Triple Black 333
Guest
thinking of buying a 1200 gs which the dealer says has had the ABS professionally removed ,is there any issues buying a bike like this ?
The only real issue is whether or not a prospective purchaser is happy riding without ABS. Countless people have in the past, & continue today, to ride around on motorcycles minus ABS & nothing bad happens.
Some would argue it's absence is one thing less to go wrong.
i'm surprised that you can remove ABS from a 1200. professionally or otherwise.
alex_rsa
Registered user
What is professionaly removed? They paid someone to do it?
It involves replacing 2 brake lines and then painting over the flashing LED's on the dashboard. Some people remove the guts of the ABS unit mounted under the seat as well. You have to leave part of it as all the wiring for the speedo etc. goes in there.
I would want a discount for a bike with a major function disabled and that is from someone who has one!
It involves replacing 2 brake lines and then painting over the flashing LED's on the dashboard. Some people remove the guts of the ABS unit mounted under the seat as well. You have to leave part of it as all the wiring for the speedo etc. goes in there.
I would want a discount for a bike with a major function disabled and that is from someone who has one!
I certainly wouldn't buy a bike that has had the ABS removed but I would buy a bike that didn't have ABS.
I can understand why some folks removed the servo on the 1150 system, but can't see why the ABS would be removed from a 1200.
Personally I'd give it a miss.
Personally I'd give it a miss.
Totally agree. I bombed into a corner way too fast on the B500 in the Black Forest this year and I'll happily admit that without my ABS I would have been off.
Bendy toy
Registered user
I seriously dislike the linked rear brake, but the ABS is great. I've got away with a panic stop (my fault entirely) because the ABS stopped me in the shortest possible time. I was stunned how hard I had to lock my arms to keep myself in the seat. No drama, it just stopped.
Its easy enough to bypass the ABS with some made to measure metal brake pipes but I'd not want to lose it.
Buy the bike at a big discount and fit a new ABS module. It might only need new brushes in the motor.
Its easy enough to bypass the ABS with some made to measure metal brake pipes but I'd not want to lose it.
Buy the bike at a big discount and fit a new ABS module. It might only need new brushes in the motor.
Would the removal (of a safety feature) be a modification in insurance terms with associated implications?
Bones
Registered user
Don't see why as ABS was an option. I would rather have it than not. After 9 years I still don't like the servo though, but can't be arsed to have it removed
For the same reason. '04 - '06 model year 1200's had servo ABS brakes which, as we know, were prone to servo pump failure. Quite a few of the early bikes will have had an ABSectomy by now.
Having said that, I think ABS is pretty important on a GS. Four piston Brembos, not the stickiest front tyre and Telelever front suspension which doesn't dive much under braking, might all conspire to a locked front wheel.
thats about the sum of it .
alex_rsa
Registered user
The ABS is removed because of the cost. The original ABS (2004 - 2006) does not have any cheap fixes like the later bushes on the servo motor.
I have a 2004 with failed ABS and unless I am willing to pay >£1000 on a bike that is only worth £2k it will not be fixed. The removal is pretty easy and the bike then works the same as a non-abs bike. I think the part numbers for the front and rear master cylinders are the same for an abs and non-abs bike.
I liked having the ABS (like others have said it may only save you once but that is enough) but with these bikes now over 10 years old and the economics of a fix don't add up there are going to be more de-abs'ed bike.
If you want a bike with ABS I would look at the >2006 model as a repair is possible if it failed.
I reckon a de-abs'ed bike is worth less than a bike that never had it purely for the fact something does not work.
I have a 2004 with failed ABS and unless I am willing to pay >£1000 on a bike that is only worth £2k it will not be fixed. The removal is pretty easy and the bike then works the same as a non-abs bike. I think the part numbers for the front and rear master cylinders are the same for an abs and non-abs bike.
I liked having the ABS (like others have said it may only save you once but that is enough) but with these bikes now over 10 years old and the economics of a fix don't add up there are going to be more de-abs'ed bike.
If you want a bike with ABS I would look at the >2006 model as a repair is possible if it failed.
I reckon a de-abs'ed bike is worth less than a bike that never had it purely for the fact something does not work.
It happened to me. With ABS I'm pretty sure I would have stayed on and whilst I like the bike too much to change it my next bike will have ABS for sure. I've only ever owned one bike with ABS, a VFR with linked brakes, and only had one proper "off" in more years than I care to admit to. Has to be said though, lots of my early bikes didn't have the power to lock a wheel if the road wasn't icy!
What year is it ?
Same as removing the 1150 servo abs.
Same braking system once the abs is removed
Same servo on the 1150 and pre 2007 1200 bikes.
Listen to you lot! 120,000 on a non ABS 1200GSA and never locked the front and not ended up in a bloody mess in the front grill of a Scania.
Having no ABS is no bad thing in my book.
Having no ABS is no bad thing in my book.
As I'm a wimp I wouldn't buy a bike now without ABS, but that's my choice I guess. If it was a factory fit, standard or an optional extra you'd need to declare it's removal as a modification on your insurance, so it's likely that would go up.......
Bendy toy
Registered user
It did a mere 50K on a 900 Diversion with good brakes but dive to the stops forks and no ABS. I could most likely have added another 80K (very reliable bike) but I'd rather have the GS suspension and ABS.
Similar threads
