That isn't being judgemental and dogmatic, it is being realistic. It is just a further reminder that we need to practice emergency braking techniques so we don't lock the rear wheel. Yes, ABS would have prevented that, but people have done without ABS for decades and if you don;t have it, you need to be sure you will be able to brake correctly in an emergency situation. Too many people have a bad habit of stomping the rear brake out of habit, a habit that is "practiced" on a daily basis while riding, instead of using the front and back brake correctly. I see this a lot with my friends who ride cruisers, although I have seen riders of all types of bike do it.
Sorry, I wasn't trying to be mean, I was just pointing out the fact the fault wasn't with the lack of ABS, but instead the improper use of the brake. Brakes aren't just for slowing gently to a stop at a stop sign, they are to be able to be used to stop in an emergency situation. People today have been conditioned to simply stomp the brake in their cars due to ABS, that won't work on a motorcycle that does not have ABS. Braking skills are becoming a thing of the past. Unfortunately, if you are riding a bike without them, you need those skills.
Practice should be done on an ABS bike as well, to learn how the bike (and you) will react under sudden braking... to many think it's there, and that's it.
I know this to be true from personal experience. Not having practiced emergency braking definately aidded in my one and only accident. that ast well as target fixation and the brick of a brake a non-abs 09 C14 has. Practice however has taught me how to better modulate the rear brake on my 09 C14. That was the only time I had wished I'd sprung for the ABS version. Live & learn I suppose. Fortunately the bke was repaired & I healed quickly. If I had it to do again I buy the ABS.
Screw passengersDepends on the passenger.
That isn't being judgemental and dogmatic, it is being realistic. It is just a further reminder that we need to practice emergency braking techniques so we don't lock the rear wheel.
This is the primary reason why I was taught to never use the rear brake for "normal" braking, so I would never be tempted to use the rear brake in a panic. And it worked. Of course, the flip side is that I ended up never using the rear brake EVER... which, for most riding, is probably fine.
I love the de-evolution of a topic of conversation.
Oh, and technically, this entire thread doesn't belong in this forum, since it really has nothing to do with the C14... perhaps it should be moved to the "It's not a Concours- other Bikes" http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?board=11.0 forum where it belongs.
Well, I thought and I thought and then thought some more and decided to leave it here for now... Course T could come along and move it with a single thought rather than using multiple thoughts. It's all good for now, I think..
A Yamaha Venture with carbs is a far better touring cruiser.
Well have decided against the Voyager, you guys wore me down. That and test drove a Vaquero. Was not bad but the C14 has spoiled me for power.