1200GS rear brake question

[Speedy23]

Hi all, now had my bike for 2 weeks - really lovin' it. Only one slight niggle - the back brake seems really underwhelming when compared to the front.Tried to get the rear wheel to the point where the ABS would actuate (from about 50 mph) but no luck...there seems to be a lot of pedal travel before the brake comes on and it seems like you have to press really hard to get any discenable braking effect. Are they all like this or could it be something like seized pistons in the caliper? No warning lights are showing, and the brake does work...after a fashion. When you press the pedal, you can hear vthe servo cut in. Front brakes are fine. Any obs or tips, please?

Thanks

Jan

 

[ed4554]

The old saying " they are all like that".

Had mine from new September 04 and it has cbeen like that from new. You do get used to it.

ED

 

[Stu-13]

The ABS will only kick in with the front brake, the rear is more of a fine tune thing, than all out stopping power.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

I like the way the brakes are set up.

The only time I use the back brake is low speed control, say in traffic and on slippery surfaces. In which cases I like the way it is set up.

Other than in those situations I never use the back brake since the front and back are linked and operated by the hand lever and, as I'm sure you are aware, you couldn't want for more powerful brakes

Andres

 

[nobbysnuts]

linked brakes

Are you sure they are linked and both operate off the hand lever.

By the way i have no problem getting the abs to kick in on the rear.

 

[Stu-13]

Are you sure they are linked and both operate off the hand lever.

By the way i have no problem getting the abs to kick in on the rear.

They are linked or "integral" as BMW call it, so the rear will come on when the front is used.
It's the rear that is independant when used, and won't kick the front in, still thinking about it some more I'm not sure about the ABS.

 

[SpyInTheCamp]

Mine seems OK. (Mind you I have had the rear disk replaced under warranty at the 6k service.)

Brakes on this bike are 'the business'!

Kai

 

[tiller269]

I have found that when you are using both front and rear brakes together, then the ABS will cut in after excessive use of the rear brake. - But when using the rear brake in isolation, it will, evevtually lock up. But you have to try really hard! Personally, I like the set up, Gives lots of control.

 

[Magwych]

hi, when I first took a test ride on a 1200GS my first comment was that the rear brake was bordering on lethal. The comment was the usual "they are all like that".
However that did not put me off buying one....
Reading the manual I noticed that the rear pads are organic material, which does take a lot longer to bed in properly and may feel "softer". With this in mind I tried to bed the pads in gently whilst running in, and do feel that the rear brake is now much stronger than the demo bike I rode.
May be worthwhile removing the pads, scouring the surface then bedding in again for 100-150 miles - or replace with after market sintered pads that bed in quicker.
Anyone know if these are available for the 1200, and do the ye have the wear indictaor hole in the back plate ?

 

[marcus]

I find the back brake on the 12GS is amogst the best of any bike:
Actually slows the bike down, really helps low speed stability.

Now Aprilia don't put back brakes on their RSV's but thats another tale

 

[Mouse]

I have no complaints about the rear brake on mine. I use EBC pads, but not sintered as I find these are wasted in a rear brake. The EBCs don't have the wear indicator hole, but it's easy enough to check the pad material anyway.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Anyone know if these are available for the 1200, and do the ye have the wear indictaor hole in the back plate ?

Just replaced my rear pads at the w/e (10,000 miles with about another 4-5,000 to go but off on a big trip so needed to change them now).

I was given the choice of organic or sintered with EBC. I went with organic as 1) that is reccomended in the handbook and 2) there seem to be a lot of rear discs wearing relitively early so I did not want to speed the demise of mine by fitting sintered pads.

Not sure aboue 'wear indicator' holes

Andres

 

[Phil Clarke]

The demonstrator I rode which had ABS seemed to have a pretty weak back brake, my none ABS bike seems to be better but maybe the demonstrators brake hadn't been used much so was glazed.....
I prefer a strong back brake (a throwback to riding old bikes which needed every bit of braking power available!) but my last bikes excellent back brake was partly responsible for me having a bit of a slide down the road.....

 

[earthmover]

Anyone have the definitive answer as to whether the brakes are linked on non-ABS equiped bikes?
After repositioning the brake pedal, and fitting an extender, I find the rear to be perfect for me. Needs a fair amount of pressure to lock the wheel on the loose, but provides extra retardation on the road if and when I use it. Only had one instance of it locking up on the road, and that was in extreme conditions (ie I stamped on it!)
Mark

 

[Mouse]

Pretty certain they are not linked. But try it for yourself: put the bike on the centre stand, engine running, first gear, and see if activating the front brake makes it stall

 

[earthmover]

Doh! Why didn't I think of that? Cheers Mouse
Mark

 

[Phil Clarke]

No ABS = no linky brakes (thank god)
If I'd wanted linky brakes I'd of bought a guzzi!
or not as the case may be....

 

[steveb]

Rear Brake - pin missing?

I had a similar problem with the rear brake - it seemed that I had to almost stand on the pedal to get any braking effect...

Took it to SPC and the chap from servicing had a look - symptoms not suprising as the pin linking the brake pedal to the rest of the braking mechanism had fallen off...

May be worth a quick look....

Steve