The downfall of ABS....HUH?

[feelergaugephil]

08 Connie, 28K.
Absalutly love the ABS, in the 3.5 years I have owned it, the ABS has saved me 3 times, 2 times were cars pulling out on me, the 3rd was on Deals Gap, (you know that tiny little straight with the small hump in it,) was going to quick for the right turn at the end of it,,,,,, well if you rode it, you know what I'm talking about.....
So, the downfall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I ride an 03 ZRX 1200R without ABS, the back wheel locks up under heavy braking!!!!!!!!!! ok, rant over!!!! lololololol.

[maxtog]

08 Connie, 28K.
Absalutly love the ABS, in the 3.5 years I have owned it, the ABS has saved me 3 times, 2 times were cars pulling out on me, the 3rd was on Deals Gap, (you know that tiny little straight with the small hump in it,) was going to quick for the right turn at the end of it,,,,,, well if you rode it, you know what I'm talking about.....
So, the downfall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I ride an 03 ZRX 1200R without ABS, the back wheel locks up under heavy braking!!!!!!!!!! ok, rant over!!!! lololololol.

I don't understand your posting.  The ZRX has no ABS, so how is that a "downfall of ABS"?  Rear brakes are not very useful for hard braking because most of the weight is transferred to the front wheel.  If your rear is locking up on a non-ABS bike, it is because you are applying too much rear brake.

My last bike was a 2000 ZRX.

[texrider]

Seems as though he means being used to the ABS causes him to be heavy footed on the non ABS bike...

[Mister Tee]

On that note, I find that during a really hard stop ('10 C14) using the front brake only, the ABS will kick in on the rear wheel occasionally.  Too much bias on the rear wheel, and that is on the default lighter setting.

[maxtog]

Seems as though he means being used to the ABS causes him to be heavy footed on the non ABS bike...

And that is a problem, indeed.  Since motorcycle riders should always be using primarily the front brake; regardless of linking or ABS.  It is a VERY dangerous habit to get into using primarily the rear brake (I rarely even use the rear brake).

[Pokey]

^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^

[wally_games]

And that is a problem, indeed.  Since motorcycle riders should always be using primarily the front brake; regardless of linking or ABS.  It is a VERY dangerous habit to get into using primarily the rear brake (I rarely even use the rear brake).

+1

[rcannon409]

I agree its a problem switching between abs and non abs.  I dont know how long I'll put up with the nonsense since they released the Ninja 1000abs.  In the name of safety I feel like I should replace my sv650 with one.  Not that I want  a new bike, but I'll do this for safety.

Rear abs is cool in that it allows use of the rear brake on the street.  I was surprised at how much I could use before abs kicked in. Without abs, I dont bother or will use a hard, worthless pad to prevent lock-up.   It probably does not add much brake power, but it does help steady the bike. After having abs, I dont think I want to be without it.

[feelergaugephil]

I don't understand your posting.  The ZRX has no ABS, so how is that a "downfall of ABS"?  Rear brakes are not very useful for hard braking because most of the weight is transferred to the front wheel.  If your rear is locking up on a non-ABS bike, it is because you are applying too much rear brake.

My last bike was a 2000 ZRX.

I was being comical, Im used to ABS and the rex doesnt have it, so Im not as comfortable on the rex as the connie...

[katata1100]

ABS makes my rear brake functional. I slam my foot on it, feel the abs tick while using the front.
On every other bike I owned, rear brake was the same- use it and it'll lock.

[Sea Level]

And that is a problem, indeed.  Since motorcycle riders should always be using primarily the front brake; regardless of linking or ABS.  It is a VERY dangerous habit to get into using primarily the rear brake (I rarely even use the rear brake).

Yes, and as we've discussed before, it's equally a bad habit to allow your rear-braking skills to atrophy through non-use. Not just because you will want that skill when you ride a different, non-linked bike, but because you can control the rear brake in the linked system to prevent the front end of diving at inopportune moments through excessive front lever.

I find that some rear brake pedal pressure prior to entering a turn activates enough front brake (one rotor) to keep the bike stabilized and the suspension level. It's not going to cause you to high side because it won't lock and skid . In fact, the only time I tend to ignore the rear brake is when  I'm in traffic. I'll let the computer do the work for rear braking.

[maxtog]

Yes, and as we've discussed before, it's equally a bad habit to allow your rear-braking skills to atrophy through non-use. [...]

It is *far more* dangerous to get into a habit of overusing the rear brake than never using it at all.  However, I am not promoting the complete disuse of the rear brake, just relegating it to its proper place- far less important than the front brake.

If one gets the the habit of primarily using the rear brake, it will become automatic, and in a panic situation that could kill someone trained that way who then gets on a bike without linked/ABS.

[Conrad]

It is *far more* dangerous to get into a habit of overusing the rear brake than never using it at all.  However, I am not promoting the complete disuse of the rear brake, just relegating it to its proper place- far less important than the front brake.

If one gets the the habit of primarily using the rear brake, it will become automatic, and in a panic situation that could kill someone trained that way who then gets on a bike without linked/ABS.

I've read all the posts in this thread twice and nowhere did I see anyone say anything about primarily using, or over using, the rear brake.     

[maxtog]

I've read all the posts in this thread twice and nowhere did I see anyone say anything about primarily using, or over using, the rear brake.     

It was the OP (original poster):   "I ride an 03 ZRX 1200R without ABS, the back wheel locks up under heavy braking!!!!!!!!!!"  Although he later says he was kidding, that sentence indicates over-breaking on the rear.   And in context, he was talking about panic stops where ABS saved him. 

Then Texrider added "Seems as though he means being used to the ABS causes him to be heavy footed on the non ABS bike..."

[VirginiaJim]

I use both brakes.  I paid for them so I'm going to use them.  I will also never buy another non-ABS bike.

[texrider]

I use both brakes.  I paid for them so I'm going to use them.  I will also never buy another non-ABS bike.

Amen brother!

[martin_14]

I use both brakes.  I paid for them so I'm going to use them.  I will also never buy another non-ABS bike.

precisely!

[Conrad]

I use both brakes.  I paid for them so I'm going to use them.  I will also never buy another non-ABS bike.

[Rhino]

I use both brakes.  I paid for them so I'm going to use them.  I will also never buy another non-ABS bike.

+2 or 3

[PH14]

I use my rear brake, but only in addition to the front. I'm amazed at how many riders never practice braking skills before they need it. Those are the ones you find in a ditch just after the long skid mark abruptly stops. You should use your rear brake so often that it is second nature, so you know how much you can use without locking it up. You need to practice this so that in an emergency you WON'T lock it up. No I don't have ABS, I bought the 2009 over the 2010 because I didn't wan t linked brakes. Personal choice. I also tend to go for the simpler of two pieces of machinery as long as the simpler one does what it is I want, and the 2009 does.

Practice is better than complacency, whether you have ABS or not.