ABS: Good, or Bad?

[Guth_imp]

I think the key is to become familiar with the braking system that you do have and learn how to use it to the best of your abilities.

My only concern with ABS is the complexity of the systems involved. I have an Audi car with ABS that was once rendered useless in a major rain storm — completely void of braking power. It was a true pucker moment, but at least the car had a manual hand brake. I later had guards installed that Audi released (and kept very quiet about) that apparently helped protect the sensor system. But ever since then, I've been a bit wary of electronics interacting with systems like braking, accelerating and steering, be it an automobile or a motorcycle.

Still, I'm convinced that the rider is the weakest link in the chain when it comes to braking. Anyone that feels they are good without ABS, would be even better with it.

Once again, John McGuinness:

“I’m a bit of an old school rider, I’ve been around a long time, so when they said they were putting ABS on the bike I wasn’t sure. But we got it set up and now we’ve got a really good package… I can dive into turn one and be really confident that it’s going to be there for me.

“There’s no reason why we can’t use ABS at the TT, and CBS [linked system]. I wouldn’t be scared of running it at the TT. The thing with ABS is that it’s going to save lives. Some riders think they can outdo ABS; that they don’t need ABS. But when they see us blokes using it in the races and getting results, and our reliance on it… It can help you.

“It will save lives on the road, for sure. That’s one of the reasons why I’m really interested in the project. At the Bol d’Or it was partly wet and I, Cameron [Donald] and Simon Andrews were consistently fastest in the slightly damp conditions. We had plenty of confidence to push the bike and brake hard into the hairpins. It’s been an interesting project and I’m really enjoying it.”

Quote from the article "[url=http://www.thebikeshow.co.za/moreinfo_test.php?t_id=22082012115323]Honda ABS Racing Bikes".

[Rocky_imp]

The Poll includes "Linked ABS" which I prefer and which I was hoping that my 2014 Canadian model included, but there have been some posts lately stating that the 2014 ABS is no longer linked.

The Canadian Honda website still states "linked" and later states "combined" ABS. The U.S. Honda site states "combined" ABS.

How do you determine if the ABS is linked?
Would it not need special valving and brake lines to the front calipers?

Everything I've seen and read says the ABS brakes are linked. I think the use of "linked" and "combined" depends on who was writing the explanation in the brochure or on the internet and the two words mean the same thing.
My 2014 Honda brochure says "linked."

[CIP57_imp]

This thread is getting interesting

One thing that was not mentioned is testing your bike. Its good practice once your brakes are broken in to try these emergency stops and test your bike in a controlled situation whether you have ABS or non ABS. I usually go to a local corporation where there's no traffic and get use to the braking system on a new bike. I want to know if the brakes will lift the rear wheel before it locks up, what the stopping distance is and how the bike reacts to full lock up of the rear wheel. Nothing prepares you more than practice and knowing your bike.

[Houtman_imp]

I have been riding for 45 years and never had a serious accident (touch wood !)
Getting older and probably have slower reflexes , combined with stupid drivers and various road conditions, including wet roads , I am glad to have the abs available, only if I need it once in the life of the bike or me.
Sometimes I feel that the non abs believers are certain that they never make a mistake or that they are better riders than people who believe in having abs available incase.
I hope that they are right.

[dBuster_imp]

This thread is getting interesting

One thing that was not mentioned is testing your bike. Its good practice once your brakes are broken in to try these emergency stops and test your bike in a controlled situation whether you have ABS or non ABS. I usually go to a local corporation where there's no traffic and get use to the braking system on a new bike. I want to know if the brakes will lift the rear wheel before it locks up, what the stopping distance is and how the bike reacts to full lock up of the rear wheel. Nothing prepares you more than practice and knowing your bike.

I agree with cip57, whether abs or non abs, getting to know your bike and it's limits is the key.

That bolded but that Guth shared to me I read it that they were teaching the bikes and racing into hair pin turns. How many of us will actually race into a hair pin curve/turn? I enter turns knowing what my bike can do with my controls and do not push entering or exiting turns.

It is once again personal preference and getting to know your bike with either abs or non abs is the key.

Reminds me of the thread where there appeared to be issues with the rear brake not locking up or stopping our bikes... But then I remember my non abs 1100 would stop better than a bike I test rode with abs... That test ride had me questioning the brakes on that bike whether they were sufficient... Now maybe the abs wasn't the issue in that bike but it could have been, we don't know.

Sent from my XT1055 using Tapatalk

[The Spaceman_imp]

I had the good fortune to take the Skip Barber 3-day Car Control class at Sebring. One of the exercises was "Threshold Braking," which is modulating the brake pedal so the tire is at the limit of adhesion/traction. The instructors disabled the ABS by removing fuse. After a couple hours practice we got pretty good. Then they put the fuse back in. Stopping distances for everyone, students and instructors, were significantly lower. Then we did the same exercise on the skid-pan in wet. It was a phenomenal difference.

The only driver who was as good as the computer with his foot was Vic Elford. But we aren't Vic Elford, are we?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vic_Elford

[redbirds_imp]

I prefer non ABS because of the many dirt roads I have to ride.

[Ridem32_imp]

Red birds gotta love dirt roads! Wow my dad was raised on dirt roads! Would go see my grandfather and I always loved the dirt roads! Your our DIRT ROAD SPORT!

[Guth_imp]

This thread is getting interesting

One thing that was not mentioned is testing your bike. Its good practice once your brakes are broken in to try these emergency stops and test your bike in a controlled situation whether you have ABS or non ABS. I usually go to a local corporation where there's no traffic and get use to the braking system on a new bike. I want to know if the brakes will lift the rear wheel before it locks up, what the stopping distance is and how the bike reacts to full lock up of the rear wheel. Nothing prepares you more than practice and knowing your bike.

That's what I getting at with the following (I've found that a large school parking lot that's empty on the weekend is another good option):

I think the key is to become familiar with the braking system that you do have and learn how to use it to the best of your abilities.

My only concern with ABS is the complexity of the systems involved. I have an Audi car with ABS that was once rendered useless in a major rain storm — completely void of braking power. It was a true pucker moment, but at least the car had a manual hand brake. I later had guards installed that Audi released (and kept very quiet about) that apparently helped protect the sensor system. But ever since then, I've been a bit wary of electronics interacting with systems like braking, accelerating and steering, be it an automobile or a motorcycle.

Still, I'm convinced that the rider is the weakest link in the chain when it comes to braking. Anyone that feels they are good without ABS, would be even better with it.

Once again, John McGuinness:

“I’m a bit of an old school rider, I’ve been around a long time, so when they said they were putting ABS on the bike I wasn’t sure. But we got it set up and now we’ve got a really good package… I can dive into turn one and be really confident that it’s going to be there for me.

“There’s no reason why we can’t use ABS at the TT, and CBS [linked system]. I wouldn’t be scared of running it at the TT. The thing with ABS is that it’s going to save lives. Some riders think they can outdo ABS; that they don’t need ABS. But when they see us blokes using it in the races and getting results, and our reliance on it… It can help you.

“It will save lives on the road, for sure. That’s one of the reasons why I’m really interested in the project. At the Bol d’Or it was partly wet and I, Cameron [Donald] and Simon Andrews were consistently fastest in the slightly damp conditions. We had plenty of confidence to push the bike and brake hard into the hairpins. It’s been an interesting project and I’m really enjoying it.”

Quote from the article "[url=http://www.thebikeshow.co.za/moreinfo_test.php?t_id=22082012115323]Honda ABS Racing Bikes".

[redbirds_imp]

I had the good fortune to take the Skip Barber 3-day Car Control class at Sebring. One of the exercises was "Threshold Braking," which is modulating the brake pedal so the tire is at the limit of adhesion/traction. The instructors disabled the ABS by removing fuse. After a couple hours practice we got pretty good. Then they put the fuse back in. Stopping distances for everyone, students and instructors, were significantly lower. Then we did the same exercise on the skid-pan in wet. It was a phenomenal difference.

The only driver who was as good as the computer with his foot was Vic Elford. But we aren't Vic Elford, are we?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vic_Elford

Vic Elford, saw him race the mighty 917 at Daytona and Sebring. Had the privilege of speaking with him in the paddock area at Daytona in 1970. A real gentleman who had the patience and grace to answer the questions of a wide eyed young racing fan like me.