that you would get it if it was available (and could afford it). I follow a Goldwing Site and man those folks LOVE their ABS! I had kind of decided to get ABS on my next bike but now I'm not so sure. It might be the difference in riding styles between the two types of bikes. More performance riding, less desire for ABS???

[Carl_T]

More performance riding, less desire for ABS??? Not so with the ST. My lever has no mush. ??? ABS one finger braking if I want it.

[tccox]

Well,, I also agree ABS in of itself does not make a bike less safe(Unless we're talking BMW where when getting ABS you are also stuck with that awful power assisted system, but thats another story) But I've seen enough posts on the BMW and Honda Boards from ABS advocates bragging how the ABS system is saving their butts on a weekly basis to convince me that in some cases ABS produces a less safe rider, one who relies on the bikes technology rather than develop his own skills.

[SarniaON]

The ABS brakes worked unexpectedly for me last summer at a bike meet and saved me from looking stupid. I grabbed too much front brake so I could position the kick stand over a rubber strip when stopping on grass and felt the chatter. Needless to say, the bike did not fall over and I did not have to ask someone to help me pick it up again!