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Tex, those Ambos and Eldos definitely had anti lock brakes without any of the cost or complications of ABS!
Nothing much to add. Many many millions of miles ridden before ABS and the vast majority of folks lived through it. The first bike I purchased that had ABS I actually kind of scoffed at the idea, but one day the ABS did actually save my butt. I might not be here without it.Even though ABS saved me that day I have ZERO qualms riding a bike without ABS.
The difference is that BMW ABS in 1988 was awful in the way it performed, now it’s just awful to maintain over a long period.
Of course it's not essential. I've got about 500,000 miles on motorcycles, and 20,000 of those were on bikes with ABS.It has some benefits, but it's like people who say:"I would NEVER leave the house without my smartphone and GPS. NEVER!" "I would NEVER drive a car without an airbag!"and things like that. Something we happily did without for our whole lives - how can it suddenly become "essential"?Lannis
Why awful at the time? It was the first ABS designed for motorcycles. I owned and rode my 1989 K100RS/ABS for 43000 miles, before trading on a K1100RS that came with ABS. The system on my 89 model worked. I took the bike out to prove to myself that it did work. Wet road .... 60mph ..... hammered the brakes. Yes, they pulsed, since they were controlled by late 1980 electronics. But not thru the foot pedal or hand brake. The bike simply slowed nicely, with the brakes held on full. To say BMW's first gen ABS didn't work is horses**t.
The ABS on my 2007 BMW F800S tried to kill me one day leaving the Lindale Guzzi rally. Steep driveway to exit the location covered in deep fresh pea gravel. Oncoming car in road below. The BMW anti-lock brakes refused to brake. Horrible situation. They would also refuse to brake in front of some rippled pavement before a downtown stop sign on a route I rode daily. I hate that ABS system.
I’m on a 2000 mile tour at the moment. On Tuesday my rear brake developed a pinhole leak where the rubber line is swaged into a fitting. I’ve ordered a replacement to arrive where I’ll be on Saturday and will install/bleed it in an hour, in a parking lot. Last time I checked you couldn’t do that so easily with an ABS system, pumps etc being in the line, and thinking about it cemented in my mind why I’m not at all interested in ABS: it’s just not part of the simple, elemental motorcycling experience I’ve enjoyed since age nine, decades ago. What others may think about that is of no interest to me, I’m too busy living my own life based on many years of experience and skill developed along the way.What would probably be better for my use is a drum rear brake, as per my R100GS on which the rear drum has worked with no service at all except occasional cable adjustments for 106,000 miles, performing well the whole time... and never leaking a drop of brake fluid. Drums are not powerful enough for the front brake of a fast motorcycle but they work just fine on the rear, where a tiny disk is now typical.It’s also nice to have the front brakes entirely isolated from the rear, so that I can ride all the way home without the rear brake should the part not arrive in time. Simple and straightforward is better in my world.
As ABS becomes more common on motorcycles I see more people claiming they will never buy a bike without it.
Going to make it mandatory out here for bikes over 250cc.
Given the choice, I'd buy the same model bike without ABS even if the price were the same.I suspect within a few years it will not be an option on street bikes.
I have owned the worst braking M/C in the world a 72 HD Super Glide. Small drum brake that faded fast and big rear drum that locked up fast. My next bike was a Ducati 750 GT which I kept until 1991 when I bought a new 90 Mille with linked brakes. I love linked brakes and have never ridden ABS. So my question for those Guzzzitis who have ridden linked, non linked and ABS Guzzis where it the biggest difference. Say comparing a non linked Guzzi (not a modified previously linked Guzzi) to a linked Guzzi. And then compare a linked Guzzi to an ABS Guzzi. Is ABS far superior to a linked Guzzi or is a linked Guzzi far superior to a non linked Guzzi and not so bad compared to an ABS? Are there Tonti frame ABS Guzzis for a comparison to the 3 different braking systems on strictly Tonti Bikes?
Considering you can still buy new motorcycles that do not come with ABS nor is ABS even avalaible on it should tell you its not essential. I know its not a deal breaker for me.
30 years later, probably difficult to maintain. Why awful at the time? It was the first ABS designed for motorcycles. I owned and rode my 1989 K100RS/ABS for 43000 miles, before trading on a K1100RS that came with ABS. The system on my 89 model worked. I took the bike out to prove to myself that it did work. Wet road .... 60mph ..... hammered the brakes. Yes, they pulsed, since they were controlled by late 1980 electronics. But not thru the foot pedal or hand brake. The bike simply slowed nicely, with the brakes held on full. To say BMW's first gen ABS didn't work is horses**t.Bob
Is there a way you could ask your question, but do so in a more convoluted manner??
My previous ride was a Honda CTX700 with separate ABS on front an rear. The ABS enabled me to avoid a crash on one occasion. I liked it.But, what I wanted to find out is this:Has anyone (with ABS) purposefully grabbed a handful of front brake on a wet road just to see what happens? I've done it on wet and dry with the rear brake and on dry road with the front, but I never had the testicular fortitude to do it with the front on a wet road.Gonzo
...Has anyone (with ABS) purposefully grabbed a handful of front brake on a wet road just to see what happens?Gonzo
