ABS - Gimmick or great

[Viney]

Originally Posted by Baph

My opinion has nothing to do with image, nor the opinion of my instructor.

I was only jesting with ya

Originally Posted by Baph

I can't see how a qualified (and highly reputable) DAS instructor could disable ABS on a bike, supposing that you are correct. However, if you call up most insurance companies with a "I've bought this bike, but I've disabled the ABS, please quote me for the same bike but without ABS" then surely they would be able to oblige?

Ah, getting a quote, and getting paid out after an incident is diferent matter.

Originally Posted by Baph

Like I said about MOT's, I have no clue, but again, how could my DAS instructor run his school on a bike that wouldn't pass an MOT? The bike by the way was (and he probably still has it) the FJR1300 ABS.

I have had 1st hand experience of how insturctors get thier MOT's. Not saying all are like that, but im sure that most are.

Originally Posted by Baph

My opinion is, as others, that I have found that in a car, ABS can get in the way. I'd rather go down because of my lack of ability to control the situation, rather than because of a mechanical device. I would ride more within the limits imposed by the situation without ABS, so I wouldn't ride a bike with it.

So your pride would get damaged knowing that you crashed because you where a numpty, more than letting a proven mecahnical/electromechanical device stopped it from happening. Thats madness.

Originally Posted by Baph

I know under certain circumstances I could stop quicker with ABS. I also know under certain circumstances (as mentionned above, snow/ice being prime example) I could stop quicker without ABS.

ABS isnt there to stop your bike quicker, its there to stop the front wheel from locking and enabling the rider/driver to manouver. A common mis conception of ABS.

Originally Posted by Dr Rich

Maybe his ABS was switchable?

I have no idea if it was or not, but I do clearly remember him talking about it & saying that he'd always disable ABS on any bike he owned.

For all I know, it might invalidate insurance & fail MOTs, but surely no-one could run a bike school if that was the case (assuming it's not switchable).

Switchable ABS brings in another debate. Do you invalidate your insurance if you have a crash & it was set to "off"?

EDIT: Just seen Viney's reply... to me, ABS is there to help acheive the aim of stopping, in a controlled manner, in the shortest distance possible. To me, that's quickly (I've had experience of sliding along the floor, and it's no quick way to stop!). Try braking hard on snow with ABS on a bike, and see how manouverable it is

Originally Posted by Baph

I have no idea if it was or not, but I do clearly remember him talking about it & saying that he'd always disable ABS on any bike he owned.

For all I know, it might invalidate insurance & fail MOTs, but surely no-one could run a bike school if that was the case (assuming it's not switchable).

Switchable ABS brings in another debate. Do you invalidate your insurance if you have a crash & it was set to "off"?

I doubt it as ABS isnt compulsory. There's a big difference between switching it off and tinkering with something thats part of your braking system though. Personally i think if you have it (on tarmac) your plain daft (instructor or not) to switch it off.

[fizzwheel]

Nope I still dont want it.

if I want to be "Safe" I'll take the car or use the bus.

Personal choice innit

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Nope I still dont want it.

if I want to be "Safe" I'll take the car or use the bus.

Personal choice innit

+1

But I'll stay wrapped up in bed to make sure I'm safe. Oh wait, there's a chance my roof will cave in from an earthquake!

[northwind]

Originally Posted by Viney

Removing 'safety features' is slightly different than adding a race can. Your insurace would be null and void, and your bike would fail. Unless you changed your wheels, and removed the entire ABS sytem...!

Sorry Viney, but this isn't right at all... Not an MOT fail, and not considered to make your vehicle unroadworthy. You'd have to declare it to the insurance as a modification though, if you disabled it.

I agree with what Ceri said- ABS doesn't just stop locking up, it potentially prevents underbraking too. Most people lack at least one of the skill, the nerve, the reactions and the clarity of thought to use every bit of a bike's potential in an emergency, it's just a question of degrees how far that goes.