Seat switch defective

[burg650]

On the dash I keep getting seat switch defective message. I usually turn off bike and re-start and it would go away till next time now it is on all the time, I never ride with a passenger. What is this for, why does the rear seat have this switch and what does it tell the bike. I take it the switch must be bad, will it do any harm to the bike as I can't take it in for a while and of course still want to ride. When I took it in for 600 miles services I told them but they said they did not see a code (don't believe them) and told me to bring it in when the it shows all the time.

[strats]

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I beleive it shifts the brake bias automatically when you have a passenger....

[NancysToy]

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I beleive it shifts the brake bias automatically when you have a passenger....

That's correct.
-Scotty

[ataDude]

Check the plug under the rear of the seat just to make sure it's seated well.

On the dash I keep getting seat switch defective message. I usually turn off bike and re-start and it would go away till next time now it is on all the time, I never ride with a passenger. What is this for, why does the rear seat have this switch and what does it tell the bike. I take it the switch must be bad, will it do any harm to the bike as I can't take it in for a while and of course still want to ride. When I took it in for 600 miles services I told them but they said they did not see a code (don't believe them) and told me to bring it in when the it shows all the time.

[burg650]

Check the plug under the rear of the seat just to make sure it's seated well.

Tried that, even took it out to make sure it is really in, will it harm to ride like that.

[Latemarch]

Tried that, even took it out to make sure it is really in, will it harm to ride like that.

No.

[igor]

That's correct.
-Scotty

Scotty, what is brake bias?

[Magic Man]

Scotty, what is brake bias?

It is how the brake system's hydraulic pressure is divided between the front wheels and rear wheel.

With the additional weight of a passanger on the rear wheel it can supply more pressure to the rear wheel's brake without it locking up.

Most time a sytem like this will have a 70%/30% split or even as high as 80%/20% split depending on how much weight the rear wheel has on it and how powerful the rear brake is itself. With of course the higher percentage being applied to the front brakes as there is more weight transfer to them while braking and because in this application the front wheels have more upfront weight all the time as well.

When you add an extra XXXlbs. to the rear wheel by adding a passenger it can now suppply more pressure to the rear brake without it locking up, and may change to say 60%/ 40%.

MM