ABS will be a must, especially if they want to sell in some nations that require it or will be in the future. Plus all, if not, most new bikes come with ABS, it's just natural for them to offer it.
Yes Totally agree, they should give it as option at extra costit was no doubt because of cost. i'm not sure why they dont offer it as an option
maybe it cost money to have another model
As far as I am concerned, it is not necessary.that would only mean euro models would come standard with abs - which in some bikes I've seen that is already the case.
north america still seems to think abs is not really necessary
I doubt it. When EU regs force the adoption of ABS I suspect it will be featured on all bikes if for no other reason than to simplify production through standardization. Keep in mind the bikes destined for the EU will be manufactured in India.that would only mean euro models would come standard with abs - which in some bikes I've seen that is already the case.
north america still seems to think abs is not really necessary
I've never owned a motorcycle with ABS and would agree it isn't necessary. I've had two cars with ABS and it was great in snow and ice conditions and never required otherwise. Since I don't ride my motorcycle in snow or ice I don't know what advantage it really offers.As far as I am concerned, it is not necessary.
Their system is a nightmare to troubleshoot. My friend had a rear caliper start to lock up on him during a ride to Monterey for Moto GP a few years ago. The front brake operates one of three pistons on the rear caliper through a linkage and master cylinder on the front fork leg that is operated by movement of the front brake caliper. That piston at the rear, however, gets fluid from the front brake reservoir through some sort of relay valve under the seat. Likewise the rear brakes operate the front through that relay valve. It is a ridiculously complicated system. We never did figure out how to cure the problem. We removed the rear caliper entirely, bungeed it to his seat (brake hose still attached) and rode it that way. Back home he was never able to find anyone who could fix it and the bike has not been ridden in all the years since.Honda's Combined ABS seems like real improvement over stock ABS. Same system we should have on all bikes.
Is there some reason why you always seem to feel compelled to be insulting?More nonsense from Stone Free. ABS is a life saver even for an experienced rider. Maybe you don't ride in bad weather, but I have ridden in both driving downpours and in snow, wet snow in Oregon. You tour on a motorcycle you don't always get to choose your weather. Siskiyou pass on dry powder wasn't so bad, but US 395 in wet slushy snow that was freezing all over the front of the bike, and me, and the road, was pretty difficult riding. I started the trip in hundred degree weather but by the second day it was snow. It doesn't take much of a mistake to put you on your side in weather like that. Maybe you can threshold brake on dry pavement (I practice that too) but in sloppy weather that skill doesn't get you very far. If you don't believe me, test ride a bike with ABS and go find some wet pavement to see the effects of dry and wet pavement on braking. I had been riding for many years but it took riding some ABS equipped bikes to understand how much braking power you really have at each end. Riding them taught me a lot about what I can get away with on my non-ABS equipped bikes. For less skilled or casual riders ABS can be the difference between crashing or not crashing.