2010 or 2012

I've found a couple of Silverwings I'm looking at, a 2010 without ABS and a 2012 ABS. 2010 has 3400 miles and is $3900, 2012 has 1400 miles and is $5300. Both are in excellent condition and look practically new. I've been riding motorcycles for 47 years and never had one with ABS so I was wondering if it would be worth the extra $1400. All opinions appreciated.

They both look like a good deal. If you feel more comfortable with the ABS than that is the one you should get, IMO. But they both sound like good prices with low miles. Good luck and tell us what you decide.

I'd go for the one with ABS. My two current bikes both have ABS and my previous Goldwing was ABS equipped. ABS is even better on a bike than on a car, makes a world of difference on gravel and dirt or wet roads. A trained rider probably can do as well without ABS, racers don't need it on a track but on the highways and byways when you come around a corner and there's a deer in front of you with no warning an ABS will make a big difference. You don't have to waste a split second, just dynamite the brakes and let the system control the traction. In a situation without warning 99.9% of riders will stop shorter and under control better with ABS.

I agree with Jeff. They both look like good deals, but look at it from another way. Which one will you regret not buying? And if you are riding two up , as indicated in your introduction, which would your passenger feel better about? I think I would go for the one with ABS. Either way, enjoy the ride.

ABS

I have to agree with all the above. If you can afford the 2012 get it. It is not feasible to add ABS if you decide you need it. Plus the mileage is lower on the 2012.

I would consider the ABS as costing you around $800 because 2 years newer should be worth a few hundred dollars more eventually at resale plus a few hundred more for the ABS so your up front isn't really a full $1400, at least the way my weird brain works.

Mine is a 2002 without ABS, and I found out that the front wheel is easily locked without any feel at all unlike my other bikes which are also without ABS so I would have to agree with the majority here, ABS would be worth the money on a Silver Wing.

+1 on ABS. I got rid of a SWing that had no ABS just to get one with ABS after some close calls where ABS would have helped!

Get the ABS bike. I purchased a 2012 with 67 miles on EBay and really like it. This is my first out of maybe 50 bikes with ABS. Never thought I'd like it on a bike but it's the cats meow. !:

I've had my 2010 ABS/CBS Silver Wing for nearly four years now, I can't say I've ever felt the pulsations from the system operating. On my previous maxi scooter a 2008 Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive I could detect the ABS kicking in on heavy braking.

ABS has improved quite a bit. On my '95 K1100 I can feel the ABS pulses but on my '13 C650GT scooter it feel like a slight buzz. Obviously the newer model works at a much higher speed pulse rate which means it's doing it's sampling of the wheel speed differential many more times per second which should translate into even better anti-skid control.

Meldrew wrote:

I've had my 2010 ABS/CBS Silver Wing for nearly four years now, I can't say I've ever felt the pulsations from the system operating.

I have a 2008 SWing ABS. Can't say that I notice the pulsations much on heavy braking but really feel them on PANIC braking. I am guessing that more experienced riders can brake the SWing quickly without the ABS kicking-in but less experienced riders, like me, keep pulling on the brakes until the ABS kicks-in. Others riders have informed me that you stop faster if you don't pulsate but my technique is to pull hard on the brakes whenever I first see a hazard (e.g., someone oncoming who you suspect my be turning left into your lane OR someone pulling out on the right into your lane) to start scrubbing off some speed rather than waiting until it is too lake to take meaningful evasive slowing action.

Thanks everyone for the advice, I bought the 2012. I made a 760 mile round trip yesterday to buy it, used $130 worth of gas. I had only seen pictures of the bike and talked to the owner on the phone. Bike looks like a brand new bike and rides great, only has 1245 miles on it. Now for the deal, along with the bike the owner threw in a full face helmet and a nice riding jacket. Total final price I paid, $4700.

Congrats on your new ride. It sounds like you got a really great deal on it. Enjoy.

Congrats! You got a good deal there! Enjoy the ride.

I would have bought the 12' for the ABS. Worth additional $ to me.

Great deal on a great bike. ABS on my V-Strom saved my $ss on afternoon. A could hear the break pulsing and stopped quick. I have ABS on my 2012 Swing but haven't needed/used it yet.