Red Triangle

[Mudcat]

I have a 05 R1200GS

The bike seems to be working perfectly yet on the last few rides the red triangle has come on. Oil level is fine, fuel is fine, engine not hot nor oil, breaks are working fine, and nothing on my screen is flashing yet at times I get a red triangle.

It did it this morning at start up; I rode to a gas station filled up with 2 gallons which didn’t surprise me. After refueling I restarted the engine and no red triangle.

That is what has been happening. I’ll see the red triangle has appeared on my screen, I keep riding looking for something wrong. I’ll stop restart the engine and no red triangle. It may or may not appear again.

I don’t have a clue as to what it could be , any ideas?

[JetSpeed]

Check that your front brake lever isn't making contact with your handguard and not fully releasing, then check your rear brake switch and make sure that it illuminates the brake light when lightly depressed.

[Mudcat]

Originally Posted by JetSpeed

Check that your front brake lever isn't making contact with your handguard and not fully releasing, then check your rear brake switch and make sure that it illuminates the brake light when lightly depressed.

Thanks,
The hand guard is not torching the front brake lever; I check that at every start up at least. Plenty of clearance.
The rear brake pedal seems to be adjusted properly. There is some movement in it then I hear the servo start and the rear brake light lights.

I kind off suspect the brakes, I am due for new front pads but they are working fine and I must have at least 2mm of pad left. Anyway, worn pads shouldn’t cause a red triangle.
If ABS wasn’t working then I get a red triangle with the brake failure light on steady.
I think I’ll change the pads this weekend and if I can ride tomorrow I’ll try activating ABS and see what happens.

[JetSpeed]

Try lifting up on the rear brake pedal, I suspect it may be slightly out of adjustment.

[BillAllen]

I once had a problem with my 2002RT. The brake lever wouldn't fully release. After stopping and then starting the bike, the flashing ABS lights would stay on. I could "fix" this by pushing the brake lever forward. I had to remove the lever and sand the hole and the bushing that goes in the hole. It was a corrosion problem.

[Mudcat]

Originally Posted by JetSpeed

Try lifting up on the rear brake pedal, I suspect it may be slightly out of adjustment.

Gee, I hate to do that. The micro switch is the pedal stop, raising the brake pedal won’t effect its operation.

What is your theory?
Other then my brake pedal adjustment is a little off. I don’t see how it could be any better. What am I missing?

There is a very small amount of play in the rear brake master cylinder engagement linkage. So, my rear brake is not on. I could take what little play is in the linkage out but I don’t see any necessity to do so. The play is very very small.

[Jason1202GStime!]

The last time I got this problem on my 2005, the battery was due for a change!

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by Jason1202GStime!

The last time I got this problem on my 2005, the battery was due for a change!

That was my thought as well.

Jim

[JetSpeed]

Originally Posted by Mudcat

Gee, I hate to do that. The micro switch is the pedal stop, raising the brake pedal won’t effect its operation.

What is your theory?
Other then my brake pedal adjustment is a little off. I don’t see how it could be any better. What am I missing?

There is a very small amount of play in the rear brake master cylinder engagement linkage. So, my rear brake is not on. I could take what little play is in the linkage out but I don’t see any necessity to do so. The play is very very small.

My theory is that your rear master cylinder blow-by may be out of adjustment (it has nothing to do with the brake light switch), if it is out of whack your brake system could stay charged, which will show an error.

You could also need a new battery (as stated above), a weak battery can cause all sorts of electrical issues.

[Mudcat]

Originally Posted by JetSpeed

My theory is that your rear master cylinder blow-by may be out of adjustment (it has nothing to do with the brake light switch), if it is out of whack your brake system could stay charged, which will show an error.
You could also need a new battery (as stated above), a weak battery can cause all sorts of electrical issues.

Thanks guys.
I can raise the rear brake pedal a little and see if that does anything. The battery is 3 ½ years old, I was going to change it out in the fall but I’ll do it now.
A weak battery can do strange things to this bike.
I’ll let you know if I figure out what is going on.

[def]

Hmmmm....I'm keepin' my '01 low tech, no-servo linked brakes, non-CANbus, single spark, final drive with magnetic drain plug and no-hole-in-the-middle, non-plastic paneled GS. It never breaks, always starts and I can repair it with stuff from Ace Hardware.

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by def

Hmmmm....I'm keepin' my '01 low tech, no-servo linked brakes, non-CANbus, single spark, final drive with magnetic drain plug and no-hole-in-the-middle, non-plastic paneled GS. It never breaks, always starts and I can repair it with stuff from Ace Hardware.

Luddite!

Jim

[DaveyMac]

Originally Posted by def

Hmmmm....I'm keepin' my '01 low tech, no-servo linked brakes, non-CANbus, single spark, final drive with magnetic drain plug and no-hole-in-the-middle, non-plastic paneled GS. It never breaks, always starts and I can repair it with stuff from Ace Hardware.

205 ya got anything else

[Mudcat]

Originally Posted by Jason1202GStime!

The last time I got this problem on my 2005, the battery was due for a change!

My battery is a little weak. 8 hr’s after being on a trickle charger all day, it’s not reading a full charge. It was at 12. 76 V, it should be at 12.8v or above. After 5 hr’s the voltage has dropped another .10 of a volt, 12.66V
As a reference, 12.5 volts would indicate the battery was at 75%.

The battery is probably the problem but Geez, the bike starts right up. The voltage at start up, I think, was 9.1. I believe if it’s gets too 8V it wont start.

I think I’ll continue to ride the bike the way it is, I’ll get the brakes hot and check to make sure I still have free play in the linkage to the rear brake master cylinder.

Thanks for the help guys

[monkeythumpa]

The red triangle means you are in invincibility mode. You are immune from tickets, collisions and banana peels.