K11 Owners Group

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 7:26 am Post subject: Wacko ABS action

Had a couple of odd brake incidents yesterday.

I went to town for a couple of errands and for some fuel. Both times I was sitting pointed downhill, waiting for the vehicle ahead of me to turn and go.

Both feet flat on the pavement, clutch lever pulled in to the handlebar, bike in 1st gear and right hand holding the brake lever to keep from rolling downhill. I was completely stopped.

Twice the front brakes completely let go enough that I started to roll forward. My right hand was definitely holding the lever pulled in.

What the........????

VERY weird feeling.

Any ideas?

It felt like the ABS was completely running the show for a second or two.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 7:34 am Post subject:

Sounds to me like the ABS controller was either releasing the brakes for you, or the holding valve in the modulator is leaking by.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 8:17 am Post subject:

That was my thought too, after I had a few minutes to think about it.

Think I'll stop on downhills and hold the bike still using both brakes, at least for the near future. Thanks
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

N41EF · Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 8:49 am Post subject:

Have you bleed the brakes lately? A little air in the ABS system can cause all kinds of weird things to happen. Not to mention OTG rode it, who knows what gremlins you have.

I'd flush the system and fill with new fluid before I got to far into it.
_________________
2014 R1200RT Water Cooled
2001 R1100S Light
1993 K1100LT. Nissan Ice Blue.(Gone)

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 9:27 am Post subject:

Changed the fluid and bled them this spring.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

N41EF · Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 7:34 pm Post subject:

Did the brake lever stay hard, or did it go limp towards the grip?

The master cylinder is full?

Have you tried the ABS to see if it functions?

When you first turn the key on do you get tha ABS clunk clunk noise as the relay cycles?

How old is the battery? Low voltage, like idling can cause all kinds of ABS issues.
_________________
2014 R1200RT Water Cooled
2001 R1100S Light
1993 K1100LT. Nissan Ice Blue.(Gone)

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 6:05 am Post subject:

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 6:21 am Post subject:

Thinking through my braking situation something occurred to me.

The bike spent more than 1800 miles on the trailer. The ride was not smooth, especially driving through the NYC area and even more on the trip back north than south

I was doing my best to steer around the bomb craters that NY calls potholes but there were places where lane space and traffic made avoidance impossible. Being as careful as possible, in the rearview mirror I still saw the bikes bouncing around like crazy.

At this point it is my best guess that all that slamming around caused something bad to happen to the braking system. When I had the 2 brief failures, it was the first ride after the trailer excursion.

We'll see.........
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.