Brake failure warning light arrggghhhh!

[wessexmike]

Hi all

Have had my 06 1200GS for about 18 months without issue. It's on 50k miles.

Recently I have had the flashing red triangle and 'brake failure' text flashing 4x per sec. Each time I stopped, turned the bike off and restarted, and no more warning light. Maybe I had been holding the front or rear brake on whilst starting, so messing up the diagnostic bit? I have had a look through old threads and not found exactly the same symptoms. I am really short on time, as doing a 60 hour week and in the process of selling and buying houses, so little time for research.

Anyway, for the past few days, the warning triangle and text has has stayed flashing 4x/sec whilst commuting. I have tried starting the bike with both levers held very open, in case of the levers were touching the switches. No change, still flashing. The following symptoms describe what's happening:

The battery was new some 2 years back, but does lose it's charge after a few days of inactivity. It is usually fine though as I use an optimate, so pretty sure it's got enough poke.

1. I can hear what I presume is the servo when I apply front brakes, a whooshing sound.
2. Front brake action is good.
3. Rear brake is crap, and no sound of servo when applied. Sure it was better before.
4. The rear disc was replaced a couple of thousand miles back, and pretty sure the pads are okay (changed by Dick Lovett whilst they d a hub recall thing, and they may have said the old pads were new enough to keep, but memory fails).
5. Front pads are okay, and fluid level front okay but haven't as yet checked the rear.

If anyone has any ideas on what to try next, or if there is someone cheaper than MD and close to mid Wiltshire (maybe with a GS-911?) that could read fault codes, it would be much appreciated. Whilst the brakes are working (front anyway) it can't be a good idea to keep riding with this warning. I really can't afford £1500+ for a servo, so am really hoping it's something more easily sorted.

Many thanks in advance

 

[Mr K]

Check the cover on the rear brake - light switch hasn't become dislodged - I knocked mine doing a U-turn and created brake failure warnings.

 

[Bendy toy]

The rear brake is weak by design with high brake wear just to prove the point. It allows the linked brakes to jam it on at every chance but have little risk of looking the back wheel - though it does have ABS for that.

 

[internaught]

'brake failure' text flashing

Hi all

Have had my 06 1200GS for about 18 months without issue. It's on 50k miles.

Recently I have had the flashing red triangle and 'brake failure' text flashing 4x per sec. Each time I stopped, turned the bike off and restarted, and no more warning light. Maybe I had been holding the front or rear brake on whilst starting, so messing up the diagnostic bit? I have had a look through old threads and not found exactly the same symptoms. I am really short on time, as doing a 60 hour week and in the process of selling and buying houses, so little time for research.

Anyway, for the past few days, the warning triangle and text has has stayed flashing 4x/sec whilst commuting. I have tried starting the bike with both levers held very open, in case of the levers were touching the switches. No change, still flashing. The following symptoms describe what's happening:

The battery was new some 2 years back, but does lose it's charge after a few days of inactivity. It is usually fine though as I use an optimate, so pretty sure it's got enough poke.

1. I can hear what I presume is the servo when I apply front brakes, a whooshing sound.
2. Front brake action is good.
3. Rear brake is crap, and no sound of servo when applied. Sure it was better before.
4. The rear disc was replaced a couple of thousand miles back, and pretty sure the pads are okay (changed by Dick Lovett whilst they d a hub recall thing, and they may have said the old pads were new enough to keep, but memory fails).
5. Front pads are okay, and fluid level front okay but haven't as yet checked the rear.

If anyone has any ideas on what to try next, or if there is someone cheaper than MD and close to mid Wiltshire (maybe with a GS-911?) that could read fault codes, it would be much appreciated. Whilst the brakes are working (front anyway) it can't be a good idea to keep riding with this warning. I really can't afford £1500+ for a servo, so am really hoping it's something more easily sorted.

Many thanks in advance

Check the Rear Speed Sensor Wire, it flexes with the rear arm going up and down and most likely the wires are breaking or have broken, especially as recently it came out of the garage for hub / flange replacement,
Mine went on my RT after 80 miles into a 400 mile trip, a BMW dealer would not entertain checking or advising on a Saturday Morning (180 miles from home), I put bike on centre stand and removed sensor wire retaining clip, started bike and put in 1st gear on centre stand and wiggled sensor wire, hey presto speedo returned and brake failure light extinguished, (taped wire In bent position) and upon returning home ordered new sensor £50 fitted it in an hour... ( took longer to re-route wire and tywraap to frame than fitting sensor..... hope this helps

 

[wessexmike]

Thanks Mr K, will have a look at that. Internaught: is this a possibility, bearing in mind no speedo issues?

 

[wessexmike]

Thanks Bendy toy. Don't think I've had many bikes with a strong rear brake, which is probably a good thing. Tuono was useless rear. But I'm sure it was better before the brake warning light stayed on.

 

[Pukmeister]

If your battery loses charge after a few days of inactivity its probably goosed.

Optimates tell lies about batteries, I never believe them as a drop test is the only surefire way to test a batteries health.

ServoABS systems are VERY sensitive to battery voltage.

 

[wessexmike]

Have just checked battery, which has been off the optimate for 4 days, and it has 12.4v, so thinking it may be okay? Rises to 14.5 when running. Any views on the best battery? Hopefully not too difficult to replace.
The rear light is clean and working (single stop & tail bulb). Bike is an 05 not an 06 as stated above, does that make any difference?
Rear brake wire looks okay, and wriggling it makes no difference to the flashing triangle. Both brake levers operate brake light okay, and front is definitely activating the servo with the slightest pressure on lever, so switch should be okay in that respect. No sound at all when foot lever depressed. Should I hear the servo when the foot lever is pressed?
With bike on centre stand and rear wheel running, the hand lever made no braking effect at all on rear brake; I thought this had linked brakes? Rear one does engage, just without any servo, and very poorly. Finally, fluid levels in both main reservoirs okay.

 

[wessexmike]

Varta YTX-14BS ordered, hope that makes a difference. Shockingly cheap at £33 in delivery

 

[Pukmeister]

Rear brake Servo should work briefly with ignition on when pedal depressed, then cut out to save battery power. It will 'pulse' roughly every 30 secs with the pedal held down, you will feel a slight kick back through the pedal from the hydraulics as it restores pedal pressure.

In normal use you'll also notice the headlight dim slightly when the rear brake used to hold the bike at traffic lights until the Servo cuts out. That servo pump seems to draw a lot of power.

 

[wessexmike]

Thanks. Am getting no sound, pulsing or lights dimming with rear pedal down. Front lever certainly dims the lights momentarily when pressed. If a rear servo issue, probably needs fault codes reading, and someone with more skill and time than I have. Will stick the new battery on and see what that does. At least that's a simple task on this bike.

 

[JonB]

Hi
I had exact same problem a few weeks ago . After many attempts I finally found the problem to be the rear abs speed sensor . All I did was take off the rear wheel , undo the 2 bolts holding the sensor and popped it out . I cleaned off the sensor and put it back together and touch wood I have had no problems since . Hope this helps.
Cheers
Jon

 

[wessexmike]

Will give this a go, thanks Jon.

 

[kevingambrell]

I have a 2006 1200GS and I have to say the back brake is absolute crap. I use the back when im filtering rather than upsetting the bike with the front brake.
Even for that use its only just up to the job. As for pad life on the back I see about 2000 miles on a set of Ferodos. Simply the worst I have ever had on any bike.
That all said and done the front brake moe than makes up for it, plenty of feel and true one finger braking.
The problems here are why I wouldnt own the bike with out a BMW warrenty, I just couldnt afford to put right a problem like the servo.

 

[wessexmike]

I've removed the rear wheel sensor, cleaned it and replaced. Have then spun the front wheel a few turns whilst ignition on, but the warning remains. Probably fault code/dealer time I suppose, if the new battery doesn't sort it...

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Have you checked the connection to the rear light custer? This corrodes very easily and I recall it sent funny messages onto my screen but then I don't have the ABS servo set up.

My choice would be to get it diagnosed at Dick Lovett as I presume that's handy and if it's something like a servo pump or something pricey, contact a good independent such as Steptoe of Mikeyboy as they might have a cheap alternative to a new one.

 

[wessexmike]

Whereabouts is the connection to the rear lights? Am thinking of taking it to Stroud M/C as commuting Devizes to Stroud daily, and moving there soon.

 

[duckspeed]

I've removed the rear wheel sensor, cleaned it and replaced. Have then spun the front wheel a few turns whilst ignition on, but the warning remains. Probably fault code/dealer time I suppose, if the new battery doesn't sort it...

It will still see a fault until it sees both wheel rotate

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Whereabouts is the connection to the rear lights? Am thinking of taking it to Stroud M/C as commuting Devizes to Stroud daily, and moving there soon.

It's up behind the number plate. You have to remove the plastic mudguard under there I seem to recall. The connectors corrode really badly up there.

Stroud MC's sound a great bet to sort it for you judging by the excellent feedback.

 

[wessexmike]

You have a different abs modulator... You have a servo/abs modulator. The company you've posted a link to only work on the later models ABS (non servo) modulator.

Not sure if the quote above will work, as taken off another thread. Anyway, had the diagnostics done at Stroud Motorcycles, and Mike there suggested the codes point to the ABS motor needing replacing. I had contacted ecutesting, who said they needed my pump number to say whether they could rebuild, as their website stated 06 on models, rebuild at £300 with lifetime warranty. As Steptoe says they won't rebuild those on 05 models, this isn't going to be my £500 inc removal & refit saviour. I've been advised around £2k to replace ABS pump inc labour. On a bike worth around £3.5k. When I say £3.5k, that's after spending £2k. So the thing is worth £1500 as I do not have £2k I can justify spending on it.

So I am faced with a bike worth less than the price of an ABS motor. FFS. The bike is in really good condition with 49k miles, and practically worthless. How shit is this. Wish I'd stuck with am old TDM850 I bought for £1200 and sold for the same 2 years on...