GSX1250 ABS light query

evening all. Today I was riding merrily along when the ABS light on the dash came on. Outside of the normal check sequence on every start up this have never happened to me.

Full description of what happened....

Had dropped off my wife's bike at the dealership for some work. So we were returning home two-up.

We had travelled about 15kms, mostly at highway speeds with no issue, the bike had gone through its normal illumination on start then extinguish when I moved off.

The road we were on has been subject to extensive work recently, there is still a fair amount of crap, loose chips, dust and general road detritus around.

I had two vehicles on my tail so didn't want to try and test anything so I rode maybe another 1-1.5km before I got a safe place to pull over.

Pulled over and turned the motor off for maybe 20 seconds before starting up again.

Usual check cycle sequence happened, light on when ignition on, extinguished after moving off and reaching 8kph.

Light stayed off for remaining 45kms of the trip home.

No noticeable effect on performance of the brakes at any point.

36000+kms on the bike, I think they are original pads front and rear, got the bike with 4000kms and I havent changed them.

So, I wondered if anyone else had ever experienced this? My guess is dirt or "something" had interfered with the system or caused a temporary electrical problem, am I completely wrong?
Of course I will keep an eye on it but would value any experiences being shared.

Cheers.

I don't have ABS on mine, but just a thought, check down near the back wheel to see if the wire has come off the rear sensor (Part #1 below), mum might have knocked it on the ride home.

barry_mcki wrote:I don't have ABS on mine, but just a thought, check down near the back wheel to see if the wire has come off the rear sensor (Part #1 below), mum might have knocked it on the ride home.

good call! as it happens the rear was perfectly fine. I checked the other end and.....the bolts holding the FRONT sensor were both loose to the extent I could turn them by hand! No idea why, but it certainly shows that checking bolts and fasteners on a regular basis pays off.

Cheers mate, you have helped to educate a complete mechanical wasteland

Just resurrecting this a little....
I got home Friday and the ABS light came on as I rode down my driveway. I've checked both sensors (ensured they were not loose, took them out, checked them etc and bolted them back in), checked both ABS fuses under the seat, checked the plugs connecting the sensors etc, but the light still stays on when riding.

Before I go looking further (ie checking resistance across sensors and digging deeper into the wiring etc) has anyone been down this path already?

The brakes haven't recently been bled, or brake fluid changed. There's nothing I can think of that may have caused it. I've confirmed the ABS is no longer working with the ABS light on, cos I can do big skids. 

Given we're in the middle of another Monsoon burst, I'm happy to not do big skids while commuting (yeah I know....timid).

Any hints appreciated.
Bill.

Id say one of the wheel sensors might be stuffed. Not sure how you check them though.

This might be helpful http://www.banditforum.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=59040.0

Thanks Reddog. I trawled the interweb last night and saw that thread. I also read somewhere that low baddery voltage can throw an error... not sure about that...
Anyway...after pulling and checking sensors, connectors and fuses yesterday arvo, I rode it to work this morn and after initially getting to about 30km/h (usually goes off immediately when rolling) light went out and it all seems back to normal. 

On the baddery tho...I've just realised I've still got the original battery in the bike (6 years plus old!). I'll check the battery tonight...but it still spins the bike up just fine. 
Unusual for batteries to last more than 4 years in the tropics.