[kutter]

Well? I had my new ABS CBR250RA for 2 weeks when on my way home from work I stopped 1st at the light at a 4 lane intersection, where the road curved to the left up a hill across the street. There was a gas station on the corner and a drive entrance (I later noticed) part way up the hill to a grocery store. My vision up the hill was a bit obscured from the line of cars waiting at the light in the other lane.

I probably shouldn't have blasted off when the light turned green but I did and I was tapped in 2nd about to hit 3rd as I began up the hill when a large white SUV made the left into the drive right in front of me. I got that adreniline shot as I saw myself buried in the side of the SUV about 25 ft in front of me. I was likely doing 40 mph & I nailed both brakes rather hard, scrubbed 30 mph in a short distance, allowing the car to clear, and rolled the throttle back on as I proceeded up the hill.

Now I couldn't tell you if the ABS played a part but I know those brakes saved my a** and I was impressed.

Riding home in the rain one night I thought I'd test them & with no one behind me I braked hard from about 45 mph. I stopped very quickly & don't think the ABS even was invoked. Gave me respect for the tires gripping well on that wet pavement. I'm glad I got ABS.

 

[DJOakTree]

To all undecided soon-to-be-riders that are still perusing this topic (I'm aware the previous post was six months ago.

Quick backstory: I rode a 49cc for about two years back in the day. Last time I rode that I was 19. Now I'm 25 and decided it's time for me to get back out there on two wheels. At the time that this story took place, my brand new black CBR250R has about 950 miles on it.

Yesterday I was riding in solid traffic, around a curve, at about 45 mph. I looked at the car next to me for just a second and when I looked forward again I noticed I seemed to be gaining on the car ahead of me rather quickly. On impulse, I grabbed the front brake and stomped on the rear at the same time. I felt the bike wiggle, heard the back tire squeal, and thought gee I'm pretty screwed now. Luckily, the ABS kicked in and the slide only lasted about half a second. I regained control of the bike and passed the idiot who had slowed from 45mph to roughly 5mph (in full traffic!). As soon as I passed them, they took right back off again.

Now, I don't know what the case was with this lady, maybe she dropped her cell phone on the floor. Who knows these days? Point is, I was only distracted for a second, I was following about 3 car lengths behind her and I still **** near laid the bike down.

Anyone who says you don't need ABS on a motorcycle is like anyone who says you don't need traction control on a 600hp car. No, you don't "need" it, but as the saying goes, it only needs to save you once.

And to the people who say you should learn without it, yada yada yada. I completely disagree for two reasons:

1. There is more to riding than learning how to not lock up the wheels. Proper lean, smooth use of throttle, shifting (yes, kids these days usually learn to drive on automatic cars and don't have the luxury of dirtbikes and ATVs like I did [and still almost laid down my bike]). Makes more sense to ride on something thats less likely to hurt you if you make a mistake. Learn to drive a Corolla, THEN learn to drive a Ferrari.

2. You don't have to choose between a fast bike and a bike with ABS anymore. It's offered on every bike in Hondas 2011/12 "sport" lineup (USA). So you can learn to ride with it and continue to ride with it. Hmmm... Maybe these guys are speaking of a false dilemma when they say you'll "have to" learn to ride without it.

I don't see any reason not to have it. Saved my ass and my cash yesterday. Seems almost quaint that I even entertained the thought of buying a bike without ABS.

 

[Spiked1]

This is a good video of non abs vs abs. I saw this one prior to buying my bike. The guy who tests bikes is better at breaking and saw smaller gains. However, not many people break hard as much as he does. Even he said though that the comfort level breaking hard was better.

 

[kflaig]

I was considering buying the ABS model but I realized that I would eventually want to ride a bigger bike and I'd have to go with ABS because I'd become used to using the system.

So I'd prefer to take it easy and slowly master the technique of braking. ...

I'd reconsider my reasoning if I was you Jungle.

Having an ABS equipped CBR250R does not mean that you can't "take it easy and slowly master the technique of braking".

It simply means that you're less likely to wreck while you're on the left hand side of your learning curve.