HP2s w/ ABS or non-ABS - Opinions?

[SAHD]

For those who have an HP2 Sport did you get ABS or not?

I am trying to decide if I should get mine built with ABS ($1500 Cdn option).

I have read reviews saying it does not need ABS?
I am thinking ya, but for that one time when you wish you had ABS.

What is your opinion and experience so far in riding your new HP2 Sport with ABS or without ABS?

Thanks,

[Guest24]

I started a thread on this last model year for the HP2S that I was buying.

ABS Pros and Cons on HP2 Sport

I like it on wet pavement and invisible gravel.

[R1100SPORTour]

SAHD,I have a friend who rides an HP-S and said he would never buy one without the ABS option because the Brembo Monoblock Radial Brakes come on so hard that it is unreal and hard to modulate.
His own words.If you spend that much money why go skimp on a few bucks with the chance to throw the whole bike away and pay big bucks for all that expensive CF?And later come resale time,BMW's without ABS are true keepers...
Especially when you can switch it off riding on bumpy pavement I would think that it is a no brainer to go with the ABS option...
If you keep it in your living room and just look at it then it does not need ABS...

[SergioK]

Out here in CAlifornia... no ABS IMO.

[Jeff Williams]

IMO, depends on your skill level.
It seems guys who have riden for a long time have a harder time adapting to ABS.
So to answer your question, where you live and the varied extremes you can/should/are stuck in, maybe ABS should be looked at if you are not hampered with years of non-abs riding.
jeff

[Jonas The Swede]

Originally Posted by Jeff Williams

IMO, depends on your skill level.
It seems guys who have riden for a long time have a harder time adapting to ABS.
So to answer your question, where you live and the varied extremes you can/should/are stuck in, maybe ABS should be looked at if you are not hampered with years of non-abs riding.
jeff

Yes and no...

I've never had any bike with ABS before and ridden bikes since I was 13. I had no trouble adopting to ABS.

Rather, I find it excellent and not to invasive in my riding on the streets. Also you can turn it off if you don't want it!

However, I agree with Jeff when it comes to location, here in sweden there will be alot of wet leaves on the road in autumn and the ABS is a good insurance. Safety first!

It's one thing to plan your hard breaking in advance like on a track, but it's good to have the features of the ABS if you have to break hard to avoid hitting something when you're riding on the streets, no need to think about what surface you're on.

I would however get the ABS option even if I lived in CA. It's never bad to have all the extras if/when you're selling it! As said before, it's a small buck when you look at the full price!

Good luck!
/J

[R1100SPORTour]

What has location to do with ABS,or "skill" level??
It takes only one car that pulls out in front of you and it hurts just as much in kalifornia as in sweden...
And if someone thinks he can stop shorter without ABS he is a dreamer...
Adapting to ABS?If you break that hard on the street that it starts to cycle you should look for another hobby anyways...
I love ABS treads...

[Jeff Williams]

Jonas,
I myself have problems with the feel, but that just me and trusting the ABS.
Where I live it rains only maybe 40 day/year so surfaces aren't as much a problem.
IMO, if i lived where you live I would have ABS, traction control, and trainer wheels on my bike.
BTW how do you get past the speed limits and heavy police presence on your roads?

[jpalamaro]

C'mon folks, it's gotta be about the money. This thread shows up almost like lunar cycles on ADVRIDER where of course ABS option on GS's among many. The question becomes is it worth 1500 bucks or so for something that has little or no value to you OR is of high value to you.

I could have gotten my HP2S in June sans ABS. DECLINED. Unabashedly I crank on my front brakes with abandon knowing ABS likely gonna save my bacon (fool that I am to trust technology). And to the naysayers, it ain't gonna hurt at resale either. But that's food for another thread!

[Jonas The Swede]

Originally Posted by R1100SPORTour

What has location to do with ABS,or "skill" level??

Adapting to ABS? If you break that hard on the street that it starts to cycle you should look for another hobby anyways...
I love ABS treads...

Well, the track is one location where you don't want ABS!

"ABS and skill level" doesn't imply that if you're a good driver you'll be better at stopping than with the ABS.

But rather, that someone not so experienced will not be able to use the front and back break in a balanced way during hard breaking, thus resulting in locking the backwheel and getting further before he/she will come to a complete stop. The ABS will help with that!

The experienced rider will be able to manage this better than a beginner and therefore the difference will not be that great between ABS and a experienced rider.

HOWEVER, I stand by my post before and I think ABS is the way to go!

When it comes to "adapting to ABS" it doesn't mean that there's a totally different way of breaking. It just feels different when breaking hard, especially on a slippery surface. But I didn't have a problem with it. Same difference on a car!

Oh, and finally... I should get another hobby because my backwheel starts to cycle while breaking hard on the streets??? Well, maybe you're driving real slow, but I like to keep going the speed limit.

And while riding within the speedlimit, 120km/h in sweden, there are cars, animals and other things that suddenly can appear. So, sorry... I won't change my hobby, but thanks for trying!
/J

[Jonas The Swede]

Originally Posted by Jeff Williams

Jonas,
I myself have problems with the feel, but that just me and trusting the ABS.
Where I live it rains only maybe 40 day/year so surfaces aren't as much a problem.
IMO, if i lived where you live I would have ABS, traction control, and trainer wheels on my bike.
BTW how do you get past the speed limits and heavy police presence on your roads?

Jeff tha man!
I understand what you mean with the ABS-feel. I don't mind it though, I got used to it.
However, here in sweden BMW doesn't have training wheels in stock. Maybe I can order....

The speed limits isn't a bother here in sweden for motorcyclists. The police have introduced so many speed cameras and are less out on the streets themselves. Now, the cameras aren't allowed to photograph you from behind, and we don't have licenceplates in the front on the bikes so... the police won't know who's bike it is.

Also, they need to be able to id the rider/driver of the vehicle and with a dark visor helmet on they can't really do that either so... bikers are somewhat in the clear from speeding fines.
Although, it happens sometimes, when a motorcyclist run passed a police car. Gotta keep your eyes open!

I myself think that riding that hard belongs on a track and not on the roads. But sometimes, I confess, I take the HP2S out on a smaller curvier road and open it up. Police presens there is a minimum, but as I mentioned before in this thread there are other things to watch out for!

/J

[Guest24]

But if you have the only HP2S in Sweden, you can't be that hard to locate, Jonas. lol

[Jonas The Swede]

Originally Posted by Nail24

But if you have the only HP2S in Sweden, you can't be that hard to locate, Jonas. lol

Haha, good on ya Nail, yeah that would be a problem!
Fortunately there are six others!
/j

[Jeff Williams]

Jonas,
now if you were in the USA they would send all of you a ticket and fine the guy who screams the loudest.

[SAHD]

Originally Posted by Nail24

I started a thread on this last model year for the HP2S that I was buying.

ABS Pros and Cons on HP2 Sport

I like it on wet pavement and invisible gravel.

Thanks for the feedback Nail24.

Based on everyone's posts I have concluded that I will order with ABS.

But do I wait till the recession is over or do I buy it now?

[Jeff Williams]

What recession?

[signit98]

Originally Posted by Jonas The Swede

But rather, that someone not so experienced will not be able to use the front and back break in a balanced way during hard breaking, thus resulting in locking the backwheel and getting further before he/she will come to a complete stop. The ABS will help with that!

I just spent a whole day on the track and did not touch the rear brake once!... on the street I use it an equal amount... most of the time, the ABS is switched off... it came with the bike and maybe the next owner will appreciate it more than I do...

I have three BMW's with ABS and it has been removed on one of them... with me contemplating removal on the second one... while I am mulling the sale of the R12S!

My choice would be NO ABS... no matter where I live as ABS has put me in hot water more often than it has saved me!

Bad situations because of ABS: 4
Save situations by ABS: 0

That math is easy for me... just don't ride in way that makes you HAVE to count on the ABS... adjust to the conditions at hand and use common sense... IMHO that's better than counting on the ABS system to save your bacon...

[Jeff Williams]

Hey Ralf,
start a thread on the track day yesterday.
Tuna told me that Sergio was smoking fast,(for a BMW, his word not mine).
I heard that it was a good time, good one Ralf.

[signit98]

...are you blind, Jeff?

There has not been ONE but TWO active threads for that topic... SIGH!

[Jeff Williams]

Ralf,
here about the lotto winner who was blind and went out and bought a harley.
His girl friend drove the car and he rode the bike on the trailer. they both had fun.
heffy