ABS is erratic

[rideon67]

The ABS seems to be actuating on my 09 (6K miles) at odd times lately. With only light brake lever pressure snd rolling to an EZ stop I can occasionaly feel the rapid thumping that I think is the actuator. It feels nothing like a warped rotor (much faster) and does not seem to effect the braking. There is no wheel slip involved and it doesn't seem dangerous, but the inconsistent way that it is happening seems a little fishy to me.

Has anyone else experienced this? Sketchy brakes and motorcycles do NOT mix.

 

[SkooterG]

Well, I would say you need to go to a parking lot, get up to speed, and really get on the brakes to most definitely get the ABS to activate. (All ABS bike owners should do this. I have no idea why they don't! Riding motorcycles and riders being clueless as to how their equipment operates do NOT mix.)

After that, you should know what ABS really feels like and if it is activating at the light brake pressure. Which I doubt.

 

[rideon67]

Well, I would say you need to go to a parking lot, get up to speed, and really get on the brakes to most definitely get the ABS to activate. (All ABS bike owners should do this. I have no idea why they don't! Riding motorcycles and riders being clueless as to how their equipment operates do NOT mix.)

After that, you should know what ABS really feels like and if it is activating at the light brake pressure. Which I doubt.

Thanks so much for your help. A$$hole.

 

[SkooterG]

Well, I would say you need to go to a parking lot, get up to speed, and really get on the brakes to most definitely get the ABS to activate. (All ABS bike owners should do this. I have no idea why they don't! Riding motorcycles and riders being clueless as to how their equipment operates do NOT mix.)

After that, you should know what ABS really feels like and if it is activating at the light brake pressure. Which I doubt.

Thanks so much for your help. A$$hole.

You are very welcome! Dickhead. Guess on an internet forum you don't always get the exact advice you want. Gee, that's too bad.

:finger:

 

[road runner]

Mine does it and has since new. Does not hinder the brake performance, and I don't know what it is. So I'm not worried. Just ride it.

 

[Ignacio]

Thanks so much for your help. A$hole.

His advice is very good. You should go out in a parking lot and try it. Meanwhile, you might want to take it down a notch and not piss off your hosts.

 

[HYCLE]

The ABS will activate when the front and rear wheel speed sensors are not sending the same speed signal. If your front brake is pulsating due to ABS activation, then the controller is seeing a signal of the front wheel about to lock up. This can be due to one of the two wheel speed sensors or the controller.

Like Skooter said, take it out and confirm what you are feeling is ABS activation. If the front brake lever pulsates or the rear foot pedal pulsates, then it is ABS activation. Then you can do further testing, like checking the resistance of the wheel speed sensors, or measuring the AC voltage generated by the sensor.

Good luck finding your problem, by the way, do you have a Lab Scope?

 

[RossKean]

I doubt its your ABS. I think there are a lot of folks who feel a vibration while coming to a stop. While a definitive cause has not been determined, I think it may be an effect of the floating rotors. As mentioned, really try the ABS and you will know for sure.

 

[ionbeam]

The ABS will activate when the front and rear wheel speed sensors are not sending the same speed signal...

:devil: Does this mean that your ABS light comes on every time you wheelie? (Yes, if you ride on one wheel long enough for there to become a significant rotation difference between the front and rear wheel. Go try it.) By design it *should* be impossible for either wheel to have an incorrect ABS frequency for a given speed. The conditions where the ABS is commanded to activate is is generally more complex than just wheel rotation speed.

Do you get the ABS like feel when only using the front brake? Do you feel the ABS sensation when lightly using the back brake only? Seriously, do try this, read the next line and see why.

About 24k miles ago my FJR started making a high speed ABS like pulsing too. It coincided with changing from Pirelli tires to PR2s and it gets worse as the front tire wears. Dunno about other brands of tires but I would suspect tires long before the ABS.

 

[Eric L]

I get that vibration - definitely NOT the ABS. How do I know this? Well I went and tried the parking lot experiment that the A$$hole suggested <_<

It works ever so much better on wet pavement. The braking power on dry pavement is phenomenal.

 

[ionbeam]

I get that vibration - definitely NOT the ABS. How do I know this? Well I went and tried the parking lot experiment that the A$hole suggested <_<

It works ever so much better on wet pavement. The braking power on dry pavement is phenomenal.

What happens if the ABS has a problem and isn't actually working? I suggest THIS first.

 

[lnewlf]

Try a hard packed dirt road for ABS activation..Not only does one edjumacate they self on how the system works but it exercises the ABS pump which keeps it from seizing in it's bore $$$. As pointed out-no pulsing in the lever or pedal indicates that the pulsing is not from the ABS.

 

[A41Billy]

Well, I would say you need to go to a parking lot, get up to speed, and really get on the brakes to most definitely get the ABS to activate. (All ABS bike owners should do this. I have no idea why they don't! Riding motorcycles and riders being clueless as to how their equipment operates do NOT mix.)

After that, you should know what ABS really feels like and if it is activating at the light brake pressure. Which I doubt.

Thanks so much for your help. A$$hole.

Way to use the "catch more bees with honey" technique. :confusedsmiley:

 

[azitlies]

Well, I would say you need to go to a parking lot, get up to speed, and really get on the brakes to most definitely get the ABS to activate. (All ABS bike owners should do this. I have no idea why they don't! Riding motorcycles and riders being clueless as to how their equipment operates do NOT mix.)

After that, you should know what ABS really feels like and if it is activating at the light brake pressure. Which I doubt.

Thanks so much for your help. A$hole.

Way to use the "catch more bees with honey" technique. :confusedsmiley:

hahaha good point. I was tempted to say something really nasty, but let's face it... jerks will be jerks. It ain't gonna change.

 

[SLK50]

This question has come up at least once a year and it always has the same conclusion:

Pull the ABS fuse, brake to a stop, if symptom persists it's not the ABS.

For the record, its low frequency chatter, at higher frequencies it causes squeal.

Could simply be contaminant on rotors or glazed pads.

 

[Bounce]

I doubt its your ABS. I think there are a lot of folks who feel a vibration while coming to a stop. While a definitive cause has not been determined, I think it may be an effect of the floating rotors. As mentioned, really try the ABS and you will know for sure.

often, pulsing on non-ABS bikes is an indication of a warped rotor. if you're light braking, then it's likely not ABS but a warped rotor. people ride for years with mildly warped rotors and never replace them.

as was already suggested, take it to a parking lot, get up to speed, lay on the brakes and see what the ABS does. compare the 2.

 

[SkooterG]

I get that vibration - definitely NOT the ABS. How do I know this? Well I went and tried the parking lot experiment that the A$$hole suggested <_<

It works ever so much better on wet pavement. The braking power on dry pavement is phenomenal.

Ahhhhh......... this is the kind of thing that brings a smile to an A$$hole's face. And yes, Gen II brakes work very well and are quite impressive. One thing I gotta give the lowly Gen II FJRs props for.

 

[RadioHowie]

I get that vibration - definitely NOT the ABS. How do I know this? Well I went and tried the parking lot experiment that the A$$hole suggested <_<

It works ever so much better on wet pavement. The braking power on dry pavement is phenomenal.

Ahhhhh......... this is the kind of thing that brings a smile to an A$$hole's face. And yes, Gen II brakes work very well and are quite impressive. One thing I gotta give the lowly Gen II FJRs props for.

How the hell would YOU know?????

 

[wfooshee]

'Cause (unlike other parts of the bike) they're not any worse than Gen-I brakes.