[letsgetphysITal]

Edit: All images SFW.

Bikes are a different scenario. If you skid in a car and have your wits about you, you can release the breaks, steer into the direction of travel, and regain control. If you skid on a bike, best case is you "low side" (http://www.360stopni.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Rossi-lo...) and follow the bike on its direction of travel along the floor into whatever is in your path. Or you "high side" (https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0jU-iu7-TAY/hqdefault.jpg) and flip over the bike, hit the floor in front of it (relatively), and the bike follows you into whatever is in your path, and likely hits you when you come to a stop against whatever blocks your path.

As such, bike ABS errs on the side of caution and is much less aggressive than the four-wheel counterpart. Remaining upright and stopping more slowly is a lot safer than risking an off and letting physics, and roadside furniture, decide your fate.

[crooked-v]

This is also why you always, always wear safety gear on a motorcycle. If you've got good leather and a helmet, a "low side" skid can end up as merely a lot of bruises and stiffness (as I experienced myself once at 35mph). Without proper gear, though, it's guaranteed that you're in for a bad time.