wormgear
Expert Class
Posts: 339
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posted October 04, 2007 03:00 PM
An ABS story
In one of my first posts, back in mid August, right after I got home with the bike I mentioned that I had a good "on my way home from the dealer" story. Well I'm finally getting around to typing it out.
I picked up my brand-new C14-abs Sunday morning in Little Falls MN and started heading south, home to Houston. Rain and plenty of it, but I was expecting it, had to get home and had the gear to deal with it. I played around with the abs within the first 25 miles so I'd know what to expect if I needed it. Nice I thought, seemed to work well with a soft and unobtrusive feel to it. What I didn't plan on was pulling the biggest bonehead, brain dead screw-up I've ever made on a motorcycle. Ok, to be honest, one of the biggest.
So like I said, lots of rain. I had ridden less than 200 miles and I had to make an exit. I may have been somewhat mesmerized by the rain and the road but for some reason I looked down at the gauges as I started onto the ramp and somehow managed to stick my head up my ass. When I pulled out and looked up I was much too straight up and fast to make the curve and I went straight off the ramp at maybe 45 mph. There I discovered a long fairly steep downhill slope covered with foot long wet grass. Well at this point I was pretty freaked and I'm sure my ass was trying to swallow the seat. I hit the front brake hard putting all faith in the abs. I'm not sure that I touched the rear brake at all. Then I saw a big rock right in my path and was thinking "shit, I don't wanna turn right now". But I did and cleared the rock. It seemed to take forever for the bike to stop but I just kept thinking, well you're still up, still up, still up. And I WAS up all the way, finally stopping about 200 ft. off the road and down the hill. With a lot of adrenalin pumping I managed to get her turned around and carefully and immediately back up the hill. I was impressed! And I'll bet the guy in the car behind me that stopped to watch was too. First impressed with the fact that I didn't go down. Then with the realization that I never felt the wheel slide at all. I'm pretty sure that would have been the last thing I felt before the thud. I never even felt the abs working and I'm pretty sure I had a death grip on the brake lever.
To sum it up, the abs works well. I hope I never use it again.
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GodDamnit there's always such a big temptation to be good, to be good! (Tom Waits)
  
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TPXX
Novice Class
Posts: 33
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posted October 04, 2007 03:50 PM
Worm, thanks for sharing. We are all capable of having our heads disappear up our butts. Glad you made it ok and glad I got an ABS as well!!
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texcoonazz
Parking Attendant
Posts: 13
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posted October 04, 2007 05:02 PM
That is a great story and I am both glad it worked out for you and sad that mine is not ABS. Regrets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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zx12adam
Member
Posts: 878
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posted October 04, 2007 06:01 PM
I've always wondered how effective ABS is on bikes, especially on wet grass while turning. Thanks for the answer.
I wonder if your doing a trackday could you just grab a handful at the end of the straight and squeeze like hell all the way to the apex without it tucking?
Maybe current literbikes will have trac-control and ABS someday, potentially increase safety and reduce current insurance rates. Nevermind that last part, insurance companies have to make their dime exploiting us at all costs possible.
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CBR1000RR
Best Literbike: Performance Bikes, Superbike, BIKE, MCN, Road Racing World, and Motorcycle USA
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jenks
Novice Class
Posts: 38
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posted October 04, 2007 06:04 PM
Thanks...I just order an ABS in AZ....Get next Wedsday....Rare in AZ....Lack of rain...
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted October 05, 2007 07:21 AM
Thanks for the post. I need to be more open-minded to ABS, I can't stand the thought of it on my bikes
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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08CC14
Expert Class
Posts: 109
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posted October 05, 2007 09:41 PM
I just finished a track day with the C-14 and the ABS works as advertised. Only problem with braking that late and hard into the corner is that the bike won't lay over easily until you release the front. However, if you apply proper trail-braking techniques she rolls right through the tightest corners with ease and comes out charging. If you've ever been horse-back riding on a stubborn Arabian whose headed for the barn, then you know what it feels like. 
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'08 ABS Concours 14
'97 YZF600R
'00 ZX6e (rideable but needs paint)
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