UselessPickles
New Member
If you're talking about a race bike and you're an expert racer driving on a closed course with reduced variables, then I can understand that point of view. The weight of an ABS system may be a significant penalty, or you just need that "feel" of pushing the limits of braking traction to squeeze out ever last hundredth of a second of lap time to win.I'd rather just keep my bikes simple (no abs/traction control) and learn the skills and abilities to drive the bike itself without relying on assistance.
But for a street bike that you ride on public roads with unpredictable conditions/traffic, there's only benefits that can come from ABS.
Here's a very informative article about comparing braking performance with and without ABS in different conditions by different riders: Internet BMW Riders - No Fault Braking, A Real-World Comparison of ABS Systems
Notice that even the pro racer benefits hugely from ABS in a wet test over a sewer cover. Keep in mind that these are results from a controlled environment with anticipated stopping and well-known hazards. There's much greater opportunity for you to brake improperly for current road conditions or not recognize a hazard in an emergency braking situation.
That's what ABS is for. You can still learn/practice proper braking technique with ABS, but you'll be very thankful for it in that "oh sh*t!" moment where a car pulls out in front of you at an intersection with some rough pavement, a bit of gravel and a slick cross walk paint strip.