2004 1200 GS ABS fault????shall I buy?

[capnsimo]

Hello all, I've a friend selling his 04 GS1200 only 5,000 miles, immaculate BUT the catch is an ABS fault light, the battery went low, then died and after a new battery admitedly only 12Ah the ABS is in fault mode! a BMW dealer has quoted the battery is incorrect and should be 14Ah and that the servo pump is U/S so new one at £1400 required....plus labour etc.....
Gosh....is it possible that this can be another fault, my old 1150GSA had similar when battery was poorly and required dealer re-set until I found the ADV rider fix of shorting two wires in the Plug.....SO is the GS1200 fault likely to be simple fix, lever switch, speed sensor, fluid level etc or is it realistically a pump? AND if U/S can I junk the horrid servo ABS and just have real brakes like a proper motorbike? even fit a different master cylinder and hoses etc?
I hope you can help.....maybe just keep the HP2

 

[John Armstrong]

Best the friend fixes it, otherwise how much will he knock off for a faulty bike? If the servo is faulty that's an expensive fix

So it's only done a 1000 miles each year?

 

[Davy F]

The servo may not be u/s, it may be the brake light switch at fault in not seating properly. I've had two warnings in the four years of 12GS ownership and both due to the rear brake light switch. If/when the servo does pack up, I'll have it converted back to 'normal' brakes for about £200ish. I'll lose the ABS function, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over that.

I don't see how the battery going flat would knacker the servo pump anyway. Is the dealer taking the pish ?

 

[Pukmeister]

If/when the servo does pack up, I'll have it converted back to 'normal' brakes for about £200ish. I'll lose the ABS function, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over that.

Any chance you could share your info on where and who can do this conversion ??

 

[capnsimo]

Thanks for the response, the bikes reasonably priced due to 2k fix quote ie 3.5K, if its a brake switch will it reset itself when repaired, is the switch repair a home fix or replace? and as above where can I get the £200 ABS removal/hydraulic upgrade...does the CAN BUS thing need re-programming or just some tom foolery with ABS button?
Thanks

 

[Davy F]

The conversion has been done here in Norn Iron by local guru Brian of Mototech. He has done several so far. I'm sure if you contacted him, he'd happily give the neccessary info on the mod.

http://www.moto-tech.biz/

 

[Bear]

I don't see how the battery going flat would knacker the servo pump anyway.

I don't think it does. I suspect from experience of my own motorcycle that when the battery voltage goes below some magical threshold that the "Brake Failure" warning starts up. Waiting in stop/start traffic to get on a ferry to France a couple of weeks ago the RTOD started up. 40 miles of autoroute cured it. Same thing at Calais on the way back. Dover to London non-stop on a quiet motorway and the battery voltage is back up to full strength. Stopping and restarting the engine clears the problem. Check the alternator and charging system carefully and, if in good order, check the battery.

 

[theop]

Best the friend fixes it, otherwise how much will he knock off for a faulty bike? If the servo is faulty that's an expensive fix

So it's only done a 1000 miles each year?

Probably no. Most likely it was run regularly vovering the mileage in say 1-2 years and been sitting ever since...