1150 gs brake failure and warning lights on

[Avventuri]

Diagnosis!

It was the ABS/Servo unit. New one on the way. A real bummer, but the prospect of an ABS-less bike would be even worse.

Luckily the BMW shop found a used unit at a good price, with a bit of warranty.

Morten B

 

[davegs]

ABS

Bloody sight cheaper to take the thing off and sling it, probably doubled the value if the bike now!

 

[Ash]

My GSA has no servo or ABS and i feel a lot happier knowing them items can't fail like they did on my 1100 twice and even worse,brake fail 1/2 way down the Stelvio pass .On my old 1150.........
Hopefully i will never need the ABS bit,if the shite ever hits the fan again.
Do bear in mind i had a serious smash whilst riding an St1100 that had ABS / Traction control etc
Sometimes wonder how we ever managed in the 70's,with all that power,square tyres and drum/disc brakes,that didn't.....

 

[Avventuri]

I am really happy for those of you that thinks BMW´s iABS is crap – and have removed the system from your bikes.

I, on the other hand, do not want to convert my 1150GS from a "reasonably modern motorcycle" to a nostalgic "no-fuzz-no-modern-technology-that-might-fail-motorcycle" – hence I am really happy to have solved the problem and get my motorcycle back, WITH a working iABS system.

Everybody´s got their own idea of what makes a great bike. If I wanted a bike without ABS, I would have bought a bike without ABS. I didnt.


Morten

 

[AndrewD]

I am really happy for those of you that thinks BMW´s iABS is crap – and have removed the system from your bikes.

I, on the other hand, do not want to convert my 1150GS from a "reasonably modern motorcycle" to a nostalgic "no-fuzz-no-modern-technology-that-might-fail-motorcycle" – hence I am really happy to have solved the problem and get my motorcycle back, WITH a working iABS system.

Everybody´s got their own idea of what makes a great bike. If I wanted a bike without ABS, I would have bought a bike without ABS. I didnt.


Morten

I'll second that, I wanted abs no servo like the old K1100's, saved my bacon 2 weeks ago when some tit in Belgium ignored the stop line and pulled straight across the road on me. Missed him by the thinnest of margins

However he might look harder next time as I confiscated his keys and taught them to swim a mile or so down the road

No doubt the ABS saved my bacon, but I'd hate to have the servo and be waiting for inevitable failure

 

[Avventuri]

Glad you´re in one piece, AndrewD. I feel the same way and I will order my "inevitable" new GS with ABS, for sure.

Morten

 

[davegs]

My GSA has no servo or ABS and i feel a lot happier knowing them items can't fail like they did on my 1100 twice and even worse,brake fail 1/2 way down the Stelvio pass .On my old 1150.........
Hopefully i will never need the ABS bit,if the shite ever hits the fan again.
Do bear in mind i had a serious smash whilst riding an St1100 that had ABS / Traction control etc
Sometimes wonder how we ever managed in the 70's,with all that power,square tyres and drum/disc brakes,that didn't.....

In those days we were tough!! (and younger and dident give a monkeys!!).
And the only time we saw BM's was in the IoM ridden by the germans, in the sixties anyway.
dave GS

 

[DollyRocket]

I like ABS - I don't like servo brakes.

Unfortunately, on my 1150GS it is combined so had to ditch it. I think most peoples concern (including mine) is that if there is a fault the brakes taken on suddenly different characteristics (especially if you are used to sharp acting or late braking).

On other bikes, the abs is separate so if it fails you still have the same braking performance from the lever.

 

[Avventuri]

I like ABS - I don't like servo brakes.

Unfortunately, on my 1150GS it is combined so had to ditch it. I think most peoples concern (including mine) is that if there is a fault the brakes taken on suddenly different characteristics (especially if you are used to sharp acting or late braking).

On other bikes, the abs is separate so if it fails you still have the same braking performance from the lever.

I completely agree with you – I´d much prefer ABS and no servo, but with that not being an option on my bike, I´ll stick with factory spec.

Sure, the prospect of a catastrophic brake failure, the very instant you need ultimate stopping power, is a dawnting one –*but have you thought about the statistical risk of that happening in real life?

How many BMW motorcycles have been sold – across the planet – with a servo/ABS system? How many serious accidents have BMW recorded, due to these brake systems failing? No doubt, every accident occuring in the US, must have resulted in lawsuits?

My question is: Are we talking an actual death machine from BMW –*or are we making a big deal out of a potential problem?


Morten B

 

[AndrewD]

The combined system used by BMW is bollocks, I sold my K1200GT(mk2) and went back to a GS with ABS and one of the major reasons was that even though it was low mileage bike 12k the servo needed resetting twice by switching off/on. One of these was on a VERY fast approach to a roundabout in France that was not on the GPS

I think the penny has dropped with the K1300 (finally), it's a bit like the paint on the engines...

Every model from the old K1100 starts with silver paint that is shit and falls off/stains, after a few years BMW realize their shitness and make the engines black and all is well.

Done this with (probably more) the K1100, R1150 and even the F800, not sure if it's arrogance or stupidity