Honda’s C-ABS

[ophic]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

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.

But you have to know whether the ABS is working or not and then brake accordingly. Different technique.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by ophic

But you have to know whether the ABS is working or not and then brake accordingly. Different technique.

Ahhh I see, you are talking about using ABS as part of normal riding? I don't, I ride 'normally' and think of the ABS as a safety net for when I screw up / child runs out* / gravel I did not see* to help catch a locked wheel.

On my bike there is the ABS warning light that comes on when any part of the system fails.



*These are covered really by 'I screw up' as I should have good enough observation to see hazards, but was for example.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

in front of yours!

Never for long

Suzuki > H*nda. End of.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Never for long

Suzuki > H*nda. End of.

Can anyone that hasn't owned or at least ridden an ABS equipped bike please STFU with their uninformed theoretical babblings please.

ABS is great, I have it on the Zed in un-linked/combined form and if you mess up it lets you know about it due to the feedback through the lever but doesnt punish you for it.

I am not sure about whether I would like to lose control over how I apply the brakes with regards to front/rear, but as I haven't ridden one I cannot really comment as per my opening paragraph in this post.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

I am not sure about whether I would like to lose control over how I apply the brakes with regards to front/rear, but as I haven't ridden one I cannot really comment as per my opening paragraph in this post.

The VFR you had on hire / loan would have had CBS brakes. It may not have been ABS, but certainly they were linked brakes.

[ophic]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Ahhh I see, you are talking about using ABS as part of normal riding? I don't, I ride 'normally' and think of the ABS as a safety net for when I screw up / child runs out* / gravel I did not see* to help catch a locked wheel.

No not normal riding, but emergencies. In emergency braking you need to know whether you have ABS or not. That's what the indicator light is for - however if, for example, the light isn't working, or you don't notice it, or you forget that its on, or the ABS fails mid-emergency (unlikely, admittedly), then you are in trouble - doubly so because there's no way to practise handling a locked wheel when the ABS is working. Ok maybe there's a fuse you can pull out...

As I stated previously, I think its a good idea and I'd choose to have it and hope it never fails, cos by then my dubious braking skills would be even worse!

Anyone tried it?

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

The VFR you had on hire / loan would have had CBS brakes. It may not have been ABS, but certainly they were linked brakes.

Thanks mate - I had just about managed to blank that memory......

In that case, I dont think I even noticed it......

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

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.

Yea, i kinda agree here - I'm adverse to more stuff on my bike as I fear more to go wrong. My dad regularly encounters problems with ABS on cars, because it rarely gets activated so thinks get "stuck" and it either dosnt work at all, or works less efficiently.

However, I wouldnt say no to an ABS version of whatever bike I get next. If the price differance isnt too great, then I'll pay a bit mroe for added peace of mind.

[TSM]

Originally Posted by ophic

No not normal riding, but emergencies. In emergency braking you need to know whether you have ABS or not. That's what the indicator light is for - however if, for example, the light isn't working, or you don't notice it, or you forget that its on, or the ABS fails mid-emergency (unlikely, admittedly), then you are in trouble - doubly so because there's no way to practise handling a locked wheel when the ABS is working. Ok maybe there's a fuse you can pull out...

As I stated previously, I think its a good idea and I'd choose to have it and hope it never fails, cos by then my dubious braking skills would be even worse!

If you ever start a ABS bike and the light does not turn on then assume that the system is not working.

ABS failing, well if it fails during riding, it should light up the LED.
If it fails during or at the point of a emergency brake then thats just unlucky.

In most cases (dry weather) the skid is initiated by the rider slamming on the front brakes, no fork preload makes the front wheel lock up far faster then ABS kicks in and stopping distance is increased but bike stays upright (unless he hit the object he hoped that the ABS would stop the bike before). If the rider can just put a little preload before the slam on the brakes then its likley that the front wheel will be less likley to skid and so less ABS interaction and shorter braking distance.

I still think that no learner should ever be allowed to learn on a ABS equipped bike.

Personaly I have got good feal for a skidding front wheel and keep it on the limit, this is not to say that i would not mind my bike having ABS that kicks in when all else fails.