Personally I really like the ante locks on the front of the bike but not so much on the rear. Wish I could turn the rear off and just leave the front on wouldn't that be a neat feature what do you guys think.??
Antilock brakes good or bad??
- Thread starter Marty Moose
- Start date
You can do that on the SP model. That's my setting for mountain roads.
I think ABS is amazing for traffic conditions and hazardous road conditions, but can actually get you in trouble when riding aggressively or riding offroad (unless it's offroad-specific ABS).
I think ABS is amazing for traffic conditions and hazardous road conditions, but can actually get you in trouble when riding aggressively or riding offroad (unless it's offroad-specific ABS).
Joined Mar 2013
3K Posts | 161+
Naples, IT
Maybe I learned differently but, I was taught 90% front/ 10% rear for sport bike-type riding. I really only use it to keep me from rolling when stopped and maybe lightly feathering to adjust my line in a turn. Oh, it's handy in slow, tight spots, like a parking lot, too. But I never hit the ABS point on the rears unless panic stopping.
Joined Aug 2014
109 Posts | 0+
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The ABS system saved my *** once in a major way. I don't know that I would want another road bike without it. I grabbed the front brake so hard that I couldn't even think to modulate the lever before the ABS system had done it for me 4 times. I didn't touch the rear at all, never do unless it's on sketchy conditions.
More of a dirt bike thing I think - they really want to lock up the rear sometimes.
I'd like to see more dirt-specific modes for both the TC and ABS. For loose gravel roads, it doesn't take much to invoke either one, even at level 1... It seems the option to turn off rear ABS is becoming a standard for dirt-oriented bikes, and that's a good thing. For me, whenever I am on tarmac, I'm probably a bit more safe with the ABS always on at both wheels. And, I would not dream of turning ABS off for the front - that just seems suicidal. On a related note (regarding a bike with the ability to lock the rear... NOT suicide..!!! ;-), I would love to take a Super Moto class at a track, but, with an even lighter bike than this one, at least for starters....
Joined Nov 2013
1K Posts | 1+
Inland SoCal
Our local Kart track hosts an outfit that offers supermoto classes, So Cal Supermoto. They supply everything, including a Suzuki 400 SM, for $250 a day. They run sessions with instruction between them; I think the class lasts at least 4 hours. You might check local tracks for similar.
A few months back I got out on that track with our 390 Duke, and the SCS students seemed to be studying lines, rather slowly. That little Indian thing does have another 7 or 8 rwhp. It also has ABS, and I noticed that if I got the rear at all loose under braking, the front brake force was reduced. So the ability to turn ABS completely off on both the Duke and the Strada is a good thing on the track. I'd be tempted to do the same if I were trying to go quickly on a dirt road. After all, how many true dirt bikes have ABS?
The only bike I ever had that I bought pretty much just for the ABS feature was our 2008 Road Glide. The car-type rear brake pedal on our '01 E-glide was impossible to modulate properly, and I got tired of locking up the rear wheel.
A few months back I got out on that track with our 390 Duke, and the SCS students seemed to be studying lines, rather slowly. That little Indian thing does have another 7 or 8 rwhp. It also has ABS, and I noticed that if I got the rear at all loose under braking, the front brake force was reduced. So the ability to turn ABS completely off on both the Duke and the Strada is a good thing on the track. I'd be tempted to do the same if I were trying to go quickly on a dirt road. After all, how many true dirt bikes have ABS?
The only bike I ever had that I bought pretty much just for the ABS feature was our 2008 Road Glide. The car-type rear brake pedal on our '01 E-glide was impossible to modulate properly, and I got tired of locking up the rear wheel.
For someone riding all out in a controlled environment there may be an argument here - for the average rider ABS is a life saver.
In the dirt, modern abs is supposedly good. Bikes like the ktm 690 enduro have abs and you can turn the rear off. Pure dirt bikes I don't know.
I hunt and peck in the dirt - I pretty much suck - but I'll use gearing and engine braking as much as possible before hitting the brakes.
For someone taking the hyper off road - slow tricky stuff (good luck) I'd look at the traction control, before the abs, and experiment with turning it off. With the slipper, the gearing, and the engine modulating power to the rear wheel via DTC, you have handful. In my experience it doesn't end well.
I also switch to urban mode - you don't need all the power in the dirt.
Joined Nov 2013
1K Posts | 1+
Inland SoCal
ABS is more of a security blanket than a necessity. I rode dual sport in the desert here for several years, just for the scenery. At an easy pace, the only time I needed to lock the rear was going down a steep, loose grade.
But I agree about urban mode. And I don't consider the Strada to be a dirt bike, although I've had it on some sketchy surfaces. But I am used to old bikes with feeble drum brakes, so I use very little braking on dirt.
Joined May 2015
925 Posts | 9+
Dallas, Texas
On the road, paved, unpaved and in between, ABS is a lifesaver. Especially when tied to the newest Bosch sensors.
Off-road ABS remains a curiosity to me. Sometimes nice, but most of the time I want it off.
The beauty of the Ducati system is that we can assign different levels of ABS and TC sensitivity to the different power modes. Best of both worlds.
Off-road ABS remains a curiosity to me. Sometimes nice, but most of the time I want it off.
The beauty of the Ducati system is that we can assign different levels of ABS and TC sensitivity to the different power modes. Best of both worlds.
