1200GS ABS modulator failure - Watchdog anyone?

[surreygraham]

On approaching a line of stationary traffic I applied my brakes as usual and all was fine. Suddenly the brakes appeared to fail and to avoid the stationary queue I was forced to move into on-coming traffic and was nearly killed. I managed to stop using 'manual' braking once I knew I had to apply more force!

BMW diagnostic showed up a failed ABS Modulator which, looking on line, seems to be a common fault which requires an expensive repair. To my mind the inherent danger posed by this particular failure means that BMW should be recalling affected bikes and repairing them FOC. I called a supplier of used parts today and he told me that he gets daily calls for this item.

My family nearly lost their father and I want to make sure that nobody else is nearly, or actually, killed.

So, I have joined this forum to try and find out the level of likely support for a Watchdog type campaign. Are there any fellow GS riders who are interested?

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

What model/year is your bike?

 

[surreygraham]

Hi,

Its a 2004 with less than 10,000 miles on it!

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

Do you know if other year/models are affected please?

 

[surreygraham]

Not really. The internet seems to imply it affects pre 2007 a lot!

 

[Paul S]

Not really. The internet seems to imply it affects pre 2007 a lot!

The issue you are talking about is well documented and potentially affects all R1200 bikes from 2004 to 2006'ish which came with ABS and servo brakes. BMW did away with servo assisted brakes in 2007. Some 1150's would also have the potential issue - certainly my 2004 1150 GSA had servo brakes fitted.

 

[Bendy toy]

Being a well documented problem. on a low miles bike you have a good case for an ex gracia / goodwill repair by BMW.

 

[PeeBee]

Mine went two years ago at 21000 miles on a 2005 bike. Even with a goodwill contribution it still cost me over £1000 to sort.

Considering the potential safety issue which arises when it fails (as in the OPs case); I think that BMW should have come up with some sort of solution and recalled them all. The servo was certainly overkill and they removed it from later bikes.

I argued strongly with the dealer about having to contribute anything - although ABS was listed as an option, you could not specify a bike without ABS for the first year or so (certainly was the case with mine; ordered May 2005, delivered Sept 2005). You can get rid of the servo/abs pump on the 1150s, but not the 1200s.

If mine fails again, I won't be replacing it at a cost of nearly £2000, which effectively scraps the bike.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Mine went two years ago at 21000 miles on a 2005 bike. Even with a goodwill contribution it still cost me over £1000 to sort.

Considering the potential safety issue which arises when it fails (as in the OPs case); I think that BMW should have come up with some sort of solution and recalled them all. The servo was certainly overkill and they removed it from later bikes.

I argued strongly with the dealer about having to contribute anything - although ABS was listed as an option, you could not specify a bike without ABS for the first year or so (certainly was the case with mine; ordered May 2005, delivered Sept 2005). You can get rid of the servo/abs pump on the 1150s, but not the 1200s.

If mine fails again, I won't be replacing it at a cost of nearly £2000, which effectively scraps the bike.

Up until 2012, you have been able to specify all GS bikes without ABS, so your facts are little incorrect

 

[Bendy toy]

There is also a workaround to remove the ABS from (some) servo bikes. Does this work on the Mk1 1200s?

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showth...oval-of-1150-IABS-system&highlight=servectomy

 

[Fanum]

. You can get rid of the servo/abs pump on the 1150s, but not the 1200s.

If mine fails again, I won't be replacing it at a cost of nearly £2000, which effectively scraps the bike.

If yours goes on yours, I'll take it off you for a grand cash.....then I'll remove the ABS and flog it

(It IS possible, and in fact rather easy to do )

 

[Greg Masters]

So, I have joined this forum to try and find out the level of likely support for a Watchdog type campaign. Are there any fellow GS riders who are interested?

I'm sure that it was a scary moment but I can't really see Anne Robinson doing a job on a failure on a 10 year old bike that's now an obsolete model.

 

[Bendy toy]

Darling Annie (and the Beeb generally) hates motorbikes. They love every chance they can get to show how horrible they are.

 

[DrFarkoff]

Servo-ectomy can be done BUT you need to retain the brain component to send signals to the speedo and the lights etc Same on K1200RS and GT models in fact anything without a cable driven speedo you need that brain component!

 

[The Grey One]

So the bike is ten years old and 10,000 miles. What is the service history? When was the brake fluid last changed?

John

 

[Streetbike]

I had a similar problem a couple of weeks ago in France just after having fluids changed by a reputable BMW dealer after a hundred miles or so. The servo just dropped out erratically requiring five fingered braking instead of one or two. After all you've still got three working discs, its just a little disconcerting. Anyway 1600 miles and a couple of Spanish passes later no problems at all. Perhaps the cause was self inflicted by me power hosing the bike too closely prior to leaving for trip. My bike is an October 2005 model with 28,000 miles. Fluids changed very regularly.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Up until 2012, you have been able to specify all GS bikes without ABS, so your facts are little incorrect

You couldn't buy a GS without servo assitance though which is probably what the poster meant or is at least more to the point.

Andres

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I specd my 06 GSA deliberately without ABS due to the then known and well documented servo issues

That and the fact that back in 06 ABS was a £1000 cost option

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

So, I have joined this forum to try and find out the level of likely support for a Watchdog type campaign....

Really.... really.... are you serious

I might be wrong, but I don't think that is what this place is all about

 

[Steptoe]

So, I have joined this forum to try and find out the level of likely support for a Watchdog type campaign. Are there any fellow GS riders who are interested?

You're 6 years too late.

Dr Brake (or some such name) trawled all the forums trying to summon up a legal case against bmw back when a brake failure thread was almost a daily occurence.