How do I tell if this is the ABS model?

I'm looking at an '02 VFR800 that the owner is telling me has ABS. I'd like to verify this, but I'm not too thrilled about trying to lock up the front wheel...

Is there some visual cue for this or some other way i can verify this?

 

The ABS model has a remote suspension adjustment knob just above the right side passenger peg that you can see in the attached pic. In addition to this, the center of the rotor will also have an ABS pulser ring. It looks like a little disk with little slots running vertically along the outside of the ring. The second pic isn't a VFR wheel but should give you a general idea of what the ring looks like.







Rollin

 

Ah that's perfect. Thanks for the quick response!

 

Just take it for a test ride, get up to about 100mph, and squeeze the living hell out of the lever and stand on the rear break. If nothing locks up, you got an ABS model.

 

Agreed with Rollin_Again on the ABS pulse ring. And the additional to that is the ABS indicator (light) on the dashboard:



Btw, I am not quite sure on the relationship between the ABS and the suspension adjuster.

 

I too am confused by Honda as to why the ABS models are the only ones to come with remote preload adjustment.

Rollin

 

Probably a weak attempt to create an incentive to buy the ABS model. Damn marketing/sales jerks...

 

FWIW: On later models (Ex. 2007), the front caliper is gold for ABS, and pewter(?) for non-ABS.. I'm not certain exactly which years though.

 

Dammit, I was duped. The previous owner either lied or had no idea it wasn't actually ABS. Could have maybe saved a couple hundred bucks there.

Oh well.

 

All VFR's made since 1998 have linked brakes which are often confused with ABS. Previous owner was probably just ignorant about the differences.

Rollin

 

I ran into this a few weeks back with a seller who didn't realize till I showed him the differences. He genuinely thought that he had ABS.

 

Yeah, the previous owner seemed like a really stand up guy, I don't think he would have lied to me about it. I'm pretty sure he had no idea. I'm kinda bummed though, but I still love the VFR!

 

The ABS light (in dash, right side) comes on when you first start the bike and does not go off until you drive away.