ABS a pig!

[Webgrecian]

I can't seem to get the ABS to cut in on starting my bike up (lights flash alternately and no 'rattle clunk' as I ride off from the sensor ring.

I thought that it might be something to do with the battery. I've fully charged the battery and still have the same problem. Oddly if I ride a few 100 metres and switch the engine off it then usually cuts in first or second time.

ABS is quite a useful thing to have in London (it came in useful the other day when a scooter boy rode out in front of me) and so I'd like to resolve this if possible.

 

[Stewart H]

It sounds like your battery is still the suspect, I give mine a periodic charge using a car charger and it works fine, if I only do short runs for a bit I get those symptoms too.
Stewart

 

[ianboydsnr]

yep, its the battery, my r1100rt does it if left a few weeks

 

[Onwalkabout]

Battery +1

If the battery is on its way out it will fail the startup voltage test leading to described symptoms. There is a neat work around on the adv rider site where they re-route the wiring via the alternator so that the voltage test does not commence until after the bike is running. The downside is that you need the bike running for diagnostics of the brake system. The alternative is to put a time delay relay into the system so that, again, it does the test after the engine is running. However, do these at your peril.

Otherwise, budget a new battery every few years or so or a trickle charger is an uncomplicated solution.

 

[kwallace21]

ABS clunk

I have a 2004 GSA 1150. All the abs lights seem to be fine and it cuts in when I brake hard. (well rear wheel anyway. Too scared to try and lock up the front!) . Lights go out when I pull away however i cant hear any clunk. Is it loud and where does it come from. Battery shows full charge on my Optimate and bike starts fine. any thoughts?

ta
Kev

 

[motobiker]

Do you tend to ride 'off' on the bike with the lights on? That relatively small amount of draw on the battery can easily be enough to upset the ABS particularly so if the battery is getting on a bit. I get this exact same scenario occasionally. However Switching off then back on at the first junction from my estate is enough to fix the error.

 

[Greg Masters]

It's a well-known probelm on early 1100GS models. They changed the ABS circuitry on later 1100s to improve (but not eliminate) the problem.

When you get to the first set of lights, turn the engine off and restart. That normally sorts the immediate issue.

Greg

 

[khpossum]

ABS fix startup issues

I did the advrider "start the ABS after the engine runs" bypass on my 02 1150GS and it is great. With a reasonbly good battery and the cold weather I had many ABS start issues. After the fix I have not had a single ABS start issue.

http://advwisdom.hogranch.com/Wisdom/ABS_Low_Voltage_Fix.htm

I did change the alternator voltage intercept location to the diagnostic plug and ditto the intercept location for the ABS power to a couple of inches upstream of the ABS connector. Both make installation a lot easier IMHO.

KP

 

[Steptoe]

I have a 2004 GSA 1150.

Lights go out when I pull away however i cant hear any clunk. Is it loud and where does it come from.

You have servo brakes - none of the above problems/noises apply to your model.

 

[kwallace21]

Thanks Steptoe.
Much appreciated.