My first bike was a Honda 500cc bike with ABS brakes. Now that I'm looking to replace it I find myself hesitating considering any bike that has not got ABS fitted.

This hang up with ABS is of course both costly and limits the choice of bikes. I'm a relatively new to riding and it is a comfort to know that extra safety is there, although I know it can only help so much.

I am also aware that ABS on motorcycles are a relatively new feature, and that people have been riding without "for eons".

So your opinions on ABS are much appreciated. On the one hand I'm thinking "Stop obsessing and just get a bike without ABS"... and then I watch a video like the below that demonstrates ABS braking, and then I'm back to square one. Maybe I should just fit support wheels as in the video... ...

YouTube - ABS vs. No ABS

I am currently using BMW 1150GS with ABS..

I wish it was without this "system" ... but i guess its totaly related to my driving habits.

I dont know how i acquired it and its definetly wrong but i use the back brakes close to none...

And with such braking ... ABS has caused trouble, especially in curves (it got into effect and was a horrifiying experience) ...

But with normal (and surely correct) braking, i am sure its something definetly nice to have..

hope this helps..

Well, you never need it until you really need it. And you won't notice ABS on your bike till you really need it.

It's saved my a** too many times already, especially when 2-up travelling with full luggage and bike is very massive. Especially in the rain or bad conditions.

Solo with light bike I find I'm much more precise on breaking, but still, in panic situations mistakes are easy to come (under- or over breaking).

Last GS was 60,000+km, not a single problem. Current 10 years old R1100GS is 109,000km not a single ABS problem.

To shortly sum up my 100,000+km with ABS-equipped bikes: I wouldn't buy another street-going bike without it.

I fully agree with Margus. The heavier the bike, and the tougher the situation that needs to be dealt with, the higher the probability of messing it up, and ABS is one system, that can possibly really help you. Wont prevent you having an accident, and cannot cancel the laws of physics, and you´ll still need to know how to ride and how to brake properly, But all in all, it is very well worth it to have it on a streetbike.

I rode almost 15 years without it, but now that its widely available (and usually they work without a problem, too - its been around in cars for ages) my advice would be simple: get ABS.

I don't have ABS and I wish I did, for I've seen Margus (in Bucharest )avoiding at least one fall by use of ABS.

I would have avoided a heavy fall in London( idiotic car drivers- I grabbed the brakes and went down) if I'd had this system. Your first U Tube video reminds me exactly of what happened to me, but without the stabilisers!

But don't let it spoil your fun if you don't have it.

Much sound advice, thanks. Perhaps I should exercise some patience, save a little more and be able to afford the ABS option (I currently have my sights set on a V-Strom 650).

I cant tell if its a worldwide thing, but here in my country, Suzuki´s ABS is only 500 euros extra, so for me that was a no-brainer.

I´ve got a DL650 K7 Abs... or actually, I dont have it anymore. See, were both so in love with this type of bike with my missus, that she´s going to ride the K7 that we have from now on (will make some modifications to lower it a bit), and I just ordered a new K9 a couple of days ago, so then we will have each our own! We rode together from Europe to Australia with this K7 a year ago. The ABS (or any other component for that matter, except for one battery!) never gave any problems. It´s now done 55000kms.

I did the riding bit on that trip, and I believe ABS probably saved us from an accident once, in India, when a very large pig, narrowly missing a truck, that we were passing, suddenly run in front of us. I would have instantly locked the front, don´t know, if I would have released it in time, but I´m glad I had a little help at that moment. It all happens so suddenly it is unbelievable.

The bike was loaded so heavy, that I also liked the thought that I´ve got ABS, when riding very slowly in parking lots, petrol stations, etc., because the surface often varied greatly on grip, with dust, sand or mud. It just somehow made me more relaxed to handle the big weight of the bike in those circumstances (even though abs usually didnt even kick in).

Small pang of jealousy #1
Small pang of jealousy #2
I wish my girlfriend was into motorcycles... that would be a cool thing to do together.

Cheers,
Toby
(ruotsalainen and britti)

Yes I've noticed Mollydog is a great advocate of the Strom... some of those photos of the bike in its natural environment just kill me...

I had a BMW F800S (not a GS, just an S). It was a superb bike in every respect and I was sad to see it go (making way for an XT600 for my travels).

The only issue was the ABS. It has a rear-wheel lift prevention algorithm that detects the rear wheel leaving the ground and releases the brakes in order to prevent doing a stoppie. The problem is that it can kick in if you hit even a small bump at low speed with the rear under braking, with very unnerving consequences. All of sudden the brakes release, making you suddenly start closing up on whatever is in front of you much faster than you expected. When your brakes "disappear" liek that, it actually feels like you shoot forward (of course, you don't, you just stop decelerating, but that's how it feels).

Instinctively you pull harder on the lever, and when the brakes decide to work again you're suddenly in danger of going over the bars. Depending how fast you're moving you can cover quite a bit of ground with the brakes released.

It caught me out once and nearly caused an accident. Once I was aware of it I very quickly modified my riding to take it into account, but emergencies are emergencies and I wonder if I would have had the composure to operate things accordingly when something unexpected happens.

The "feature" was widely described by many riders and thoroughly dismissed by BMW. There was no "fault", it was working as intended as far as BMW are concerned. But amongst the owners community there was a feeling that it was only a matter of time before someone had an accident as a direct consequence of this sudden brake release. BMW maintain that this behaviour is normal, correct, and that riders should always ride in consideration of this potential behaviour of the braking system.

If I was in the market I'd buy one again without hesitation, it's a great bike, and I'm familiar with the issue and have just adapted it into my riding style, but if I was looking at any other bike with ABS I'd be making damn sure to scour the internet for any evidence of problems, faults or "features" with the ABS.

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"A study shows drivers responsible for 87% of accidents with cyclists. Another shows drivers fail to see 22% of cyclists in clear view"

What can I say. Been riding 37 years, never yet owned a bike with ABS.

I use my rear brake heavily (I wear rear brakes out before fronts) because I trail brake into corners a lot (using the rear makes the bike a lot easier to turn in) and would hate to have something that precluded me from doing that.

If I was going to get an ABS equipped bike I would definitely want an on/off switch.

Having said that, there are at least 3-4 occasions where I have dropped the bike, albeit at low speed, due to lockups on poor surfaces.

Garry from Oz.

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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman

I used to design ABS systems. My advice is try before you buy and read the internet for first hand experience. IMHO, bike ABS systems vary from the highly proficient to the old and crude and the over developed/under tested.

ABS as it exists on most bikes is a 100% road system. In off road conditions or snow, it can underperform, hence a lot come with off switches and later systems will replace these with automatic sensing, but bikes aren't there yet.

For a large road tourer I'd spec ABS. For anything else I'd have a good think and a long test ride.

Power hydraulic systems are IMHO a pointless and hence potentially dangerous system on a bike. Linked brakes are a good idea, but you can do that with simple pipework.

I've had one ABS activation on a bike that saved me (T boned on a wet road, forced to brake on painted chevrons). I don't currently own a bike with ABS.

Andy