Forza without ABS ??
Moderator: Modsquad
- easyrider
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 1597
- Joined: Sat Dec 19, 2015 6:23 pm
- Year: 2013
- Color: blk
- Location: Long Island , NY, Tampa, Ft laud
Forza without ABS ??
Anyone have a Forza w/o ABS brakes.. How is it? any problems etc / comments appreciated.
Re: Forza without ABS ??
Rode one for a year and 6,000 miles.easyrider wrote:Anyone have a Forza w/o ABS brakes.. How is it? any problems etc / comments appreciated.
No problems.
But, would rather have had the ABS model. None avail. local.
Save a bit more and go with the ABS.....you'll be very glad you did some day down the road.
Fish
-
- Forum Benefactor
- Posts: 313
- Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2014 1:03 pm
- Year: 2013,2014
- Color: red+redder
- Location: Galveston, Texas
Re: Forza without ABS ??
Mine is non-ABS and no problems so far. But then, as far as I know, ABS is usually only activated during full-on, emergency stops, so unless you find yourself in this situation there's no way of knowing how well the system works.
Not having ABS is certainly not a deal-breaker for me, but ever since ABS absolutely saved my butt during a high-speed emergency stop on my old BMW K1200 you won't find me trash-talking the setup as a waste of money.
BTW, does anyone know if the Forza's ABS is linked to the Honda Combined Braking System during normal use or is it independent and for emergencies only, like everyone else's ABS?
Johnny
Not having ABS is certainly not a deal-breaker for me, but ever since ABS absolutely saved my butt during a high-speed emergency stop on my old BMW K1200 you won't find me trash-talking the setup as a waste of money.
BTW, does anyone know if the Forza's ABS is linked to the Honda Combined Braking System during normal use or is it independent and for emergencies only, like everyone else's ABS?
Johnny
One PCX, One Forza -- Twice the fun, half the money!
Re: Forza without ABS ??
I've got a non-ABS model and so far 8000 miles and trouble free. Only thing I've done is added the taller windshield and
better rear shocks, but that has nothing to do with ABS. No performance problems whatsoever. Only problem I have is
my back starts giving me problems on long rides. I may try to sell it this spring though because my car is getting high in
miles and may need the money for a new car.
better rear shocks, but that has nothing to do with ABS. No performance problems whatsoever. Only problem I have is
my back starts giving me problems on long rides. I may try to sell it this spring though because my car is getting high in
miles and may need the money for a new car.
Re: Forza without ABS ??
Can't comment on a non-ABS version because mine has it. However I can say that in 9k miles I have never activated it in need. I did activate the front once on wet pavement deliberately so I know it works. As noted earlier you'll only be glad when you need it. I still have the original tires and honestly have been very impressed with the ability of the bike to stop and not slip. I don't regret paying the extra money for it but my opinion is that today I would not consider it a deal breaker if I was in the market for one and a good deal without ABS came up.
Honda 2014 Forza 300 (ABS)
Honda 1995 Elite 80 (Sold)
Honda 1995 Elite 80 (Sold)
-
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 1843
- Joined: Sat Jun 20, 2015 12:06 pm
- Year: 2014
- Color: Silver
- Location: Hope, BC, Canada
Re: Forza without ABS ??
I have done about 40,000 km on my ABS Forza 300. I like the ABS. I test it out in a parking lot regularly. It works.
I tested it out coming down a 2000 ft steep gravel road. I think it stopped my front end from washing out over the cliff. Scary but I lived to tell the tale.
I used to skid my rear tires a lot on other motorcycles. I don't think the Forza skids. The tires don't have flat spots.
I like the ABS.
I tested it out coming down a 2000 ft steep gravel road. I think it stopped my front end from washing out over the cliff. Scary but I lived to tell the tale.
I used to skid my rear tires a lot on other motorcycles. I don't think the Forza skids. The tires don't have flat spots.
I like the ABS.
Re: Forza without ABS ??
The Forza has a combined brake, left lever does rear caliper and one piston of front caliper.
Right lever does two pistons of front caliper.
The ABS is independent on each wheel.
Right lever does two pistons of front caliper.
The ABS is independent on each wheel.
Four decades on two wheels has taught me nothing, all advice given is guaranteed to be wrong
-
- New Member
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 2:08 pm
- Year: 2015Forza
- Color: Red
- Location: Troy, IL
Re: Forza without ABS ??
I have a 2015 with no ABS. No problems other than the guy who pulled in front of me and having ABS would not have made a difference. I look at this way....If I'm locking it up then I'm in the dire straights. With or without ABS at this point becomes a relative point. In my case I was lucky that I had time to lay it over.....course now I can afford any scoot that I want but I'm staying with my nonABS Forza. I still like it.
Re: Forza without ABS ??
You're looking at it exactly the wrong way.tjlayden wrote:I look at this way....If I'm locking it up then I'm in the dire straights. With or without ABS at this point becomes a relative point. In my case I was lucky that I had time to lay it over.
ABS would have meant you stayed upright with unlocked wheels and this may well have prevented the crash.
Because that's what happened, you crashed, you didn't choose to "lay it over", you crashed.
Four decades on two wheels has taught me nothing, all advice given is guaranteed to be wrong
-
- New Member
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 2:08 pm
- Year: 2015Forza
- Color: Red
- Location: Troy, IL
Re: Forza without ABS ??
Um no. I chose to lay it over. The choices were simple -- hit the car or roll it over without hitting the car. Lawyer has the video from a Dollar General security cam. I rolled it. Insurance says no accident because two vehicles didn't touch each other. Whatever. My no ABS scoot has served me well.
Re: Forza without ABS ??
ABS would have served you better.
Four decades on two wheels has taught me nothing, all advice given is guaranteed to be wrong
-
- Forum Benefactor
- Posts: 313
- Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2014 1:03 pm
- Year: 2013,2014
- Color: red+redder
- Location: Galveston, Texas
Re: Forza without ABS ??
Thanks for that clarification, gn2. I had assumed that the two systems were kept separate.gn2 wrote:The Forza has a combined brake, left lever does rear caliper and one piston of front caliper.
Right lever does two pistons of front caliper.
The ABS is independent on each wheel.
Johnny
One PCX, One Forza -- Twice the fun, half the money!
-
- New Member
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 2:08 pm
- Year: 2015Forza
- Color: Red
- Location: Troy, IL
Re: Forza without ABS ??
gn2 wrote:ABS would have served you better.
Most likely. Agreed.
Re: Forza without ABS ??
For me ABS has become an essential requiremement for any bike I buy now.
I have a real hankering for the air cooled 2009 Triumph Bonneville in black and was all set to buy a mint condition used one a few weeks back, but in the end I decided I simply couldn't forego ABS and opted for a new SV650 instead..

Really really gorgeous bike imo, but no ABS is a deal breaker.
I have a real hankering for the air cooled 2009 Triumph Bonneville in black and was all set to buy a mint condition used one a few weeks back, but in the end I decided I simply couldn't forego ABS and opted for a new SV650 instead..

Really really gorgeous bike imo, but no ABS is a deal breaker.
Four decades on two wheels has taught me nothing, all advice given is guaranteed to be wrong
- you you
- What's a wot?
- Posts: 10001
- Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 5:37 pm
- Location: Between Lulu and Chichi
Re: Forza without ABS ??
Hmmm. It looks podgy and badly drawn compared to the original bonneville to me. The originals could be stunning.gn2 wrote:For me ABS has become an essential requiremement for any bike I buy now.
I have a real hankering for the air cooled 2009 Triumph Bonneville in black and was all set to buy a mint condition used one a few weeks back, but in the end I decided I simply couldn't forego ABS and opted for a new SV650 instead..
Really really gorgeous bike imo, but no ABS is a deal breaker.
The "Norton" exhausts are particularly jarring on a triumph.
Re: Forza without ABS ??
The current me looks podgy and badly drawn compared to the original, so we would have been a good match 

Four decades on two wheels has taught me nothing, all advice given is guaranteed to be wrong
-
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 1843
- Joined: Sat Jun 20, 2015 12:06 pm
- Year: 2014
- Color: Silver
- Location: Hope, BC, Canada
Re: Forza without ABS ??
Do the Forza's without ABS wear out tires faster than ABS riders?
It would depend on the rider. Too many variables to get a real answer.
7.5 degrees C. Time to ride to Tim Hortons and Roll Up The Rim! And then dirt track it to Othello. Followed by Garlic French Fries at White Spot in Hope.
It would depend on the rider. Too many variables to get a real answer.
7.5 degrees C. Time to ride to Tim Hortons and Roll Up The Rim! And then dirt track it to Othello. Followed by Garlic French Fries at White Spot in Hope.
- easyrider
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 1597
- Joined: Sat Dec 19, 2015 6:23 pm
- Year: 2013
- Color: blk
- Location: Long Island , NY, Tampa, Ft laud
Re: Forza without ABS ??
I find that the FORZA without ABS brakes is exceptionally good. Much better and smoother than the PCX. Haven't had to make any panic stops yet and that may make the difference, however the lack of ABS so far has been immaterial..
- you you
- What's a wot?
- Posts: 10001
- Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 5:37 pm
- Location: Between Lulu and Chichi
Re: Forza without ABS ??
gn2 wrote:The current me looks podgy and badly drawn compared to the original, so we would have been a good match
Ditto

-
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 1843
- Joined: Sat Jun 20, 2015 12:06 pm
- Year: 2014
- Color: Silver
- Location: Hope, BC, Canada
Re: Forza without ABS ??
The weight balance of the Forza is different than most motorcycles so the ABS is not as critical I think.easyrider wrote:I find that the FORZA without ABS brakes is exceptionally good. Much better and smoother than the PCX. Haven't had to make any panic stops yet and that may make the difference, however the lack of ABS so far has been immaterial..
The Forza is fairly heavy and the front brakes aren't really that good so they probably don't lock up like a sport bike would. I think the Forza almost needs dual disks on the front due to its weight.
Hard braking on the sport bike would cause the rear wheel to lift giving no rear braking. I really doubt the non-ABS Forza SCOOTER could do a "Stoppie." The ABS would make a Stoppie impossible (?).
The engine attached to the rear swing arm also puts more weight than usual on the rear tire. Rear only hard braking on the Sport Bike would lock up the rear tire and cause skidding. I bet the non-ABS Forza would not skid as much as the Sport bike. Also the linked brakes make it impossible to do rear only braking.
When I first got my Forza I went to an empty parking lot and hit the brakes hard to see what the ABS would do. The brake levers felt crunchy and the Forza stopped very quickly. In normal riding I have felt the ABS a few times so I guess it is good to have. My DR650 some times would misbehave on the brakes (rider errors) and things got scary a few times. I think I like ABS.