What are people's thoughts on buying a new (or used for that matter), GSA without ABS and ASC? Many thanks
Sure. The simplicity is appealing. Although my GSA sees dirt almost every day, I do like the ABS on the pavement. I If I lived in a truly remote area I'd probably prefer a stripper model. I don't have much use for the ASC. I could live without the on-board computer.
Personally I would not purchase a bike without abs because I have witnissed riders go down and I believe if abs would have been on the motorcycle the accident would not have happened. ABS has also saved my butt more than once. Just recently an antelope jumped out of the ditch in front of me and I had to do a panic stop on a road that had been resurfaced with tar and gravel. I dont think I could have pulled that one off without the abs. Now the asc is a different story. I would have it turned off all the time. I like to hang the rear tire out from time to time.
I ordered my '07 ADV without ABS and ASC and the $$ computer and couldn't be HAPPIER. Only option I have is heated grips...a must have!
I wont buy a bike without ABS now, the stopping power is incredible and you don't lock up. You can turn it of, so those that want to ride without it for dirt or whatever still have the option. As for ASC, well I don't know. I think I would skip it myself. I have it on my '10 GSA and probably don't push it hard enough to ever use.
In some countries insurance costs are higher without ABS, but regardless i would not buy a bike without it. ASC on the other hand i could do without, i have it and always forget to turn to offroad mode or off completely when i hit some gravel and want to play around a bit. One thing that would be great was if it remembers the setting to next time you drive and not default to activated.
I have actually passed on buying bikes I would love to have because they didn't have ABS. I am a believer that it helps keep the rubber side down. ASC doesn't seem necessary to me. I manage traction with my right hand .
ABS at least.....if I could afford one. Tho it would hafta be lowered. Everyone I sat on was too tall. A GS I can at least use the pad of my foot like on my RT
I`ve had bikes without ABS and Traction control but they are nice features....especially ABS. Not having it on a bike wouldn't break the deal if the price was right.
Don't need to have ASC but ABS are a must for me. Have triggered ABS before and saw their virtues. Saved my skin on one occassion! I do shut off my ABS when going offroad on my 2005 1200GS.
and very often they are higher with it due to additional repair costs as a few friends found recently
ABS is a must-have for me. ASC? I'm pretty sure I'd pass, and I'd be P.O.'d if it was inseparable from other options. Now, on a sportbike (600-1000cc race-replica), I'd love to have the kind of traction control modes that are on the S1000RR. I'm enough less aggressive on the GS that I wouldn't want to pay for the feature.
After having several experiences with ABS stopping power I would NEVER EVER buy a bike again without ABS - unless the non-ABS bike is given to me for free. I was a bit skeptical about ASC in the beginning but now that I've ridden the GSA for a while and seen that ASC actually has prevented some stupid stunts I would consider this a close second behind ABS. Reiner
Can you tell us more about that? At least on the 1150, I've never come close to breaking the rear end loose (that I know of), except when I wanted to.
Same here... I bought my triple black with ABS ans ASC and both have helped on different occasions. Also the ASC helps not spewing rocks at those behind me... I probably don't even know when it kicks in! They both can easily turn off if needed, not like the tenere. I don't have the ESA because I have the lowered bike. But the adjustment knob is easy to manipulate when needed.
I have had ABS but I bought my last bike (used) without it. I have mixed feelings on it. The trouble I have with ABS, ASC, watercooling etc on an Adventure bike is that it adds complexity and it is just something else to go wrong. (I take long trips, but nothing like RTW or big international trips...yet) When a used, low mileage (12,500 miles on an 06 I bought in January of this year) came available without ABS I didn't have a problem jumping on it (and to someone's earlier point it didn't sell quickly because of the lack of ABS). In addition to low miles, the bike had Ohlins with less than 3k miles, Remus exhaust, Sargent seats and Adventure cases. I got it for $10,500 and I thought that was to good a deal to pass up. Now, I understand (but haven't totally bought into) ABS on a motorcycle and there is a chance I might regret not having ABS. Not too long after I bought this I had someone put their brakes on and slow suddenly and I had to brake hard. Not used to the new bike yet I locked up the rear wheel and it squirmed around a lot. I recognized the value the ABS would have brought at that point. I look at it though and think that there were and are a zillion bikes without ABS out there. Yes it might save me, but not riding a motorcycle would help too. I am not going to try to rationalize the decision though, its one I made and I haven't regretted it yet, but there could always be the day...
ABS If I was going to ride mine mostly off road, I would rather it not have it but... I use mine for long distance touring, everyday commuter and love em. It does get flogged in the dirt every now and then so I switch it off for that.
I love ABS on the street, just wish it was easier to turn off, ie a simple switch without having to turn off the bike, so when I'm riding down the pavement and turn on to my favorite dirt train all I would have to do is move a switch on the go to disable the ABS. As for ASC wouldn't have it on a bike.