After my ridiculous notion of getting back to bikes by starting off on a 125 was rightly done away with, I decided that pending a test ride I'd quite like a Kawasaki ER-6f cos it's fairly different from most other bikes and it fits my short arris frame.
My question is whether or not I should go for the ABS option or not? I've never ridden a bike with ABS and always thought it was a bit of a weird thing to have on bike. How much different from normal braking is it really?
My normal technique of braking into a corner used to be to get all the braking done in a straight line fairly late before tipping it in. Will ABS affect that?
Thanks muchly to all who help

personally i wouldnt bother paying the extra for abs on a bike. just more to go wrong for a start. If you ride within your limits you should never need abs on a bike anyway. If ridden for 16 years and not needed it or been in a situation where abs would have avoided an accident.

traction control on the other hand...

Every bike I've had since 1993 has had ABS fitted. I've had it kick in only once (rider error). It's there if you get it wrong and will help you stop the bike in a straight line. As to whether it is worth an extra £400 - that's moot.

well,,,


If I were going to buy a new bike today and there was an ABS option,, for £400 I would consider it...

you know,,wet road,,,, emergency stop etc...... you know....



Hav I ever needed it,,,,,, Not sure,,,, but locked the back wheel more than once for a split sec when some Suicidal pedestrian walked into my pass.. and once when the driver indicated left to do a right U turn..

it made my heart jump,,,, and it was scary,,,,,

If I could afford it, I'd definitely go for it. So long as it isn't stupid and links your brakes etc. when applying the back brake, it'll handy if the worst comes to the worst.

My current BMW has linked, power assisted brakes. They work brilliantly. As with any system, you adapt your riding style accordingly.

But are they linked when using the rear brake? To me, that seems stupid if you want to brush off speed through a corner.

The only reason I'd be tempted to go for it would be re-sale... privately it may fetch a few more quid and be more appealing when you come to sell, via a dealer you are likely to get more back too and won't be able to be fobbed off with stuff like "well if it had the ABS we'd give you 'x' amount more"...

Yes, they are linked through both levers. It means I had to amend my braking technique. Slow moving now means use of the front lever rather than the rear as this has more sensitivity. Brushing off speed means just a dab of the back brake on the approach to a hazard. Waddya mean in a corner? You got it wrong, then...

Seriously, no, it works fine. Braking at any speed is stable and controlled.

Interestingly, the later model now has the linked system on only one lever - the front, I think.

I don't know whether it's worth £400 but if your buying it BRAND NEW from a dealer- try haggling to get it thrown in for free (or dirt cheap).

If he's so desperate for a sale (like most dealers are) then he'd do whatever he can to get your cash in the till.

The guzzi V35 that I rode for my restricted 2 years after passing my test had linked brakes on it (although I think it was front does half of front, back does half front and back) and it never caused me any issues other than tracking that down as the cause of my feeling that the ZZR rear brake "doesnt do much". I think I just adapted without even realising to using the rear more and have had to "unadapt".

Guzzi were one of the first manufacturers to use a linked system. Guzzi owners I knew swore by them. I have to admit to being a convert since having them on the BMW.

As to the resale value - I'm not sure the difference would be sufficient to worry about. Go for ABS because of its benefits, I'm really not sure you'd get that much back during haggling with a prospective buyer.

You're probably right.. I just mentionned it because that's the only reasons why I'd consider it

I'm not a big fan of ABS and linked brakes, doesn't help with slow manoeuvres and on rough & gritty back roads the tyre doesn't get good enough grip for the ABS to be effective. Plus I don't like the 'dipping' feel you get from it

My experience with selling later is that the prospective buyer will always find some excuse to knock you down. My response to this has been to refuse to haggle - this is the price, take it or leave it.

I prefer to buy based upon my needs while I have the bike - prospective buyers are the least of my concerns.

"Dipping"? Not had that one. Not sure what you mean by it. Although the BMW suspension doesn't dip under braking. Is that what you mean?

Low speed manoeuvres - I just switched from rear brake to front - no problem.

You're right, there will be instances where ABS is less effective; loose road surfaces being an example. Sheet ice is going to be another. For the most part, though, it will mean the bike can be stopped in a straight line and remain upright if the rider gets the braking wrong and over compensates.

Would I opt not to have it - probably not. Would I pay extra to have it? Probably not. Same applies to the linked braking. I like it, but wouldn't pay extra for the benefit.

got to agree with you 100%


if you buy a new bike, it is for your enjoyment and not how much it is going to be worth in many years time.....
if that is the case ,it is beter to buy used.


I have added many little things on MyB12 ( Led lights,Philips Primium bulbs, R&G bungs, huger , hot grips etc,,,,,,,,,, and it is unlikely I would re-coup the money I have spent,,,,,, but I like it better now................

I had the linked system on my Blackbird and didn't much like it. It did everything far too easily and took away the feel of what was actually happening. According to reports the stopping distances were dramatically reduced so it is a case of do you want to stop quicker or have a feel of what is going on. This one is personal choice I feel but £400 isn't bad, I was quoted a lot more than that to have the linked system removed.

The 'dipping' was on the Pan when idiot drivers pulled out way too close in town. I expect the front to dive in heavy braking but I didn't like the way the ABS delivered it; it was very much one of those personal things, like clunky gearboxes, that, once you're aware of it, starts to irritate you (to the exclusion of all the things you like about a particular bike)

Ah, okay. The BMW has different suspension and doesn't do this. Plenty of feel. I rode a Blackbird once, I both loved it and hated it simultaneously.

Thanks a ton for all the help. I'm now leaning towards paying the extra for ABS. Sounds like it's a bit like gun ownership, probably better to have it and not use it than not have it and need it. And, I agree it would make any resale stronger. Nice tip about haggling to get it thrown in gratis, have to remember that even though I'm one of the worst hagglers ever...