Bad day

[Format]

Took the bike out for a ride and on my side of the road two kids on bikes and a car incoming, pulled on the brakes and there was hardly anything there, pulled harder and still not stopping.

So the kids and the car getting closer I had no choice but to ditch it into the hedge, bike slows and then I get flipped over when it went into some branches. I roll onto the road just missing the kids.

The bike is stood upright in the branches and luckily the car driver stops and he helps me get the bike out. Left hand mirror smashed and has been ripped off the stem, left side cylinder protector smashed, dent in downpipes and a bruised back and swollen elbow but apart from that I think I got away with it lightly.

I start the bike and the brakes still don't work, got on the bike and limped it into a village and then the ABS starts

Anyone ever had the ABS fail? The bike is 2004 and got 30k. Bike was only MOT'd yesterday and passed with flying colours.

 

[richie]

Took the bike out for a ride and on my side of the road two kids on bikes and a car incoming, pulled on the brakes and there was hardly anything there, pulled harder and still not stopping.

So the kids and the car getting closer I had no choice but to ditch it into the hedge, bike slows and then I get flipped over when it went into some branches. I roll onto the road just missing the kids.

The bike is stood upright in the branches and luckily the car driver stops and he helps me get the bike out. Left hand mirror smashed and has been ripped off the stem, left side cylinder protector smashed, dent in downpipes and a bruised back and swollen elbow but apart from that I think I got away with it lightly.

I start the bike and the brakes still don't work, got on the bike and limped it into a village and then the ABS starts

Anyone ever had the ABS fail? The bike is 2004 and got 30k. Bike was only MOT'd yesterday and passed with flying colours.

That sounds like a complete nightmare.

Sorry have no interesting information to add, hope you and the bike get better soon.

 

[Mr K]

Sounds like ABS/Servo pump failure. Luckily mine was partial and 90 miles after the bike was new. Rode it back to dealer.

 

[Format]

Sounds like ABS/Servo pump failure. Luckily mine was partial and 90 miles after the bike was new. Rode it back to dealer.

Yeh youre right mate, I meant to say servo not ABS.

 

[(RIP) Johno23]

Your brakes should work fine even if your ABS has failed
Are early 1200's fitted with a servo? if so could be that.
Some one far more clever will be along soon to advise I'm sure.

Good to hear your ok

 

[Mr K]

Your brakes should work fine even if your ABS has failed
Are early 1200's fitted with a servo? if so could be that.
Some one far more clever will be along soon to advise I'm sure.

Good to hear your ok

On a 2004 model you get "residual braking" which is like an airhead on a good day, but not what anyone used to a modern motorbike would find acceptable.

 

[Buz]

On a 2004 model you get "residual braking" which is like an airhead on a good day, but not what anyone used to a modern motorbike would find acceptable.

Whats 'residual breaking'?
Would that also apply to my 06 model? It also has a servo, makes a noise when brakes are applied (assume they all do that sir?)

 

[APE]

Whats 'residual breaking'?
Would that also apply to my 06 model? It also has a servo, makes a noise when brakes are applied (assume they all do that sir?)

Yep residual braking is what you get when the servo fails

 

[Mark Hooton]

I`ve had it on my 2006

I`ve had brake failure on my Servo 2006 GS - went to residual and all it was was an electrical gremlin in the system.

I`m pleased to hear you wasnt badly hurt.

 

[shugie]

Yep residual braking is what you get when the servo fails

Or when it decides the brake lever touches the handguards and the ABS computer decides it's all too tricky. Generally it will clear if you sort the handguard out and re-start.

But residual braking needs a lot of pressure on the lever to produce not very much braking force, it's given me a couple of 'special' moments.

 

[jwpzx9r]

BRAKING SERVO UNITS SHOULD NOT FAIL OR MALFUNCTION PERIOD. Honestly when have you ever heard of a BMW car having a brake servo issue?????? Why should their bikes be different? Your right they should'nt. Brakes are a fundemental issue on a bike you have to have faith when you squeeze the lever the bike will stop properly. The bike I have is the only one I have every doubted with regard to braking and I have only owned it for just a month!! already had three braking issues!

 

[MarkShelley]

Glad you and the kids got away with it. I hate all this technology that is supposed to make bikes safer.

 

[rocky burns]

This sounds realy stupid.... But my mate had one did the same thing..
Brake light bulb had gone(not sure for the reason but just what he told me)

 

[Format]

Am I right in saying that BMW no longer uses servo's?

 

[Giles]

Yes that's correct. Glad yer OK ...

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Am I right in saying that BMW no longer uses servo's?

You are, dropped in late 2006/early 2007 and banished to the bin

I fell off today, competely unexpected.....................lost the front end and she slid away..........ended up with a bruised thigh and a scratched carbon exhaust cover, bummer isn't it

 

[Giles]

You are, dropped in late 2006/early 2007 and banished to the bin

I fell off today, competely unexpected.....................lost the front end and she slid away..........ended up with a bruised thigh and a scratched carbon exhaust cover, bummer isn't it

Road or off road ??

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Road or off road ??

Luckily in a Trial, cleaned the section, other 5 times................before & after the incident

Only fall off of the day though, still hurts

 

[Giles]

I was thinking of you and Hobo Tim today .. Met some semi pro bloke out and about today on a Beta Evo 300. He was very flash! (Rolling downhill stoppies and the like ... ).

 

[Fanum]

Whats 'residual breaking'?
Would that also apply to my 06 model? It also has a servo, makes a noise when brakes are applied (assume they all do that sir?)

Yep residual braking is what you get when the servo fails

'Residual braking' is adequate to ride with.

In fact, you can lock a rear wheel with a non-working servo.

The problem is the massive and sudden difference between servo-assisted and non-servo assisted brakes, when you are used to the former......it feels like (and is often reported as ) 'having no brakes'

From one finger, easy braking you have to suddenly go to a full on macho yanking of handfuls and bootfuls of physical leverage passed through the hydraulics to the actual brake pistons and pads.

On this particular bike, I think you also have linked brakes, IE the front hand lever operates both brakes and the back pedal operates only the rear brake.....no wonder then that a sudden failure made it feel like you had no brakes

Well done for your partial save, and it's good to hear that you're relatively unscathed.....it could certainly have been a lot worse

As also posted, there are several things that can cause this, ranging from just a fairly benign and easily remedied handguard contacting the lever, a clogged/stuck rear lever microswitch (had that myself several times) and even a flattish battery causing a failure in the ABS setting properly (although that shouldn't stop the servo from working)

There are well documented ways of bypassing the servo and ABS to return the bike to a more basic system of direct hydraulic brakes....a quick search here will turn it up for you.


It's an old cliché, but it remains true......you've lived to tell the tale and machines can be unbent whilst people can't.....Have a large wet one, a good hot bath and celebrate