ABS saved my life for sure. When travelling you cant avoid bad weather, this is where ABS really shines, when it's raining and you're tired and unfocused.
Dropped my ex max 300 when traversing a shallow Creek over run on the pavement. Speed about 5 miles an hour, I believe the traction control engaged because of existing algae and transferred weight to the front wheel, which broke loose and I bailed. I think this is an excellent application for traction control off. Learned my lesson the hard way.
abs seems awesome because it you panic brake it will help you. Even if abs is on you can still do a hard controlled progressive braking without the abs kicking in. But if you mess up you can be saved by abs. It could help you in rain too. I don’t know too much about it though. I’ve never owned a bike with abs but my next bike will have it.
My Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro has two off-road modes. Off-road turns off traction control, and turns off ABS on the rear wheel, while leaving some ABS on the front. Off-road pro switches off traction control and ABS on both wheels. With off-road mode, I can develop skills at lower cost. For example, in a controlled descent of a steep, low-traction hill, if I go too hard on the front brake lever, the ABS engages, so instead of locking the front wheel and likely taking a tumble, I stand a better chance of making it to the bottom of the hill. Same goes for emergency braking on a low-traction surface. Since I can feel it when the ABS engages, I get instant feedback letting me know when I've used too much force on the lever. After a few attempts, I find that I can engage the brake just shy of the point where ABS kicks in. Once I reach that point I can switch to off-road pro mode and do it "for real." If I had to learn it the hard way, my poor technique on the initial attempts would carry a higher risk of a fall, damage to the bike, injury to me, or, at the very least, requiring me to pick the bike up off the ground, which would make me less enthusiastic about making repeating attempts. It's not foolproof, of course--I can still manage to fall if I work at it, but with a little bit of electronic assistance, I get can better faster, with lower risk of injury or damage.
I just fot that same bike and one of the reasons was for the Off Road vs Off Road pro. Im not good enough to have the muscle memory to know when my front is going to lock up on me so I am happy to have the bike do that for me as I slowly get better at it. Having the ability to turn it all off when (if) I get there is awesome.
Totally agree Eric, both systems have their applications. Computers are an asset but developing your riding skills and adapting to the situation keeps the rider engaged.
ABS is designed to prevent your tires from locking up, helping you steer and keep your bike stable. When a tire skids, you lose the ability to steer or stop effectively, as the tire has to break traction to skid. In my humble opinion, many people just aren’t used to the new technology on bikes. Initially, I thought the ABS on my KTM was out to get me. I spent a good part of a day getting a feel for how ABS works. Once I learned how to use it and releraned some of my skills, I rarely turn it off anymore-if at all.
I've said it on several forums - a locked front wheel in the dirt only means you're going down, so on my little CRF300 I switch off the rear and leave the front on (i actually have no choice regarding the front :-D )
Like you, I want ABS on the pavement. I have made my front tire chirp from over-braking. In the old days you did that without ABS, but today's brake systems are MUCH more responsive/biting. My old '77 KZ1000, you had to lift weights to get that front tire to completely lock up on dry clean pavement. I run with my traction control off all the time, but you have made me possible rethink that. Maybe it would be better on pavement if it was on. But, it's a pain to switch and it's been too big a pain to switch. Off road, I'd rather not have ABS. But the only way to defeat the ABS is to pull the fuse. I have a momentary switch that will kill the ABS power run, but not yet hooked up because there is some question of the legality. By interrupting the circuit, the ABS fails itself and requires a power off and power on to reset. I wish manufacturers would make switching modes on the fly easier. Give me two buttons I can preprogram. One button that switches between no ABS and ABS enabled and another button I can set for two different Traction Control settings, that I select, with NO TC as one of the choices. To set anything other than the presets, I have to go to the menu. Same for setting the button value's. This crap of having to stop, be in neutral, to get to the menu to change the ABS or TC is just that - crap. And, as I said, my ABS doesn't have any options other than fuse in or fuse out.
I actually agree with you in all aspects not just when to have it on or off but that it can impede a riders learning curve and these features should always remain with an off and on switch, good video. 🤓
I have been riding a BMW r1200GSA with the ABS out of service for the last two years. It is my first bike with ABS and I am in no hurry to get it fixed...I still don't see a reason why to get in a hurry. I have been riding since 1976 and I agree about learning the feel for throttle and clutch control more than relying on electronic interferences.
@@omicrondec many if the larger/pricier bikes after 2016 and cheaper bikes after 2018 have modern ABS tuning that performs quite well on dirt, and many now even deactivate at truely low speeds. These require no switch for dirt riding, plus most of the guidance to turn ABS off still rides on the history of too many folks relying far too much on the rear brake with little front brake confidence. Do a video riding down a loose slope with good front brake use and ABS active to demonstrate how its done. A 2016 honda vfr1200x and 2020 klx230 would be two examples at opposite cost positions which both have good dirt systems.
😬 no traction control, it not only confuses me on dirt but it robs your engine of power on pavement. As for ABS I’ve learned to ride with it on the dirt, plus on Honda AT I have to take my hand off the throttle and bars to reach out and switch it off. The TC just needs my index finger (btw on the AT that damn TC switch’s back on every time your shutdown and restart) too confusing for an old man that’s getting senile and depends on old school motor skills/habits 😂
ABS saved my life for sure. When travelling you cant avoid bad weather, this is where ABS really shines, when it's raining and you're tired and unfocused.
Dropped my ex max 300 when traversing a shallow Creek over run on the pavement. Speed about 5 miles an hour, I believe the traction control engaged because of existing algae and transferred weight to the front wheel, which broke loose and I bailed. I think this is an excellent application for traction control off. Learned my lesson the hard way.
abs seems awesome because it you panic brake it will help you. Even if abs is on you can still do a hard controlled progressive braking without the abs kicking in. But if you mess up you can be saved by abs. It could help you in rain too. I don’t know too much about it though. I’ve never owned a bike with abs but my next bike will have it.
My Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro has two off-road modes. Off-road turns off traction control, and turns off ABS on the rear wheel, while leaving some ABS on the front. Off-road pro switches off traction control and ABS on both wheels. With off-road mode, I can develop skills at lower cost. For example, in a controlled descent of a steep, low-traction hill, if I go too hard on the front brake lever, the ABS engages, so instead of locking the front wheel and likely taking a tumble, I stand a better chance of making it to the bottom of the hill. Same goes for emergency braking on a low-traction surface. Since I can feel it when the ABS engages, I get instant feedback letting me know when I've used too much force on the lever. After a few attempts, I find that I can engage the brake just shy of the point where ABS kicks in. Once I reach that point I can switch to off-road pro mode and do it "for real." If I had to learn it the hard way, my poor technique on the initial attempts would carry a higher risk of a fall, damage to the bike, injury to me, or, at the very least, requiring me to pick the bike up off the ground, which would make me less enthusiastic about making repeating attempts. It's not foolproof, of course--I can still manage to fall if I work at it, but with a little bit of electronic assistance, I get can better faster, with lower risk of injury or damage.
I just fot that same bike and one of the reasons was for the Off Road vs Off Road pro. Im not good enough to have the muscle memory to know when my front is going to lock up on me so I am happy to have the bike do that for me as I slowly get better at it. Having the ability to turn it all off when (if) I get there is awesome.
Totally agree Eric, both systems have their applications. Computers are an asset but developing your riding skills and adapting to the situation keeps the rider engaged.
Thanks for making great videos.
Thanks. We really appreciate that note and encouragment to do more. Take care and happy to hear the video brought some value to the table.
ABS is designed to prevent your tires from locking up, helping you steer and keep your bike stable. When a tire skids, you lose the ability to steer or stop effectively, as the tire has to break traction to skid. In my humble opinion, many people just aren’t used to the new technology on bikes. Initially, I thought the ABS on my KTM was out to get me. I spent a good part of a day getting a feel for how ABS works. Once I learned how to use it and releraned some of my skills, I rarely turn it off anymore-if at all.
I've said it on several forums - a locked front wheel in the dirt only means you're going down, so on my little CRF300 I switch off the rear and leave the front on (i actually have no choice regarding the front :-D )
Like you, I want ABS on the pavement. I have made my front tire chirp from over-braking. In the old days you did that without ABS, but today's brake systems are MUCH more responsive/biting.
My old '77 KZ1000, you had to lift weights to get that front tire to completely lock up on dry clean pavement.
I run with my traction control off all the time, but you have made me possible rethink that. Maybe it would be better on pavement if it was on. But, it's a pain to switch and it's been too big a pain to switch.
Off road, I'd rather not have ABS. But the only way to defeat the ABS is to pull the fuse. I have a momentary switch that will kill the ABS power run, but not yet hooked up because there is some question of the legality. By interrupting the circuit, the ABS fails itself and requires a power off and power on to reset.
I wish manufacturers would make switching modes on the fly easier.
Give me two buttons I can preprogram. One button that switches between no ABS and ABS enabled and another button I can set for two different Traction Control settings, that I select, with NO TC as one of the choices. To set anything other than the presets, I have to go to the menu. Same for setting the button value's.
This crap of having to stop, be in neutral, to get to the menu to change the ABS or TC is just that - crap. And, as I said, my ABS doesn't have any options other than fuse in or fuse out.
I actually agree with you in all aspects not just when to have it on or off but that it can impede a riders learning curve and these features should always remain with an off and on switch, good video. 🤓
I have been riding a BMW r1200GSA with the ABS out of service for the last two years. It is my first bike with ABS and I am in no hurry to get it fixed...I still don't see a reason why to get in a hurry. I have been riding since 1976 and I agree about learning the feel for throttle and clutch control more than relying on electronic interferences.
Great vid.
Thanks
Thank you ! Great video and editing
good thoughts.
Dated guidance for sure on ABS
And what is the modern advice you're seeing?
@@omicrondec many if the larger/pricier bikes after 2016 and cheaper bikes after 2018 have modern ABS tuning that performs quite well on dirt, and many now even deactivate at truely low speeds. These require no switch for dirt riding, plus most of the guidance to turn ABS off still rides on the history of too many folks relying far too much on the rear brake with little front brake confidence. Do a video riding down a loose slope with good front brake use and ABS active to demonstrate how its done. A 2016 honda vfr1200x and 2020 klx230 would be two examples at opposite cost positions which both have good dirt systems.
You feel that way about off-road ABS and TC on the newest KTMs, Ducatis, and Triumphs? They let you spin the rear and wheelie now.
What about on the track? Do ADV riders not ride on the track?
😬 no traction control, it not only confuses me on dirt but it robs your engine of power on pavement.
As for ABS I’ve learned to ride with it on the dirt, plus on Honda AT I have to take my hand off the throttle and bars to reach out and switch it off. The TC just needs my index finger (btw on the AT that damn TC switch’s back on every time your shutdown and restart) too confusing for an old man that’s getting senile and depends on old school motor skills/habits 😂