ABS warning lights

[oyster]

Two weeks without use! So the bike gets a twenty mile outing, all o.k. Restart for more miles and the ABS warning lights do not go out, just alternately winking at me for the next five miles. Park for twenty minutes, then do another twenty miles - no red lights. Park for an hour, start off and the lights are back on! is one of those quirks that have made owners rip out the ABS?
Any ideas as to what may be at fault? Is this life threatening? Should I stick with my Honda Civic whose SRS light has been on for the last year?

And should I put some shims between the ABS disc and the wheel when I change the bolts on the front?

[Boxadog 2000]

Yes
And then reset the gap betweemn the sensor and the abs ring with the shim provided in the tool kit.

Bob

[Chamelespoon]

Two weeks without use! So the bike gets a twenty mile outing, all o.k. Restart for more miles and the ABS warning lights do not go out, just alternately winking at me for the next five miles. Park for twenty minutes, then do another twenty miles - no red lights. Park for an hour, start off and the lights are back on! is one of those quirks that have made owners rip out the ABS?
Any ideas as to what may be at fault? Is this life threatening? Should I stick with my H*nda Civic whose SRS light has been on for the last year?

It's the battery. If the voltage drops by too much while starting the bike, the ABS will disable itself (flashes the lights alterately), and will stay that way until you turn the ignition off and start the bike without too much voltage drop. Mine does it all the time, usually when starting from cold.

Nothing really to worry about... just ride for a few minutes, pull up, switch the bike off and start it again. In fact, often you don't even need to go for the ride, just a restart will sort it (makes it sound like it's running Windows, which perhaps is a bit worrying! ).

Might be worth checking the battery's okay, though, and not in need of replacement.

Hope that helps.

[oyster]

That sounds spot on! Out today in the glorious Kentish countryside, slight sea mist this morning out on the horizon, dew covered lanes, and empty roads. Ah, bliss.
And no more flashing lights! The few miles I did yesterday must have been enough to boost the battery and no problem today.
Thank you.

[Harry]

Where in Kent are you Oyster?

Harry.

[stempy]

It's got to be Whitstable with a name like that

[oyster]

The captain wins the biscuit. Grand award ceremony at Lydd.

[sybecs@supaday.com]

mine did it when battery was on its way out so the voltage drop when starting is spot on, new battery sorted check sensor gap though to be safe

[Jason M]

The ABS lights will also stay on if you start the bike really quickly after turning on the ignition - start it within a second or so and they'll stay on every time. That's what the stop and restart will clear. I think I read somewhere that you should leave 2-3 seconds between ignition on and starting - sounds weird but it's true honest!

Jason