ABS off switch

[YamaPA]

Sound to me like your just turning off Traction Control, not ABS.
Our bikes do the same thing. Unless I'm missing something.

Exactly. The OP is turning off the TC only, not the ABS.

 

[rem]

Exactly. The OP is turning off the TC only, not the ABS.

Ditto for Canadian bikes. R ::024::

 

[stevepsd]

Ditto for Canadian bikes. R ::024::

Yep, this only turns off the Traction Control. ABS is still active.

 

[markjenn]

I think the OP thought ABS and TC were the same thing.

- Mark

 

[Skiptonian]

ooooooooops sorry guys. I just leave it all on. Love the bike and for the riding I do it is the best I've had. ::021::

 

[Old Git Ray]

I am confused. (no change there then)

My ABS works perfectly all the time. On wet grass and loose rocks and loose gravel. I was one of the first people to purchase this bike and tested it extensively on all types of surface and posted my findings on ADV.(this site did not exist then). I also did all the ABS fuse pulling things and reported on what each one did in July 10.

I have, after nearly 18 months come to rely on the ABS completely in virtually all (feasable) conditions.

One of the big things about not having an off switch is that if you do use it off road with the ABS turned off and then drive onto the road with muddy tyres and some twat in a cage pulls out in front of you, you are in the shit big time. If the ABS had been on all the time the bike will have just stopped and not fallen over when you grabbed the front brake. It does not care what surface you are on. It is not valhallah but it's close.

Whilst I have to bow down to some comments on here by ex/current racers, I do have to ask myself why they bought this bike in the first place. To my mind it was designed to aimed at the masses of normal riders who ultimately prefer to go out play and still be able to ride the bike home at the end of the day, or use it for adventurous touring where getting to the end of the day still in the saddle was paramount. This it does very very well, but as for cutting edge riding, I do not think the bike was designed for that.

 

[dcstrom]

Whilst I have to bow down to some comments on here by ex/current racers, I do have to ask myself why they bought this bike in the first place. To my mind it was designed to aimed at the masses of normal riders who ultimately prefer to go out play and still be able to ride the bike home at the end of the day, or use it for adventurous touring where getting to the end of the day still in the saddle was paramount. This it does very very well, but as for cutting edge riding, I do not think the bike was designed for that.

Have to agree with Ray here - having done some roadracing in the distant past, I find the Super Tenere doesn't work that well for me when I try to ride it like a sport bike. Brakes lack feel, tires (currently K60's) don't offer much grip or feel, turn-in is slow, ground clearance is lacking. Which is all to be expected - it would be nice if the bike did everything perfectly, but being a sport bike was not in the design brief. As Ray says, this bike is all about taking care of normal riders and getting to the end of the day safely. If that's not exciting enough, they may choose to ride in tougher terrain than they'd normally take on, and the bike will still look after them.

Not saying that people shouldn't turn off ABS if that's what they want to do - just that to criticize the bike because it lacks an ABS switch is a bit unfair.

 

[markjenn]

One of the big things about not having an off switch is that if you do use it off road with the ABS turned off and then drive onto the road with muddy tyres and some twat in a cage pulls out in front of you, you are in the shit big time. If the ABS had been on all the time the bike will have just stopped and not fallen over when you grabbed the front brake. It does not care what surface you are on. It is not valhallah but it's close.

While I agree that the S10's ABS is desirable to be on in all but a very limited set of circumstances, it takes some convoluted logic to conclude that the lack of a switch is a plus by protecting ourselves from possibly turning it off when it should be on. With a switch, those that think it is desirable to leave on all the time simply don't use the switch. There is no takeaway with a switch (other than cost of course).

- Mark

 

[3putt]

You all know that I have proved to myself that the ABS is gonna be on for all my riding. I think it is fantastic.

I have the service manual, and there is several pages of explanations on the ABS and UBS. It is very complex with some very interesting calculations, such as applying brakes differently (more aggressive) when 2up. Pretty interesting technology to say the least.

 

[colorider]

It is very complex with some very interesting calculations, such as applying brakes differently (more aggressive) when 2up. Pretty interesting technology to say the least.

And the fact that it works is reason enough to leave it alone (and ON)!

::26::

 

[dcstrom]

While I agree that the S10's ABS is desirable to be on in all but a very limited set of circumstances, it takes some convoluted logic to conclude that the lack of a switch is a plus by protecting ourselves from possibly turning it off when it should be on.

I don't think so - I know I'm an idiot, so I would probably turn it off when I don't need to, just because I can. Then I'd leave the section where I thought I needed to turn off the ABS and probably didn't, forget to turn it back on, see a nice corner and go steaming into it as normal, find myself unable to control my braking (anything like) as well as the ABS does, and crash.

I already have enough trouble switching between the Vee and the S10, remembering that *I* am fully responsible for my traction under brakes on the Vee. I know if I was switching modes with any frequency on the S10, I'd get myself in trouble at some point.

BTW, the lack of ABS is one of the things that makes the Vee more fun to ride in sport mode than the S10. But for everyday riding, the S10 is far safer.

 

[markjenn]

I don't think so - I know I'm an idiot, so I would probably turn it off when I don't need to, just because I can. Then I'd leave the section where I thought I needed to turn off the ABS and probably didn't, forget to turn it back on, see a nice corner and go steaming into it as normal, find myself unable to control my braking (anything like) as well as the ABS does, and crash.

If you know ahead of time you're an "idiot", then you know ahead of time to simply never turn the ABS off. Again, anybody who thinks the ABS is better left on all the time can simply not use the switch. So this "less is more" logic still escapes me. Perhaps Yamaha should remove the choice of the engine making 90 hp and instead limit it to 50 so you won't be an idiot and use too much power too.

- Mark

 

[dcstrom]

If you know ahead of time you're an "idiot", then you know ahead of time to simply never turn the ABS off. Again, anybody who thinks the ABS is better left on all the time can simply not use the switch. So this "less is more" logic still escapes me. Perhaps Yamaha should remove the choice of the engine making 90 hp and instead limit it to 50 so you won't be an idiot and not use too much power too.

- Mark

The point I'm trying to make is that Yamaha decided that on this bike, with this ABS system, most people would be better off, most of the time, without an "ABS off" option. I agree with them. For anyone who feels the need to turn it off, the fix is either cheap ($50 or so for a switch) or free (running on the centerstand in gear, or pull the fuse) depending on the level of convenience required.

Next time I have good road tires on the bike I'm going to pull the fuse to see if turning off the ABS improves brake feel for sport riding. If so, maybe I'll fit a switch. For dirt though, I'll be keeping ABS on 99.9% of the time.

Trevor

 

[YamaPA]

Man, the way some of you guys talk about ABS and how great it is and that everyone should just keep the ABS "ON" makes me wonder if you work for the govt's safety police, govt's fun removal team or for the removal of free choice foundation.

Next year I supposed you will be pushing for airbags, heated mirrors, self darkening shields, headsup displays, tire pressure monitors, self retracting sidestands, autoshift, automatic deploying of stabilzer wheels, antiwheelie devices (shit, we already have that with each new start of the bike in TC1 mode....why cant it remember where I set it the last time I used the bike...oh, that's right...it's for my own safety!), etc. It's a freaking motorcycle for Pete's sake. It's supposed to be fun, dangerous and exciting.

Are any of you guys complaining about reduced power in the first three gears? If so, stop it, it doesnt fit with a pro-ABS stance.

People that grew up dirt riding, like dirt riding, and ride dirt well, dislike the fact that with ABS you can't EFFECTIVELY setup the rear end of the bike for corners exits by skidding the rear wheel and it just doesnt work well on surfaces which do not consist of a "high" traction surface. If ABS works for you...great. If you like ABS...great. If someone wants help disconnecting ABS.....either lend the help or saying nothing. It's a personal choice. Just leave it at that. Discussions of ABS are as bad as oil or tire threads these days.

 

[markjenn]

The point I'm trying to make is that Yamaha decided that on this bike, with this ABS system, most people would be better off, most of the time, without an "ABS off" option. I agree with them. For anyone who feels the need to turn it off, the fix is either cheap ($50 or so for a switch) or free (running on the centerstand in gear, or pull the fuse) depending on the level of convenience required.

I agree that most riders are better off most of the time with the ABS left on. But that doesn't mean that the bike wouldn't be better with the option to turn it off when "most" doesn't fit the situation.

This discussion isn't about whether ABS is desirable "most" of the time. The discussion is whether this bike would be improved with an ABS off switch. As to the notion that the mod is cheap or there are tricks to simulate a switch, this may be true, but that still means that bike would be improved with a switch that would alleviate the need for mods and tricks.

- Mark

 

[Old Git Ray]

Man, the way some of you guys talk about ABS and how great it is and that everyone should just keep the ABS "ON" makes me wonder if you work for the govt's safety police, govt's fun removal team or for the removal of free choice foundation.

Next year I supposed you will be pushing for airbags, heated mirrors, self darkening shields, headsup displays, tire pressure monitors, self retracting sidestands, autoshift, automatic deploying of stabilzer wheels, antiwheelie devices (shit, we already have that with each new start of the bike in TC1 mode....why cant it remember where I set it the last time I used the bike...oh, that's right...it's for my own safety!), etc. It's a freaking motorcycle for Pete's sake. It's supposed to be fun, dangerous and exciting.

Are any of you guys complaining about reduced power in the first three gears? If so, stop it, it doesnt fit with a pro-ABS stance.

People that grew up dirt riding, like dirt riding, and ride dirt well, dislike the fact that with ABS you can't EFFECTIVELY setup the rear end of the bike for corners exits by skidding the rear wheel and it just doesnt work well on surfaces which do not consist of a "high" traction surface. If ABS works for you...great. If you like ABS...great. If someone wants help disconnecting ABS.....either lend the help or saying nothing. It's a personal choice. Just leave it at that. Discussions of ABS are as bad as oil or tire threads these days.

It is apparent that, despite 12 months worth of data being available on the web for you to make an informed choice, you bought the wrong bike. Thats what free choice does for you.

If you really ride as good as you say you do, on the S10 with the ABS off, then clearly, we are not worthy.

 

[Tremor38]

Man, the way some of you guys talk about ABS and how great it is and that everyone should just keep the ABS "ON" makes me wonder if you work for the govt's safety police, govt's fun removal team or for the removal of free choice foundation.

Next year I supposed you will be pushing for airbags, heated mirrors, self darkening shields, headsup displays, tire pressure monitors, self retracting sidestands, autoshift, automatic deploying of stabilzer wheels, antiwheelie devices (shit, we already have that with each new start of the bike in TC1 mode....why cant it remember where I set it the last time I used the bike...oh, that's right...it's for my own safety!), etc. It's a freaking motorcycle for Pete's sake. It's supposed to be fun, dangerous and exciting.

Are any of you guys complaining about reduced power in the first three gears? If so, stop it, it doesnt fit with a pro-ABS stance.

People that grew up dirt riding, like dirt riding, and ride dirt well, dislike the fact that with ABS you can't EFFECTIVELY setup the rear end of the bike for corners exits by skidding the rear wheel and it just doesnt work well on surfaces which do not consist of a "high" traction surface. If ABS works for you...great. If you like ABS...great. If someone wants help disconnecting ABS.....either lend the help or saying nothing. It's a personal choice. Just leave it at that. Discussions of ABS are as bad as oil or tire threads these days.

Whether an ABS switch is better suited to the 2% of extreme situations some riders might choose to put themselves in is of no concern to Yamaha. Those riders will ultimately find a practical way to disable the ABS, or they will sell the machine. No big deal for Yamaha, as that type of rider on a bike this size and purpose is very small in number. Yamaha loses very little in sales while keeping its legal ass covered concerning impending legislation that will make ABS mandatory. Further, and to that end, they have developed what is currently the most effective off road ABS on the planet. Which way will the thrill seekers run when the laws are implemented?.... Same direction some of us go in search of more power, if we want it bad enough...and why do you imply that it's irony to want more power while still wanting something that will slow down the resulting speed in a safe manner in most any situation?

Go ahead, flash your Ricky racer credentials again to show the rest of us how lacking of skill and uninformed we are.

The worst thing about this whole thread is how I've allowed myself to be drawn into this fussy subject. 8) Now excuse me while I go top off my blinker fluid.

 

[3putt]

I can't believe this is creating so much of a stir. I am not pro ABS, I am pro ABS and UBS on the S10. Yamaha simply has a system that actually works. I cannot speak for the other bikes out there as I have not ridden them, but from the stories I have heard you would not want to go offroad on a GS with ABS on. I know for a fact that the F650GS twin (wife's bike now sold) was very sketchy with ABS.

Have you guys that are saying you want to turn off the ABS offroad actually ridden it offroad? I suggest testing it slowly and work up till you can tell what it will do. I think you will be impressed.

As for turning it off, I don't think it is that simple, I believe there are other things that will be affected. The ABS and UBS is very complex and not static like on some other bikes.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Just my $.02.. THIS IS MY OPINION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After tearing up Big Bend off road a few weeks ago on the Super Tenere, I like the ABS. Over all we did a few hundred miles off road.

There where many times the ABS kicked on but didnt feel like it was dangerous in any way. There was particularly one time that happened that im glad I had the ABS off road. There was a long smooth run way looking stretch out in the middle of no where. I got up to 65-70 mph. At the end of this it had a sweeper that had deep sand and small marble size rocks all at the end and in the corner. Going 10-20 would have been no big deal but entering the corner at 60+ that's a different story. I got on the brakes and felt the ABS doing what it does. The bike slowed enough that I drifted out to the ('berm' from the road grader) and keeps on going.... I thought to myself that if I had the ABS off then I would have locked the rear and probably skidded and blown the whole corner. Might of even laid the bike down.. One could argue I was going to fast... true, but the ABS allowed to me to keep complete control off road at speed. Back in the day I race motocross for 10-11 years, so I have some what of a clue of non ABS and off road.
My personal thoughts are this, I like the ABS because this bike is not a race bike and more times than not the ABS will help you in the situation. Might even save your ass. If someone where to feel they just hate the ABS off road, then flip it on the center stand when you enter your off road area and turn off the ABS. This is an old one but good one.....
Super Ténéré 2010 - How to disable the ABS system

Over all, ABS on different bikes has saved my life twice. I like the ABS on the Seper Tenere and it might just save my butt on the road or even off road some place or some time in the future... No plans to install an off switch.....

 

[dcstrom]

One could argue I was going to fast... true, but the ABS allowed to me to keep complete control off road at speed.

To me, that's the biggest "danger" of the ABS off-road... it gives me such a confidence-boost that I end up going way faster than I would otherwise... it's unbelievable how fast it can knock off speed on a loose surface.

Trevor