ABS switch ,yes or no

[Grey alp]

I have my XL700 almost one year and done 10.000km.
I chose for the ABS version because i'am almost always riding tarmac and also convinced that ABS is much safer in any conditions on that surface.
This is my opinion so i'am not looking for arguments on that.

I do want some info and experiance on riding offroad with ABS.
Not the heavy stuff ,i'am aware that the standard XL700 is not bild for that purpose.
I don't have the correct tyers for that anyway (Trailwings).
By offroad I mean riding dry gravel ,forest tracks ,mild sandy roads and so on.

My dealer sayed that it is possible to connect a separte dashboard switch on the ABS system so that i can put ABS off/on when needed.
To be honest he also stated that riding the above is perfectly possible with ABS. In other words ,that there is no need to set the ABS off.

One opinion and i'am eager tho hear yours!

Enjoy

[StumpyFingers]

As the 700 is an adventure bike it should be able to go on unpaved roads, However I would be extremely wary of the ABS if on loose shale on a down hil gradient.

[MandoBear]

In nearly a year of normal riding, I have never managed to get the ABS to trigger. As I was curious as to what it did feel like when it cut in, I rode my bike around the mainly deserted gravel car park at work the other day, and first tried locking the rear wheel, and when I was confident of that, the front. Let's just say you really have to try pretty hard to get the thing to cut in - and when it does, it's pretty gentle and quite slow in it's pulsing on and off. It was a useful exercise - I now know how my ABS feels, and that it does indeed work - both of which give me more confidence. For mild off roading, I don't think the ABS will be too much of a disadvantage - you still feel pretty much in control of what the brakes are giving you.

[Orinoco]

I have to say that I've never done anything more adventurous than the occasional gravel driveway but the only time I would consider turning the ABS off is if I actually wanted to skid. I can see the appeal of doing that off-road - steering from the rear as it were - but only in cases of severe mud-plugging