[PhuongLe]

Hi all

I considered ABS is an outstanding technology which make our ride safer. Why then rider is allowed to turn off ABS option on setting menu? It's never happen on car, isn't it?

If your guys can find a reason, when should we turn ABS off?

Thank you

 

[outofthebox]

Typically you would want to switch it off when you encounter sand & gravel. ABS is not going to help you stop quickly in those conditions. Also, according to owner manual, ABS should be switched off in muddy conditions, where mud or slush on ABS sensors can cause the system to malfunction.

 

[DJKham]

Hi all

I considered ABS is an outstanding technology which make our ride safer. Why then rider is allowed to turn off ABS option on setting menu? It's never happen on car, isn't it?

If your guys can find a reason, when should we turn ABS off?

Thank you

There is a % of riders who feel more comfortable locking the rear wheel up and "steering with the back" in certain situation (on road as well as off road). I have been riding quite aggressively since the post-break-in and can't say I've even felt it kick in so it doesn't seem like it will be a problem.

If you were to dirt track your Scrambler or attempt some style of supermoto manoever, I suppose you'd also want the ABS off. Nice that the "disable" feature is there. Doubt many will need it/use it.

 

[ammiraglio]

If you were to dirt track your Scrambler or attempt some style of supermoto manoever, I suppose you'd also want the ABS off. Nice that the "disable" feature is there. Doubt many will need it/use it.

ABS on Scrambler is very fine tuned, it works perfectly in many conditions.
The first FW releases on MTS1200S were not so precise, it takes 4 FW releases to find the equilibrium.

I'm a supermoto addicted and I'm trying to learn how to turn Scrambler with ABS ON.

With ABS OFF, as the front on Scrambler is heavier than a proper supermoto, I've experienced the front wheel lock twice, while pushing. Quite scary.

When I push with ABS ON the problem is that when the rear wheel looses grip the system releases both brakes causing the bike to go out of the corner.

I wish a FW will come allowing to disable rear ABS control only, that would be perfect to easily manage the maneuver.

With ABS OFF you can slide easily and have a lot of fun, but weight and geometry cause the front to reach his limit soon if you push hard in very short turns, in particular if the road is downhill.

Well, I know, Scrambler is not a supermoto...

 

[Helios]

I'm not sure if it's different between cars and motorcycles, but all sudden having read this my very first car accident makes slightly more sense. I was driving through slush in a snow storm and went to stop at a stop sign. Car just kept going, I felt the ABS kick in, and even pumped the brakes to no avail. I guess the ABS doesn't really help in slush.

 

[MJ83]

I'm not sure if it's different between cars and motorcycles, but all sudden having read this my very first car accident makes slightly more sense. I was driving through slush in a snow storm and went to stop at a stop sign. Car just kept going, I felt the ABS kick in, and even pumped the brakes to no avail. I guess the ABS doesn't really help in slush.

I am not an expert, but my understanding is ABS will help reduce stopping distance in all conditions, especially snow and slush. In other words, your stopping distance would have likely been even worse without ABS. Also, it is not good practice to "pump" breaks when ABS is active. The pulsation is the systems "pumping" for you, much faster than you are capable of. You should lay on the breaks, and let the ABS system work.

 

[Senna1Rossi]

i don't think there are any reasons to have it off. maybe if you race at a road track. ABS has come a long way for bikes, so it's going to do a much better job than what you will be able to do... especially in panic situations. just trust it, and let it do it's job

 

[Rob]

Turn it off if you wanna do a meaty burn out

 

[truant]

When I'm on the dirt, it can be unnerving to have ABS working as often controlling the bike requires a certain amount of sliding the tail...for example, approaching a hairpin it can be much easier to steer so the weight of the bike goes to the outside of the turn while you skid with the rear wheel. It gently flicks the bike into a much better position to carry on around the corner.

Also, going down steep gravel roads if ABS kicks in on the rear all of a sudden you are not stopping but also you can't as easily control the direction of the bike by dragging on the back wheel. You end up going strange directions.

 

[Helios]

I am not an expert, but my understanding is ABS will help reduce stopping distance in all conditions, especially snow and slush. In other words, your stopping distance would have likely been even worse without ABS. Also, it is not good practice to "pump" breaks when ABS is active. The pulsation is the systems "pumping" for you, much faster than you are capable of. You should lay on the breaks, and let the ABS system work.

Hmm...

I was pretty young at the time (17) and when braking with ABS wasn't stopping the car I then tried pumping the brakes. Basically I think the accident was due to it being the first time I had driven in a snow storm, and it was a pretty bad one. A '91 Mercury Grand Marquis probably isn't the lightest vehicle around. I'm sure it had some good momentum.

I try to get ABS on bikes always. I'd rather have it and feel safer than not have it and just hope that I never run into a situation where it could have saved me.

 

[dukes]

Typically you would want to switch it off when you encounter sand & gravel. ABS is not going to help you stop quickly in those conditions. Also, according to owner manual, ABS should be switched off in muddy conditions, where mud or slush on ABS sensors can cause the system to malfunction.

With that said it might help to test the system on mud or slush to get a feel for what its like in that situation, at least then you know what to expect.

 

[ammiraglio]

...might help to test the system [ABS] on mud or slush to get a feel for what its like in that situation, at least then you know what to expect.

I can help in that, mud and ABS are not compatible! You simply loose brakes.
On mud, ABS OFF is mandatory. Caution too!!