ABS or not

All,
I'm about to purchase a used S'wing.
There are S'wings in my area with and without ABS.
Would YOU only purchase an S'wing with ABS?
Thanks!
Greg

I would consider the entire bike and MY riding style, needs, and the PRICE. Good luck with your search. ABS would be a factor, but not the only one for me.

My 2004 has no ABS, but even though I understand the technology, I do not feel any urge to sell the one I have in order to purchase one that has ABS.

I traded in my 08 non-ABS for a new one with ABS for 3 reasons:
1. I live in the land of the kamikaze deer;
2. I know my reflexes are not what they were 20 or 40 years ago and;
3. See reason #1.

That said I do ride my S40 w/o ABS but much slower and not nearly the miles as the Swing. It's a personal decision.

Given a choice, if you can afford ABS, why would you do without?
Don't be a victim of coulda, woulda, shoulda, didna syndrome.

That's where you're lying in a hospital from a motorcycle accident saying:
I coulda got ABS, I woulda Got ABS, I shoulda got ABS, I didna get ABS, and that's why I'm here.

It only hurts your wallet once. Not having it could hurt your body for life.

Dan

Thanks for the collective wisdom.
I'm going to look at a S'wing tomorrow with ABS and have decided that this is the direction I'm going to take.
Really looking forward to riding the scoot'.

Another point is resale would probably be better if you have ABS.

Good direction (to ABS) I am sure. Not certain when ABS became standard (if it did), but my 2012 has it and it is nice to know it is there. Perhaps I will never need it but if it rains, or if there is ice, or sand... Well you get the idea.

On a Demo ride I tried braking with the rear tire on a KLR 650 and found myself skidding. Not bad in that case but not a good feeling.

My 2006 with ABS did a nice job stopping on gravel in a straight line when I tested the ABS function. Gave me confidence.

Also, I can do things with ABS I would not dare without it - like breaking through part of a turn because I went in too fast.

I am interested in a second bike for long distance touring or dirt road riding and one requirement is ABS. I would like a V-Strom 1000 but they don't have an ABS version.

Also, in Europe ABS is required on new bikes.

Buy a SWing with ABS - if at all possible.

I was not 100% sure that I would like/ride the SWing much (before I purchased it) so last summer I bought a 2003 non-ABS SWing here in California. At that time it was more about getting a scooter that was in my price range rather than ABS. Starting in 2012 I began riding about 1000 miles per week and found that there were weekly occurrences where I felt that ABS would have been very helpful in either getting me stopped OR getting me to quickly shave a bunch of speed off the SWing. Unfortunately, I found myself to not be very good at braking, afraid to learn how to properly brake in a panic situation, and very tentative when doing high speed braking. So, I began to look for an ABS SWing within my budget. While I don't know what percentage of SWings have been sold here in California over the years with ABS, I am guessing that it is fairly small as there seem to very few generally available on CraigsList (or other sources where i have looked). But lately there have been a few - and I just purchased a 2008 ABS SWing. I am barely getting started using it but find that I am no longer either tentative or afraid to use the brakes HARD when I need to stop when travelling at a high speed. Buying a used SWing in California is more about availability - rather than choice - or even price (KBB only lists ABS SWings for a few hundred more than non-ABS). My recommendation is that you buy a SWing - hopefully one that has ABS - but buy a SWing as you will most likely like it - then if you do not get one with ABS (assuming you like/use your SWing) - be on the lookout for one with ABS and trade-up when your time and your budget permit. IMHO Honda should have made all of the SWings over the years - as they seem to be doing now - with ABS as I believe that most 'scooter' riders are like me - very inexperienced at high speed braking (and braking on poor surfaces) and therefore unlikely to use a proper braking technique when faced with a panic/emergency situation.

Dimond,
Thank you for another vote for ABS. I found one in Auburn, CA on Craigslist and may see it today. I'm in Fairfield, CA. Kelley Blue Book states that ABS is worth about $300.00 - $500.00 more, depending upon year ('07 - '09) as you noted, here in Northern CA.

ABS likely saved my life or at least some broken bones last fall.
A cage turned left into my lane in front of me on his way to making a left turn. I hauled in on both brakes (no place to swerve) as hard as I could squeeze and was almost stopped when I hit his passenger door. $3500 damage to the swing but only a bruise on my right leg. ABS saves lives.
Steve Harker
Kingston ON