ABS or NOT

I would like the opinions, pros & cons between an ABS and a non ABS VFR. I will be buying in a month I know about the price difference and the weight . I am curious what everyone thinks, is it worth it price wise I can get an ABS for 800$ more than a non ABS. huh.gif CRFJOHN

Much like oil, filters, seats and exhaust everyone has a different opinion. I'm a non abs guy. If I were buying a Goldwing or ST1300 I might consider it but doubtful.

I have ABS, although have been pretty lucky to have never deployed it. I have had some hard stops, mostly in dry weather and I usually modulate from front to rear manually. I have heard of other members swearing by it, as it saved their bacon, when someone pulled out in front of them, etc. I could live without it though, although it is comforting to know it's there. I'm sure I would have a difference of opinion if I did deploy it and it saved my a**. If I was given a choice and the dealer had both an ABS model and one without, it would depend on the deal that he was offering on both. If the price difference wasn't that much, I would lean toward the ABS model. The ABS model also has the preload adjustment knob which is convenient.

Dave. wheel.gif

Hi,

That's a tough one. I've ridden both and I couldn't tell the difference. Then again, I wasn't in an emergency situtation with either. I will say this. The non-ABS bike seemed lighter to me. That might sound funny, but 11 lbs. will make a difference depending where it's located on the bike. If they were both the same price or within a couple of hundred dollars, I'd take the ABS. In my situation there was a solid $1,000 premium and I passed on it. I'll be picking up my 03 March 31.

I wanted, and got, ABS. I'm not worried about the weight at all. 11 lbs. on a 520+ lb. bike? Doesn't bother me...

I've already had it kick in on dry pavement while doing practice panic stops. I also like the fact that it gives me just a bit more buffer when using the back brake in crap conditions. I'm not going to count on it, but knowing it's there is nice.

Plus the preload knob is helpful.

ditto.
It's never kicked in for me except when i practiced panic stops... it worked incredibly well. I was shocked actually. Makes me feel safer.

ABS on bikes is kind of a religion for lots of people.

My bike has ABS. It's saved me at least one wet-greasy-painted-line asshat-cuts-me-off lowside and perhaps one dirty-tractor-track after-curve lowside.

I now consider the net cost to have been free.

some time ago i asserted that a good rider doesn't need ABS. I now recant. I read something, somewhere, recently that changed my mind. The gist was that most riders freak at the stopping force long before the brakes, suspension and traction give up, applying less braking force than ABS will allow. The writer asserted that a really good rider can apply even more braking power than ABS grants, but how many of us are named Valentino? Apparently riders with ABS have an increased level of confidence, and will throw both anchors out, whereas riders without it feel the sudden rush of their body towards the front of the bike and let off the pressure, resulting in, duh, longer stopping distances.

I have never had it in a car but I believe that I have a potential of needing it more on a bike, so I didn't hestiate to it on my 03.

If that ABS kicks in just once and keeps you from going down, the $800 wil feel like a bargain. I would not hesitate to get it on any bike I was buying that had it available. There is no such thing as hitting something too slow! Get it! fing02.gif

An option that saves you thousands in plastic damage every time you DON'T crash on wet or gravel-strewn roads ? Who wouldn't buy it ?

I didn't see a need for it 2 1/2 years ago when I bought my VFR, but now I think it would be nice to have, I'd really like to have the preload adjuster too.

I have it. It hasn't saved me from any accidents yet, but I'm glad its there, waiting in the wings. I've practiced panic stops in the wet and the dry and it is amazing how well the ABS works. 800 bucks is actually 200 below MSRP for the ABS. I'd get it if I were you. The weight difference is really a non-issue. And the Preload nob is extremely handy.

My next bike will have ABS. The weight difference is meaningless, and if it saves you once, it's more than worth the money.

here's an old but still relevant street test of ABS. It speaks for itself.

ABS test

FWIW, I've had both versions, non ABS first and now ABS. Felt no difference in weight or generel riding and braking at all....i.e. the ABS feels no different than non ABS when not being used in an ABS situation.

I was very concerned that the ABS bike would feel different, but after getting thoughts from guys on this board I went with the ABS second time around and am glad I did.

In practicing panic stops etc. the ABS works as advertised and certainly adds a level of confidence for those kinds of situations.

Recommend

After all I've read through the years I'd definitely get the ABS next time.

VFRMike.

In have non-ABS. Have always felt good about how I brake. Felt like ABS would take some of that away. But aftr hearing from you V-Heads I may include ABS in my next VFR purchase say in 2007 V-5.

The weight is no iappreciable, I think. If the ABS can let you to save from a crash one time is a good inversion wink.gif

Purchased the 2003 with ABS and I thought it was the one thing on the bike I might not like. Turns out I don't even notice it and actually really like it. I ride with my wife sometimes and didn't want to take the chance. Just because you might be able to control tire lock doesn't mean your passenger won't freak. I like the added piece of mind.

Thanks alot for all of the input and advise! I believe it will be ABS for me!
CRFJOHN fing02.gif

CRFJOHN, Mar 23 2005, 02:01 PMThanks alot for all of the input and advise! I believe it will be ABS for me!

Ahhh...wise choice grasshopper. fing02.gif

ABS....you guys lead me on again... sad.gif here i thought i was clicking on a link with pictures of women with perfect chest and stomachs unsure.gif

BeringCvfr, Mar 22 2005, 04:02 PMIf that ABS kicks in just once and keeps you from going down, the $800 wil feel like a bargain. I would not hesitate to get it on any bike I was buying that had it available. There is no such thing as hitting something too slow! Get it!  fing02.gif

+1

Here's an interesting linky on the topic. After a bit of research, I put ABS at the top of the list when I was looking to rejoin the two-wheeled world. There are down sides to ABS, but none have enough effect to make me want to have a non-ABS machine.

I just bought a 2004 VFR with ABS. This is my 3rd bike with ABS, the previous two were BMWs. I wanted a lighter bike than BMW could offer and I wanted ABS, so the VFR was my choice. ABS is like insurance, you never want to use it but you're sure glad it there if you need it. Honda's ABS is absolutely seamless, best ABS I've seen. It only has to save you or your bike once to pay for itself.

definitely ABS!

ABS dont think about it!!
You live once!
Well most of you folks you are driving in fine roads (i think!) and i am reading some people that the y didnt deploy abs!

Well here in Greece i often deploy abs the roads are a bit slippery here!
Very good ABS by honda fing02.gif

I do not have a VFR but I did just dump my ZX-6 this week when the front tire locked up in a panic stop. I practiced a lot but I still grabbed that darn brake too fast. Anyway, I may be in the market for a new bike. The ZX got jammed under a pickup truck by the low siding cruiser who was behind me. Luckily I fell to the right and didn't get crushed. It bent it up pretty good. Anyway, if I were to get a VFR, it would DEFINITELY have ABS.

G