Author Topic: Disengaging ABS for FREE  (Read 6469 times)

Rusty Shovel

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Re: Disengaging ABS for FREE
« on: February 27, 2014, 10:50:52 am »
but my understanding is that with the ****le, you can disengage just the rear ABS??   Thus leaving the front active.

First off, let me laugh with you over this forum's insistence that "don gle" is a word in need of censorship.  Rather than mess with the settings, for now, I'll just put a space in there.

Second, let me show my source:

http://allroadendurotouring.com/allroad-touring-enduros/light-adventure-touring-enduros/ktm-690-enduro-r-adventure-touring-enduro/

Here's the bit that got me thinking:

For now on the KTM 690 Enduro R 2014 has also anti-locking brake system ABS onboard due to the EU -regulations. Basically this kind of adventure touring bike hardly requires any ABS, quite the opposite and the experienced offroad riders do not appreciated it very much. The Bosch 9M ABS can be turned OFF from the instrumentation panel or optionally set into OFFROAD -mode with a plugin don gle. This means that the rear wheel can be fully locked while the front wheel is still under the ABS control which is good for most of us. The ABS is not perfect every single way and one thing that comes along, is the requirement of accuracy. The ABS fails to function properly with unauthorized tyres and rims or when there are repairs made with universal parts. Even low tyre pressure is able to confuse the ABS. When it happens, the ABS unit is automatically disengaged and the brake system itself remains functional. There are 3 fuses taking care of the ABS and I am sure that some of the 690R riders leave the plugs empty.

Not only is it cheaper to remove the fuses than installing a don gel, I think it's better. 

There is one advantage to leaving the front ABS intact, namely, it keeps the rider front getting overzealous with the front brake and sliding out in a corner. 

But I think this is offset by the disadvantage, namely, not being able to lock up the front tire upon losing forward momentum on a hill climb.  If you lock up the rear tire, you'll loop out.  If you can't lock up the front tire, you'll roll backwards out of control.  That would be a nightmare. 

KTM could perfect their ABS system by simply allowing their ABS enabled front brake to lock when rolling rearward, but as of yet their system can't tell the difference between forward and backward lockup.

Incidentally, I decided to test out the ABS on the street during a rainstorm.  I locked up the rear brake while approaching a stoplight.  I didn't like it.  I braked hard, the bike started to slow, but then the ABS kicked in AND THE BRAKES GAVE OUT!  I was no longer slowing!  I had to release the brakes and modulate them to a stop (as I've always done).  I've never had ABS on a bike.  I may pull those fuses and continue without them.
D==[#)
2014 KTM 690 Enduro R