Something Checkswrecks said here prompted me to note something that I've learned in my 89,000 miles on the Super Tenere
"Brake bleeding - need to flush the ABS pump "
http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=10670.msg179448#msg179448
Many of you are probably like me, having come from many years of riding non-abs bikes, where the last thing you want to do is lock the front wheel. When I first got on the S10, I rode for a long time like it was "bad form" to get the front wheel to the point of lockup, thereby having the ABS cut in. There was also the thing about trusting the ABS to work all the time, every time.
The last crash I had on the road before leaving the States was winter 2006, when a woman did a crash stop at an orange light, when I was expecting her to go through. I was on the 1000 V-Strom, temps were in the 30's so tires were nice and hard. I locked the front and was on my arse immediately, but must have performed some magical body-english to manage to get the bike and myself to avoid hitting the back of her car.
On this trip so far I've had 3 similar instances (that I can remember) - you know, you're in traffic, the car ahead or a car a few cars ahead stops suddenly, just as you've glanced at a pretty girl (for example - not that I would do that) on the side of the road. You look back, traffic is stopped and you're still going 30mph. Arrrrgh....
This is what I've learned... On the Super Tenere, you can just clamp on the anchors (I think it is still better to ease the brakes on and load the suspenion, but there may not be time for that). ABS will activate as expected, but you still might not stop in time. Here is the part you can't do on a non-abs bike. On the S10 you can STEER while full on the brakes. So, you're braking as hard as possible, at the same time moving to a safe space on one side of the car or another.
Bottom line, don't be afraid to let the ABS work, and use it to your advantage.
"Brake bleeding - need to flush the ABS pump "
http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=10670.msg179448#msg179448
Many of you are probably like me, having come from many years of riding non-abs bikes, where the last thing you want to do is lock the front wheel. When I first got on the S10, I rode for a long time like it was "bad form" to get the front wheel to the point of lockup, thereby having the ABS cut in. There was also the thing about trusting the ABS to work all the time, every time.
The last crash I had on the road before leaving the States was winter 2006, when a woman did a crash stop at an orange light, when I was expecting her to go through. I was on the 1000 V-Strom, temps were in the 30's so tires were nice and hard. I locked the front and was on my arse immediately, but must have performed some magical body-english to manage to get the bike and myself to avoid hitting the back of her car.
On this trip so far I've had 3 similar instances (that I can remember) - you know, you're in traffic, the car ahead or a car a few cars ahead stops suddenly, just as you've glanced at a pretty girl (for example - not that I would do that) on the side of the road. You look back, traffic is stopped and you're still going 30mph. Arrrrgh....
This is what I've learned... On the Super Tenere, you can just clamp on the anchors (I think it is still better to ease the brakes on and load the suspenion, but there may not be time for that). ABS will activate as expected, but you still might not stop in time. Here is the part you can't do on a non-abs bike. On the S10 you can STEER while full on the brakes. So, you're braking as hard as possible, at the same time moving to a safe space on one side of the car or another.
Bottom line, don't be afraid to let the ABS work, and use it to your advantage.
