I checked the calendar - the last time I rode was at the end of October 2024 when I installed new different ratio front and rear sprockets on my Honda Grom. I only test rode it and afterwards put it on trickle charger, added fuel stabilator and the weather rolled in. The KTM (Baby) Duke 390 was treated similarly for the winter.

Fast forward to today.

Spring

Today was a sunny warm day and I have been seeing bikers out for the past few days. During the week I double checked my batteries are alive - they were. Today was the day to resume riding again.

Before riding, I completed basic checks:

• tire pressure
• oil level (KTM needed some)
• lube the chain
• triple check brakes
• inspect everything
• ensure ATGATT¹
• top off the tank with fresh fuel

Honda Grom

Grom was first, the little fun mini-moto street fighter, 125cc and all of 12hp (mine is tuned up) weighting in at 215lb. Started up fine, rode great and I stopped by the post office to drop off boxes of #cwmouse units. All in all rode it for 20 miles.

The ABS warning light started blinking twice 😞 - it never did that before…

After returning, I whipped out my Hayes service manual, found DTC tool and retrieved all the codes. All related to ABS and ranged from front wheel sensor, vehicle speed, IMU unit, brake modulator, wrong tire or sprocket size, low battery and wheel locking.

Ok, the last three are all me, either due to upgrades (sprockets), winter (low battery) or just having too much fun (wheel locking). All the others are likely correlated symptoms. Most likely sprocket changes I made in the fall, are too aggressive to not upset the ABS without a “speedo healer”.

On Grom, the front wheel speed signal is based on a wheel ring and sensor counting revolutions. The rear wheel speed is based on assumed OEM gearing and ignition impulses. Since I didn’t change tire sizes that wouldn’t throw anything off, but changing sprockets DID! “Speedo healer” is an electronic device which lies to the computer how many ignition impulses there were so both wheels report matching speed making ABS happy.

Just to be sure, I reset DTC codes and will check again when it blinks again.

KTM 390 (Baby Duke)

KTM was second. Did a big loop through twisty mountains, got a lot of fresh air, saw two deer, saw horses, no turkeys today, and passed washed out sections of the road and a bit of gravel and sand in places after recent rains. Another two weeks and riders should push it all off to the side.

I stopped at a few familiar spots to take pictures of Baby Duke and all the lush green scenery before the sun burns it all out in summer.

For all the drama of KTM the company, my KTM is the most predictable no surprises bike. On the way back, I got on highway and gave it some Italian tune-up². 42 miles later I was back home just in time to start cooking dinner!

Summary

Despite self-inflicted maintenance issue with my Honda (of all brands), the Grom ride was fun and DTC codes will be resolved soon enough. KTM did well and the ride was safe.