Brake bleeding my 2012 GSA

[Ibex]

I am shortly off on holiday up the Alps so thought I'd swap the brake fluid as to my knowledge it has not been done in the last 6 years and those mountain passes are a bit steep... My question is whether I need the GS9-11 thingo to cycle the ABS or is that just for the bikes with the electric brakes (2009?) I have been told that the 2012 bike doesn't need this, but that it will be necessary to remove the tank to "bleed the ABS pump". Is that correct?

What is the appropruate method for this usually straighforward job?

 

[MWH]

The first 1200s up to 2007 had servo assisted brakes, these needed a more in depth bleeding procedure which was tank off from what I've read. On my 09 I just bleed as normal, then I do use the gs911 to cycle the abs pump then bleed again. Bleeding as normal then riding round for a bit and another bleed would probably be best just as good. It's gotta be better than what you currently have.

 

[Gelandestrasse]

Get that brake fluid done. My brake fluid was only 18 months old (by CW) when I had complete brake failure hurtling down the Furka Pass (back in 2016). 'kin scary.

I'd say bleed as you would a normal bike. Recently I did a 3 x caliper change on my 2010 GSA and it was very straightforward - although I didn't do the ABS pump thing that MWH mentioned - I just pumped until I got clean fluid out. I do my own brake fluid now and never let it get past 2 years old.

 

[seahorse]

As above just bleed normally. I replaced the ABS module on an F650, so starting with an essentially dry component. Bled up just fine in the usual way. I have a GS911 so did the pump cycle routine but tbh it didn't make much of a difference. Tying the lever back to pressurise the system overnight always helps.