Braking distance with ABS is longer than braking distance with "standard" brakes and a proficient rider.
I would agree with that statement with
one caveat: That the test be performed under ideal conditions, on dry flat level ground, clean and free of debris, dirt, sand, leaves, pebbles, grass cuttings, an other lose material, and that the ABS equipped bike has the ABS deployed
the whole time.
When I went though police motor school the instructors did a braking demo that impressed me.
On the training grounds, under those above described conditions, the instructors demonstrated a comparison between an old Kawasaki Police bike, and MY service BMW RT with ABS. At 40mph,
the KZP using good threshold combination braking stopped shorter and quicker than the BMW WITH the ABS deployed. This happened every time they ran the test under the above conditions. and it was a marked difference in stopping distance. Now, under the SAME conditions, with the BMW brought to the
threshold of ABS deployment,....
where the ABS did NOT kick in, the BMW stopped better than or equal to the KZP.
Then they wet the surface to imitate a light rain or sprinkler run off. WITH the ABS deployed the BMW stopped quicker than the KZP. Then they went to sand on the road. Same thing, with ABS deployed, the BMW stopped quicker and shorter. Next gravel and then dirt. If the KZP over braked, the wheels would lock inducing a skid. Time and again the KZP was NOT able to modulate the brakes enough to out perform the BMW with ABS deployed.
The whole reason for this demos was two fold.
First, to let the motor officer candidates know that a rider with good braking skills, on a non ABS equipped bike, is capable of stopping as well as or better than an ABS bike,...(and here's the caveat),...
under ideal conditions. Under less than ideal conditions (like most folks experience every day) and in the hands of good rider, the ABS bike has an advantage.
The second reason, (and my favorite one by the way), was to impress upon the motor officer the
Importance Of Regular Practice. If your bike does not have ABS it's important to practice good threshold combination braking. If your bike does have ABS, it's MORE important that you practice good threshold combination braking.
ABS is NOT meant to deploy every time the brakes are applied. If that happens, the rider is probably over braking and causing the ABS to kick in unnecessarily. ABS is meant to deploy when the brakes are used under less than ideal conditions, wet roads, bumpy or buckled pavement, sand, dirt, leaves,...all that stuff we find on the road everyday.
Speaking for only myself, as a veteran and experienced rider, I like ABS. I think it's one of the best improvements in the world of motorcycling. As one of the instructors said, it takes that human "Oh $hit" factor out that sometimes comes under adverse circumstances. I can only hope that those with ABS equipped bikes go out at least once a month and practice braking. I hope those without ABS practice as well.
Practice can only make you a better and safer rider.
But I could be wrong.
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