Michelin PR2 and ABS

[cougar8000]

When time came to mount new shoes I could not decide if I should disconnect the ABS sensors like manual says or trust the forum wisdom and leave them alone. Well, I decide to trust the forum. Put roughly 700 miles since and no ABS light to speak off.

What I have found is that I haven't felt ABS been activated yet. Before on the stock 020 I would get ABS activated on a regular basis during hard braking. Now there is nothing or at least it feels that way.

There are two possible reasons for this:

1. New shoes are much stickier and grip the road much better preventing lock ups and in turn minimizing the need for ABS to be activated.

2. Something is wrong with ABS.

I am hopping for the first one. Can anyone confirm/deny my finding on PR2 and ABS use?

p.s. I haven't had an opportunity to take it to the parking lot and try to force a lock up.

 

[HYCLE]

When time came to mount new shoes I could not decide if I should disconnect the ABS sensors like manual says or trust the forum wisdom and leave them alone. Well, I decide to trust the forum. Put roughly 700 miles since and no ABS light to speak off.
What I have found is that I haven't felt ABS been activated yet. Before on the stock 020 I would get ABS activated on a regular basis during hard braking. Now there is nothing or at least it feels that way.

There are two possible reasons for this:

1. New shoes are much stickier and grip the road much better preventing lock ups and in turn minimizing the need for ABS to be activated.

2. Something is wrong with ABS.

I am hopping for the first one. Can anyone confirm/deny my finding on PR2 and ABS use?

p.s. I haven't had an opportunity to take it to the parking lot and try to force a lock up.

I had PR2s installed and the mechanic took it for a test ride in the parking lot. He came back with eyes wide open and glad the ABS worked. He had grabbed too much throttle in a small area.

 

[tstaff]

If the ABS light comes on when you turn the key on then goes out, the system is fine.

 

[cougar8000]

If the ABS light comes on when you turn the key on then goes out, the system is fine.

Thanks, will check on this. Can't recall it at the moment.

 

[Fred W]

I had PR2s installed and the mechanic took it for a test ride in the parking lot. He came back with eyes wide open and glad the ABS worked. He had grabbed too much throttle in a small area.

That one's gonna need some explainin'. How does the ABS come into play when twisting the right grip?

Last time I checked, the FJR (optionally) has Anti-lock Brakes.

Never heard of them being available with Traction control.

Or are you saying he was running out of real estate in the parking lot?

If so, let us know where your mechanic is so we can avoid that shop.

 

[SkooterG]

Git to a parking lot and find out one way or another. It can't be that hard to find that 'opportunity'. Hell, you should be able to easily and safely activate the ABS on the rear riding down the street in front of your house.

I am sure your system is fine, you just haven't reached the threshold to activate the ABS.

 

[Scab]

That one's gonna need some explainin'. How does the ABS come into play when twisting the right grip?

That's the contingency plan for when you run out of pavement.

 

[cougar8000]

Git to a parking lot and find out one way or another. It can't be that hard to find that 'opportunity'. Hell, you should be able to easily and safely activate the ABS on the rear riding down the street in front of your house.
I am sure your system is fine, you just haven't reached the threshold to activate the ABS.

Skooter,

Finding time with a 6 weeks old and a 6 year old at home is hard now days. That is why I haven't gotten to that point yet.

I tried locking rear coming to the intersection and nothing where is before it would. Again, it is not parking lot so I was not specially hard on it.

Like I said, on 020 I had ABS getting activated more then I really cared about it.

I am hoping that people with PR2 would shine in.

 

[Fred W]

Git to a parking lot and find out one way or another. It can't be that hard to find that 'opportunity'. Hell, you should be able to easily and safely activate the ABS on the rear riding down the street in front of your house.
I am sure your system is fine, you just haven't reached the threshold to activate the ABS.

Skooter,

Finding time with a 6 weeks old and a 6 year old at home is hard now days. That is why I haven't gotten to that point yet.

I tried locking rear coming to the intersection and nothing where is before it would. Again, it is not parking lot so I was not specially hard on it.

Like I said, on 020 I had ABS getting activated more then I really cared about it.

I am hoping that people with PR2 would shine in.

...well, not locking up isn't the same as the ABS not working.

The two options are:

1) Rear locks up and stays that way as long as you stomp the brake (ABS is broke)

X) Brakes pulse and rear doesn't lock up (ABS workie)

 

[cougar8000]

...well, not locking up isn't the same as the ABS not working.
The two options are:

1) Rear locks up and stays that way as long as you stomp the brake (ABS is broke)

X) Brakes pulse and rear doesn't lock up (ABS workie)

Correct, thing is it is not pulsating any more like it used to nor it locks up . And no it is not the #1. So, like I said, it is either the tires are super great, or problem with ABS. I am hoping for the tires.

Thanks for trying

Just so we are clear, at least me, I do not have a problem that it is not locking the front or the rear. Just trying to make sure that it is not doing it because of the tires are super sticky and able to maintain the traction.

 

[Fred W]

Just so we are clear, at least me, I do not have a problem that it is not locking the front or the rear. Just trying to make sure that it is not doing it because of the tires are super sticky and able to maintain the traction.

Alex,

I don't see how it could be caused by anything else. Either your tires are wicked sticky or your brakes are not grabbing enough. The ABS will not cause that.

 

[madmike2]

Discussion is circular until you actually try it and report the results.

We're waiting.....:fingers thrumming on desktop smiley:

 

[ionbeam]

While you are waiting for the chance to 'live fire' your ABS system let me add a few thoughts about the sensors.

When putting the black ABS sensor housings in place, verify that both the front and rear sensor housings are placed so that the slots in the black housings are keyed, both at the front fork and rear brake.

The sensor itself is just a magnet and coil of wire, as long as it wasn't physically damaged and wasn't allowed to pickup a large pile of metal filings it should be just fine.

If the sensor tip were allowed to contact metal and send a voltage spike big enough to damage the ECU (highly unlikely), the ECU would no longer detect sensor pulses and would give you an ABS warning light. The only reason the FSM says to disconnect the sensor wire is to prevent damage to the ECU. The ECU is programmed to detect sensor failure and pop the warning light when abnormal or no pulses are detected.

No ABS light while driving means that the ECU is reading the sensors just fine so you should be ok. Trust, but verify :lol:

 

[RiderCoach Lar]

I don't see how it could be caused by anything else.

Fred- I think you may be missing Alex's point. Under aggressive braking with old tires, the ABS light came on. Under (what seems like to Alex, at least) similar braking with the new tires, the light no longer comes on. Like he said, either the new tires are biting that much better than the old ones and not requiring the aid of ABS or the ABS is inactive.

Sounds like the simple answer is if the light blinks when the ignition is turned on, the ABS is OK and the new PR2's do in fact kick ass.

Of course the more interesting test would be to try and lock up that front brake and HOPE the ABS is OK :scare:

EDIT: Of course, you'll want to get that on video because if the ABS does work and the tries ARE that good, you may perform the very first stoppie ever on a FJR

 

[cougar8000]

Quick partial update.

Went home and sure enough turn the key ABS light comes on and off, which sounds like it is working properly.

And yes, Larry is correct with one caveat. I never saw ABS light come on while riding. What I did noticed before is brake would pulsate often during hard braking indicating that ABS are getting activated. Now, it hasn't happened in the last 700 miles since I got this new shoes.

Real test coming up this weekend. Please have fire department and ambulance ready to go. :devil: Just kidding, lets hope that they are not needed and in fact new PR2 are the next best thing since the sliced bread. Stay tune.

 

[cougar8000]

While you are waiting for the chance to 'live fire' your ABS system let me add a few thoughts about the sensors.
When putting the black ABS sensor housings in place, verify that both the front and rear sensor housings are placed so that the slots in the black housings are keyed, both at the front fork and rear brake.

The sensor itself is just a magnet and coil of wire, as long as it wasn't physically damaged and wasn't allowed to pickup a large pile of metal filings it should be just fine.

If the sensor tip were allowed to contact metal and send a voltage spike big enough to damage the ECU (highly unlikely), the ECU would no longer detect sensor pulses and would give you an ABS warning light. The only reason the FSM says to disconnect the sensor wire is to prevent damage to the ECU. The ECU is programmed to detect sensor failure and pop the warning light when abnormal or no pulses are detected.

No ABS light while driving means that the ECU is reading the sensors just fine so you should be ok. Trust, but verify :lol:

Thank you for the wisdom Alan. Based on what you are saying I should be good.

 

[HYCLE]

I had PR2s installed and the mechanic took it for a test ride in the parking lot. He came back with eyes wide open and glad the ABS worked. He had grabbed too much throttle in a small area.

That one's gonna need some explainin'. How does the ABS come into play when twisting the right grip?

Last time I checked, the FJR (optionally) has Anti-lock Brakes.

Never heard of them being available with Traction control.

Or are you saying he was running out of real estate in the parking lot?

If so, let us know where your mechanic is so we can avoid that shop.

Yes Fred, he thought he would run out of Parking lot but it stopped quicker than he thought too. :blink:

 

[madmike2]

Now, it hasn't happened in the last 700 miles since I got this new shoes.
Real test coming up this weekend. Please have fire department and ambulance ready to go. :devil: Just kidding, lets hope that they are not needed and in fact new PR2 are the next best thing since the sliced bread. Stay tune.

That's what I'm betting on!

 

[cougar8000]

Now, it hasn't happened in the last 700 miles since I got this new shoes.
Real test coming up this weekend. Please have fire department and ambulance ready to go. :devil: Just kidding, lets hope that they are not needed and in fact new PR2 are the next best thing since the sliced bread. Stay tune.

That's what I'm betting on!

You wont believe what happened...

Since I finally got a full night sleep I decide to take a bike in to work today at whooping 34 degree. Tire pressure check, gear check. We have a parking lot at work that had been coated to a point that it is almost glass smooth. Should be n brainier to lock up a tire, right? Well here is what happened...

Speed up to about 20 and push hard on the rear brake and nothing, bike just stops. Speed up again and now I put more weight and it still wont slide. I am getting worried here. So, I do another run and now I slam on the rear brake and sure enough ABS starts pulsating on the rear brake pedal.

Drum roll please :assassin: here comes a front brake test. Again speed up to 20 and zilch. Speed up to 20 again, at this time my heart is doing double time you got to be nuts to lock up the front on purpose, and sure enough ...... it is pulsating :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

What, you thought that I have crashed? silly you.

I am telling you this PR2 is amazing how much grip they provide. I had to strugle to lock up both brakes where is before it was almost daily. Money well spent.