I`m just shopping around for an 03/04 VFR800, and finding both ABS version and without? What is the opinion on which is the better bike?
If you can afford it, get the ABS version. I used to be anti-ABS until I've been privy to some small studies showing ABS is a great option on the street. In addition, I've been riding track days for a couple years now and I brake straight up and down a'la Keith Code and I do not trail brake. Trail braking requires an imense amount of practice to master. So its a moot point for me. My 2 cents. BZ
Let me tell you my story. Bike went in to honda for a recall, they forgot to tight a bolt on the front left caliper, sensor got dis-lodged, shifted, lost all brakes on the highway. see here. Now, later on in the season I had 3 close calls (being a newbie rider) where i slamed on the front brake. One could have been REALLY, REALLY,REALLY bad as I messed up in a turn, another was someone cutting over into my lane at full speed, I have to swerve and brake to avoid getting side-swipped. I knew when ABS kicked in, I know where, and how I messed up, I am still riding injury free, and my bike isn't destroyed. I have two friends that wiped recently (nothing serious, low speed ejection off the bike) and were talikng 2-3 weeks of no riding, and a couple of grand. ABS would have saved them the hassle. Even after losing my brakes, I can tell you one thing. I will do my best to make sure every bike I own from now on will have it, like a discounted 2009 CBR 1000 i have my eye on That's my 2 cents. Stav
My 2 cents: which is the better bike? the ABS one. The only downsides are cost ($500-$1000, used/new), weight (+13 lbs.), complexity (an extra servo and some lines - hard to bleed when replacing fluid). But the upside is it can unlock a wheel and save you from going down, faster than you can react. If that happens, it's paid for itself 5x over. Think of it like a, snake-bite kit, or your concealed .45 auto - you either never need it all, or you need it very, very badly. Then you'll say it was worth any price to have it.
Thanks everyone, thats decided it, I`ve found a 2004 model, ABS, and immaculate, only done 8750!!! Think I'd better have a trip to the bank!!
Yea. I know a few people who have ABS bikes that have never even had the ABS kick in. But it only takes one time for it to pay for itself a thousand times over.
I have ABS on my FORD van and I do not like it at all. When it is raining and i leave my driveway the first application of the brakes and there is nothing there!! Anytime the ABS encounters wet conditions look out. Also when slowing down the ABS DECIDES how fast you can slow down and it is very scary when it will not allow additional braking force. AND it is VERY expensive to repair. I do change the disk brake pads myself. That part is the same. The sensors are in the axle. One sensor in the middle and one on each end of the axle. The brakes ,pads springs etc,. are still the same. And if ABS is so good why don't race cars use them? My ABS light came on one day and I took it to FORD and they charged me $140.00 and said a $8.00 sensor went bad that was located in the middle of the rear axle on the third member. Screws in like a spark plug. Plastic. I still like ANTI LOCK conventional brakes. ANTI LOCK is what is needed. NOT complete control by a computer. You just do not want the brakes to lock up and skid but you do not need ABS for that. ABS brakes on motorcycles is still not proven. IT is still too new in my opinion.
I looked on the net and founf some good info on ABS. Here is one quote from a BMW rider. "I've seen many people go down from locking up wheels, done it myself a couple times, so have no doubt anti lock makes a big safety difference. Looking forward to seeing more/better systems out there. The anti-lock system on my BMW R1200GS sucked. Felt like it was kicking in too early, especially on bumpy roads. Gave me nasty scares a few times while late braking into corners, when the ABS would completely let off the bakes and I would have to fly through the corner crapping my pants dragging hard parts. Wheeeee! But then again I was riding that bike a lot harder than I should. " So it probably depends on which bike and which brand. i would look up the bike you are thinking about buying and see if other owners have reported problems. Type into Google ....(the name of bike) and ABS problems See what you come up with. One insurance company said it reduced accidents 37%. I do not know how they could make that determination. Was it because bikes with ABS had 37% less accidents? That could just mean riders that chose ABS are more safety conscious in the first place, and that is why they bought ABS?
I agree that ABS can be annoying - I've had it on several vehicles, and it kicked in at times I didn't think it was needed. But I'm sure ABS varies from vehicle to vehicle, according to the parameters set by the computer and the hardware used. I'd be interested to know of rider's experiences on VFR's.
Had ABS on cars in NJ and in the snow, ice and wet it sucked. You are supposed to just stomp on the brake and let the ABS cycle, at that point the pedal goes to the floor and your relying on the wonderful computer to do your braking for you. It was seriously an achiles heel IMHO, on the bike I never cared for the various ABS machines I rode from honda to bimmers to guzzis with their linked brakes. All the above is just based on riding them too, dont even think about changing your lines to steel or bleeding your poor brake system. Car think for motorcycles doesnt work for me. Keep it simple stupid is going out with the baby and the bathwater unfortunately.
