K11 Owners Group

[feathersjr]

Greetings,
My first post, be kind. My 94 LT has been consistently giving an alternating flashing of the ABS lights when I first start the motor. If I just turn the key back to the OFF position and restart the motor, the flashing resumes in unison like it is supposed to, until I go forward to about 5 mph. It then engages the ABS and all is well. As long as I don't let it cool off, the symptoms don't return for the day.
I'm thinking it might be a corroded ground.
What do you think, be specific.
Thanks and be of good cheer.

[RJTrucker]

Most common cause of that kind of fault is a low battery. Give the bike a good charge and see if it still does that.
_________________
Ron
1993 K11LT
1985 K100RS with over 100K on it
1985 K100RS Luftmiester Turbo Work in progress (any help is appreciated)
1974 R90/6

[Scott_Anderson]

[Jim]

Hello, JR - welcome to K11OG! We'll only be kind to you for another month or two - then you are fair game...

It's likely the battery - usually. The ABS self test happens right after the starter has taken a big hit off the battery. Is your bike starting hard? If it's not firing up right quick, your battery will be low enough the ABS won't like it.

Put the model, year, and approximate mileage of your bike in your signature - that makes it easier for us to give you a free, online diagnosis.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

[Phil Marvin]

Hi, Feathersjr,
Your ABS faulting is a classic sign of a weak (or old) battery. First, make sure the battery is fully charged. When it is fully charged, a good battery should not be a reason for a fault. An old battery may still start the bike, but may not have the voltage necessary to not fault the ABS. For a while, my K1100LT started fine, but the ABS faulted. After riding for between 100yd. and a mile, I would switch off the engine and restart. The ABS would not fault and everything would be fine. Shortly after this, maybe a month, the battery died for good. With a new battery, I got no ABS faults. My guess is you need a new battery or, at the least, your battery needs a charge.
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

[feathersjr]

I'll put it on a charger tonight and see what happens tomorrow morning in this cold (60 F) San Diego morning air

But I'm sure you guys have hit it on the head.
Thanks

[bmwmick]

[poetryandmotorbikes]

As if I need to reaffirm this but:

Low or bad battery. The past owner put a smaller voltage battery into my Kbike. It works fine but on start up it doesnt have enough juice to fire up the ABS immediately, so the light flashes. When I get going the light turns off and my ABS is engaged. Battery problem, usually.

Cheers,
_________________
1992 K75S

Motopoeta | Beautiful Vintage Motorcycles Daily

[Flying Duck]

The ABS will flash until the bike starts moving. The brain needs to initialize and part of that process is testing the sensors - which can't be done until the bike is moving.

(I think you meant lower amperage, not lower voltage.)
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

[Wrigsby1]

Let the lights flash with the sidestand up for a handful of flashes. The ABS needs to see a good voltage to initalise as you hit the starter and this can be a prob if you hit the button ASAP. My R11GS also does this.