2009 R1200GS Adventure ABS randomly deactivating (with other symptoms)
Calling all the gurus out there.
I have a most peculiar behavior on my 2009 R1200GS Adventure. My ABS deactivates randomly. When this happens initially it was only the front ABS, the rear wheel still had ABS. But since this weekend it is now deactivating on both front and rear wheels. The ABS warning light comes on. Other symptoms are the indicators no longer self cancel as well as the moment the ABS cancels and the light comes on the engine does a split second misfire, this is not always noticeable but it happens.
I have pulled and prodded all the wires and cables under the handlebars while riding in the hopes it was something loose or shorting out.
I have managed to replicate it. In the video below you can see (albeit a bit shaky) that the ABS light comes on. I pulled away in first gear, all normal, then with a quick twist of the throttle, not enough to wheelie or even unlikely to cause the traction control to kick in, the warning light comes on. I did the same thing again in second gear.
I have checked the battery terminals, nothing is loose.
Any advice? I will try and get to Donford later today and see if Shane can detect any error codes.
Most odd behavior.
Kevin
Hi Kevin
Had a similar issue on my old '08 1200GS. ABS started to switch off by itself mid riding. I could only get it working again after stopping, switching off the engine and starting the bike again. Booked it in to Donford Stellenbosch, but the morning I wanted to take it, smoke came out the side and the bike just died...
Informed Donford (Think it was Eugene) of the smoke and they started prodding around where to find where it originated from. Eventually found a wire loom with a bunch of wires that fused together under the seat. Probably from years and years of vibration. They re-connected all the fused wires and that seemed to sort out everything! No damage to ABS, ECU or anything!
Hope it helps. Hope it's not serious.
Hi Kevin
had something similar on my 07 GS a few years ago. Replaced the battery and it was sorted out. Strange things happens when the voltage drops due to a bad battery. especially with the ABS which requires a certain voltage to operate properly.
I hope its just something small - good luck.
My first line would be the battery condition (as mentioned above) and secondly the A B S sensor at the wheel, there is a specific air gap between the sensor and the A B S disc. Hope this helps.
Just an update. After popping in to Donford Cape Town they connected my bike to the computer and downloaded the errors. There were ABS voltage errors, heated grip errors and wheel speed sensor errors. Unfortunately the printout they did was from a few weeks ago and not the last few days. They had cleared all the errors. I asked if I could take my bike for a spin around the block to create new errors they could then download. Which I proceeded to do. Unfortunately now the ABS warning light stays on permanently. Sigh. I have booked my bike in for Thursday next week, hopefully it can be sorted and it does not cost me an arm and a leg. 
I will provide an update next week.
Just a further update in the event it may help someone else with these symptoms. With the above ABS light now permanently on (oh and now all of a sudden my tyre pressure sensors warning light off and getting a reading from the front wheel) I decided to take my bike for a good high pressure wash. I paid extra attention to the ABS speed sensors as I was told there could be a buildup of iron filings that could affect the ABS. And now the ABS light no longer stays on. However now I am back to the original symptoms as described above.
Interesting though that if I manually deactivate the ABS the symptoms still display as described above but only when I completely deactivate the Traction Control does the symptoms no longer display ie. on a fast acceleration the ABS light does not come on and the ABS deactivated.
Hi Kevin
Had a similar issue on my old '08 1200GS. ABS started to switch off by itself mid riding. I could only get it working again after stopping, switching off the engine and starting the bike again. Booked it in to Donford Stellenbosch, but the morning I wanted to take it, smoke came out the side and the bike just died...
Informed Donford (Think it was Eugene) of the smoke and they started prodding around where to find where it originated from. Eventually found a wire loom with a bunch of wires that fused together under the seat. Probably from years and years of vibration. They re-connected all the fused wires and that seemed to sort out everything! No damage to ABS, ECU or anything!
Hope it helps. Hope it's not serious.
Yah hope it's not serious either 
still waiting for a quote from Donford.
Hi Kevin
had something similar on my 07 GS a few years ago. Replaced the battery and it was sorted out. Strange things happens when the voltage drops due to a bad battery. especially with the ABS which requires a certain voltage to operate properly.
I hope its just something small - good luck.
I have never had battery issues. Well not since I replace the stock battery with a Odyssey 535 4 years ago so doubt it's the battery 
It does still sound that some wires might be crossed...
Mine caused all kinds of funny errors on different parts that were working perfectly.
Here is a single shoot video clip where you can see the behaviour with ABS on/off and ASC on/off.
The ABS issue has been resolved. It turned out to be a wire that the after market battery had chaffed through, thank you Donford 
Don't want to say "I told you so" ;P
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