07-08-2013, 11:49 AM
I'll provide a counter-point to Buffalohead's comments.
My 7 yr-old ST1300 was my first bike to have ABS, and the system has been transparent. There are hundreds of ST11 and ST13 owners on the http://www.ST-owners.com website, and I don't recall ABS problems being an issue with the model. Needless to say, I can't give an opinion or perspective on other motorcycle brands or models that have ABS. The first day I had the bike, I rode onto one of my favorite mountain roads, got up to about 80mph, said, "here goes nothing!" and grabbed and stomped the brakes for all they were worth. The bike brought me to a very sudden, but very controlled stop. That made me a believer.
My VFR1200F has Combined ABS, and I also wanted it on my CB11. I believe that ABS will continue to proliferate the market, and BMW has already pioneered putting it on all of their motorcycles. I have pretty good braking skill and put that skill to work on the racetrack. But on the street, I know that if caught off-guard, on a marginal surface, the computer can do a better job than can I.
I've driven police cars without ABS, and with ABS...at very, very high speeds. I came very close to killing myself (and my K-9) one night while responding to a felony pursuit, driving a non-ABS car. ABS for me thank you.
My 7 yr-old ST1300 was my first bike to have ABS, and the system has been transparent. There are hundreds of ST11 and ST13 owners on the http://www.ST-owners.com website, and I don't recall ABS problems being an issue with the model. Needless to say, I can't give an opinion or perspective on other motorcycle brands or models that have ABS. The first day I had the bike, I rode onto one of my favorite mountain roads, got up to about 80mph, said, "here goes nothing!" and grabbed and stomped the brakes for all they were worth. The bike brought me to a very sudden, but very controlled stop. That made me a believer.
My VFR1200F has Combined ABS, and I also wanted it on my CB11. I believe that ABS will continue to proliferate the market, and BMW has already pioneered putting it on all of their motorcycles. I have pretty good braking skill and put that skill to work on the racetrack. But on the street, I know that if caught off-guard, on a marginal surface, the computer can do a better job than can I.
I've driven police cars without ABS, and with ABS...at very, very high speeds. I came very close to killing myself (and my K-9) one night while responding to a felony pursuit, driving a non-ABS car. ABS for me thank you.