New to motorcycles – Do I need ABS?

Nope, you will not need ABS.

A bike without ABS will do just fine, almost everyone has learned to drive on bikes without ABS.

ABS is a good thing, especially on very large, heavy bikes that have more potential for locking up brakes. But I would say it's not necessary, and maybe on your first bike you should learn to brake without ABS.

You are aware, I'm sure, that bikes don't stop as fast as cars, especially at higher speeds. So you need to keep a 2-second distance from the car in front. You need to develop a sense of how much distance it will take to stop at whatever speed you're going, and you develop this through experience. With ABS you would just slam on the brakes and let the computer do it for you. It might be safer because you'd be stopping in the shortest possible distance, but you wouldn't learn that way. So at first leave more distance than you think you need.

I think for a beginner, or even starting out on a new bike, non-ABS brakes will help you develop better braking habits.

ABS is relatively new to the motorcycle industry. Keep in mind, that when you brake on a motorcycle, 75% of your stopping power is from the front brakes, 25% rear. I must admit, ABS is kind of impressive with the newer sportbikes, but FAR from needed. Locking up the rear tire shouldnt be a big worry, even if you stomp on it, and it does lock up (which isn't gonna happen with normal riding), its not hard to control…..remember skidding the back tire of your bmx bike when you were younger? Not something you should really worry about. Worry more about the idiot drivers, who dont look when they are driving because they have a cell phone stuck in the side of their head!

well the good news for you locking the rear tire is not always the one that gets you in the crash, slapping on that front brake too hard can lock the wheel, it can twist the handle bars to the side the brake is on if you let it, if you release the brakes with the wheel cocked, you get tossed over the bike, if you keep the tire locked, and it twists, you get dumped hard on the pavement.
70% of your braking power is from the front brakes, by using the front and rear brakes in combination, and the engine braking from down shifting, you are in control of your bike at all times. in truth, once you learn to ride your bike, practice starting and stopping and turning, get used to your motorcycle, each time you change to a different bike, they all accelerate, and turn and stop differently, so it is not the bike, it is your skills that dictate what happens next sometimes. If you are more comfortable , by all means, get abs, for your peace of mind

So, I've been riding since I was 17. My first bike was a Yamaha R6, without ABS. I still have yet to own a bike with ABS, so I don't see it as a huge deal, even as a new rider. Here's what i would look for/ what i looked for when buying my first bike.

Buying anything smaller than a 600cc is pretty useless if you plan on going on a freeway/highway. 250cc bikes tend to tremble when they push 60mph, they aren't heavy enough to be very stable at those speeds.

Find a bike that feels comfortable to sit on. Riding position makes all the difference, when I got my bike when I was 17, I was riding with my father over 100 miles a weekend, just up and down the Californian Coast. After 30 minutes of riding if your ass is sore, you'll be miserable on that bike.

So key aspects for your first bike:
600cc
comfortable when riding
makes you feel cool
gets you laid

I'll never have ABS on anything. Yea I know they are suppose to be safer but after driving 3 different makes of vehicles that had heart stopping ABS failures in perfectly dry normal driving conditions I'll never ever at any time have it on my vehicles. Did you know that BMW advises to turn it off on their GS series when on loose surfaces? Total garbage is what ABS is.

ABS would be nice to have but since few makers offer them the risk/reward ppl say it's not necessary. Several Honda's have INTERGRATED braking systems which may be close to the idea.
Many riders seldom use the rear at all so it's used only in serious need of slowing which raises stress levels and causes rear wheel lock up, Self fulfilling disaster.

Do you *need* ABS? Probably not.

What I think you are really asking is: "will you been significantly safer with ABS?" or stated in reverse: "Am I at significantly more risk without ABS?" I do *NOT* believe that you are at *significantly* more risk without ABS. It is much, much safer to get a bike suited to your skill level that you are comfortable with than it is to get a less suitable one just for the ABS. Since you've "rode before" but are "a new rider", I'm unclear of your skill level.

However, all *other* things being equal between a bike with ABS and an identical one without ABS, I would choose ABS. But that's just me .

Locking up the rear tire – More than once, I've mistakenly locked my rear brake and released it – I did not wreck, but the bike did jerk hard and it was scary. You might be better off training yourself now to prevent locking up that tire and learning how to react if you do, even if you end up with an ABS bike down the line. ABS could fail or you could be riding a friend's bike.

Used bikes with ABS – yes, since ABS is relatively new to motorcycles, you are very unlikely to find ABS in older used beginner/intermediate motorcycles. No biggie – get it in your brand new upgraded bike in a few years as ABS gains greater adoption.

No, but it would be a big plus.

I wouldn't have ABS. I've had to put a few bikes down and the best way is to lock the back wheel up, lay it on its side, then get out from under it. When you lock the wheel up it will naturally go side ways and lay down. This is alot better than hitting something head-on or trying to get off the bike when it's sitting upright.