ABS as standard

I have read that ABS on low traction surfaces is problematic. I have read that the ability too shut the systems down is paramount to making a good Dual Sport bike. I have seen footage of a BMW heavily braking on a skid pad with water and sand and the control that the rider had was astonishing. That is why I wonder why on a dirt road it would be detrimental. I say no way on the mandatory fitment from the factory. They are rider aids and serve a valuable place, till a bike can stop in a shorter distance, by the best rider, we need to build the bike for the best, not the rest.

Ya dribble, I've ridden an 1150gs offroad and the ABS system isn't usable on the dirt. The ABS system will try to modulate the braking so much before losing traction that you can't effectively slow down. It's also unpredictable so ABS braking on a turn is just asking for a fall. I'm guessing tho that better ABS programming could resolve that issue...at least it can be turned off.

I'm all for it. Its a safety issue and really has no negative consequences on the street. But for offroad, track bikes, there should be a way to disable it.

Make ABS mandatory? I'm for doing things better, but forcing people to have ABS is not right. Its not as if its free, and in the only situation I've thought I could've benefitted from ABS, the brief chirp from my front tyre is what caught the attention of the car I was avoiding and made it stop. ABS would not have stopped me in time, and I was focusing so intently on avoiding the car that I didn't think to use the horn. I realise the majority of situations are not like mine, and I think ABS would often be an asset. But it should be one you want, not one forced upon you.

My car is a Seat Leon FR. For you Yanks out there - this is a fairly sprightly turbo diesel GTi type hatchback. Not super fast but a bit of fun to drive normally. It has ABS and traction control which is on as default setting when the ignition is turned on. It's so fooking boring, boring, boring to drive like that. But luckily it has a button to switch it all off and then it's not, not, not boring.

If bikes had it all but you could switch it off then that would be OK. But if they didn't have a button then I would stick riding the best bike available that did not have it before the legislation came in, (maybe my SD ) and never upgrade or get a new bike.

I read a write up 12-18 months ago (I guess ABS might have moved on since) where only in the wet did it out perform a bike without it fitted. In the dry it was not even that close to the same bike non ABS. I think the test bike was a Honda but can't actually remember the model now. BMW was the best performing ABS but was still not as effective in the dry as the rider unaided.

Personally I don't like it in the dry in any vehicle. 2 of the closest just avoided accidents I've had were in vehicles fitted with ABS. On both occasions the vehicle failed to stop approaching a roundabout. I admit that perhaps I do brake a bit late in the way I drive but I know 100% I would have easily stopped the same vehicle had it not had ABS active.

On a off road bike it would be lethal!

I think this sums it up nicley.
I don't understand what is being said but i think the video sums it up.



and thats with the best sportsbike with the best ABS system........