2012 GS1200 Adventure - Pulsing brakes

[tuonov]

Hi,
I've got my first GS, and really enjoying it so far. It's a 2012 Adventure.

The only niggle that I've got is that I've got some quite badly pulsing brakes. It only happens at low speed, but it's bad enough that it causes the suspension to compress, and makes low speed manoeuvring really difficult. Braking at higher speed doesn't pulse and is smooth so makes me think that it's not warped disks.

Some googling, and it seems like it might be knackered disk washers. Does this sound likely?

It does pulse with the front brakes, but seems even worse with the rear brake applied, so this makes me think that it's the rear disk that it needs changing not both - but is there any way that I can check?


Thanks in advance

 

[Alan R]

Very likely to be warped disks. The lack of the pulsing sensation at higher speeds may be because the pads are skiming over the undulations of the warp so quickly that you cant feel it. think about a strobe light flashing so fast that it is indistinguishable from a steady beam - slow it down and you can see the flicker. Check with a DTI.
Alan R

 

[tuonov]

Thanks, I'll get them checked. It's strange - at low speed it's bad enough to compress the suspension and enough that as I'm rolling with light pressure, it will almost stop me dead, but there's absolutely no vibration or any sensation at all from the lever.

With these, have I understood correctly - that the applying the front brake is linked to the rear, but applying the rear isn't linked to the front?

 

[Alan R]

With these, have I understood correctly - that the applying the front brake is linked to the rear, but applying the rear isn't linked to the front?

That is correct
Alan R

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I have a similar issue and it's warped discs. You can hardly feel it at speed but going slowly is horrendous so it's new discs and pads for me..

I use Ferodo discs and pads from Steptoe at http://www.gsshop.biz.

 

[Bendy toy]

Ive had it on my previous bike caused by a disc brake cock up.

 

[TLSgazza]

Ive had it on my previous bike caused by a disc brake cock up.

Helpful?,
What exactly does that mean?

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Mine did it (1150 GSA) and one disc seemed to be not true (put it on a pane of glass to check, on a bench)

Changed the disc & pads, still did it

That was 30k ago & it settled down and is perfect now??

Weird why some bikes do it - even after renewing all bits (disc/pads/bolts/wavey washers) maybe it's a poorly casted hub

 

[Bendy toy]

Helpful?,
What exactly does that mean?

I thought everyone had driven away with the disc lock in place at some time or another. I wasn't meaning to be cryptic.

I had put the lock behind the fork leg then driven forwards. Then - BANG and I'm on the floor in a heap. 350 degrees of wheel turn can be a lot further than we'd expect.

 

[TLSgazza]

Ive had it on my previous bike caused by a disc brake cock up.

I thought everyone had driven away with the disc lock in place at some time or another. I wasn't meaning to be cryptic.

I had put the lock behind the fork leg then driven forwards. Then - BANG and I'm on the floor in a heap. 350 degrees of wheel turn can be a lot further than we'd expect.

aha,understand now, if you had written disc LOCK cockup it would have made more sense than just disc brake cock up.

 

[Bendy toy]

Ah yes. Blame it on eye trouble, finger trouble and of course the computer's oh so handy spelling fixer.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

I had this issue on my 05 1200.

It was a common problem back then and was down to the floating bobbins/washers. WMB changed the design and it was sorted for me under warranty (although I believe some bikes still suffered).

My current bike (KTM) also exhibits the same symptoms, a good clean of the bobbins and it goes away for a couple of thousand miles.

If the discs were warped I'd expect to feel it at speed?

Andres

 

[Bendy toy]

Once a disc has warped (whatever the cause) its likely to wobble again even when the original issue is sorted out.