2005 Hexhead Import model. Working ABS and traction control but no servo brakes fitted?

[Jakester]

Hi all,
Newbie GS owner here, and new to the forum (hello!). I've just bought a 2005 R1200GS (not GSA), done a few hundred miles on it and am very impressed. Feels like a toy after my ST1100 (so much for being a heavy bike, it weighs about the same as my old 650 Transalp), and clips along at a reasonable pace too.
I did a lot of reading beforehand (of course) including on this forum. I have been riding bikes for nearly 40 years now and have a pretty good workshop so was quite prepared for having to deal with a servectomy at some point when the servo brakes inevitably cause trouble. So imagine my surprise when I find out this bike doesn't actually have them fitted, and looks like it never did have. I should say this is not a UK market bike, it was imported in 2019. It has ABS and switchable traction control (ASC) which are all working perfectly. There is no button to turn off the ABS though. I did try running my VIN to see where it might have been imported from but only one of the VIN checkers actually worked and said Japan market. Whether this is correct or not though I don't know, I clicked something on that site and it disappeared and now won't let me have another look because I've used my daily quota!
Anyway, thought I'd pick the brains of the GSers hive mind and see if anyone here knows anything about this. So, are all 2005 GSs supposed to have servo brakes? (if so someone has done a great job of upgrading this to a later system) or were some other countries spared the hassle of this electric nonsense? (my VIN does check out correctly as a 2005 model (manufactured December 2004). Thanks for any help.

 

[AJJCornish]

Welcome! I am a newbie GS owner too I also had a Pan, but mine was the ST1300.
Got mine early October and did a lot of service work and cosmetics. I have a GS II 2009 with the later ABS, which I believe was introduced in 2007.
There is a lot of Knowledge here on the forum, so you should get some answers soon.
All the best with the GS and good luck sorting the issues.
Cheers AJ

 

[Jakester]

Thanks AJ, yes it looks to be a strange version I have for sure.

I really enjoyed the ST1100, took two of us to the Pyrenees and back from Wales in total comfort, but becomes a bit of a liability once you get anywhere near an uneven surface for parking (for those who don't know, the ST1100 is 300kg dry weight and carries nearly 30 kg of fuel and a permissible payload (rider/pillion/luggage) of another 200kg. A genuine 1/2 tonne bike! Makes me laugh when I hear about how big and heavy my GS is supposed to be. I owned the ST1100 and a 650 Transalp (little light off-roading and minor Welsh back roads) at the same time which was a nice mix. This GS is a great replacement for the two of those. Though the low speed fuelling and gearing is nowhere near as good as the ST (can't beat a V4 and nicely set up carbs). I find I'm having to ride the clutch a bit in our 20 mph zones whereas the ST just tricked through the them perfectly happy.

 

[er-minio]

Yep from 2007.
My GSA is August 2007 and non servo (bought a 2007 specifically for that).

What surprises me is that it has Traction Control? I thought that was only on later bikes? Or was it an optional?

 

[Jakester]

Yep from 2007.
My GSA is August 2007 and non servo (bought a 2007 specifically for that).

What surprises me is that it has Traction Control? I thought that was only on later bikes? Or was it an optional?

This is a 2005, so perhaps even more surprising? Yes, definitely switchable ASC (3 modes: completely on, "S" off road mode, and completely off). No button to switch off ABS though (and ABS is working correctly and the warning lights illuminate and then extinguish when I get going so nothing seems to have been interfered with). I did that VIN checker again this morning, and one of the rows under the "Other Equipment" table says: "X0742 National Version Japan", so I wonder if this means it was a Japanese model? Or whether this is just some generic row in the table.

 

[er-minio]

I don't think it's a 2005 bike.
Or probably it was in origin, or the frame number was.

ASC should be from 2007 on.

Is the dashboard data display (On Board Computer) are the numbers and letters pixel-like or are segmented?
This is the segmented:


If I remember correctly, earlier GSs had letters and numbers made of big block pixels.
This should be the older version:

 

[botus]

MPH and KPH on the speedo dial would suggest commonwelth areas ?

re. post above, yep before 2008 had nicer graphics on the dials, certainly by 2010 the fuel and temp gauges swap side and the LCD lettering shrinks to stupid (original bikes had fuel left, temp right)

if it were Jap import that might help explain ABS and ASC - on the cars its very normal Jap one get very different electrics ( I think related to protectionist laws demanding the use of Jap electronics - but that doesn't really make sense for ABS and its all continental teeves designed to fail worldwide)

No ABS button is odd - unless that market demanded it wasn't switchable
jap vehicles should have a very draconian speed limiter

when you get stuck on any website with a BS time-limit - clear PC cookies and reboot router....

 

[Jakester]

I don't think it's a 2005 bike.
Or probably it was in origin, or the frame number was.

ASC should be from 2007 on.

Is the dashboard data display (On Board Computer) are the numbers and letters pixel-like or are segmented?
This is the segmented:
View attachment 378667

If I remember correctly, earlier GSs had letters and numbers made of big block pixels.
This should be the older version:

View attachment 378668

Definitely the top one of those two pictures. So either a ringer, had a major update/overhaul (it's definitely been crashed at some point as the crash bars are scarred) or the Japanese market options were a way ahead of the UK versions. Interesting, would be good to plug a GS911 into it and see which parts came from where, unfortunately I don't have one. The frame number mount all looks perfectly correct (no iffy welding or anything) so don't think it's had a number grafted onto a newer frame. On balance, I'm quite happy not to have the servo hassles and the ASC at least.

 

[er-minio]

I doubt those parts where available ahead of time for Japan.

I'd say that probably most of the bike electrics have been rebuilt/updated at some point. Doesn't necessarily have to be because of an accident.
At the end you have much better ABS without the servo.

 

[botus]

Definitely the top one of those two pictures. So either a ringer,

that's what I was thinking....

what rocker covers... the TC engine would be late 2008 and 8500 red line with engine temp on the left...

 

[botus]

I doubt those parts where available ahead of time for Japan.

that ABS module was around late 2005 (on cars)

 

[Jakester]

I doubt those parts where available ahead of time for Japan.

I'd say that probably most of the bike electrics have been rebuilt/updated at some point. Doesn't necessarily have to be because of an accident.
At the end you have much better ABS without the servo.

Totally agree, I'm much happier with the set-up as it is than the standard 2005 specs. I think you must be right and someone has gone to a lot of trouble to update it all the way through. It has definitely had a good crash at some point though, scarred crash bars with a bit of a ding on the r/h rocker cover and a bit of a small ding on the top of the fork leg up by the bottom yoke (guessing any impact there probably took out the clocks binnacle). Obviously had a new tank cover and associated panels so looks to have had a good slide down the road at some point in its life (unrecorded on a Car Vertical check though). General condition is superb overall though and rides perfectly hands-off, no wobbles/weaves etc., so does look like it would have been worth the effort of salvaging/rebuilding. Mileage at import was 55,000 km and now showing 34k miles so looks to be somewhere near the right mileage. Anyway, I'm pretty happy with it, chequered past doesn't bother me and the better specs are a really nice bonus. Paid £3200 for it from Motorbikes for All (Malvern) with new drive shaft boots and shaft service, new boot on the front ball joint, new heated grips and a couple of other odds and ends, plus a new set of Tourances and 12 months MOT (and a 3-month 1000 mile full warranty). Seemed a pretty good deal. Even came with a genuine BMW topbox.

 

[Jakester]

that's what I was thinking....

what rocker covers... the TC engine would be late 2008 and 8500 red line with engine temp on the left...

Sorry, struggling to keep up with the replies (thanks everyone). Engine temperature is actually on the right on mine, fuel on the left (so actually the reverse of those in that top picture, though I'm pretty sure its otherwise the same as the top picture). Got me thinking now, I'll need to go out to the shed and double check . I'm supposed to be working at the moment so I'd better leave this and come back to it later this evening. Cheers guys.

 

[JJH]

It’s hardly Japanese with a mph speedo and odometer. There’s a mistry to this. JJH

 

[Jakester]

It’s hardly Japanese with a mph speedo and odometer. There’s a mistry to this. JJH

Couldn't resist nipping out to the shed for a quick look. Actually my clocks are slightly different to both of those pics. So, much more similar to the top picture, but things are reversed, my gear position indicator is on the right of the computer panel and my engine temp is on the right (fuel on the left). My "GS" logo is in the center of the bottom of the speedo but only about half the size of the one in that top picture. So guessing this must be import market specific. I've just taken a picture of them and the cylinder heads, is there some way to paste them into the chat, I can only see an option to insert a URL.

 

[botus]

only if u subscribe


use this and post link

wow site tries to stop usual htt.... colon forward slash garbage then imgur.com/upload

 

[AJJCornish]

Thanks AJ, yes it looks to be a strange version I have for sure.

I really enjoyed the ST1100, took two of us to the Pyrenees and back from Wales in total comfort, but becomes a bit of a liability once you get anywhere near an uneven surface for parking (for those who don't know, the ST1100 is 300kg dry weight and carries nearly 30 kg of fuel and a permissible payload (rider/pillion/luggage) of another 200kg. A genuine 1/2 tonne bike! Makes me laugh when I hear about how big and heavy my GS is supposed to be. I owned the ST1100 and a 650 Transalp (little light off-roading and minor Welsh back roads) at the same time which was a nice mix. This GS is a great replacement for the two of those. Though the low speed fuelling and gearing is nowhere near as good as the ST (can't beat a V4 and nicely set up carbs). I find I'm having to ride the clutch a bit in our 20 mph zones whereas the ST just tricked through the them perfectly happy.

See...I told you there's a wealth of knowledge here.
I agree with you, getting off the Pan and jumping on the GS is so much better weight wise!
As for the lumpy running at low speeds, I would check the Plugs (all 4) check that they are all looking clean, any sooting would indicate either a problem with the plug or coil pack. Then check the throttle body cables for correct free play and then you should check the throttle body balance. There are plenty of videos and instructions how to do all of this...some are in favour of one way and other favour another way...the final choice is yours.
Anyway good luck with one of the most rewarding bikes that you could own

 

[JJH]

Silly me. That wasn’t your picture at all. I m not too sure if you can include pictures if not a subscriber. If you can there will be a little box attached file and chose photo library. That’s assuming your photo has been taken. JJH

 

[botus]

See...I told you there's a wealth of knowledge here.
I agree with you, getting off the Pan and jumping on the GS is so much better weight wise!
As for the lumpy running at low speeds, I would check the Plugs (all 4) check that they are all looking clean, any sooting would indicate either a problem with the plug or coil pack. Then check the throttle body cables for correct free play and then you should check the throttle body balance. There are plenty of videos and instructions how to do all of this...some are in favour of one way and other favour another way...the final choice is yours.
Anyway good luck with one of the most rewarding bikes that you could own

if you owned on honda then you will noticed the engine runs like a dog (due to incompetent engine management) - remember its land rover defender not a lexus - and in the cold its another level of horrific running

they are fun to chuck about though

 

[Jakester]

if you owned on honda then you will noticed the engine runs like a dog (due to incompetent engine management) - remember its land rover defender not a lexus - and in the cold its another level of horrific running

they are fun to chuck about though

Actually, this particular GS at least seems to be pretty good, the low speed fuelling is far better than a Kwak 650 Versys I owned recently for example (though it would probably benefit from a throttle body balance). No, it's more that the gearing just doesn't quite suit our 20 mph zones very well, 2nd gear is a bit too high and 1st is of course too low so I'm ending up riding the clutch a bit (it's happier at 25-30 really). But anyway, no FI system on a twin is ever going to compete with a Honda V4 on well set-up carbs that's for sure (the ST was sublime at low speeds). On gearchanges, the Honda is losing big time though, the GS has a way better gear change than I expected, much better than the ST1100 (or the Blackbird I owned for several years), Honda gearboxes really aren't their best suit.