- Wed Jun 22, 2016 6:17 pm
#59307
Scalyback, I have owned many bikes with ABS, starting with a couple of K series Beemers in 1998. The simple answer is that if you use the brakes properly and in accordance with the prevailing conditions it is unlikely, with a caveat, that the ABS will activate. ABS does not prevent trail braking - the police do this on their ABS equipped Beemers - it should not be confused with linked brakes where the rear cannot be used without activating the front one (think Honda combined brakes or Moto-Guzzi). Whilst it is true that in the days of ABS 1 on the K series Beemers a good rider could outbrake an ABS machine, at least in the dry, the sophisticated systems fitted by the Japs et al on super bikes cannot be bettered. It's all down to how fast the processor works. ABS 1 was slow and clunky; ABS 2 on the oilheads needed a good battery or the fault light was forever coming on. ABS I was the infamous BMW servo braking system - great while it worked, dangerous when it went into residual braking mode and horrendously expensive when the servo packed up ( when, not if). The ABS on my BMW F800GT cut in too early and then rolled on a little - weird and dangerous in my view. That on my 700 Deauville was just there; it never activated. That had linked brakes but the rear was independent - a good system. The ABS on my Triumph Sprint never activated in my ownership - I only knew it worked by deliberately provoking it. It all boils down to how well it's done. It complicates bleeding brakes, though you still can. I shudder to think what RE would do with it if their EFI is anything to go by. The drum brake would either have to be replaced by a disc or - less likely- become hydraulically operated. There's a good article in MCS & L on Euro IV this month. Apparently some of the Chinese makes won't bother with Europe because of it - maybe RE will take the same view, although this is unlikely following the establishment
Of the R&D place in England. Hope this helps.
