Most people know that ABS or anti-lock braking system is a system on motor vehicles which prevents the wheels from locking while braking. The purpose of this is to allow the driver to maintain steering control under heavy braking and, in some situations, to shorten braking distances by allowing the driver to hit the brake fully without the fear of skidding or loss of control. .Harley-Davidson introduced an antilock braking system on two police cruiser bikes in 2005. Now it’s a factory installed option on all 2008 Touring & V-Rod models (total of 10). The use of Brembo brakes with the latest in braking technology will improve consistent braking and stopping power under all operating conditions. At the Dealer Convention July 9th in Nashville TN, Harley declared that the system is almost invisible Unlike many motorcycle ABS, Harley-Davidson ABS is a manual, independent system, meaning the rider maintains full, independent control of how much of each brake is applied. The ABS system is provided by Delphi Corporation.
if you consider “invisible” as taking up half of the right saddlebag so be it. the system works well but as an experienced rider if i want to lock up the rear and slide i want the ability to do it not a grab and release electronic solenoid telling me no you cant.
Besides not being able to trail brake, i’m wondering how much this option adds to the cost of maintenance.
Will the average owner be able to purge their own brake systems?
Exactly what was the “business case” for adding ABS…. Who asked for it?
Seeing one bike at a dealership for an extended period because of some unresolved ABS problem was enough for me to opt out.
What possible reason could HD have for increasing the price of their product…?
Sorry, smells like more Progressive, do-good meddling….
Standard HD (And others) methodology.
Police bikes first- have law enforcement do your beta testing to tweak the most flagrant problems before you
Tout it as an option- have thousands of option happy buyers pay for the exclusive opportunity to shake out the bugs in as guinea pigs before you
Make it standard on some models- if it doesn’t kill enough of the option buyers to get blamed for any fatalities make it a standard item, talk up it’s wonderful safetiness and add a few benjamins over cost to the tab before you
Make it a fleetwide standard- so you can placate the DOT that you are continuing to imprint safety onto your products and onto your customer base, because after all riding is about safety and expensive add ons that you have to pay for if you want to get an RK to park in your garage and show to people when they say to you that they didn’t know you have a bike because they never see you ride.
It no longer takes up saddle bag space, it is a new system that resides behind the left side cover.
I thought the idea of brakes was to STOP the bike, if you are sliding, you are not stopping.
don’t know of any one, Harley, BMW, Ford, Chevy etc. who has been killed by using abs, know a bunch who have been killed without it.
Read up on the system …. think about it….. and like me you will want it.
If this ABS system is so great, why is it an option on a few models & not standard on the entire line of bikes? Are we to assume some bikes should stop better than other bikes?
Sorry Motor6
i smell a basic problem here and pop may have put his finger on it:
“…the DOT that you are continuing to imprint safety onto your products and onto your customer base, because after all riding is about safety …”
-1- Who decides how much “safety” is enough?
Not too long ago some idiot actually proposed safety legislation that included “seat belts for bikes.”
-2- Riding has always been about “riding.” Those who want to be “safe” should take safer transportation.
The problem with our society is that everyone wants to be indemnified against all of life’s liabilities. This is some sort of Progressive Liberal mind set that’s been creeping into our culture for the last 50 years.
Are you sure the people you know
“… have been killed without…” were actually killed because they didn’t have ABS or were they killed because they didn’t know how to ride?
Don’t make the rest of us pay for the your need to be safe.
Wanting DOT to assure all productes are safe is the same mind set that almost got us Hillary & Ira Health Care.
Read up on trail braking.
Motor6, if you want ABS I don’t see where anything anyone is saying prevents you having it.
There have been aftermarket retrofits for a few years and everybody knew it was coming.
That being said, before casting the “ABS” is safer net (insert any of a number of safety devices into the quotation marks)do just a little research like this…
http://www.aa1car.com/library/abs98f.htm
Google, it’s a wonderful thing.
PoP
RE:
“…ABS-equipped vehicles ….suffered a 44% increase in rollovers…”
Could it be ABS has created “Highg-side” for cars…?
Too much of a good thing………:-)
hello,
has anyone heard of any lockup problems on the new harley abs systems. in other words, in a panic stopping situation has anyone heard of brakes failing to do what they are supposed to do and that is not lock up? thank you for your time, carl merena
So I bought a 2008 Ultra and want to put tall handlebars on, but no one has upper brake lines for ABS. Goodridge break line manufacturer said that the new ABS break lines are incompatible and if you want to change one, then you have to replace all of them for $350. Drag Specialties doesn’t know of anyone working on this and Harley won’t talk due to liabilities… Anyone heard differently? Anyone know where I can get an upper ABS break line that is 12 inches over?
Just bought an FLHTCU in May with the ABS option.
Rode a 77 shovel for years. I am really impressed with the ABS.
Tried it out on wet roads and gravel (intentionally). Works great in my humble opinion.
I commute in some kind of fierce traffic and am thankful it is there.
I still ride my Shovel, but feel more confident on the Ultra.
I understand old school, but am glad the option is there, any way the ABS has been proven in the metric world for 10 years and I feel confident the bugs have been worked out.
About time Harley moved into modern times.
And, Yes, Pop, As with anything, the more bells and whistles there are the more that can go wrong, but I alone am prepared to accept that, at least parts are not falling off for my “Wing Nut” friends to pick up for me, as I make sure we rine in alphabetical order..Harley before Honda…HAHA!
Love the Ultra, Love the ABS.
I have ridden motorcycles for many years, and there have been many times that I have had to grab my brakes really quick, and we all know what happens when we do that, the ole pooper puckers, heart races, and brakes lock up and tires start skidding, and sometimes you end up on the ground saying Damn that hurts. I done that in 1999, after hitting the side of a car, that ran a stop sign.
I have a 1987 FXSTC, love it to death, my first Harley. Then I bought me a 2008 FLHTCU in March last year, I presently have 15,000 miles on it, I ride it all year around. When I first rode it, I wasnt crazy about ABS on a motorcycle, but I have grabbed, and stood on them brakes a few times since buying it, and since then I personally recommend the brakes. I love them. Dont get me wrong, I still ride my ole softail, but I thoroughly enjoy the newer Ultra.
The only thing I can say to all of those who are against, or are unsure of the ABS brakes, Take one out for a test ride, you might be surprised. And if you dont like them, WELL, thats what makes this coutnry so great, we all have our own opinion, and we are are allowed to express it any time we want.
I just had an Accident involvng my 2008 Street Glide with ABS brakes .I have practiced emergency stopping frequently .This time, in an real emergency, I could feel my front brake pulse but Two different Eye witnesses told me my rear locked up. and smoked.Any other with similar experiences please respond.
• I have owned my 09 Ultra since Oct. of 08.
Today I had my second accident and I’m not sure what happened.
The first incident involves me running up under the bumper of a car making a sudden stop. I believed it was my fault for not paying attention and not being use to my ABS braking system.
The second one I’m not so sure of. I was coming home on the freeway, obeying all the speed limits. As I entered the on ramp from one freeway to another my bike began sliding rear to front and I was on the ground. The weather is about 101 degrees and dry. No oil or water on the ground. I was not applying any brakes, throttle or shifting. I have no Idea what happened. It was like I locked up my front wheel and accelerated on a curve.
Now I wonder if anyone else has had anything like that happen to them.
I have been riding Harleys since the early 70’s and yes I have dumped my bikes before. I cannot explain what’s happening.
The ABS is the only new thing I can think of that may have something to do with my two incidents.
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I was riding my 2008 Screamin Eagle Ultra Classic 6 weeks ago. Cool, dry, paved road. I entered the right hand turn going about 30 MPH, following one rider, when the rider following me saw my brake lights come on and instantly the bike and I were down, sliding across 2 lanes of traffic and ending up entangled with a guardrail. Life flighted to a trauma center, without any recollection of what happened and the only explanation is the front end locked up in the corner. I have been riding for many years. Inquired with Harley-Davidson, but they won’t release any information on possible ABS problems. Anyone else have problems?
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