ABS fault?

[ChasF]

On my 1150 I turn the ignition on and ABS lights alternate. Hit the starter button and they often (not always) change to blinking together (ABS off). Sometimes takes 3 or 4 starts to gat the ABS to stay activated.

Do they all do this or is it a fault?

 

[Kropotkin]

It's a fairly common fault if you have the standard (wet) battery. ABS is sensitive to battery voltage, which tends to drop when the bike is started. If you have an old battery, then one of the first signs the battery is on the way out is when the ABS starts to fault.

Quickest fix is a new battery. The BMW gel battery they fitted on later models is much better, but best of all is an Odyssey PC 680 glass-fibre mat battery. No more faults at all.

 

[Steve]

Sounds like a low battery thing.

Is it OK if you restart after you've been riding a while?

 

[ChasF]

Sounds like a low battery thing.

Is it OK if you restart after you've been riding a while?

I thought it must be a voltage drop problem - just wanted to check it was a common fault. The battery is on its way out as it would only hold its charge for a week when laid up last winter, mind you, it was -15c most of the time.

Is the Odyssey battery a direct replacement (correct size)? When I fitted one to my R100GS I had to fit all sorts of packers around it.

Thanks for your replies

 

[Kropotkin]

The PC 680 is a little bit taller, and a little bit thinner than the standard battery. I have an old document case I cut up for filler, it only needs about 5 mm or so to fill in. Plus you can't use the standard terminal connectors. You can either make your own from a strip of copper, or else bend the existing ones into a different shape. Search here and on Advrider.com for examples of how to do it, with pictures.