Tricky ABS Problem

[gavncats]

I have a 2004 1150R that is having brake problems. The ABS light is coming on after 20-30 minutes of riding in traffic. The triangular ! light is on and the rectangular light to the right of it flashes at the fast rate. The rear brake then has only residual braking I can no longer hear the brake servo motor engaging. The front brake has full strength, but does not engage the linked back brake servo. When I pull over and turn the ignition off and immediately back on again, the rear then works as normal. I have had the fluid properly flushed but that didn't help. Anyone got any ideas? Relay? Wheel sensor?

[JimVonBaden]

Sounds a lot like a low battery to me.

Jim

[Georgeinva]

I agree with Jim, especially if the traffic is stop and go. To be sure have someone read the codes.

[Yellowjacket]

Based on my experience as a rider - Test your battery, I use to run my batteries low each winter and as they got low the same symptoms would show up.

[gavncats]

Thanks for all those replies. When you get the same response from three separate people, you know there must be something in it. I'll test the battery (which I was told was new when I bought the bike last month) and see what gives.

[Genen8kua]

As George said, particularly in stop and go traffic and/or if you take a lot of short trips, it's possible that your battery could be good but still have a low state of charge. You might try checking your battery voltage (any digital multimeter will do) first thing in the morning: it's fully charged when the voltage is 12.7, 90% at 12.5V and only 50% at about 12.0 V. Plugging in to a battery maintainer might be in order, especially if you take short trips and have accessories like auxillary halogen lights and heated gear. If it doesn't hold a charge, replace it. If charging doesn't help, then have it load tested. Also it's prudent to check the connections at the battery - loose and/or corroded connections can introduce resistance that can mimic a bad battery.

[Georgeinva]

It is not necessarily a bad battery. If you are running heated clothing or extra lights you will drop below the ABS minimum voltage requirements in stop and go traffic very quickly. Even without running any accessories it is possible to have a low voltage fault in traffic.
There are a few solutions to your problem. 1) Install a larger capacity battery (odyssey is my recommendation) 2) Reduce the load with LED and HID lights 3) Install a 60 amp alternator

[Anton]

Get someone to read the codes. According to my notes (no idea of the origin), low battery gives a different light pattern.

You will probably find a non-specific message like "Rear Integral ABS not available". I've seen this symptom on a few K12s and I think at least one other bike. Always the rear circuit.

[ERC Scott]

If you aren't a daily winter rider, you might benefit from keeping your battery on a trickle charger. Some people keep it on whenever they aren't riding. Personally, I put my bikes on trickle charge 48 hours each week Oct to March. Scott

[henwin]

If you aren't a daily winter rider, you might benefit from keeping your battery on a trickle charger. Some people keep it on whenever they aren't riding. Personally, I put my bikes on trickle charge 48 hours each week Oct to March. Scott

I've had my RT on a Battery Tender whenever I'm home and not riding. My bike is now just over 3 years old and I'm still on the OEM battery. So far so good. I have not load tested it, except when I start it, which it still seems to do without problem.