Electronic aids?
Discussion
airsafari87 said:
...
ETA.
Take all these stories of TC kicking here and wheelie control preventing people from looping a bike with a pinch of salt.
If I wanted to I could turn everything up to the max on my new bike and have every light flashing away at me exiting every corner, junction, roundabout and whenever I opened the throttle.
Doesnt make me a riding god, nor does it mean it’s saving me from a crash every single time.
This is 100% the case. There's a huge difference between getting the lights flashing and the riding aids actually saving you. I know ABS has saved me on a couple of occasions in the last 30 years. On those occasions something totally unexpected happened on wet roads at nigh and I grabbed a fist full of front brake. Had I not had ABS I am 100% convinced I would have been on the floor. I know I shouldn't have simply grabbed a first full but in such situations none of us can be 100% sure how we'll react.ETA.
Take all these stories of TC kicking here and wheelie control preventing people from looping a bike with a pinch of salt.
If I wanted to I could turn everything up to the max on my new bike and have every light flashing away at me exiting every corner, junction, roundabout and whenever I opened the throttle.
Doesnt make me a riding god, nor does it mean it’s saving me from a crash every single time.
I have unintentionally fired the ABS off a few more times than that but I'm not sure those situations would have resulted in an accident if I hadn't had ABS. Close calls likely, but probably not an accident.
I've only once fired off traction control where it may possibly have saved me but, as above, getting the lights flashing is not too hard especially if I up the intervention level.
But, looking at it the other way, there have been a few incidents related on here where electronic aids would almost definitely have saved the day, and that's even with some very experienced riders. That's why I wouldn't buy a new bike without including every electronic aid available. However, I'd still happily buy a second hand bike I wanted even if it didn't have such rider aids.
black-k1 said:
This is 100% the case. There's a huge difference between getting the lights flashing and the riding aids actually saving you. I know ABS has saved me on a couple of occasions in the last 30 years. On those occasions something totally unexpected happened on wet roads at nigh and I grabbed a fist full of front brake. Had I not had ABS I am 100% convinced I would have been on the floor. I know I shouldn't have simply grabbed a first full but in such situations none of us can be 100% sure how we'll react.
I have unintentionally fired the ABS off a few more times than that but I'm not sure those situations would have resulted in an accident if I hadn't had ABS. Close calls likely, but probably not an accident.
I've only once fired off traction control where it may possibly have saved me but, as above, getting the lights flashing is not too hard especially if I up the intervention level.
But, looking at it the other way, there have been a few incidents related on here where electronic aids would almost definitely have saved the day, and that's even with some very experienced riders. That's why I wouldn't buy a new bike without including every electronic aid available. However, I'd still happily buy a second hand bike I wanted even if it didn't have such rider aids.
ABS would definitely have saved me from my first crash. My first bike was a knackered C70 (which my older brother bought and insured…well he told me he had got insurance…for about £100 “borrowed” off my nan…don’t judge, I was young!). Decided to ride from South London to Berkhamsted to see a friend for the weekend. On the way back the bike kept playing up - stalling as I was going around Hyde Park wasn’t much fun. By the time I got within 400m of my brother’s flat I was knackered and not concentrating properly. Wet roads and overreaction to an oncoming car saw me grab the front brake - with obvious consequences. I have unintentionally fired the ABS off a few more times than that but I'm not sure those situations would have resulted in an accident if I hadn't had ABS. Close calls likely, but probably not an accident.
I've only once fired off traction control where it may possibly have saved me but, as above, getting the lights flashing is not too hard especially if I up the intervention level.
But, looking at it the other way, there have been a few incidents related on here where electronic aids would almost definitely have saved the day, and that's even with some very experienced riders. That's why I wouldn't buy a new bike without including every electronic aid available. However, I'd still happily buy a second hand bike I wanted even if it didn't have such rider aids.
Skeptisk said:
ABS would definitely have saved me from my first crash. My first bike was a knackered C70 (which my older brother bought and insured…well he told me he had got insurance…for about £100 “borrowed” off my nan…don’t judge, I was young!). Decided to ride from South London to Berkhamsted to see a friend for the weekend. On the way back the bike kept playing up - stalling as I was going around Hyde Park wasn’t much fun. By the time I got within 400m of my brother’s flat I was knackered and not concentrating properly. Wet roads and overreaction to an oncoming car saw me grab the front brake - with obvious consequences.
My first crash same. 1999 on my SV650s cold winter, 3/4 worn front tyre speeding in a 30 limit - all the things a 17yr old does and later in life you learn fromAnyways an old boy pulled out and I grabbed a handful of front brake on a slight lean. Tucked and I skidded in my textiles for what felt like ages until I hit another parked up car. He admitted full liability and I got paid out. I wasn't a lot over the limit as police measured all the marks on the road
100% with ABS I'd have stopped and made it
Birky_41 said:
My first crash same. 1999 on my SV650s cold winter, 3/4 worn front tyre speeding in a 30 limit - all the things a 17yr old does and later in life you learn from
Anyways an old boy pulled out and I grabbed a handful of front brake on a slight lean. Tucked and I skidded in my textiles for what felt like ages until I hit another parked up car. He admitted full liability and I got paid out. I wasn't a lot over the limit as police measured all the marks on the road
100% with ABS I'd have stopped and made it
Same again. Commuting home from placement in 2011 on my Triumph Speed Four. Dog tired, pissing rain, panic braked and locked the front followed by the rear and stacked it. Anyways an old boy pulled out and I grabbed a handful of front brake on a slight lean. Tucked and I skidded in my textiles for what felt like ages until I hit another parked up car. He admitted full liability and I got paid out. I wasn't a lot over the limit as police measured all the marks on the road
100% with ABS I'd have stopped and made it
Edited by Biker9090 on Tuesday 12th March 14:36
t tyres were to blameThere have been studies that show when riding with all your protective gear on you ride faster and take more chances as you know you have that additional safety, I’ve always wondered if the electric aids result in a similar outcome.
My person issue is that after 40 years of riding I’ve just bought my first bike with any rider aids, all my others dont even have abs. All well and good as I can probably adapt but when you’re jumping between bikes (and decades) you really need to think about how you approach things.
My person issue is that after 40 years of riding I’ve just bought my first bike with any rider aids, all my others dont even have abs. All well and good as I can probably adapt but when you’re jumping between bikes (and decades) you really need to think about how you approach things.
Playsatan said:
There have been studies that show when riding with all your protective gear on you ride faster and take more chances as you know you have that additional safety, I’ve always wondered if the electric aids result in a similar outcome.
I would say definitely so.I don't have a 'modern' bike i.e. one with ABS/traction/wheelie control so can't comment on the most recent advances but, in the 40+ years I've been riding, bikes have got so much better: tyres, brakes, suspension, power etc. which in turn makes it easier to ride faster, so we do...
catso said:
Playsatan said:
There have been studies that show when riding with all your protective gear on you ride faster and take more chances as you know you have that additional safety, I’ve always wondered if the electric aids result in a similar outcome.
I would say definitely so.I don't have a 'modern' bike i.e. one with ABS/traction/wheelie control so can't comment on the most recent advances but, in the 40+ years I've been riding, bikes have got so much better: tyres, brakes, suspension, power etc. which in turn makes it easier to ride faster, so we do...
black-k1 said:
Is the riding faster the result of better brakes, tyres, suspension, power etc. or simply having many more years experience?
I ride faster on my 1190 than I do on my smaller SMs as I hope the LS ABS will sort it out 
I've no idea how good it is as I've never triggered it
Having the different modes on my S1000R is nice, Rain mode making it much more relaxed and chill, road for variable conditions, then Dynamic for dry warm weather which loosens off the aids and spices it up a bit, while still having your back if you overdo it. Having crashed due to handful of brakes sliding me off at 30-40mph (car cut across me with no warning), I wanted a bike with all the safety stuff.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff