ABS Kill Switch - I know it has been covered, but please guide me

[sigeye]

Hello all,

I know the ABS kill switch has been covered on here, but I didn't see a late/recent thread on the topic and I'm hoping you guys can help guide me to the best and simplest approach to doing this. I have a 2014 Super Tenere ES and I would like input and guidance on the following please.

Option# 1: Simple ABS kill switch that allows ABS to re-enable upon turning the bike off and then starting it back up.
Please help point me toward the easiest and most reliable solution for this. I would like the switch to be handlebar mounted near my left hand controls if possible. My goal is that it is easy to kill "on the fly". I don't mind having to stop, switch the bike off and then crank it back up to re-enable ABS.

Option# 2 (preferred): Simple ABS kill switch that ALSO kills traction control
If possible, I'd like this to work the very same was as the above but I would like it to simultaneously kill ABS AND traction control at the same time. Then I would go through the switching the bike off and cranking it back up to allow things to re-enable. My issue with the current method for disabling traction control is that I am always the odd duck that has to stop and hold buttons on my dash to disable traction control, meanwhile my buddies on their bikes just kill it while they're riding if they even have it at all.

I'm hoping for an Option# 2 method because often my buddies and I are high tailing along and suddenly we hit dirt/other where we instantly want to goof around or just explore, and I hate having to always stop and also only being able to kill traction control.

Thanks for the help.

 

[sportsguy]

I have a 2012. I bought a switch form German a couple years ago. I was a simple handlebar mounted universal on/off switch that plugged into the ABS fuse holder and moved the fuse inline to the switch. This accomplishes your option #1. Traction control is another matter, and IIRC, don't we have an OFF setting for it anyway? Honestly can't recall.

But...I never - not once, ever, used my ABS kill switch. Oh, sure, I accidently hit it a few times - and had to stop the bike and power cycle to get back to normal. Offroad, the ABS system is very well refined and I've never needed to have it off - including when hitting turns too hot and in gravel.

In fact, I removed the switch just a few days ago - in my opinion, it was a waste of time and money to install it. And it increases my liability in case of an accident because I've shown a desire to override the factory safety systems, etc., etc. Main reason for removal was simple - in 3 years of having it, I have never encountered a situation where I needed the ability to turn the ABS completely off. For me, a waste.

If your a hard charger in the dirt, and doing endure work with the bike, maybe it'd be useful, but if that's how you're playing with almost 600 pounds of motorcycle, I might suggest a smaller bike for that kind of riding. In the end, to each their own, however, so ride on, ride on.

 

[AVGeek]

Since the traction control can be disabled on the ST (albeit by having to stop), I don't know of anyone who has found out a way to do it on the fly, though that has been a request here on the board.

 

[Mark R.]

Sportsguy gave a great synopsis, and you might just want to buy his old switch. At least with my 2012, you have to push the little button on the left of the instrument cluster to turn off traction control.

You don't have to actually stop when you hit pavement again. Just turn the ABS switch back to the on position while riding, then quickly cycle the key for half a second, and the bike will re-set TC and ABS to "on" again.

As for whether you need to turn these features off - I turn them off whenever I hit dirt. Stopping distances are much shorter and more controlled with ABS off. TC will absolutely keep you from climbing hills and such if you get washboard type dirt roads, because the rear wheel will skip over bumps, and TC will progressively choke off your power, just as you need more.

Mark R.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[sander]

You could put a switch in line with the front wheel sensor. That will trip the abs and tc. And as an added bonus your speedo keeps working. I still need to test this though so ymmv

 

[sportsguy]

You could put a switch in line with the front wheel sensor. That will trip the abs and tc. And as an added bonus your speedo keeps working. I still need to test this though so ymmv

No need to mess with the wheel speed sensor.

Just remove the 30 amp ABS fuse. Wire a switch inline with spades/tabs to plug into where the fuse went. Insert a 30 amp fuse inline on the wiring to the switch. Speedo remains unaffected.

Flick the switch, interrupt the circuit, ABS is off. When ABS is off, the ABS warning light on the dash is illuminated.

Stop bike, power cycle and ABS resets. Light goes out and you have ABS again.

Worth noting, the switch works in both directions. No need to think in terms of "on" and "off". Simply moving the switch from whatever position its in to the other position will interrupt the circuit and turn the ABS off.

Touratech had a switch for this - they never went to market with it due to liability concerns. Anyone can make this happen for less than $20 in parts.

 

[Berg_Donk]

I used an 80A SPDT relay in series with the fuse. Its normally connected when unpowered, so all is normal. A momentary push button on the handlebar fires the relay, disconnecting the circuit like a blown fuse and ABS is off till a reboot. Works good.

Some extra relays, including my ABS one.

Yellow button LHS shuts the ABS off. Its a pit bike starter button.

 

[sander]

No need to mess with the wheel speed sensor.

Just remove the 30 amp ABS fuse. Wire a switch inline with spades/tabs to plug into where the fuse went. Insert a 30 amp fuse inline on the wiring to the switch. Speedo remains unaffected.

Flick the switch, interrupt the circuit, ABS is off. When ABS is off, the ABS warning light on the dash is illuminated.

Stop bike, power cycle and ABS resets. Light goes out and you have ABS again.

Worth noting, the switch works in both directions. No need to think in terms of "on" and "off". Simply moving the switch from whatever position its in to the other position will interrupt the circuit and turn the ABS off.

Touratech had a switch for this - they never went to market with it due to liability concerns. Anyone can make this happen for less than $20 in parts.

I tried that but whatever fuse I pulled the speedo stopped working. Mind you that was on the centre stand not actual riding. Does that also turn of the tc?

Cheers

 

[sportsguy]

I tried that but whatever fuse I pulled the speedo stopped working. Mind you that was on the centre stand not actual riding. Does that also turn of the tc?

Cheers

TC is turned off my clicking the button on the side of the dash/display. The ABS fuse is, iirc, a separate fuse.

 

[sander]

That's why I suggested to put a switch in the sensor lead. That will also kill the tc on the fly.

 

[La Knee]

Has anyone pulled the abs switch and rode the bike ? I am doing a track day Monday
And and I have to pull the centerstand so that is not an option . I see someone had
mentioned that the dash won't work which is ok. Will I see the traction control
light to turn it off ? Thanks
Lonney