ABS or no ABS? That is the question.

[Flingshot]

Listening to all of you speak of your road trips has made me wonder if I should maybe give my DRZ a stable mate. I am very attracted to the VStrom. WOW! Me likey! The 07-09 models have the option for ABS brakes. This seems to me to be a great idea for the street but what if you take it on some mild off road excursions?
I would appreciate any and all feedback. The dealers here have waiting lists 10 to 15 deep for the 09 VStrom ABS model so it may be a while before I can get one but I would like to learn as much as I can in the mean time.
Thanks!
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[Trailace]

My GS has ABS and with that big bike I never turn it off while off roading and it has not been an issue. However there has been a few times it save my butt on the street. Sand in parking lot or oil at a stop light. They would have been slow falls maybe but with ABS they were non issue.

[Ironheadziggy76]

I really like my 650 Strom, and the stock rear brakes could be better. I have read the rear brake described as wooden, and thats kind of how it feels compared to the rear brake on my Harley. That being said, I don't know if I would want a bike with an ABS system that I couldn't turn off for riding off road like the BMW has. I am thinking a set of better quality brake pads would probably help things out a little. I really don't have any problems with the brakes on this bike because I mainly use the front brakes. The rear brake is really good at lighting up the brakes lights though. :D

Seriously, if you aren't ready to buy a bike, don't take a test ride. I liked it that much! I was going to wait and buy a new one, then I saw one on craigslist with some farkles I wanted less than 100 miles from my house. I called the owner, went and rode it and bought it on site. I was stoked, the wife, not so much. :p

[mrprez]

Seriously, if you aren't ready to buy a bike, don't take a test ride. I liked it that much! I was going to wait and buy a new one, then I saw one on craigslist with some farkles I wanted less than 100 miles from my house. I called the owner, went and rode it and bought it on site. I was stoked, the wife, not so much. :p

LOL, you sure have some biguns. I should try that though. Forgiveness is always easier than permission....

[Ironheadziggy76]

LOL, you sure have some biguns. I should try that though. Forgiveness is always easier than permission....

Let me just say timing is everything! :D I have bought seven bikes since the wife and I have been married. Some of the bikes we discussed the purchase, and she actually picked out my Road King Classic which turned out well, I told her I was going to just buy a red basic Road King. She hates red vehicles because they clash with her red hair. :rolleyes: So I ended up with the black Classic. My cousin was the service manager at the dealer I bought it from, so he called me when the black Classic (the bike I really wanted) hit the floor, I told him to park it next to the red one. Worked like a charm. :) Some of the others followed me home, my old Sportster just magically appeared in the driveway one day, that wasn't pretty. :eek:

Probably the best deal I got on a bike was a Honda V-65 Sabre. I had worn her down with all the magazine articles, ranting, pouting, etc. I ran across one at a local Honda dealer that was very slightly used, I think it had about 2000 miles on it. The previous owner just had a newborn and a less than enthusiastic wife, so the bike had to go for basically payoff. I had dropped the wife off at the mall and they were having big sales at all her favorite stores. I went and looked at the bike and then came back to the mall and I told her, "Honey I have found the bike I've been dreaming of for an incredible price and I'm going back to buy it." She gave me the "Yea, yea, whatever, Steve I'm trying to shop, leave me alone." Wrong answer, I rode it home the next day! :p That was a funny day, it went back and forth most of the day. "You're not buying this bike!", "I already bought this bike, you told me I could yesterday when you were looking at jeans." She rode many, many miles on the back of that bike! :)

Yep, timing is everything.

[Mr. Guy]

I need to learn this timing thing you speak of. :D

Guy

[ImRubicon]

Timing is critical.
I went looking at bikes every once in awhile and one week I checked in advance what I could swing from the credit union on preaproval and the said enough .
I took the wife out shopping and on the way home we stopped by a bike shop just to look .(I had asked a deal inadvance) she like the ST and by chance said I could get what ever I was aproved for on my own . I rode home a ST1300 that day and she was not happy but not mad . She keeps her word .
She is a good wife

[Flingshot]

I am going to put a deposit on a Vstrom Tuesday AM. Still undecided wether I should get the ABS model or not. I could really use some more input or opinions if you have them. I did find a really nice 08 non ABS model used but its almost the same price as an 09 virgin. The wife is on board so the timing is good, just don't know what to do about the brakes. Does the ABS model combine the front and rear to one pedal?
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[Ironheadziggy76]

I don't think it connects them to one pedal. ABS is a great feature, but I still don't think I would want it on dirt or gravel roads. That's just me though.

Head over to www.stromtrooper.com they could probably answer any question you have.

I think you will really like this bike! :D

[John T]

I have ABS (FJR1300 AE) on my bike and do not regret it. While my bike has no business on dirt and gravel it somehow keeps find it self in those situations.