Yeah, it's not a MX bike, can't see why anyone would be riding at hyperspeed on the dirt.

 

I agree, also if given the choice between more options or less, I prefer to have options, such as disabling the system

 

There are times when disabling ABS is preferable. Try going down a steep hill in the dirt and see if you still like having it on.

 

Have you tried it? I have. I just rode the rear brake down the hill and was easily able to stop part-way down.

I've yet to hear of a real-world example where someone can point to this as a problem. I think it's more that BMW implemented it because they thought it might be important, so then it became a check-list item.

No doubt there are scenarios - just think it's mighty rare that some on an "Adventure Touring" bike would be in one. I bet the percentage of S10 and Triumph Explorer that go off road (not dirt roads - off roads) is about the same it is for the V-Strom and R1200GS owners I know - about 1 out of 10.

 

If your going down a really steep hill, then just do it at less then 5mph and the ABS won't work anyway. Or turn the engine off, put the bike in gear and use the clutch as a rear brake.

The percentage of Vstrom owners that ride down steep dirt hills is probably 0.01%

 

The percentage of Vstrom owners that ride down steep dirt hills is probably 0.01%

I guess I am one of the elites.

Early in my 'Strom ownership I followed several more accomplished riders on more capable bikes up what once might have been a road.

Coming down is another story, I quickly learned the folly of not pulling the ABS fuse. The guy on the GS1200 Adventure ahead of me disabled his ABS which involved turning off the bike and turning it back on. It ws kinda scary, the bike picked up speed and before I could kill the motor to deadhead down, a nice rock yanked the bars hard to the left and my buddies had to pull 450# of wanna-be MX racebike off my leg.

It was a relatively soft landing but cost a windsheild and turn signal.

The video, which was posted before, is a rather different situation.

There's a good chance that had I been running knobbies (like the bloke in the video) I'd have had enough traction for the ABS not to have intervened.

 

I am going to pull the fuse here and see how it handles in the dirt. Someday.

 

:thumbup:I have to say i like the ABS in the gravel,the rear wheel wont lock up and send you sideways into an uncontrolled highside or lowside get off,i was gonna try it in the snow but i couldnt get her up to 5mph

 

So, there definitely are videos on YouTube of GS riders that can stop their bikes by locking up the rear wheel faster than they can in the straight line with the ABS on. However, those bikes are a good 50lbs heavier, have a shaft drive in the rear, and carry typically carry heavy bags.

 

Its not only about stopping in the shortest distance, having the ability to lock the rear up helps with steering as well. I personally will be flicking the ABS off on some dirt surfaces - in particular the ball bearing gravel we have here.

 

I removed the 15A valve fuse and went for a ride. The ABS light stays on, so this means it isn't working. Skidded the front and rear tire a bit on a gravel road and it is completely disabled.

I put the fuse back in and plan to leave it there. Never tried a steep downhill yet though.

 

I realize that this is a rather old thread, but having just ridden a stretch of dirt road between Tortilla Flat and Roosevelt Lake east of Phoenix, I have some observations. Prior to this ride, I was one who considered the potential of being able to disable the ABS unnecessary and probably not a good idea. I can tell you on at least two occasions, while on a downhill and approaching a curve and finding the need to slow to avoid missing the curve and slamming into a rock wall, that i had no brakes. I was riding with a friend who had an 07 non ABS, and he had no issue whatsoever. Based on my experience, I am convinced that there are some conditions where the interaction between road surface and the ABS render the bike literally brakeless. I will never ride that road again without having first installed an Eager Beaver ABS bypass, or something similar.

 

Suzuki does not consider the V-Strom an off road motorcycle. I've heard that Japanese engineers tell folks that at motorcycle shows with the comment "why would anyone want take the V-Strom off road".
With that mindset then you see why there is no factory way to disable the anti-locks. Personally I could live with out anti-lock brakes on motorcycles and did for years.

 

Eastern Beaver to the rescue, pull the fuse.....or buy a bike that you can switch on/off at will.

 

In that sort of emergency, just turn the key to off... Abs stop working... Kill switch alone won't do it.

 

Seriously, I've had zero problems with ABS and I ride some really bad roads now and then.

The trick is, do what you'd do WITHOUT ABS, release the brakes when they lock up and try again. If you just grab a big handful you'll have no braking without ABS as well.



Pete

 

my limited understanding about riding in dirt is that locking the rear wheel helps you to:

1) rear steer - way to advance for me to do it on a bike of this size; if you can do this comfortable on a Vstrom - i am sure you can ride around the ABS anyway

2) dig in in very loose sandy or fine gravel road to stop quicker compare to if the rear wheel is rolling. This method is useful only with relative loose surface - no good with grassy / hard pack dirt/ or large gravel road???

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with that infamous BMW going down the hill out of control video - you can see that his brake light wasnt on for most of the 1st 1/3 of the down hill trip - brake light came on briefly initially then 1/3 way down that large gravel slope when his bike already pick up too much speed..... i wonder what would happen if his ABS is not working at that point- both wheels lock up and slide down?

Someone was shouting to him " let go the brake" and he must took it to mean free-wheeling down, rather than modulate the brake...

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what they need is an off switch for rear brake only like they do on some of the more advance system...


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oh 12+ bike's ABS cycle a lot faster than old Wee ABS and is much better

 

don't forget you have an engine too.. if you are on loose stuff you can down shift a few gears and use the clutch to help slow down...

the strom is not a dirt bike.. it is not meant to go flying over gnarly terrain at speed... but it will navigate some nasty stuff if you take your time.

also another way of disabling ABS that I found out (by accident) is to do a burnout.

if the rear wheel is spinning and the front not it will make the ABS system think there is a bad sensor and the ABS light will come on.:green_lol:

about 5:40 in this vid you will see what I mean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DKd_dwEJe4

 

All this talk about locking up the rear wheel to aid bike control? It may help turn a corner, maybe, but I have found the only way to maintain control of a bike is to keep the wheels turning. That stuff is for loose soft dirt or sand only. I might just get me one of them fancy ABS dohickles one day as my old Wee does not have one. Like PeteW says it could help alert me to be more subtle on the brakes.
As and old dirt biker I use my Wee to go find dirt roads. I just posted this from the incident cam I have mounted to my faring.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y4T7sb_XHk&feature=youtu.be