HOW TO: Quick and Easy ABS Disable Switch

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ballisticexchris

Guest
This is a great addition to my bike. Off road the abs is downright dangerous. Thanks for posting this. It works and works well.
Pretty cool modification for the more advanced riders. So far I have been able to get my rear to slide just enough to be comfortable with the ABS on. There is no denying being able to shorten the stopping distance with the abs off in the dirt.
 

MotorSWATCop

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Jun 8, 2016
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Chelsea, AL
I'm in the process of doing this mod on my '16. I decided to run the harness under the tank to the box under the seat. There is a spot, on the left side of the bike just above the passenger footpeg stay, where the switch rests unobtrusively. It's boxed by the subframe and the stay so it's completely protected. Thanks for this hack!
 

Mak10

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Aug 20, 2018
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SE Idaho
If you are on a loose hill. You don't need the tire to slip ANY. Especially on a 600 lbder on a steep downhill.
This. The abs works great on a gravel road. It’s the loose, steep, sections that the abs lets the tire slip. Downright scary.

And this is one mod that works well. This wire is hot even with the key off, keep that in mind.
 

madman4049

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Sep 10, 2018
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128
Location
Northwest Louisiana
Just finished wiring it up and testing it, works like a champ don't know why I waited a year to do it. Now I just gotta loom, zip-tie, and clean up. Many thanks for posting this can't wait to put it to good use.
20191219_191238.jpg
 

timebak

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May 15, 2019
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Rogersville, Alabama, USA
Ok, I know you disable the ABS by breaking the 30 Amp fused circuit to the ABS Motor. And once the circuit is re-energized (switch closed again), if I correctly understand what folks have written, you have to cycle the ignition switch for the circuit to actually reset - i.e.: just closing and re-energizing the circuit does NOT reactivate the ABS. Is this correct?
 

Niterunnr

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Jul 2, 2019
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Irvine, CA
This is an important detail as it allows a horn type normally closed switch to be used; though adding a relay may be easier than finding a normally closed push button switch. The push button would insure you never forget to turn on the rear abs next time you start the bike. Many new bikes are setup this way which some prefer and others not so much.
 

madman4049

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Sep 10, 2018
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Northwest Louisiana
This is an important detail as it allows a horn type normally closed switch to be used; though adding a relay may be easier than finding a normally closed push button switch. The push button would insure you never forget to turn on the rear abs next time you start the bike. Many new bikes are setup this way which some prefer and others not so much.
I don't know that it's important, if it's disabled you're gonna know it. There's a bright orange light when ABS is disabled, unless you don't ever look at your gauges gonna be hard to miss.
 

timebak

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May 15, 2019
Messages
169
Location
Rogersville, Alabama, USA
This is an important detail as it allows a horn type normally closed switch to be used; though adding a relay may be easier than finding a normally closed push button switch. The push button would insure you never forget to turn on the rear abs next time you start the bike. Many new bikes are setup this way which some prefer and others not so much.
Yes, I agree. You were reading my mind. I was planning on making either a latch-open circuit using a momentary contact switch plus a relay, or just use a NC pushbutton, so that I wouldn't forget to reset a switch. Was going to add a red LED to the dash to give me a visual that ABS was disabled.


I don't know that it's important, if it's disabled you're gonna know it. There's a bright orange light when ABS is disabled, unless you don't ever look at your gauges gonna be hard to miss.
I knew that there is a light to let me know that the ABS isn't working that turns on for various different reasons. But don't know if I want to use that light also as the only indication that ABS is purposely disabled. Having the extra LED will let me know if the 30 Amp fuse is blown or if there is power to the ABS motor or not.
 

madman4049

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Sep 10, 2018
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Northwest Louisiana
Yes, I agree. You were reading my mind. I was planning on making either a latch-open circuit using a momentary contact switch plus a relay, or just use a NC pushbutton, so that I wouldn't forget to reset a switch. Was going to add a red LED to the dash to give me a visual that ABS was disabled.




I knew that there is a light to let me know that the ABS isn't working that turns on for various different reasons. But don't know if I want to use that light also as the only indication that ABS is purposely disabled. Having the extra LED will let me know if the 30 Amp fuse is blown or if there is power to the ABS motor or not.
I think you're vastly over complicating this, of course absolutely you should do whatever gives you a warm fuzzy and in no way am I trying to tell you how to customize your bike but here's my two cents.

The light either tells you when there's a fault ie. ABS is disabled because you put a switch in, or fuse blew, OR the light tells you when either ABS is pulsing. Which if you're like me I'm guessing if you are experiencing ABS in action you don't care about a stupid light at that instant. I wired into the dash panel I showed above in a previous post a waterproof toggle soldered to a wire harness I built with an inline fuse.

Switch is up and light off ABS worky-good
Switch down and light on ABS no worky-good
Switch is up and light on ABS no worky-not good, there's something wrong check the fuse, if that don't work yank the terminals for the switch and put in spare fuse or just drive carefully to mx.

That's all the visual confirmation I need, Following the KISS principle is always ALWAYS the best possible route. Why overcomplicate and add in an extra failure point "unnecessary extra light" and more complicated wiring when the bike already tells you what's up?

I'm a tinkerer and I sometimes get these hairbrained ideas of how to add "features" to "improve" whatever I'm trying to accomplish. For example with my aux lights I wanted them to come on low with high beams, be independently switchable to high and on/off. Then I sat down to rebuild Denali's phenomenal wiring harness and said wait a minute dumb dumb, what's wrong with having them work as designed on/off with switch and high/low same as bike?......Nothing and it's less complicated, yuh lets just do that.
 

Jlq1969

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May 5, 2018
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Argentina
Yes, I agree. You were reading my mind. I was planning on making either a latch-open circuit using a momentary contact switch plus a relay, or just use a NC pushbutton, so that I wouldn't forget to reset a switch. Was going to add a red LED to the dash to give me a visual that ABS was disabled.




I knew that there is a light to let me know that the ABS isn't working that turns on for various different reasons. But don't know if I want to use that light also as the only indication that ABS is purposely disabled. Having the extra LED will let me know if the 30 Amp fuse is blown or if there is power to the ABS motor or not.
If you do a little surgery of the “neurosurgery” type, on the dashboard, you can use the light bulb of the TCS OFF, to activate the relay, jump abs fuse and turn ABS OFF. In general I think that those who need an abs off, also need the tcs off, but you have the advantage that the tcs off, resets to 1 (bulb ligth off) when you turn the key.
Yes ... I know ... a simple button is easier:)
 

Niterunnr

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Jul 2, 2019
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104
Location
Irvine, CA
Completed, brilliant!
As previously suggested, I used a door pin switch, normally closed so that I can press to disable and it will auto reset for next ride.
Simple.

2 questions;

1) confirm “both” wheels ABS disabled, and I’ve read this disables linked brakes as well?

2) Confirm power is coming from rear(left) blade of fuse terminal? Wouldn’t want to wire my external in line fuse to the wrong side and have an unprotected live wire running to the switch.

I’ve seen another write up where they use a relay, but this seems unnecessary. I used 12awg wire, so should be good.
 

Niterunnr

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Jul 2, 2019
Messages
104
Location
Irvine, CA
WARNING!!
I just realized that this wire from the ABS fuse is directly connected to the battery, so always HOT!

Not sure how comfortable I feel having a hot lead with a 30A fuse running all the way up to the dash. Might be better to place the switch closer down as others save suggested.
 

elricfate

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Joined
Aug 29, 2019
Messages
380
Location
Ohio
WARNING!!
I just realized that this wire from the ABS fuse is directly connected to the battery, so always HOT!

Not sure how comfortable I feel having a hot lead with a 30A fuse running all the way up to the dash. Might be better to place the switch closer down as others save suggested.
Or just run a sufficient gauge wire and it's fine.
 
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