ABS problems (no, not the battery... I think)

[JPK1100]

My K1100LT 95 has an ABS failure since running a day long in the rain last week.

As soon as I turn the key, the ABS lights flash alternatively. This is not what it does when it's a low battery.

Where should I look first?

Thank you.

JPK1100

[threeflys]

I was going to post an ABS ? also. My '88 K100RS has started to have both lights flashing at the same time. I've tried to reset them using holding the button down and also with the grounded wire trick (once, it worked for a couple of days). I've noticed my battery light will be on when I first start my bike and it revs low (700ish), it's not the original battery nor is it a BMW battery (it looks smalle than the space). Could my battery be going bad, causing the ABS failure?
Thanks,
Chris

[sgborgstrom]

threeflys-
Your bike has first generation ABS, the button on the dash pad doesn't reset anything, you need to visit a dealer for that, or use the ibmwr "shorted wire" trick. My local dealer has always been willing to reset mine at no charge- at the same time you find out why the computer shut down the ABS. The system trips really easily into no-ABS mode, the engineers were being particularly conservative. ABS2 has some capacity to reset itself.

Steve

[threeflys]

would a weak battery have anything to do with this?
Chris

[sgborgstrom]

Yes, it could.
I've had mine kick off after sitting overnight w/temps in the low 30s.
To be honest, I have been running with pieces of black electrical tape covering the flashing lights for a couple of years now. I bunged up my rear sensor, new part not available from BMW...finally got a new one from cyclesrecycled.com but it'll wait until my next round of spline lubing this winter.

Steve

[bmwmick]

My K1100LT 95 has an ABS failure since running a day long in the rain last week.

As soon as I turn the key, the ABS lights flash alternatively. This is not what it does when it's a low battery.

Where should I look first?

Thank you.

JPK1100

J,
Go do some reading: http://www.largiader.com/abs/absfault.html
If you can read out the fault, we might be of more help.

[EastTNBeemer]

threeflys,
My 92 K75s did the same thing you mentioned. I checked everything I could think of, did the wire trick, etc. No dice. Then I bought a new battery. No more ABS problems.

[JPK1100]

Finally my dealer, after a short computer test, reset the ABS.

Prolem solved.

[601sparky]

Well,I had this same problem. ABS lights would not go out. Tried the resetting thingy, no go.
Found out I had a bad battery, replaced it, the new battery would not hold a charge, something was sucking out the juice.
Took it to my dealer (Medicine Hat Motosports), voila! Replaced the ABS relay.
$300 and five weeks later later, it's fixed. It came over on the slooooooow boat from Germay via an even slower Yak train.
Still not too sure about the battery though.
Good luck.

[threeflys]

What was the symptoms after you replaced the battery? I'm hoping all I need is a new battery, but I want to make sure. My bike had trouble starting this am, I have a battery on order that should get put in this week. My symptoms are a longer time trying to start when cold (still cranks), the ABS light flash when it's been a day or so and it seems to get better as I ride (immediate restarting, ABS lights go out, dash lights get brighter).
Chris

[EastTNBeemer]

My battery would start the bike, but wouldn't have enough of a charge to reset the ABS. I know that might sound hokey, but after a new battery, I haven't had any ABS problems in almost a year.