Why does R version come with no ABS?

Amazing to read all the different opinions here and it’s clear that few know what in the hell they are talking about. I guess that's what make it fun. The ABS system on 990s does not measure lean angle or fork dive, rear wheel height or anything else (other than wheel speed) that would make it work differently with short or long travel suspension. It (the brain, built into the ECU) only measures wheel speed compared to vehicle speed—that’s how it works and that’s all it can do. It then releases or applies hydraulic pressure, by way of the ABS pump, to the brake calibers.

There is very a slight difference (as some have alluded to) in how ABS works with longer travel suspension (LTS) bikes and shorter travel suspension (STS) bikes. All else being equal, STS bikes will lock up the wheels, both ends, more quickly than LTS bikes. That is because the suspension is absorbing the braking force (energy) as long as the fork is diving, and both ends further help maintain traction by keeping the wheels on or closer to the earth’s surface. It’s been my experience that ABS works better with LTS bikes than on STS bikes, and that is simply because LTS bikes maintain more traction and no other reason.

LTS—equating to more traction—applies to the newer ABS systems as well, but they work way better. That is because some of the newer ABS systems (KTM 1190 for example) do measure several aspects of the bike that the older ones do not and make the necessary adjustments at a very high speed. Most skilled riders, especially good dirt bike riders, can out perform the 990s ABS system both on and off the road, but not so with KTM's new ABS system. That’s good stuff.

The ABS argument will go on until everyone has the newer systems and we’ll all agree that they control braking-traction even better than the most skilled riders; just as Traction Control has in road racing. The only sad part is that motorcyclists are becoming like butt hat drivers as technology takes place of ride/driver skills.