ABS vs. Non-ABS...how can you tell?

[RRDallas]

Are ABS RR's marked as such in any way? Is there a way to tell that an RR has ABS just by looking at it? Is there some sort of ABS label anywhere on the bike itself?

I understand that there is a red brake warning light on the instrument panel but this seems to be included on both ABS and non-ABS models. Does this indicator light just not light up if the bike is non-ABS?

The reason I am asking is that my bike (a 2003 RR that I bought used) supposedly is non-ABS but it seems to have the same instrument cluster as ABS bikes. Many thanks in advance for your help.

[ScooterCop]

you can tell by the wheels. ABS models have a speed sensor ring, a bit smaller than the size of the brake rotor, on the left hand side of the front wheel.

This one has it:



This one doesn't:

[MikeCam]

One (nearly) foolproof way to tell is the presence or absence of the serrated looking ABS ring on the left front and also on the rear brake rotors. Another is the presence of a warning label on the gas tank. A third is the functions of the lights at power up - ABS bikes feature a blinking brake warning light until you are underway. Non-ABS, the light goes out after system self test. Finally, the servo whine when squeezing the front brake indicates an ABS equipped bike.

[RRDallas]

I think I answered my question by looking at pictures of the rotors on ABS vs. non-ABS bikes.



Thanks anyway!

[maduko]

And if you're looking the RH side of the bike check the differential case. There's a sensor mounted in the case with ABS. Without ABS you'll see the little teardrop-shaped pad where it would mount.

[Hogan's Hero]

Mike....
My 03 is non ABS but does have a warning lable on the tank.

[Hendrikus]

here a picture of a ABS finaldrive, just underneath the brake saddle is the black ABS-sensor.



here a picture of the frontwheel with ABS, the smaller perforated ring inside the brake-disk is the front ABS-sensorring. including the black sensor just underneath the brake saddle.



now you can tell from most pictures if it is equiped with ABS or not, a lot of dealers and private sellers don't know or do not care to mention wheather the bike is fitted with or without ABS.

you schould be able to tell if here is ABS involved or not.



you don't need ABS, in fact a bike without with a good driver without will be close or better than ABS! But here in Holland there are so many idiots in traffic so i decided to have ABS as i can't tell to beat ABS in an emergency situation.

[RRDallas]

Thanks to all for the helpful comments and photos.

Those are some good looking bikes!

[toolinalong]

I don't really want to rain on anyone's parade here, but it makes me a bit crazy sometimes when people makes statements like Hendrikus's:

"you don't need ABS, in fact a bike without with a good driver without will be close or better than ABS!"

I have seen/heard this statement (and many others like it about other topics) many times. My problem is that, though that sounds like a logical statement, and one which I could believe, I need more information before I can take it as fact.

So my question is: has anyone (agency or otherwise) actually conducted a test using experienced or professional riders and an ABS-equipped and a non-ABS R1150xx, under multiple conditions and criteria, and if so are the results available?

I believe most of time that folks say what Hendrikus has said they are referring to a straight line emergency stop on dry pavement, and in that situation, there may very well be little difference in measured stopping distances between an ABS and a non-ABS bike. However--

My ABS has kicked in twice, once in a wet, decreasing radius curve that I approached too fast (my first and only time on the Dragon back in summer of 2002), and once near home (recently) in a panic stop situation. While I am an "experienced" rider, I have no idea what would have happened in either case had I not had the ABS, nor do I wish to know.

ok, I'm done, I'm going for a ride.

[Boxer]

Oh crap! Where's Dallara when you need him.

[Hendrikus]

hello toolinalong,

i dont know how your dutch is these days, but here a revieuw of a car with abs, honda without abs and the bmw with evo and abs.

first test was on a dry contrete road

the second on a wet tarmac road

two proffesional bike riders and the sales guy from bridgstone in the car.

http://www.motornet.be/rijden/veilighei ... emmen.html

[MikeCam]

That is a totally useless test and report.

You need the same bikes, same course, same conditions, same rider across the conditions to even begin drawing useful insights.

Minimum 7 different riders, 3 different conditions, 2 different bikes of each flavor (four total) to be minimally valid for conclusions.

[iowabeakster]

Oh crap! Where's Dallara when you need him.

maybe he can be given "guest worker" status?


My 04 has ABS, but no label. Oh yeah, it took me about a month and half to get that sucker off.

[rarider]

Check this out for a test of ABS vs non ABS.

http://www.ibmwr.org/prodreview/abstests.html

[adg44]

It's a common misconception that ABS shortens your braking distance. In fact, ABS slightly increases your stopping distance. The purpose of ABS is to keep your from locking up the wheels and then losing control.

Threshold braking is the way to do it - when you are right on the edge of locking the wheels. And yes, you can do this with ABS also.

[MikeCam]

Rarider,


Thanks. That is a much better test set up and the design tries to match best practices.

Useful read.

Mike

[Hendrikus]

Hello adg44,

i totally agree with you,in an emergenct stop, car not giving way, i had my front wheel locked and scratches on boyh sides made me decide to buy one with ABS.

nice car btw

[SLEDGE]

adg44 is right! That is exactley what it is for.