Another ABS problem

[AdrianS]

Occasionally my ABS lights trigger without any obvious cause.

Every time it has happened I have lost the rear wheel circuit.
The servo works fine when operating the front brake lever, but fails to operate with the foot pedal and also considerable pressure needs to be used for the rear brake to work.

I stop the bike, re start it and everything is fine. It can go for a week or two beforw it happens again. Checked wiring, cleaned abs sensors, checked pads and they seem OK. Any suggestions what to do next?

Cheers

Adrian

[touchton]

I had a similar problem a couple of years ago. The brake fluid was a little low in the rear reservoir because the rear brake pads were worn. I would be fine when I started the bike, but intermittently it would trigger an error. Once I turn off the ignition and turn it back on, the error was gone. If you note the pattern of the flashing warning lights you can determine more of what it's trying to tell you. Mine pointed to the fluid being low.

[Boxer]

Electrical triggers, wiring, sensors...None of these have a place in a hydraulic brake circuit. ABS is a military industrial complex ruse and made to create revenue for the companies that promote them. IOW its a dumb-ass concept. Brakes are, or should be, mechanically operated by the operator putting pressure on the pads via the caliper and hydraulic line. Anything else is just plain hogwash and nothing more than a way to get your money and create problems.
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Channeling Dallara

[wncbmw]

Boxer - you understand that only the 'old timers' on this board would understand your 'channeling Dallara' rant! Of course, I get it!

AdrianS - I had that happen but only once. Did the same thing after an inspection. Just started it up and all was fine. Touchton may be onto the issue, worth a look.

[touchton]

There two things you need to do when you have an ABS fault:

1. Note the pattern of the warning lights / look up the fault in the owners manual.
2. Ignore Boxer!

[sweatmark]

Channeling Dallara

That made my day. Funny to be nostalgic about the old board, when the R1150Rs were newish and all of us infatuated with the machines.

[wncbmw]

Sweatmark - I am still infatuated with my R - warts (FD issues) and all.

[iowabeakster]

Dallara was so friggin stupid. Actually, all of you are idiots. This has been covered so many times before. If you would read the owners manual, these stupid questions wouldn't come up in the first place.
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possessed by Lance
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(For those who don't know or don't remember...PLEASE do not be offended by the above.)

Adrian, I think Touchton is spot on with the advice above. I'm very sorry your thread was chosen to be the place where the old timers started nostalgizing.

I too, still love my R...the company that made it...not as much.

[sweatmark]

possessed by Lance

That really cracked me up tonight!

Back on subject:

Check the pedal brake switch. It's possible that the switch has intermittent continuity when in "off "position (the ABS brake switches are normally closed circuits), and the ABS controller faults the rear servo as result. This would only happen if the fault was triggered at startup, and not while riding.

If instead you experience loss of rear brake servo while riding (e.g. works OK at first, but then the "power braking" stops functioning during your ride), then there's something else wrong.

As stated above, take note of the ABS warning light pattern and timing as key to error code.

Let us know what you find.

[AdrianS]

The light pattern is as follows:

left light - constant, right light - flashing approx 4 times a second.

According to my handbook it just says that this means one circuit is down. It doesn't give any other clues!