ABS spec.

[Sergeant Pluck]

hello all,

i'm finally about to replace my GS now (wey hey, can't wait!!), and it looks like i'll be getting ABS now as well this time. does anyone now if i'm correct in thinking that there are three options:

1) no ABS, normal, un-assisted brakes.

2) ABS (evo?) which are non-servo assist brakes with ABS but front and rear brakes UNlinked,

and

3) ABS (evoII?) which is servo assisted brakes, ABS AND linked front and rear?

cheers,

pr0ne

 

[MikeO]

Yes & no. The options you list are correct, but they were never available at the same time. Pre-servo braked GSes had the option of ABS or not. Post Servo bikes had the option of ABS or not, but no option as regards linked brakes - all ABS servo brakes are linked. At least, that's how I understand it......

Mike

 

[Sergeant Pluck]

thanks mike.

so potentially i could find an 02 GS, with ABS, not linked and not servo? or if it had ABS, it would definately be servo-assist?

confused!

pr0ne

 

[jenks]

so potentially i could find an 02 GS, with ABS, not linked and not servo? or if it had ABS, it would definately be servo-assist?

confused!
pRONE.


Prone, You are not listening, please pay attention.

2002 bike without ABS
2002 with ABS

2003 Without ABS but with servo and linked brakes
2003 with ABS AND servo and linked brakes.

I was in dout of the worth of the servo'd brakes, but talking with a friend over the weekend has convinced me that once you get used to there power, they are a major step forward.

Andrew

 

[Sergeant Pluck]

jenks - i am listening, i'm just a bit stupid!

thanks though, thats exactly the information i was after....

pr0ne

 

[MikeO]

I was in dout of the worth of the servo'd brakes, but talking with a friend over the weekend has convinced me that once you get used to there power, they are a major step forward.

A major step forward from what? Mine (non-servo, non-ABS) are powerful enough to lock the front wheel (in the unlikely case that I'd want to ) and have plenty of feel.

They don't feel broken - why did BMW feel the need to fix them?

Mike

 

[Sergeant Pluck]

with you there mike - hence specifically want to get a bike without... although i'll keep schtum as this good start a whole new argument!!

pr0ne

 

[judge]

A major step forward from what? Mine (non-servo, non-ABS) are powerful enough to lock the front wheel (in the unlikely case that I'd want to ) and have plenty of feel.

They don't feel broken - why did BMW feel the need to fix them?

Mike

And who the hell do you think you are. BMW do not need riders like you claiming they know their bikes better than they do. They know the real weakness is the rider and wish to de-risk this by taking the thought out of braking, just like they don't wish to confuse riders by making them have to think whether they should ride with their lights on or off - too much to think about leads inevitably to problems doesn't it?


- though pity anyone who grabs a handful or non-abs servo'd front brakes

 

[Finbarr]

Keep in mind that with the Evo linked brakes, when you disable the ABS, the brakes are also no longer linked.

It all reverts next time the ignition is cycled.

Finbarr.

 

[MrBiker]

so potentially i could find an 02 GS, with ABS, not linked and not servo? or if it had ABS, it would definately be servo-assist?

confused!
pRONE.


Prone, You are not listening, please pay attention.

2002 bike without ABS
2002 with ABS

2003 Without ABS but with servo and linked brakes
2003 with ABS AND servo and linked brakes.

I was in dout of the worth of the servo'd brakes, but talking with a friend over the weekend has convinced me that once you get used to there power, they are a major step forward.

Andrew

Andrew,
Sorry to point this out but you can't get Servo assisted without ABS.

Systems are as follows
All models are available with No ABS

Upto 2001
ABS II (not linked and no servo)

2002 ->
ABS II with EVO (not linked and no servo)
Larger Front Disc and Calipers only

2003 ->
ASB Evo Partially Intergrated
Larger front Discs/Calipers and servo assisted brakes that are linked,
(front hand lever also works rear brake, there is no link from Rear lever to front)
This is the servo assisted system and you can tell as soon as you pull the lever with ign off the lever is soft.

The 2003/4 bikes are only available with ABS II EVO and Partial intergrated

You maybe able to find an early 2003 bike with ABS II EVO that has no servo assist and not linked. but this will not be a T Spark model

 

[Sergeant Pluck]

this is all good info for me, as i'm buying second-hand. but that last point does raise an issue which makes me a little frustrated, namely;

if i was going to buy a brand new GS, and found that i couldn't specify 'Non ABS' or even 'ABS but no servo or linkage', i simply wouldn't buy one, and BM would loose my custom altogether (no other BM appeals to me personally).

Why are BMW doing this? The whole beauty of the boxer engined machines in particular the GS is there inherent simplicity. Integrated servo-assisted linked anti-lock brakes on a not-very-fast, supposedly semi-offroad bike does not add up to 'simplicity'! difficult to fix with a monkey-wrench half way across the sahara ;-)

surely they should offer customers a bog standard basic model?

to my mind (and i know this is contentious), but the only reason i can think of for 'needing' ABS on a (lets face it) slow machine like the GS is because you could argue that the telelever front sus system albeit very good, does make it hard to determine the 'point-of-no-return' when braking hard because of the lack of front end dive. maybe ABS is the answer to this but servo assist? linked brakes? surely not!

anyway! rant over! i only annoys me because i r e a l l y like gs's and i don't like the idea of BM taking them in a direction which makes them much less attractive or authentic to me, and i don't want to have to find another bike to r e a l l y like in the future....

pr0ne

 

[MrBiker]

Read my post
"ALL Models are available with No ABS"

You have to look at ABS like a form of Insurance, its only any good when you need it.
All the time its there lerking in the background just incase you hit a patch of oil or a manhole cover, it cant change the laws of physics but it can sure as hell help you more than not having it.

So its a personal thing if you want it get it if not don't, but trust me once you have tried it you will always want it.........

Yes you can stop in a shorter time as the "profesional" riders in magazines point out on any occasion, but we are all everyday people who ride for fun and do not get payed to test etc.

Go out on one at 50mph and act as if a dog ran out, then grab the front brake as hard as you can as if in an emergency.
All that will happen is you will come to a stop and be relieved your safe.
Then do the same on a normal bike, your either going to lock the front or going over the bars.

Biker

 

[Sergeant Pluck]

agreed. but it is a personal opinion, and i do like to be able to choose!... i'm 50/50 on the ABS issue, but i wouldn't personally buy a GS with servo assist or linked brakes. so as long as BM continue give me the choice, i'll continue to be a good little customer ;-)

pr0ne