ABS - why not?

[diplomaticdanny]

Fixed

What's a demonstration driver for the IAM - is it for schoolkids to watch and see how it's done?

It is what the Policeman who passed me suggested I do as he thought my driving ability was above average, had to walk home as my head wouldn't fit in the car!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

It is what the Policeman who passed me suggested I do as he thought my driving ability was above average, had to walk home as my head wouldn't fit in the car!

We'll all sleep safer, in our beds...........knowing that you walk amongst us

 

[diplomaticdanny]

We'll all sleep safer, in our beds...........knowing that you walk amongst us

Yeah, but at least I know I am a knob!

 

[Old Codger]

Yeah, but at least I know I am a knob!

Touche ! Johnny Made I laugh

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Yeah, but at least I know I am a knob!

With the obligatory IAM sticker.......... no doubt

Merry Chriistmas

 

[diplomaticdanny]

No stickers, badges ever, even I draw the line there.

 

[Engineer]

Hello,

I've noticed a lot of people using "non-ABS" as a plus point in adverts, and people actively searching out non-ABS models.

Why is this?

I think ABS is a brilliant tool, there for when you need it. I used to think its better to learn to stay calm and brake in a more controlled manner in an emergency, but having locked up the front on a bike last year by panic breaking, I like the safety that ABS provides...

Cheers,
Dan

I have always gone for non-ABS bikes in the past especially when I had two bikes, I didn't want one with and one without - if I forgot that I was on the non-ABS bike and panic braked I'd bee in trouble, so it seemed safer to me to not have ABS.

Also the early ABS on GSes seemed a bit crap and there were lots of reports of problems - however on the new 1200GS I have no choice, but I now only have one bike so it is not a great issue, plus ABS has come a long way since the first crude systems like the 1150 had.

 

[Steptoe]

Hello,

I've noticed a lot of people using "non-ABS" as a plus point in adverts, and people actively searching out non-ABS models.

Why is this?

I think ABS is a brilliant tool, there for when you need it. I used to think its better to learn to stay calm and brake in a more controlled manner in an emergency, but having locked up the front on a bike last year by panic breaking, I like the safety that ABS provides...

Cheers,
Dan

It's not the ABS...............

The problems with the early 1200 late 1150 models weren't so much with the ABS, as the servo. It fails, usually without warning and your braking is severely limited so as to be non existant.
So by declaring that a bike has no ABS is more a way of stating they have no problamatic servos to go wrong.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Hello,

I've noticed a lot of people using "non-ABS" as a plus point in adverts, and people actively searching out non-ABS models.

Why is this?

I think ABS is a brilliant tool, there for when you need it. I used to think its better to learn to stay calm and brake in a more controlled manner in an emergency, but having locked up the front on a bike last year by panic breaking, I like the safety that ABS provides...

Cheers,
Dan

Have a browse

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?350062-A-bloody-B-sodding-S&highlight=abs

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?340398-Failure!!!&highlight=abs

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?337713-abs-or-not&highlight=abs

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?313071-Brake-Failure-nightmares-!!&highlight=abs

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?328012-05-1200-abs-pump-how-much&highlight=abs

 

[stonehenge]

I believe that the 1200 non ABS has slightly bigger rotors ....

 

[Packer]

The servo ABS fitted to my late model 1150GS, one of the last, was over keen to operate and it felt as though you had no brakes for far too long, quite scary. It probably did save me from a minor off at road works on a wet muddy road in the dark but generally the rear brake seemed to loose far too much effectiveness. I took it off at around 70,000 miles before a big trip and don't miss it.

Learn cadence braking.

 

[DrAlf]

ABS = more to go wrong, more weight, more hassle to service. Personal preference is no servo, no ABS. Keep it simple but OEM heated grips are a must.

 

[Lord Snooty]

One of the issues with the complex BMW ABS system is the amount of time it takes to replace the brake fluid - something like 1.5 hours in a BMW dealership with the accompanying expense. As a consequence there are many bikes out there that have had this important aspect omitted due to the cost and this has caused problems with the ABS system later on. Some owners have seen this manifest itself as servo/brake failure.

I have also heard tales of some owners paying for the brake fluid change to be completed during a service but somehow this time consuming job was forgotten by the technician and the customer charged for something that did not happen........I take this with a pinch of salt though because surely no BMW dealership would resort to such blatantly underhand and fraudulent activities Allegedly

 

[birdseye]

Hello,

I've noticed a lot of people using "non-ABS" as a plus point in adverts, and people actively searching out non-ABS models.

Why is this?

I think ABS is a brilliant tool, there for when you need it. I used to think its better to learn to stay calm and brake in a more controlled manner in an emergency, but having locked up the front on a bike last year by panic breaking, I like the safety that ABS provides...

Cheers,
Dan

Not sure you are right. None of my local dealers were that keen on part exing a non abs 2009 bike. Seems that the mood has changed. The early objection wasnt so much the abs as the servo brake system on the mk1 bikes. Now the brake system is much better most buyers want abs and there are very few new bikes sold without it.

 

[adventuredon]

ABS is the new tablet....a gimmick at first, but adopted widely and soon the norm. Like it or not, non ABS bikes are on the way out. If I was a newbie (didn't think I'd be saying that but I do now have some experience...) I'd buy ABS...

 

[Mr K]

I have a 2004 1200GS with the "dreadfully unreliable" servo ABS brakes.
I've had it 9 years.
Nobody is psychic: You can't plan for everything that happens.

ABS is just fine by me.

 

[BigDan]

Thanks everyone for the views and advice. Seems like the safest thing I can do is buy a 2008+ bike WITH ABS! More saving for me to do... hah.

Cheers,
Dan

 

[Fanum]

Thanks everyone for the views and advice. Seems like the safest thing I can do is buy a 2008+ bike WITH ABS! More saving for me to do... hah.

Cheers,
Dan

Nayyy lad......

From what you've posted so far, I honestly think a late 1150GSA would suit you best....with or without ABS, it really doesn't matter.

If it goes wrong, yes it could cost you lots if you were soft in the head enough to take it to a main dealer, but there are several threads here on A) repairing the most common causes of ABS failure and B) removing the servo at ZERO cost.

My first GSA had servo ABS and it DID save me and my pillion once.

My current '05 GSA doesn't have ABS and the braking is different.......better in many ways, but still not with that ultimate safety net if I really fuck up.

If you did a search on Google about 'why seatbelts are bad', you would probably come away after reading the results as a confirmed believer in how crap they are, which is bollocks.

Don't let opinions sway you either way........some systems in some years are 'better' than others (Mine was what is now considered to be the worst combination...servo assisted on an '04/'05 model but it DID save me that once) but none are perfect, and ALL can be changed......


Get whichever bike you fancy, can afford, the one that you sit on that makes your gentleman's sausage the hardest, and know that you can take ABS off, but cannot put it on. (within reason)








Sorry Dan, that really wasn't much help was it

Get a late 1150 GSA, ABS or not, no matter

 

[Paul90]

2006 non servo ABS

In 50,000 the ABS has only kicked in on the rear wheel when I've been deliberately trying to lock it up

ABS pump failed at about 50,000 (it's non-servo). BMW part to replace about £1100 retail, plus about £400 labour.

I spent a day taking the pump apart and making it work again instead.
Once you take one apart you realise this part is made down to a price. Probably costs BMW £100 to £200 in volume is my guess.
I wouldn't want another one with ABS.
Spending that kind of money on a 7 year old bike is daft IMHO.
Taking the ABS off, not worth the hassle if you ever have a serious crash.

Things like ABS (when made to this standard) only make sense on bikes under manufacturer's warantee.
No reason you couldn't make an ABS pump to last for 20 years but believe me, that wasn't the BMW design brief.

The way bikes and cars are going the manufacturers will make sure that running someting outside of the 3 year warantee is not economically viable. Technology being added to vehicles is mainly to the benefit of the manufacturers not the buyers.

I'm an old fart but these days I prefer more steel and less software in my vehicles.

Paul

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Thanks everyone for the views and advice. Seems like the safest thing I can do is buy a 2008+ bike WITH ABS! More saving for me to do... hah.

Cheers,
Dan

I'm not sure why you think the safest thing to do is have ABS but that's your decision. I would find the best bike in your budget range and if it has ABS treat it as a plus point. Perhaps with the saving you may make with a non ABS bike, you could take a couple of riding course's such as bikesafe which will do you far more good than thinking ABS is your saviour.