Kev M
Cruisin' Guzzisti
Hi Sib, sorry but what you say is wrong.
Bikes with ABS / Traction control are only now coming in. A new 2016 rider may well buy their next (secondhand) bike without them fitted.....hand gear shifts etc were on much older bikes....I would guess the last RH gear change bikes were made 20+ years ago?
AndyB
For the record ABS has been available on many bikes for DECADES (my 96 BMW oilhead had it).
Yes it's becoming more common now because of EU regulations which have basically forced manufacturers to universally offer it.
But it's been available for a long time and there's probably more bikes out there with it than you realize.
Not to mention rider training courses still teach maximum braking techniques on non ABS bikes and new riders can choose what they want to buy. If they choose an ABS model for their first bike they might be less likely to choose a non ABS model down the line.
But even if the do choose one without it in the future they can practice maximum braking on the ABS model by learning to brake without ACTUATING the ABS.