More snow and cold, for these parts, temperatures. Today the high didn't get out of the teens Fahrenheit.
My Yaris has ABS and so did the Windstar before it, but during the time I've owned those vehicles we haven't had enough snow and ice around here for me to really get a feel for the difference. This season has been different. Today someone did something stupid and if I hadn't had ABS brakes I'm not sure I could have stopped in time. As it was, no problem. Yes, I like ABS.
Tomorrow it may make it above freezing and then the temperatures will plunge again. Both bikes got some exercise yesterday. Good thing. It may be a little while before either of them ventures forth again.
ABS is even better on the bike. It has saved my bacon twice. Once on the DN-01 and another on the Burgman. Both times against a dog.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I went down on Billie I was convinced if I would have had ABS I wouldn't have gone down. I suspect it will be a long while before I have get another bike. So, no ABS on the horizon for me.
DeleteABS is one of those thing syou don't appreciate until you need it and then you realize how great it is.
ReplyDeleteI've used it a few times in cars, but never experienced it on a bike.
Our winters have been so mild of late I'd not had much of a chance to experience any difference. I sure got it today. It is no longer theoretical.
DeleteWhen I had manual 4x4 I would use the lever inside the car to engage, disengage and when you do it that way you are certainly aware of how much you use it. Between gravel roads and snow and ice I'm sure I use the ABS a lot!
ReplyDeleteAnother challenging winter.
I miss having four-wheel or all wheel drive. I don't regret my choice to go front wheel drive. I seldom had a chance to use it and I'm not inclined to go out and see how bad I can get stuck like I was once upon a time.
DeleteWith snow or gravel, being able to shut off the ABS would be nice. In an emergency stop, plowing gravel or snow with locked front wheels may mean the difference between stopped or not. Granted, you lose directional control as the wheels aren't turning but at least you may still be able to stop. There have been numerous times when coming to a stop on soft snow when the wheels just continue to happily roll along when trying to stop. Sliding on the snow would have been better...
ReplyDeleteI have no experience with it on a bike just cages.
I certainly hope I don't get lots of opportunity to find out the nuances of ABS on snow. For our winters I think it is a really good thing. I suspect it is at work on wet slick surfaces and I haven't even noticed.
DeleteI don't have ABS on the Harley, but I had it on my Beemer, and it had saved my bacon once…
ReplyDeleteDo they still build cars without ABS? I thought that would be a technical standard these days...
"ABS systems are required on all new passenger cars sold in the EU since 2007 and in the USA since 2010"
DeleteFrom Wikipedia
The Yaris is 2009 and it came with ABS. It may have been standard. I don't remember.The Windstar I bought used and I'm sure the ABS was a option on it. I really didn't have any situations while I owned the Ford when I experienced the ABS making a difference one way or another.
DeleteI know it helped in the situation I encountered above and I was grateful to have it.