The bike is as safe as the rider. I have had with n without TC and it still depends mostly on the rider on it imo.

 

Depends how you ride it. On the street my TC has never kicked (without me making it do so), but on the track it has definitely saved my bacon. But on the track I more than likely wouldn't have been grabbing so much throttle if I didn't have the babysitter watching.

 

My first experience with TC was with my Aprilia, kept it off for the first 6 months while learning the bike. Once I turned it on I have to say it might have saved me once or twice and only noticed it working a few times. I just leave it on the least intrusive setting and at least on the Aprilia it will still allow the back end to hang out a bit. So unless you really like to hang it out sideways I'd say it prob wont hurt.

 

I bought a new 2013 OVER a well kept 2010 specifically for the TC, you can also do a swap and get the TC on an older bike.
I thought I would be using the TC all the time, but I have yet to feel it or see it kick on (except in a parking lot with sand.....).

If I was to do it all over again I would still buy a 2012 or newer instead of an 09-11. The factory TC was bested only by Aprillia when it first came out. And most of the "cheap" aftermarket TC setups either suck or require a pretty hefty amount of tuning knowledge.....

 

I'm sure I'll get a lot of grief for this comment, but I'm thinking to myself "If you need traction control, maybe you shouldn't be riding an R1!" Just sayin'...

 

It's pretty rare that I'll feel my TC kicking in (which is what makes it such a good system). Almost always the only reason I know it's kicking in is the orange light flashing as I'm driving out of the corner.



99% of riders would be faster around a race track using TC over not using it.

If you never use your TC on the track, you're not pushing hard enough (which means you're going slow).

 

I'd love to experience TC but I don't want to lose my reaction to a slide out. So like mentioned above, I would ride without TC for a while before turning it on and I'd probably only ride in the lowest setting.

I've saved my own ass with my wrist countless times on my 2009.

 

The 12+ also have a couple minor aesthetic mods. This sounds stupid, but the front cowling was changed. This resulted in only being 160 to replace vs 400+ on the 9-11 models. Also you have the pretty sweet leds running around the headlight which I like. The TC has saved me a few times when I've hit sand on the asphalt.

 

I swap between both of my R1's regularly. One is a 2001, the other a 2012. The TC is nice when I'm really getting up the throttle, and for wet weather when I'm accelerating hard and I go over white lines or paint, but on the whole it's not something that I depend on. I still have my throttle hand discipline regularly practiced keeping the rear from getting too crazy on my 2001, so unless I deliberately provoke the TC on my 2012, it doesn't make that much difference to my every day rides.

I must say, it was really useful on the track. But I had it on a less obtrusive setting so I could still get the rear out. However, if I had the choice to buy a planker with it, or without... I'd choose with. It's pretty nifty if you want to get mischievous.

 

You don't need traction control ..... until you need it. If it saves you once its worth it IMO.

I reckon if you're like most of us mere mortals you'd be kidding yourself to think you'd be better off or faster without it.

 

Ask Guy Martin what he thinks of TC after his big crash.

 

Who the hell can understand that wonderful man!

 

I haven't ridden an R1 with TC, but have the S1000RR on track (which I did engage it). I guess it gives you a little extra layer of confidence. It doesn't make it foolproof by any means.

 

Best traction control IMO is a well set up suspension. I love my Ohlins.. Ive ridden both and I can see how it may help but I prefer mine.:nerd:

 

driving different cars everyday for work with and without tc i would have to say in unexpected situations(crap tires, cold tires, greasy pavement), tc is awesome to have. im pro tc. if you want to have fun, turn it off. when i buy a new bike with tc, i see it being on 80% of the time. i like the c7 is with different tc and engine/trans modes. to be able to dial in the amount of tc you want is where every bike and sports car should go.

 

Lets just throw this out there...... None of us are MotoGP riders..... They all use TC..... I don't care that they make 250HP, they also have tires made of Unubtainium (joke)....

The price of a 2011 vs a 2012 is NEGLIGIBLE now... you have everyones opinions now, question is are you some kind of Demi god like people who swear they can control it with their wrist, cause I am not, but the ONE time my TC saves my bike, maybe Ill buy a full graves exhaust instead of having to rebuild my bike from highsiding......

 

If you are going around on the street relying on traction control you are going to cream yourself. Also it lights up at times on most settings above the lowest when normal the bike would just drive which seems to give a lot of people the feeling that they are at some magical limit when they are nowhere near really.
It's reasonably useful on the road for the odd mistake if you really ham the throttle or get caught in the wet but it's not something I would even consider making a decision for a road bike based on.
On track it's different as it helps you find your own personal limits with a bit more safety.
As for Moto GP - sure that's the same as what you do going for coffee

 

Having a 2010 without TC and learning the hard way from a high side at the track, I would most definitely take the TC if it is available.

 

The TC can also keep unwanted wheelies from getting out of hand, and is very useful as a 'traction gauge' if unsure of the surface/tires grip level.

 

My R1 is an 07 so obviously no TC but I also have a 2015 ZX10R that does have TC. I know the OP was asking specifically about the R1 TC so not sure how relevant this is or if similar is true on the R1 but some further observations that may assist. Maybe someone with a TC R1 can let us know if the R1 system is similar?

The TC on my ZX behaves quite differently from what you might expect if you havn't ridden a bike with TC before. On mode 3 its quite intrusive and really does nany you a bit but in modes 2 and especially in 1 not at all. Mode 1 is the least intrusive and when it cuts in it isn't like in most cars where the power is turned off and the car bogs down and stutters, in fact its barely noticeable and drive to the rear doesn't really feel like its been interrupted at all and still allows quite aggressive cornering and lets the front wheel loft a little without turning the power off. It's more geared to assisting drive by reducing wheel spin than outright eliminating it and this means drive to the rear is maintained even when TC is activated. I'm sure if you messed up and got into a high side inducing type scenario it would cut in more abruptly but I've found it to be a positive. I see the meter show it starting to engage quite frequently during spirited riding of back roads without doing anything too wild.

 

^^^^^ That's what my R1 is like on the last setting. Like I mentioned above, I typically only know it's even doing anything because the light is flashing. It's pretty darn smooth and very non intrusive.

 

Traction control makes an R1 exactly 11.3271% safer.

(Unless it's a 2015 in which case TCS won't help when the transmission hard-locks because you didn't get the recall done