Honda’s C-ABS

Good or bad

It improves safety but does it take away the rider’s skill, riding involvement and the purity of bike control?

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Lucas

Good or bad

It improves safety but does it take away the rider’s skill, riding involvement and the purity of bike control?

Not in my experience. The linking seems to have a small effect, barely noticeable and indeed if you did not know the brakes were linked you may never notice. Hooning round a track on the limit you may notice a difference, but on the road you won't.

ABS has come on once in 18k miles, when I had done less than 100 miles on the bike and was forced into a panic / emergency brake situation. It stopped me going down in the middle of the M6, for which I'm grateful.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Lucas

the purity of bike control?

Best load of ******** statement this year - and I say that as someone who has been trying very hard to get that title.............

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

Best load of ******** statement this year - and I say that as someone who has been trying very hard to get that title.............

You still got 8 months to beat it, won't be hard then

My POV:

The reasons I'm against it are more mechanical than thinking I'm a Riding God; More to go wrong, harder to service, more weight, etc. I also can't think of any off I've had where it would have made the blindest bit of difference, still, I'm sure there are instances where it might be useful. I'd take it on a tourer/2-up bike any day, assuming the cost was only a couple of hundred pounds extra, but I'd not pay extra for it on a "fun" bike. At the same time, I'm not egotistical enough that I'd pay to get it removed if I bought a second hand bike that already had it on.

As to linked brakes: Front->Back linked = Generally a good thing.
When the reverse is also true, it can be bad during tight low speed turns. Fortunately BMW have realised this. Can't recall whether or not Hondas do, but the one I rode with linked brakes didn't appear to suffer from the problems associated with rear->front linking, so I'd assume they have.

[yorkie_chris]

I don't want it, won't have it. Too complicated. More electronic boswallox to go wrong.

Metal stuff, fixable, simple = good. Electronic stuff, complicated, expensive, not fixable, h*nda = bad.

The C-abs system, such as that on the new Blade is reportedly very good, and only kicks in if wheel lock is detected. I wouldn't expect it to detract from the fun of riding a superbike.

I guess if it was on your Dullsville or something then you'd be using it differently and it'd be no doubt very helpful, especially if someone pulls out on you in the wet! No amount of skill can counteract your instincts unless you know what happen.

I don't think it takes away skill as such, because the amount of brake force it takes to lock will never be the same, the next time you use it. Generally you'd take the lowest, say in the wet and cold, and add 15% for the dry usage, but obviously different tarmac and weather conditions could affect this..

Would I pay extra for ABS? Well maybe, depends. I wouldn't buy it on something like a KTM Superduke, but I would on a VStrom or Gladius or something. I just like feeling there's something there to help me should I panic and grab too much brake. I'll happily be called unskillfull or that I'm relying on electronics, when my bike and me are in one piece!

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

I don't want it, won't have it. Too complicated. More electronic boswallox to go wrong.

Metal stuff, fixable, simple = good. Electronic stuff, complicated, expensive, not fixable, h*nda = bad.

+0.5

I don't think ABS on bikes is much less reliable than ABS in cars, the technology has been about for ages in the automotive world. But yes, it's quite pricey to fix if it goes wrong.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

I don't want it, won't have it. Too complicated. More electronic boswallox to go wrong.

Metal stuff, fixable, simple = good. Electronic stuff, complicated, expensive, not fixable = bad

Have to agree, bleeding the brakes is a logistical nightmare!

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

h*nda = bad.

- It's paid for and in front of yours!

[ophic]

Originally Posted by Jamiebridges123

But yes, it's quite pricey to fix if it goes wrong.

And if it goes wrong when you're relying on it, that price could be terminal. But on reflection I think i'd still have it, given the choice.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by ophic

And if it goes wrong when you're relying on it, that price could be terminal. But on reflection I think i'd still have it, given the choice.

If it goes wrong when a wheel locks, then the result is the same as any other bike..... If it goes wrong, then the brakes will still work in the normal fashion. If a pipe breaks etc, well the problem is the same as any other bike.

Basically the only thing you won't have is ABS, so then it is just like any other bike.