Thanks for the write up but did you leave the photos out? I don't see any...

 

I'm not seeing any pics either. If it was pasted from another source, some additions will be needed. Clicking "edit" doesn't even show me any text.

 

thx.

Fixed.

 

If you click on the link where he says ' on my blog ' you can see some pictures.

I have a question for the original poster; what are those things nearby your switch that look like phone batteries?

 

There are 2 Sony action camera battery charges. As the batteries only last for 1.5 hours after being fully charged, I keep 2 of them there charging all the time and just rotating them (they are numbered).

I also have there another USB charger and 1 normal mini usb charger...

 

Thanks for the write up on this, certainly handy to know the steps...

 

I saw a similar concept, on a different bike forum, and wondered why it couldn't be done on the V-Strom as well. Certainly looks much quicker and easier than the other method of digging into the wiring running off the ABS module itself. Nice job!

 

Does this setup work without having to kill and restart the bike after turning the ABS off and on?

 

If you want it on, you have to restart the bike, yes.

 

Being new to A.B.S., why do you switch it off on Gravel, fire trails & off-road

 

Unfortunately ABS off road can get you in trouble ... a lot of trouble, from having a very hard time stopping to cornering or avoiding obstacles.

Also, have a look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6IBV07V57A&feature=youtu.be&t=1m53s

If you ask google, you'll find out a lot more about why you should turn off the ABS whilst off road.

Check eBay, you can buy the fuses with pigtails premade which makes this even easier.

A bit more stable as well as the fuse body is still present and the replacement just plugs in.

Pete

True, but it costs heaps more and you can't close the lid back.

 

Check eBay, you can buy the fuses with pigtails premade which makes this even easier.

A bit more stable as well as the fuse body is still present and the replacement just plugs in.

Pete

 

Hank, of course nothing is set in stones, hence the temporary mod.

As for that large thread, I indent to read it tomorrow.

I'll post a picture for you taken 4 days ago, on 8th of March (video uploading).

I know trails, V-Strom, heavy, tires, etc, etc, etc ...

But what happened there:

I was going up hill, whilst on the first gear and accelerating, the bike lost grip and stopped whilst the wheel was still spinning. I hit the brakes and the ABS kicked in. I went backwards down hill till I dropped the bike as it gained speed. If I had ABS off .... That fall set the stone for few others bike naps and few more mistakes that day which almost made me call the emergency services. Took me more than 1 hour to get the bike upright and on the top of the hill. I was exhausted after that. 40 degrees Celsius (104 F) didn't help either.

*EDIT*
After reading the first post, I realized I found myself in the same situation:

"The only situation that I feel most or all riders should turn off their ABS would be on very steep, loose surface descents. In this situation, the available traction is so low that it is inevitable that the rear wheel will start to skid if as the rider tries to control the speed. In this situation the ABS system may make a rider feel that they have less control."

That's when I turn the ABS off, otherwise I feel very comfortable with it.

 

Just wondering, if you have to pull the seat to get to the switch, can't you just pull a fuse?

 

I was doing just that. But for me it's just more convenient to have a switch and not to pull fuses. It's faster and I have the piece of mind of not losing the fuse. I'm prone to losing things :mod2_sweatdrop:

The reason of mounting it there and not on the handlebar is that I don't want to turn it on/off by mistake and I will not switch it very often.

For me is not inconvenient to have it there as I have 2 batteries under the seat and I remove the seat every 1.5 hours anyway.

 

Hm. Good point there Oink. Well a few more feet of wire could certainly put the switch in a more convenient location. I like how easy this mod would be, but the fact that it requires the bike to be re-started to get the ABS back on, makes me think I might want to take the extra time to do the other mod that works off the wiring at the ABS unit itself. Still appreciate your sharing this with us though Julles!

 

Video of the day

https://youtu.be/ksfxUtcKXqw

 

Thanks Julles

 

I consider ABS is a feature provided for your safety and I for one do not have the skills to outdo what it can provide.

I was riding Observed Trials around 40 years ago on a Bultaco SherpaT 350, a very purpose built bike.

This bike weighed under 100Kg "wringing wet" and was equipped with cable operated drum brakes.

From memory we used to tackle terrain that was just about impossible to walk on.

There was very little use of the back brake, the front brake and engine throttle control providing traction.

To achieve good traction it was often necessary to deflate the tyres to around 6-8psi. The tyre had rim locks which stopped it moving around the rim.

To tackle a lot of off road terrain on a bike that weighs over double of the Bultaco, using semi off road tyres and running them in excess of 35psi is just asking for trouble.

My understanding from my early riding experience is that as soon as either of your tyres loses traction, you have lost some control.

To this end, I understand ABS releases and reapplies the brake in an attempt to regain this control, giving you a second chance. It should also be realised that the larger disc brakes on the VStrom are really good for highway braking but may be just a little excessive for off road terrain and need to be treated with respect.

In my opinion to lose control in an off road situation on the VStrom is an indication you are riding beyond your ability and/or tackling terrain that is not suited to the bike.

Maybe it would be wise to leave the bike and walk the track you are intending to ride. If you cannot safely walk the track, maybe it is time to consider another route.

I have also noted from this forum that a lot of VStrom owners also have DR650 or DRZ400 bikes for such off road occasions.

 

In my opinion to lose control in an off road situation on the VStrom is an indication you are riding beyond your ability and/or tackling terrain that is not suited to the bike.
.

I was doing just that, I was riding beyond my ability and a terrain that's not quite good for that bike (too darn heavy).

I also should have realized I needed to deflate the tires a bit. But by that point was too late anyway.

I learned, will know next time

Having 2 cars and 2 bikes really took a toll on the budget. I managed to sell a bike and I'm fairly sure my wife will kick my arse if I say I want to get another one. Mostly because I have 2 kids and both of them are in childcare.

Not sure how much childcare is in your area, but here I'm paying $800/5 days (for both).

 

My daughter is 43 years old and living in Perth so I do not have a child care issue :smile2:

$800 for 5 days. That's somewhere near $1200 from your gross income. :surprise:


On the subject of tyre pressure I have a 12volt compressor under my seat, just right for your situation.
It cost $10 from KMart and if it shows any sign of unreliability it will be replaced without hesitation.

 

I have a good, small pump as well. I carry a spare (manual) with me as well in case that fail. Unfortunately I wasn't smart enough that day to let air out. I want to blame the heat, but ultimately I failed. That's a heads up for me and learned from it