Is ABS for you. Off to finalalise a new deal in a blade on Friday (was gonna be Thursday but work just cancelled my day off!) Now I've never had ABS before or the wish I had it in 14 years of riding. The abs model is £700 more expensive! What would you do?
Normally I do but this bike is going to be a dry weather bike as I have the sh300i for my commute. That is unless I get caught out! The sh300i has abs but I've never activated it in 13000 miles. I guess abs is good for that oh FECK moment!
I wouldn't go for the ABS if its going to be dry only - just my opinion though. I have had both versions. Here's what I wrote last year:
agree with JM1 - dont want it... i know how to break on a bike seriously though, i dont think its worth it for 700 quid, also i believe if you need abs and tractions control etc etc on a big powerful bike, you shouldnt own it. thats why i bought the blade, last of the pure sportsbikes.... and i like to know that im in control, right side up or not. yes there is the safety aspect, but how many of us crash because we cant break in time? normally its front end loss, poor judgement of corners speed etc... let the flaming commence.
I got ABS and save me dropping it when I hit some grass faster than I should have last year. So worth it for me on juts that 1 occasion.
Good write up! As I day I've never needed ABS in the 14 yrs I've been riding and I've ridden r1s blades all sorts of bikes. I may not go with the abs doesn't seem that £700 is worth it. Still in two minds weather to buy the dealers 2011 black and gold blade with every extra there is thrown in Even though I've paid £100 on a 2012 dealer has said I can change my mind! Friday we shall See!
i stand corrected.... but isnt the problem you found yourself on the grass in the first place?! ha ha how come the abs saved you mate?
I have the 11 ABS and to me the brakes under normal use feel the same as non ABS but the down side is every time you want to buy 'say 'some rearsets or a hugger its always for non ABS .So if i knew what i know now i would spend the 700 sheets on something like a can or pc.
We've been through all this before on this forum, but my personal view is that I don't want or need any features which dilute my control over the bike's accelleration or braking (eg, ABS, TC). I also suspect ABS doesn't really prevent as many crashes as people make out, although it is a convenient way to justify it's cost/existence I suppose.
was seeing the family at our caravan down South and hit the grass a bit faster then I should have. ABS kicked in and stopped me well on damp grass. I would have dropped it if it was not for that
+1 even braided hoses cost a small fortune on abs models. abs is great to have but there are lots of downsides to it aswell
Katch who did the Dunlop group buy quoted me about £120-140 (I forgot exactly) for named branded hoses fitted to my blade
Agree with Jimbo I can't say it just does not work as it clearly does, but I have heard stories about ABS failures, lever to the bars and no brakes etc etc, I like to know I am fully in charge of the bike, if I stuff it in a hedge its my fault not the bikes then.
