newbie with another stupid "ABS" question (searched 1st)

[Rayzor61]

I can't find any threads on ABS diagnostics. I never owned a bike with ABS so I don't know how it should feel or if it even works. I've tried jamming on the brakes but feel no pulsating from the petal or lever. How do I know if they even work? My ABS light comes on at start-up but goes right out. Is there a self test or a switch to activate it?

 

[FuzzyRider]

Rear wheel is stupid easy to test...go out to a parking lot and get a 1' x 2' piece of 1/4" plywood. Ride straight over the plywood at 15 MPH and when the rear tire is on the plywood jam on the rear brake. You should not be able to lock up the rear and slide. I'm pretty sure there's a test mode, but I think it requires a special electronic thingamajig that Yamaha wants bazillions of $$$$ for.

 

[SacramentoMike]

At the Street Masters course we did some emergency stops. When I hit the brakes hard and the rear tire left a long black stripe on the pad, the instructor smiled and said "no ABS huh?" Seems like a pretty simple test to me. No plywood needed either.

 

[madmike2]

Hmmmmm. It sounds to me like somebody needs to explore thelimits of their braking.

I can activate either...at will....during my normal parking lot practice sessions. Uhm....you DO have regular parking lot practice sessions, don't you? If not, how will you ever find the limits of your FJR brakes and how quickly you can stop when you need to? AND, as an aside, you'll find out what the ABS feels like when it pulses. :huh:

 

[FuzzyRider]

At the Street Masters course we did some emergency stops. When I hit the brakes hard and the rear tire left a long black stripe on the pad, the instructor smiled and said "no ABS huh?" Seems like a pretty simple test to me. No plywood needed either.

But in this case it's easier to prove the lack of ABS than prove the existance of it. With plywood even the most wimpy rear brake can cause lockup. If you don't lockup on asphalt/concrete maybe it's because you weren't getting on the brake hard enough.

 

[noob]

As others have said, ya really really really really want to practice

emergency braking before you need it. You'll know the bikes and

your capabilities and it could make a major difference.

This pic shows the results of my many many emer braking practices,

the full fork travel is 4.5 inches. But the forks were bottoming out

as there is 1" of sag.

ya wanna practice it man, you really do.

 

[SR-71]

Bump

 

[SR-71]

I never owned a bike with ABS so I don't know how it should feel or if it even works.

99.9% of the time the ABS brakes feel exactly the same as any other braking system. It's only when the ABS sensor system detects a wheel starting to lock up is when you'll feel the difference. But the second that condition no longer exists, the ABS circuitry is designed to disengage.

If you're interested in how ABS works here's a general description: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/anti-lock-brake.htm

... it's ABS for auto's but same operational theory.

Like others have said, easy to test to see if they work. Find safe area. Build up some speed, nail the rear brake..., you shouldn't be able to lock up the rear tire.

ABS braking systems are great for stopping quick. Just remember there may be a cage or semi-truck behind you... that can't.

Full situational awareness is key. Always do what's necessary, to ride another day.

SR-71

 

[cougar8000]

Practice. Practice. Practice.

You really have to jam on the brake levers to force the ABS to activate. It also depends on what kind of tires you have on. With original stones I had no issue forcing ABS to activate, a bit too much for my taste. Now with PR2 I really have to try hard to activate ABS. Tires are so damn good that they wont lock up.

 

[HaulinAshe]

A little water goes a long way. Just make sure you are locking up the rear-only, for wet ABS testing.

 

[daviddowns2000]

I can easily activate the ABS with the rear brake at parking lot speeds on dry pavement but I don't recall ever activating ABS with the front brake like that.

 

[SkooterG]

The ABS system on the Gen II bikes is quite impressive. Especially the rear. On the Gen I bikes, when you stomp on the rear brake pedal hard enough to activate the ABS the pedal kicks back, and you can feel the ABS cycling. And not all that quick IMHO. While it works, it feels pretty archaic. Now, on the Gen II bikes when you stomp on that rear pedal, you just get smooth controlled stopping. No drama whatsoever. No feeling the ABS cycling either through the pedal or the braking. Incredible!!! On the front, with either Generation of FJR, you will feel the front brake lever pulse once you have braked hard enough to activate the ABS. You will also feel it in the braking. You just have to brake REALLY hard.

C'mon you nancy-boys. I activated the rear and front ABS on a friend's FJR within the first 3 miles of ridiing it. I had never ridden an ABS bike and wanted to know what it felt like and see how it worked. And now I activate it every time I get the chance to take a demo ride on a new FJR. So get out there and get 'er done! IMHO, you're a complete wuss and and an idiot if you have an ABS FJR and have never activated both front and rear ABS, finding out what it feels like. Gonna wait unitl a panic situation so that you are *REALLY* freaked out when the ABS activates and it's something you have never felt before?

It's not hocus pocus, or magic folks. Just simple physics. Don't be afraid of it.

 

[ShawnKing]

ABS braking systems are great for stopping quick. Just remember there may be a cage or semi-truck behind you... that can't.

Great point and one that doesn't come up nearly enough.

 

[twowheelnut]

It's not hocus pocus, or magic folks. Just simple physics. Don't be afraid of it.

Kinda like that gravity thing you love so much, eh?

 

[GypsyCaravan]

Oh...

I have an '06 purchased new a couple months ago, that was sitting in the back of a dealer.

Two weeks ago, my wife and I had to stop suddenly in traffic.

I've never been able to rid myself of the habit of applying the rear brake real hard, before I apply the front... I guess I picked that up riding enduro bikes on the street... was way too easy to sail over the handlebars on those.

Anyway... I hit the rear and we slid... I noticed the slide, so I let off and reapplied hard front brakes, while applying less rear...

We quickly came to a stop.

I feel like the ABS worked on the front, because the whole time we stopped, I didn't think we'd make it, and we'd be eating the back on an SUV.

If what you guys are saying it true... then I may need to have my ABS checked out. I'll go hit a parking lot, and try the rear brakes again.

This wasn't my thread started, but this site is awesome for helpful info... Thanks all.

(edited to add: Mine's an AE w/ ABS)

-Jonathan

 

[CHRIS_D]

Oh...
I have an '06 purchased new a couple months ago, that was sitting in the back of a dealer.

Two weeks ago, my wife and I had to stop suddenly in traffic.

I've never been able to rid myself of the habit of applying the rear brake real hard, before I apply the front... I guess I picked that up riding enduro bikes on the street... was way too easy to sail over the handlebars on those.

Anyway... I hit the rear and we slid... I noticed the slide, so I let off and reapplied hard front brakes, while applying less rear...

We quickly came to a stop.

I feel like the ABS worked on the front, because the whole time we stopped, I didn't think we'd make it, and we'd be eating the back on an SUV.

If what you guys are saying it true... then I may need to have my ABS checked out. I'll go hit a parking lot, and try the rear brakes again.

This wasn't my thread started, but this site is awesome for helpful info... Thanks all.

(edited to add: Mine's an AE w/ ABS)

-Jonathan

Jonathan,

Don't forget there's a lean sensor, so unless you where lean over in a corner, the rear ABS should of worked and the back tired should not of locked up.

 

[SkooterG]

I noticed the slide, so I let off and reapplied hard front brakes, while applying less rear...

I do believe proper technique is that once the rear has locked, leave it locked until you have come to a stop. Otherwise you risk a high-side. Now, that is also one of my bad habits that I can't seem to get rid of. Frequently, when I lock the rear, I release pressure on the pedal and then re-apply. Like I said, that's incorrect technique, but a bad habit I can't seem to get rid of.

FRONT brake does 90% or more of your braking when braking hard. USE IT!

Don't forget there's a lean sensor, so unless you where lean over in a corner, the rear ABS should of worked and the back tired should not of lock up.

I bet that even with the rear NOT locked, but with ABS activated and doing threshhold braking, a slide could occur under certain circumstances such as turning inputs, irregular surface, loading and whatnot. Just theory on my part.

 

[deanw]

Those with Gen I bikes, don't forget the OP is on a Gen II bike... which also has link... er, combin... er, integra... er, UNIFIED brakes.

Mashing the rear will also apply the front.

 

[wheatonFJR]

It's not hocus pocus, or magic folks. Just simple physics. Don't be afraid of it.

Kinda like that gravity thing you love so much, eh?

Just 'cuz he bounced off the dirt does it mean Skooter's afraid of it.

Dirt...meet Skooter. Skooter...Dirt. Simple physics.