Why we choose ABS or no ABS when off road

[jeckyll]

Just my opinion, LOL

Ive almost had two very serious accidents on the street. I THANK ABS for saving me both times (on road)... When it comes to off road (for people that don't know me or have not ridden with me) I ride my Tenere like a 450 Moto cross bike. I ride hard, fast, off road, pussy-cat on paved roads. I cant recall turning OFF the ABS one time while owning the Tenere. With all the thousands of total miles I have ridden in the dirt with the Tenere, there have been a few times that I thought to myself "that would have been even more fun with the ABS off",, but I made it and it was all good.

For me, and me alone, my thought is this....... I DO NOT get paid millions of dollars from a factory race team to get everything out of the bike or a track. Im just a guy that likes to ride. ABS has saved my A$$ many times. For me, on the whole, ABS is a great thing and I just leave it on... At my age, if im doing over 100 Mph off road (again) and cant slow down, and the thought ever comes in my mind that I should have had the ABS turned off.............. I NEED TO SLOW THE -F- DOWN and chill out... LOL. I leave it on !!

Don't you just love that feeling when you're doing 100 mph on a gravel road, then hit some sand then gravel, and bike moves all around. I love that feeling ! ! Am I strange or is this normal ?

By the way, I raced Moto X for ten years as a kid, and have been on motorcycles over 35 years. Ive ridden plenty of bikes, on and off road with and with out ABS. I know the pros & cons of both...

The paradox is that offroad I don't turn off ABS when the going gets fast, I need it off when the going gets seriously slow.

Now, I don't think I've done 160 km/h offroad (130 sure, but never 160 ). But in those rare situations when you're going slowly down a steep downhill towards a sharp, hairpin turn, on shale, with a cliff behind it, boy-howdy is it ever nice to be able to slide the wheels and not have to worry that ABS will kick in and extend your braking distance ... into thin air. Very rare for me, but it has happened. The first time, I didn't have ABS disabled and it became a very uncomfortable situation.

ABS on-road or in spirited riding is excellent. In stuff that is rough and slow and makes your butt pucker, it's much less desirable based on my experience. It's all about the terrain

 

[navynuke]

Hit a cow last night at 20 mph while ABS just chirping and not effectively slowing me on hardpack dirt road withdust on top.

Made it 29,305 miles before this happened

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[jeckyll]

Hit a cow last night at 20 mph while ABS just chirping and not effectively slowing me on hardpack dirt road withdust on top.

Made it 29,305 miles before this happened

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

Sounds like you are alright, if so, that's the most important thing.

Those also do not look like the most effective dirt tires.

 

[ballisticexchris]

Sounds like you are alright, if so, that's the most important thing.

Those also do not look like the most effective dirt tires.

I'm glad he is ok as well!! And yes a big factor in stopping and traction are the tires.

 

[RonH]

ABS= crap for stopping. In a panic stop might as well just drag your feet, will get results equal to or better once ABS kicks in. I don't understand the love after having 2 super teneres with it, 2 jeeps, an 3 ford trucks with it. 1939 Ford with old 1939 brakes stop better than any ABS I've had.

 

[Tenman]

I did a unscientific test on hot dry pavement. After 4 panic stops.I can stop faster with it turned off.

 

[navynuke]

I'm glad he is ok as well!! And yes a big factor in stopping and traction are the tires.

Tires are not ment for it, had them leftover From another event and needed some commter tires with a recent move.

Not hurt af all, didn't even lay the bike down. Thanks fir the concern.

Tear down and parts will be ordered soon

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[ballisticexchris]

Tires are not ment for it, had them leftover From another event and needed some commter tires with a recent move.

Not hurt af all, didn't even lay the bike down. Thanks fir the concern.

Tear down and parts will be ordered soon

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

What's cool is you and I live so close to the mountains and desert. Lots of dirt roads to explore less than 100 miles from home!! A couple of times I've been rolling on Turnbull Canyon and had deer jump across the road.

 

[navynuke]

What's cool is you and I live so close to the mountains and desert. Lots of dirt roads to explore less than 100 miles from home!! A couple of times I've been rolling on Turnbull Canyon and had deer jump across the road.

I actually moved to Phoenix, AZ back in June. Even more offroad here

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[Cycledude]

What's cool is you and I live so close to the mountains and desert. Lots of dirt roads to explore less than 100 miles from home!! A couple of times I've been rolling on Turnbull Canyon and had deer jump across the road.

deer are terrible things to hit with a motorcycle, in about 800,000 miles of riding I have actually killed 5 deer with motorcycles, fortunately all 5 happened within about 100 miles from home. Not sure what the number of close calls has been but it’s pretty high, I actually had a deer jump right over the top of me and my motorcycle once, yikes that was a close one, I still can’t believe it didn’t hit me !

 

[ballisticexchris]

I'm not sure I should have liked your post. I'm just glad you are ok and still riding. I have had a few close calls is all.

 

[jeckyll]

deer are terrible things to hit with a motorcycle, in about 800,000 miles of riding I have actually killed 5 deer with motorcycles, fortunately all 5 happened within about 100 miles from home. Not sure what the number of close calls has been but it’s pretty high, I actually had a deer jump right over the top of me and my motorcycle once, yikes that was a close one, I still can’t believe it didn’t hit me !

Was there anything common about the accidents? Time of day, time of year, etc? Always interested to learn.

 

[Cycledude]

Was there anything common about the accidents? Time of day, time of year, etc? Always interested to learn.

3 were at night, 2 were in broad daylight, mostly luck of the draw, when your in the wrong place at the right time there ain’t much you can do But deal with it, I feel Very lucky to have survived any of them but I only went down and got hurt once.