ABS Brake Rumours?

[RJW]

Can someone summerise what actual the score is? There seems to be talk of issues with ABS I failing, but that ABS II is ok?

I've got an '03 1150 GS, how do I tell which ABS i've got and is there anything I need to do, or watch out for?

 

[Bigtwin]

Ignore the German lunatic and you'll be fine.

Some/lots people don't like ABS and whinge about having to have it - fair enough, but the stuff about actual failures seems to be a huge victory of heat over light production.

BM offer a free safety check for some - may be worth a call to a stealer to see if yours is one of them if it's not been done - never heard of this revealing a problem though (although I have no special sources).

Follow the manual re starting up and initialising the brakes, and don't ignore the warning lights, if you ever see them.

If you have ABS, you have ABS - there is only one type for that bike.

 

[Jimb]

RJW

Your 03 1150 is likely to have servo assisted brakes with the ABS but it is not the same as the 1200 it is somewhat simpler but the ABS pump is a failure point, if in warranty no problem it will be replaced if post warranty then get the two hose connectors for the brake hoses, take out the ABS unit and throw it away, fit the hose couplers and you now have non ABS non servo brakes, £800 still in your pocket and be secure in the knowledge that it will never happen again.

Your 03 just might have the EVO 2 ABS which is no servo brakes but with ABS in which case you need have no worry as its the servo part that fails, the test is if the brakes work without the ignition on you have non servo brakes, if you have to switch on the ignition you have the dodgey Evo 3 brakes.

 

[Big Al Litch]

I think if you managed to sort out ACTUAL SERVO/ABS FAILURES against stories, rumours, urban myths, my mate said, incorrect use etc etc then the actual number would be tiny.
I ordered it on my bike (2003 model), have no problems with it and will quite happliy live with it but maybe I am a rare one?

Having said that I must be doing something wrong as not only am I happy with the servo/ABS but my rear seat hasn't fallen off, my Adventure panniers haven't fallen off and the pannier-lid hinges haven't broken, all things that were (apparently) destined to happen to me shortly after purchase.

 

[Steptoe]

FFS
It's not the ABS thats the problem - It's the brake servo unit . How many more times

 

[Micky]

None ABS solves all the problems, fears, anguish, expense, complexity and dirty laundry

 

[nemezis]

FFS
It's not the ABS thats the problem - It's the brake servo unit . How many more times

It's the residual brakes that create an emergency. There is about a handful of reasons the residual brakes will cause at least fear or worse accidents. It's confirmed by the manufacturer that every fault will lead to residual brakes. Lucky guys have R12GS motorbikes with improved residual brakes.

Steptoe is not completely right. There is indeed an ABS issue with the Integrated Brakes, but it won't show up to most of the riders out there - that is my personal opinion. The opinion of the manufacturer is that this fault only shows up on motorcycle trainings. I don't agree. I say it's a rare fault, nothing more.

nemezis