I think this video shows how much ABS is worth it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ_UkAFW6cA

 

I've seen that video. For our purposes, it has a number of problems:

1) It isn't a ZX-6R

2) It isn't at a racetrack

3) Watch the forks on the non-ABS bike: the massive front-end dive at the beginning of the braking zone shows that the non-ABS rider was purposefully trying to lock the front wheel and induce a skid. With that kind of ham-fisted braking, he'd have crashed even if the pavement weren't wet!

4) Watch the forks on the ABS-equipped bike: notice how the forks pogo up and down as the ABS works. Do you really want your bike doing something like that when you're about to turn into a corner on a spirited street ride or during a track day?

Anybody know if the Kawasaki ABS system can be disabled or defeated? Say by removing the sensor ring from the front and rear wheels or wiring a switch into the speed sensor? That'd make me feel more comfortable about going for the ABS model...

 

1. you are correct.

2. I don't think that matters.

3. That's the point of ABS, it kicks in when you are in a skid. It is meant to be used in the way in the video shows it. It takes human error out. ABS slows the bike down without locking the wheel in a shorter distance than a human could under the same conditions.

4. If you are engaging the ABS while going in to a corner that means you lost traction, if you didn't have ABS you would go down.


5. all you have to do is pull the ABS fuse.

 

3. That's the point of ABS, it kicks in when you are in a skid. It is meant to be used in the way in the video shows it. It takes human error out. ABS slows the bike down without locking the wheel in a shorter distance than a human could under the same conditions.

The point is: the non-ABS rider wouldn't have been in a skid if he hadn't used the worst possible braking technique. I've ridden in conditions like that, without ABS, and I've never had a skid or fallen over because I know how to brake properly! ABS might stop faster or it might not; this video isn't a fair comparison so we just can't tell. The only thing we can say for sure is that ABS works better than crappy braking technique.

If you're looking for videos, this one is a much better test. It's more of a "street" test than a "track" test, unfortunately. Not surprisingly, ABS makes the biggest difference for the least-skilled rider. The interesting part is that ABS doesn't make up for a lack of skill: the least-skilled rider using ABS still took longer to stop than the more skilled guys took without ABS.

4. If you are engaging the ABS while going in to a corner that means you lost traction, if you didn't have ABS you would go down.

Wrong. I've locked up the rear brake at the track and not crashed. In fact, I looked like a hero for "backing it in" (even though that wasn't my intent)! I've also felt the front wheel start to push/skid a bit during heavy braking across bumpy pavement. Without ABS, you hold the brake lever constant until things settle down, then trail off the brakes as you dive for the apex. With ABS, I can imagine that the system might reduce brake pressure as you're crossing the bumps and before you know it you're 20 feet deeper into the corner than you were planning. Not good!

5. all you have to do is pull the ABS fuse.

From what I can tell there are two KIBS-related fuses. I'm assuming you should pull both of them, right?

 

If you don't want the ABS bike, why're you asking us? You seem dead set against it even when people bring up valid points. Just get the non-ABS version

 

I'm not dead set against ABS, I was just hoping to get feedback from riders who actually owned ABS-equipped 636s. So far, I've learned that: 1) Crappy braking technique is worse than the clunky ABS system on a Suzuki SV650, and 2) KIBS can be disabled by pulling one or both of the associated fuses.

Perhaps I should have been more clear: I am not a newbie out to buy his first bike. I've been riding for 16 or 17 years and I've done over 120 track days (and track schools) because I spent 6 years as an on-track instructor for one of the largest motorcycle track day providers in California. I'm interested in knowing things like:

- How often have you actually felt the ABS engage?
- Does ABS really come on at unexpected times, as my local salesman seems to think?
- When the ABS engages does it upset the chassis/suspension?
- Does the ABS engage at all lean angles or only when the bike is relatively upright?
- Will the ABS engage when a skilled rider is "pushing the front" through a turn?

Believe it or not, I'm actually leaning toward buying the ABS-equipped bike especially now that I know the ABS can be disabled. Still, it seems like an expensive option given that I can only think of a a couple of instances in my riding career where ABS would have made a difference. In all of those cases, I didn't crash but ABS would definitely have reduced the "pucker factor".

 

ABS is there for when you fuck up on braking.
If you know how to brake properly then don't get an ABS bike and stop beating the dead horse.

 

Please clarify for me: do you own an ABS-equipped ZX-6R? Because it sure sounds like you have absolutely no experience with motorcycle ABS...

 

And you do? As ABS is a relatively new tech piece on bikes, most of us around here who have been here for awhile don't have one with ABS, at least not a nimble 600. There are a few who have ABS 14Rs but the difference in ABS with that bike to a small 6 are going to be immense (weight, power, etc). Therefore, GO DEMO ONE!

 

How many California dealerships do you know that allow demos on Japanese sport bikes? The closest dealer that allows demos on any type of Kawasaki is 100 miles from me. I'd guess the chance that they'll have a ZX-6R demo bike available in December is... zero.

 

 

Dude: you're acting like you're a friction' expert on ABS, I just want to know if you own an ABS-equipped bike or if you're talking out of your butt. Guess you're afraid to answer that question, huh?

 

What cive is saying is simple. ABS will only kick in if you lose traction. If you are such an EXPERT rider that you don't have an issue locking the brakes up, why bother asking about the bike?

 

You realize that all ABS systems don't operate the same, right? Maybe you've heard that some systems are more intrusive than others? The SportRider article I linked indicates that the S1000RR system lets the bike get quite out of shape before it triggers, for example. I was hoping that someone here might own a ZX-6R ABS and be able to provide real-world feedback on how well its ABS system works on the street or at the track, but I guess that just isn't going to happen...

 

BMW's compared to Kawasaki's ABS systems are worlds apart. So you can not compare them. And it still is simple, you claim to be such an expert rider why bother asking about it? On a Kawasaki they don't have the yaw sensor like they do on a S1000, also a ZX6 vs a S1000 is not a reasonable comparison.

 

Why does the BMW system kick in at different times depending on what mode it is in? Simple the computer is programmed differently. It is programmed to allow more wheel spin in slick mode as opposed to rain mode. As a matter of fact the mode can change how the engine runs drastically. In rain mode the S1000 limits the power by changing the fuel mapping and timing of the engine. Again comparing two totally different systems is not feasible.

 

Again comparing two totally different systems is not feasible.

It's very simple to compare them: ride the bike, grab the brake lever. I'm not interested in debating the implementation details, what I want to know is how ABS feels and responds when you're actually riding the bike. I thought I made that clear, but maybe not...

 

 

 

I'm surprised you guys are getting so butt-hurt! It's not my fault that none of you have experience riding ABS-equipped bikes and therefore can't talk intelligently about how it operates n the real world! Feel free to keep circle-jerking about which ABS system sounds better on paper; I've managed to get advice from an experience racer who's actually ridden ABS-equipped Kawis (and just about everything else), so I now know what I need to know...

 

So what's the verdict? I have an ABS equipped bike 2008 FJR1300 but it isn't a late model 636. I am interested to know what you found out. People are easy to offend. Case and point. People got offended here. Not me. I do have a 2013 Zx6r but it doesn't have ABS. I am not sure I need it either. I use my 636 for canyon and track days. I think(but do not know) that ABS would be fine on the track and better on the street for the safety factor. I am very experienced and do not think I need it on my little Zx6. Do tell. What is the info you have uncovered. You anywhere near Malibu? Lets ride!