Advice needed on bike with ABS for long distance highway cruising

[purepaapi]

Heyy guys,

Finally I have decided to get a bike for myself in America and have started looking for one. For the past two weeks I have been looking for a bike with ABS. I have noticed that it is relatively quite difficult to find a bike a used bike with ABS within a reasonable price range ( < $6K ). My search started off with a search for a Bandit 1250 ABS as I have heard great things about the bike. I am new to America and have no idea about the market here. And I am scared of riding a fast bike without ABS here. In India I was riding for more than 10 years ( on machines upto 350 cc) and absolutely hated the locking/skidding of wheels. I posted in Advrider.com and they directed me to this forum. I wonder why is it so difficult to find a bike with ABS here within a reasonable price range ?

And what other models should I look at ? Next summer I plan to do a coast to coast trip on the bike I buy. So I am not looking for a machine that will leave me with a sore back after 200 miles.  

Any advice on other bikes ? And where should I start looking for them ?

Best,

Deep

[kevin_stevens]

Heyy guys,

Finally I have decided to get a bike for myself in America and have started looking for one. For the past two weeks I have been looking for a bike with ABS. I have noticed that it is relatively quite difficult to find a bike a used bike with ABS within a reasonable price range ( < $6K ). My search started off with a search for a Bandit 1250 ABS as I have heard great things about the bike. I am new to America and have no idea about the market here. And I am scared of riding a fast bike without ABS here. In India I was riding for more than 10 years ( on machines upto 350 cc) and absolutely hated the locking/skidding of wheels. I posted in Advrider.com and they directed me to this forum. I wonder why is it so difficult to find a bike with ABS here within a reasonable price range ?

And what other models should I look at ? Next summer I plan to do a coast to coast trip on the bike I buy. So I am not looking for a machine that will leave me with a sore back after 200 miles.  

Any advice on other bikes ? And where should I start looking for them ?

Best,

Deep

Not a lot of ABS models are sold in the US, and those that are tend to be the more expensive brands/models.

Without getting into the merits of ABS (though the thread is likely to devolve into that), US roads and particularly highways are *much* better maintained and less likely to have standing debris or foreign substances on them than in India.  Your concern remains valid but is much less substantial.

Craigslist is a national free classified web service and is a good place to start looking for bikes in a particular area.  Bear in mind that it is free and worth every penny; there are great deals, scams, and total flakes mixed up in there.

I believe the Suzuki V-Stroms were available with ABS, those would be another candidate, then you get into the BMWs and other European bikes.

KeS

[county]

http://www.cycletrader.com/

[TriumphTiger1050]

Kevin hit the nail basically on the head.  Not alot of folks just have to have it here.  I could take it or leave it.  My Tiger does not have ABS and it does not bother me.  As far as under $6k..............the V-Strom DL650 may be your ticket.  Great little bikes and are abundant in the used market in great condition.  And a fair number I notice have ABS.  

[schmii]

Here's a list of bikes.  Search for the work ABS

http://www.sportbikes.net/forums/new-rider-forums/421526-got-beginner-motorcycle-mind-check-list-first.html

Lots of freeway flyers have ABS.  Smaller sport touring bikes?

DL650 - vstrom, VFR800, Tiger, Sprint, ST3, Lots of BMW bikes.

There's some honda C-ABS sportbikes as well.

[mist]

Looking in the used market and i have. People who invest in ABS tend to keep the bikes for a long time. If they sell the bikes tend to be higher mileage over 35k usually and they want a premium for there investment.

[still kickin]

Rethink the need for abs. Many of us have been riding for many years without. The modern braking system on bikes is excellent. You will open your selection a great deal. Good luck with your search.

[Andrew]

Heyy guys,

 I posted in Advrider.com and they directed me to this forum.

Best,

Deep

Now that's funny right there... and quite telling  

Older BMW can be had for a reasonable price if you look around. Got my GS11 W/ABS for a song

[DangerMoney]

 VFR800,..., Lots of BMW bikes.

Yup. Look for older BMWs here. Many have ABS and don't list it since most come with it.

http://i-bmw.com/

http://www.k-bikes.com/

http://marketplace.ibmwr.org/

I had an '05 VFR800 with ABS. I'm sure it could be had for 6000 USD or less now.

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php?

[falconati]

get a nice CBR600 - great for touring!

[radlefty]

I just bought a 2007 Sprint St ABS with 17,500 miles on it for $5,300.  I spent a couple months searching cycletrader, craigslist and ebay.
for the bike I wanted.  There are a lot of great bikes out there. Do you know what type of bike your looking for in terms of ergos, weight, more sport or more touring etc... They're are plenty of deals out there, you just need to be patient and look for them and be willing to travel if needed. I did a fly and ride from Florida to Mpls. I figured it was a great excuse for a vacation and get to know the bike.

[cbsnbiker]

Heyy guys,

Finally I have decided to get a bike for myself in America and have started looking for one. For the past two weeks I have been looking for a bike with ABS. I have noticed that it is relatively quite difficult to find a bike a used bike with ABS within a reasonable price range ( < $6K ). My search started off with a search for a Bandit 1250 ABS as I have heard great things about the bike. I am new to America and have no idea about the market here. And I am scared of riding a fast bike without ABS here. In India I was riding for more than 10 years ( on machines upto 350 cc) and absolutely hated the locking/skidding of wheels. I posted in Advrider.com and they directed me to this forum. I wonder why is it so difficult to find a bike with ABS here within a reasonable price range ?

And what other models should I look at ? Next summer I plan to do a coast to coast trip on the bike I buy. So I am not looking for a machine that will leave me with a sore back after 200 miles.  

Any advice on other bikes ? And where should I start looking for them ?

Best,

Deep

Welcome to America!

Here are a few thoughts.

I like ABS on bikes. Two of my three bikes have ABS.

There are bikes out there with ABS. For example, most BMWs are available with ABS. A used BMW F650GS with ABS can cost under $6K. So can some older BMWs, such as the R1100 and R1150 series of bikes, as well as older K bikes going all the way back to 1988.

Others have given you a few more ideas.

Here's another thought.

I view ABS as an excellent safety feature, but I believe it should not be used in lieu of proper braking technique.

If you found that you were skidding tires on a regular basis while braking in India, it might be wise to think about why this happened, and then address this issue.

For example, if it was because the roads were poor in India, then you may find the problem solved with good roads in the U.S.

If the problem was poor-quality tires, then you may find the tires available in the U.S. stickier. Ditto poor brakes on Indian bikes.

But if the problem is poor braking technique, this should be addressed.

I recommend that you take a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (or equivalent) Basic RiderCourse. Here's info on finding one in your area:

 http://online2.msf-usa.org/msf/Default.aspx

It'll help you sharpen your skills for U.S. riding.

Best wishes!

[cruisin]

Yup. Look for older BMWs here. Many have ABS and don't list it since most come with it.

http://i-bmw.com/

http://www.k-bikes.com/

http://marketplace.ibmwr.org/
I had an '05 VFR800 with ABS. I'm sure it could be had for 6000 USD or less now.

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php?

ding-ding-ding

nearly every BMW made since '99 has ABS.  And as for that 35K that someone mentioned as being "high mielage",  that is considered just getting broken in on a BMW.  Take care of any beemer and you can expect 200K out of it.  IBMWR.org is where I bought my 2000 RT in October, with only 12K on the odo for $6K.

[coho]

Honda ST1100s can be had with ABS (some also with traction control) for smallish money as well.
Good hunting.


PS. Welcome to ST.n.

[Mr. Squidward]

Rethink the need for abs. Many of us have been riding for many years without. The modern braking system on bikes is excellent. You will open your selection a great deal. Good luck with your search.

If my last bike had ABS I might still have it.

I'll second (or third or forth) the suggestion of a Suzuki DL-650.

[eye.surgeon]

If you simply must have ABS in that price range I agree with the above suggestion of a V-strom 650. Having said that if I were you I wouldn't consider ABS mandatory for your needs.

[mist]

ding-ding-ding

nearly every BMW made since '99 has ABS.  And as for that 35K that someone mentioned as being "high mielage",  that is considered just getting broken in on a BMW.  Take care of any beemer and you can expect 200K out of it.  IBMWR.org is where I bought my 2000 RT in October, with only 12K on the odo for $6K.

I suppose context is everything. I was looking at 2006 St1300's and found many under 15K mileage and less then $9K. The ABS in that range were either very hard to find or commanded about a $2K premium. So, 35K is "higher mileage" than 15K...while i personally don't think of 35K as being alot, alot of people will not even consider a bike with that many miles unless it is being practially given away.  

[Skee]

Burgman Exec. I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOO loving mine.

Do not pay any attention to the man behind the curtain.  

Seriously, ABS is good for unforeseen panic situations, but it is not an absolute necessity for an experienced rider.

Both of my last 2 bikes have had ABS.  I do not think I would buy a new bike without ABS just because.  

That being said, the bike I am renting to go riding in the Alps does not have ABS, and I have no qualms (hesitations) about that.  ABS is not a necessity.  It;s just a nice to have that when yu have you would rather have it than not have.  

Find yourself a nice sport-touring bike.   Ergos & reliability are more important than anything else.  
Hence, you may find yourself on a Bergman with ABS because they have a comfy saddle & floorboards.  

Just my $0.02.  And considering the strength of the dollar, not worth shat.

[CLAY]

You can't go wrong with the Bandit- of course, I'm biased, but they are one of the best used bargains out there.

Search here:  www.craigslist.org

Good luck!  Keep us all posted on your route- I'm sure some will put you up/meet you.  

[cbsnbiker]

Bump.

What did you end up buying?