08-16-2013, 01:41 AM
We don't get to choose when a small patch of sand or oil decides to stretch itself across the entire road. That coupled with the dual front disks and the skinny front tire patch made ABS a complete 'must have' for me..
As far as being 'a better rider than ABS'.. I've read anecdotes from too many high-caliber road/track racers who've said that ABS saved their hide on the road (not during a race) and they would not have stayed upright without it, ABS is 'better' than they are (their words)..
Of course we don't read the anecdotes from those that didn't have ABS and didn't make it out the other side because their voices have been permanently silenced.
I've only had to really panic brake once.. Happily, it was on my non-ABS BlackBird with linked brakes. A lot of people complain about how they don't like linked brakes taking away the independent control that they are used to having.. but in my one instance, having stopped just inches from a cars bumper coming down from freeway speed... feeling the bike 'hunker down' via the brake load balancing of the linked braking system, I knew that that device saved my hide and left me free to ride away from a non-incident.
It's the kind of progress that I'll gladly take advantage of.
As far as being 'a better rider than ABS'.. I've read anecdotes from too many high-caliber road/track racers who've said that ABS saved their hide on the road (not during a race) and they would not have stayed upright without it, ABS is 'better' than they are (their words)..
Of course we don't read the anecdotes from those that didn't have ABS and didn't make it out the other side because their voices have been permanently silenced.
I've only had to really panic brake once.. Happily, it was on my non-ABS BlackBird with linked brakes. A lot of people complain about how they don't like linked brakes taking away the independent control that they are used to having.. but in my one instance, having stopped just inches from a cars bumper coming down from freeway speed... feeling the bike 'hunker down' via the brake load balancing of the linked braking system, I knew that that device saved my hide and left me free to ride away from a non-incident.
It's the kind of progress that I'll gladly take advantage of.