ABS failure

[(RIP) Jamie]

Me ABS mysteriously packed up yesterday

1100gs - 56K

1. Rear wheel off a couple weeks ago, went back on fine - ABS OK.

2. Odyssey battery, not flat, well used, to prove rode for a bit then switched on & off - still no joy.

3. New shackle lock on back wheel - heavy but not fixed near sensor.

4. Sensors themselves seem firm and not loose - will check gaps satdy - Do they wear out, get knackered?

5. Did a search on this forum, found owt.

6. Brakes working fine and dandy

Any ideas anyone?

 

[Rob Farmer]

Jamie,

What indication do you get that the ABS has stopped working? is it just lack of ABS or is it the lights flashing at you?

If the lights are flashing then it may just be that your ABS needs resetting - to find out how to do this will cost you a pint.

or

One of the sensors have actually failed.

or

If there are no flashing lights then...you're are on your own.

 

[richie]

Solution

I had this on mine when I bought it and the solution costs nothing (probably) apart from a piece of wire.
You need to reset the abs and then its ok.
Take off the two saddles
Under the rider saddle is a plug used for the BMW service.
Ground the middle wire and turn on the ignition whilst holding the abs reset button down for around twenty seconds.
Re start the bike and the abs will work again.

Great and it costs nothing. I found this ino on the wonderfull www.micapeak.com GS web site. Good luck and I hope it sorts itself out for you.

Richie

It won't cost you a pint but maybe a Leffe Blonde if your ever in Belgium

 

[Rob Farmer]

Richie You big mouthed git! You just lost me a free beer.

If you had any decent beer in Belgium I would have said that you owed me one for that.

Mind - you do realise that this is Jamie were talking about here. If he shorts two wires out there will be a sheet of orange flame and the neighbours calling the fire brigade

 

[Gecko]

Richie You big mouthed git! You just lost me a free beer.

If you had any decent beer in Belgium I would have said that you owed me one for that.

Mind - you do realise that this is Jamie were talking about here. If he shorts two wires out there will be a sheet of orange flame and the neighbours calling the fire brigade

Don't worry Rob - I'll go round to Richie and drink your beer for you If you are very lucky I might bring a bottle of the good stuff if I can make it to Princetown and if you are even luckier you might win it in the raffle....but I doubt it
I never had this problem with my bike - no ABS - real bikes don't have ABS , it's for girls

 

[richie]

Drink

I think we're almost of track here but....
I am english/irish and the best beer possible for me has to be Murphys followed by Guinness, When in England I do tend to drink english ale but apart from stout belgium beer is probably the best in the World..

Still next year I am moving back to Ireland on the south west coast and I will quite happily drink the black stuff...
Great place also to be a GS owner.
Anyone have any ideas on import duties I might have to pay on a bike i've owned for 2 years plus already

 

[Jonny Dub]

on the question of duty

these should be zero provided you're transferring residence. In other words, there should be no problem

 

[richie]

Ireland

Thanks Johnny thats what I thought

 

[cecilthecat]

Jamie

Have you checked the brake light bulb as mine was flashing and it was the bulb blown, so it was using the other fillament (sp) from the tail light.

Simon

 

[BikerDave]

Have you checked the brake light bulb as mine was flashing and it was the bulb blown, so it was using the other fillament (sp) from the tail light.

I have a similar problem with mine at the moment.

The lower of the two brake warning lights stays on, whilst the upper (the one that flashes) goes out. According to the handbook, it indicates that it is a brake-light failure.

It was too dark to check it out last night, so I'll have to have a look tomorrow.

 

[Keith Chapman]

I have a similar problem with mine at the moment.

The lower of the two brake warning lights stays on, whilst the upper (the one that flashes) goes out. According to the handbook, it indicates that it is a brake-light failure.

It was too dark to check it out last night, so I'll have to have a look tomorrow.

What too dark to see if the brake light was working

Thats DARK

 

[BikerDave]

What too dark to see if the brake light was working

Thats DARK

It's 'coz of the way the rear light is wired, should the brake light fail the second filament doubles up.

Additionally the check is only performed as a POST, so if it's a dodgy connection and is intermittent, the fault will remain until the ignition is switched off & back on again.

Put a new bulb in this morning and all is ok again.

 

[hops]

Thanks guys

Thanks for the 'reset' tip guys. The ABS on my 'S' reg 1100GS 75th Anniversary model packed up on a recent trip to France, (both lights flashing alternately). It was booked in to a local dealers Monday to be fettled but I've just tried the tip and bugger me it's cured it.

It's my wedding anniversary tomorrow to, so who knows, maybe a a bit of slap and tickle tonight and ride out tomorrow!!

Heaven, I'm in heaven.......... the song goes on

 

[richie]

Great tip

Great to know it helped you out, isn't that what the forum is all about????

Have a great ride.. tonight and tomorow!!!!

 

[(RIP) Jamie]

Done it

Finally got round to doing it last Saturday.

Ten minutes later - ABS blinking fine.

Thanks fellas

Jamie

 

[(RIP) maverick]

Done and sorted

Raspect!!

Fitted my new bevel drive yesterday and the ABS showed failure and would not switch off.

So followed the above instructions and sorted. My explantion as well......

1. Connect or insert piece of electrical wire in the middle slot of the BMW service plug. This is located under the seat and normally slotted into a plastic clip on top of the rear mudguard. There could be a blue cover over the plug protecting the contact points.
2. The other end of the wire is possibly best placed on the negative side of the battery(Wiring is normally brown on that terminal) The reason for this is that your "earth" also runs from this point of the battery terminal to your frame/engine.
3. Switch ignition on(no need to start it) and hold the ABS button in for 20-30 seconds.
4. Switch ignition off and both abs lights should flash simultanously when switch on.
5. If it does not work the first time try again, mine only reset after the second attemt and talking in some familiar nice language to the little £$%*" gringo....


Thanks of the help!

 

[RadioActive]

I had to do this trick at the weekend having let the battery get too flat causing the ABS to pack up. Worked fine - thanks for the tip.

Chris