Imho.... ABS is not a "bad" thing in itself but Front Wheel Lockup on a motorcycle is almost always a BAD thing.
I agree that learning to ride in the dirt or on the rocks (having ridden motocross and trials) was definitely beneficial in terms of learning to "feel" what a bike is doing. It has probably saved me a great deal of trouble over the years.
ABS that is built around a bad set of hardware or, more likely, bad programming can be less than perfect. If an ABS is actually capable of inceasing braking forces to the literal 'edge of traction' and then backing off a fraction then, in theory, it should brake as hard as any human can and still prevent lockup. But bad sensors, bad brakes, or bad programming will defeat that capability. And, how many of these programmers have ever ridden a motorcycle?
I can see how, especially in deep sand or gravel, plowing straight ahead, on an upright bike, with a locked front, might stop faster than a front wheel that is not locked up but that seems to be an exception to the abs rule.
Again, IMO, just because someone had a problem with ABS in a specific car, by a specific manufacturer, in a certain model, built in a certain year, that is no reason to curse all ABS systems and ignore their benefits. A rough analogy.... My first cellphone weighed 8 pounds, had a shoulder-strap and the battery only lasted 23 minutes. I would never have purchased another one if I judged all cellphones by that one.
I personally would not cross an otherwise near-perfect bike off my wishlist just because it has ABS. I love my NC700X and still, after almost 5 years, think the NC with DCT is as close to the perfect commuter bike ever built. And, with a nice seat, it makes a terrific (and very capable) light touring bike, right, IBA Rob?
>T
I agree that learning to ride in the dirt or on the rocks (having ridden motocross and trials) was definitely beneficial in terms of learning to "feel" what a bike is doing. It has probably saved me a great deal of trouble over the years.
ABS that is built around a bad set of hardware or, more likely, bad programming can be less than perfect. If an ABS is actually capable of inceasing braking forces to the literal 'edge of traction' and then backing off a fraction then, in theory, it should brake as hard as any human can and still prevent lockup. But bad sensors, bad brakes, or bad programming will defeat that capability. And, how many of these programmers have ever ridden a motorcycle?
I can see how, especially in deep sand or gravel, plowing straight ahead, on an upright bike, with a locked front, might stop faster than a front wheel that is not locked up but that seems to be an exception to the abs rule.
Again, IMO, just because someone had a problem with ABS in a specific car, by a specific manufacturer, in a certain model, built in a certain year, that is no reason to curse all ABS systems and ignore their benefits. A rough analogy.... My first cellphone weighed 8 pounds, had a shoulder-strap and the battery only lasted 23 minutes. I would never have purchased another one if I judged all cellphones by that one.
I personally would not cross an otherwise near-perfect bike off my wishlist just because it has ABS. I love my NC700X and still, after almost 5 years, think the NC with DCT is as close to the perfect commuter bike ever built. And, with a nice seat, it makes a terrific (and very capable) light touring bike, right, IBA Rob?
>T