ABS or not?

[redout]

Considering upgrading to a bike with ABS.

2 options available:

Standard model with no ABS or model with ABS.

The price difference is €800 which I consider a bit steep.

So is the ABS worth it? From a safety pov it seems a no brainer though the price difference is a factor.

Advice appreciated.

[Fledermaus]

I've never owned a bike with ABS so i can't comment on efficiency,but if price is a factor,maybe buy second hand?I'm assuming(wrongly?
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) you are looking at new bikes if you have this option.Seriously,the second hand market is flooded with nearly new bikes with ABS and all the bells and whistles.I'l never buy new,came close,backed out,no regrets.
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[vifferman]

I've only owned one bike with ABS and it never activated in the two years I owned the bike. I've fallen off a few times, but never because of locking up the front. Although I've seen two crashes, (in the same location) caused by this, but it's impossible to say if ABS would have prevented them.
Ultimately up to you, but personally, I wouldn't pay extra for it.

[generalisimo muldoon]

Had ABS on the GS and I know for a fact it saved from an off on one occasion when a truck came around a corner on my side of the road and I had to go cross country for a few secs. Only happened once in 4 years but it's nice to have it if you need it.

[Admin]

If you ride a bike every day in all kinds of weather then it's worth the extra, fair weather bikers of an odd Sunday morning probably have no real need for ABS.

[jay boy]

Can be very expensive if it goes wrong, cost my mate £1200 Sterling when we were on a trip to the U K

[motivlack]

I use the Gs daily and its definately saved me a few times from locking up either wheel, so I'd recommend it.

[redout]

I am on the road everyday in all weather. Quite a bit of M50 and Dual-Carraigeways.

I'll have a think about it - cheers lads.

[The Road Runner]

Originally Posted by redout

Considering upgrading to a bike with ABS.

2 options available:

Standard model with no ABS or model with ABS.

The price difference is €800 which I consider a bit steep.

So is the ABS worth it? From a safety pov it seems a no brainer though the price difference is a factor.

Advice appreciated.

My last 5 bikes have had abs ..my current bike. tiger 800 cost an extra grand with ABS....but i paid it anyway, because ABS saved my bacon at least twice over the previous couple of years....recently i pulled up to a downed biker with a high performance ducati..slightly damp roads and just a little too much brembo front...and down he went like a sack of spuds. no other vehicle involved...repairs cost 8 grand...to put the bike right.....if you can afford it...and you are planning on holding on to it for a while, its money well spent i would say.
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[Bon Scott]

Originally Posted by Admin

If you ride a bike every day in all kinds of weather then it's worth the extra, fair weather bikers of an odd Sunday morning probably have no real need for ABS.

What he said.
Saved my bacon at least twice in the
year & half I have the Fazer so i'd say it's worth it.

[ridelikeaturtle]

Would likely make the bike easier to resell in the future and increase its value. Go for the ABS.

[Jaden]

Saved me too on a damp and greasy junction with a stupid c@ger dancing on the brakes at the first hint of amber.

Worth it IMHO. It's like Helmets - how much to you value your body/bike in it's current undamaged condition?

[Harrington]

Can you turn off the ABS on any of these bikes?

[proinnsias]

Originally Posted by Harrington

Can you turn off the ABS on any of these bikes?

You can on a gs. Little reason to want to on a road bike though.

As for getting ABS or not : I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it - like any other bit of good gear.

P

[rippy]

Would possibly have saved me in the biggie I had a couple of years ago.
I'm sure it's saved my ass in cages and vans a few times .
If I'm ever in the position I can afford a recent bike again , rather than old nails from the 90s, it will be a pre-requisate.
€800 is a lot cheaper than crashing.

[Benny Dunne]

The extra cost is worth it. ABS saved my wife and I in Spain a couple of years ago when a driver cut across us, the ABS allowed me brake and turn at the same time into a garage off the main road to miss him. There is no way that I could do that with a bike without ABS. The funny part was my wife asked me what we were doing in the garage, she missed the whole thing on the back!!

[magnav30]

Go with ABS . End of .
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[johnny b]

I have had a bike with abs for the last couple of months.
I thought it wasnt working as I never felt it kick in, but alas I was checking out a decent looking young one at a bus stop one day in the rain and when I looked back at the road.... the van in front had stopped!

Shit, I grabbed a handfull of front break and it kicked in, I stopped well shorter than expected and would have been off on a bike with no abs due to my inititial brake grab.

Was definitley well worth the Gawk at yer one..... seriously short skirt!

[I polished one off to a dude]

ABS ftw. wouldnt go doing it for the craic but if ever in a situation where ya dont know whether to brake or steer to avoid a hazard....

[thecrutch]

had it on the last 2 bikes, never really noticed it on the vfr 800, but i do notice it on the 1200, on damp greasy roads, esp near petrol stations etc, when gobshites pull out in front of you

you will never know its there 99 times out of 100 until some dozy goose pulls out in front of you in the pissing rain, you'll grab a fist full of front brake, the abs will stop the front wheel from locking, going someway to preventing you from landing on your hole and making shite of your bike
also think of your resale a couple of years time,

i'd recommend it