ABS Brake Failure

[exhornet900 2nd chance]

Just been browsing on the R1150R website and some chap in Thailand is reporting that some part of his ABS system has failed. The bike has been diagnostic tested...or whatever it's called and part of the ABS computer thingy needs replacing at a cost of $2000.

One of the replies says that, when the bike is first started up, if the rider rolls backwards before going forward, this confuses the computer and can cause premature failure!!!!

When I get my bike out of the garage, I start the engine, then roll backwards down to the road, before going forwards and allowing the bike to go through it's own brake check.

Does anyone know if this rolling backwards first IS likely to cause problems? .....or is it just borlocks????????????????

 

[Mouse]

Sounds like borlocks to me.

A system like that, that self destructed due to a perfectly valid sensor input, would be spectacularly badly designed. I bet thousands of people roll their bikes backwards out of the garage every day.

Note - I'm not saying BMW's ABS doesn't have any faults, just that this particular fault sounds a bit far fetched.

 

[Kropotkin]

I have heard of the ABS not initialising properly in cases such as this, but it will re-initialise the first time you brake to a stop (e.g. the first T-junction or traffic light you stop at).

 

[Taipan]

The brakes are not supposed to be touched for the first few seconds or suchlike whilst they run their self diagnostics.

So if you're on a hill you should start your bike and leave it for a few seconds before rolling it anywhere.

Certainly don’t start it whilst holding the brakes. This gives it all kinds of wrong information. I believe the riders manual does cover this.

 

[Paul Young]

Certainly don’t start it whilst holding the brakes. This gives it all kinds of wrong information. I believe the riders manual does cover this.

A bit of a bummer if you're parked on a hill & want to start the bike. Can't start it in gear....... can't start it with the brakes on......

 

[Timolgra]

The brakes are not supposed to be touched for the first few seconds or suchlike whilst they run their self diagnostics.

So if you're on a hill you should start your bike and leave it for a few seconds before rolling it anywhere.

Certainly don’t start it whilst holding the brakes. This gives it all kinds of wrong information. I believe the riders manual does cover this.

More borlocks ?

 

[Taipan]

A bit of a bummer if you're parked on a hill & want to start the bike. Can't start it in gear....... can't start it with the brakes on......

My thoughts entirley.

More borlocks ?

Dunno? I'll dig my riders handbook out later, but thats what I was told. The first few seconds it calibrates/self tests or whatever it is servo abs brakes do and during this time you aren't supposed to touch the brakes, as it messes this up..probably.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

ABS is hardly rocket science - auto cars have it and you have to have the brake on to start them.
.......and lots of cars roll backwards down a driveway immeadeatley after starting.

just face it that BMW bike ABS isn't that good

 

[MikeP]

A bit of a bummer if you're parked on a hill & want to start the bike. Can't start it in gear....... can't start it with the brakes on......

Don't think there's anything to prevent starting with the brakes applied! (Just applying brakes before the self-diagnosis finishes).

Now this might be a radical idea but..............

try turning the key, let the system checks run before rolling it around, out of garages etc. and only press the starter when the bike is where you want it.

 

[exhornet900 2nd chance]

Personally I really like the servo assisted ABS fitted to my bike.

I was just a tiny bit concerned when I read that rolling backwards before the bike's self check has been completed (by completing a full forward turn of the wheels) could damage the computer.

Can't find anything in the handbook that says NOT to roll backwards before the self check is complete.

Wouldn't be much of a problem to get the bike out of the garage, roll back to the road and set myself up facing forward, but, having said how much I like the servo assisted brakes, I don't like them with the ignition off!!!!!!!!!!!!