Yes, I meant only the ABS was optional not the VTEC. It's a pretty torquey bike to begin with. Wonder if half the valves will reduce it's low end punch?
If you've ever found yourself sliding down 2nd Avenue in New York City at about 30 mph, then trying to stand up but realizing that, while everything in your head is happening in slow motion, you still can't run 30 mph, you'll appreciate anti-lock brakes on a bike. Sure it probably would have helped if I wasn't running racing tires on a cold Ferbruary night on slick pavement, but when you gotta ride you gotta ride. Fortunately my leathers took a far greater beating that I did. But the bike needed about $1000 in new plastic. D'oh.

OD.

 

Actually it is not a bad Idea. With all four valves open you are maximized for high RPM. For under the VTEC point instead of having lower lift on all valves you close one pair per cylinder to achieve the same effect but saving space and weight by not having additional rockers and cam lobes.

Just one more way to skin the cat.

 

I think you have to have a screw loose to NOT want ABS on a street bike. I understand not wanting it on track or off-road bikes. But out on the street you need the ABS edge against wet, oiled, gravelly, irregular pavement and to avoid the fools in cages who pull in front of you.

You take your super-sports what-ever-without-ABS bike out with me and my porky BMW R1200C on a rainy day in an area with, say, manhole covers or plastic letters on the road and I'll bet on my stopping distances beating yours every time, and without as much sweat on my part.

Even in the dry, in a straight-line emergency ABS prevents fishtailing the rear and potential high sides. I took an MSF Advanced Rider class and among a broad cross-section of bikes only a Triumph Speed Triple was able to stop faster than me. The only thing I had to sweat was keeping the bike from falling over when it stopped.

Those ABS-trashers among you might say it can extend stopping distances under "certain" circumstances. You should know those circumstances are seriously gnarly: on-ice and "just-the-right" type of gravel. ABS can save your life.

 

Agreed about the ABS. What I don't like is the linked braking system. I like to control each end individually depending on conditions and circumstances.

 

The problem with ABS is it makes it really hard to do those rollin stoppies.

 

Eh, not a big fan of the BMW ABS, had it when I owned a R1100GS, maybe they've improved it but I found it kicked in waaaay too early and when it did, it free-wheel-spinning lasted an uncomfortably long time. Not to mention it would fault on the first start *everytime* but that's a whole another problem.


Different strokes for different folks seems like.

 

That's gotta be awesome

 

Bit too scary for me

 

So was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang so that's not saying much

 

Any flying car without a seatbelt is scary .