BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Well I was disappointed last night. After too long an Indian summer, Winter finally wint this weekend. Supposed to flurry when I rode to the gym last night, but all we got was a drizzle. Looked hopeful for this morning; supposed to snow last night. Nothing. Rode to work under stars. Bright and sunny all day. Finally, this afternoon, as I was riding home, it started to flurry heavily. Now, that's just magical. Fat flakes flipping round your helmet. Love it.

But here's the problem: Soon as the temp dropped into the lower 30s, Acela's ABS got reluctant to initialize. I didn't get that funny noise when I set off. Lights flashed alternately going down the road. This has happened all four times I've ridden her since the cold set in. Once I warm her up, I can turn the engine off at a stop light, re-start, and when I set out, there's the funny noise, and the ABS lights go out.

I like the ABS. Especially on black ice. The most ice I see is just setting out from the house, going through the development. So it would be good to have ABS from the get-go. Even this afternoon, the snow slicked the road momentarily, coming out of the office park, and it would have been good to have.

So. Has anyone else encountered a reluctant ABS in frosty conditions? Is there a simple solution to it?

You may want to change your brake fluid. It's hydroscopic and as moisture is absorbed it can circulate into the small sensing passageways in the ABS control head.
Flakes around the helmet?? Black Ice?? ;)

Spoke to the previous owner just now. He said the brakes were bled by Bob's BMW last Spring. He said the ABS has always been sensitive to cold. This is a new one on me. My CLC has a very different ABS, complete with interlocked power brakes. Has never failed to initialize when cold; even down to 5 degrees. In the 30s today. Sure enough, had to run a ways down the road, warming the machine, then turn the ignition off at a light and restart to make the ABS work. Anyone else here ride when cold?

Yep. Flakes are fun. Up until it builds up on the street.

I had this on my r1100r. I think it was down to a poor performing battery as when this was replaced all was Ok again from the off.

Battery less than a year old. Connections tight. Only happens when temp in the low thirties. PO says it has always done this when cold.

Hi there, webmost~

I'm late responding to this post, but I wanted to let you know that the ABS on my '96 R1100R also seems cold weather sensitive and usually doesn't engage upon the first start in temperatures under 60 degrees or so. It will fire up as the engine warms-I'm guessing it's the nature of the beast rather than something that requires a fix.

Thanks alot, triplezero!