Brake Failure!

[Rhino]

what bike do you ride ?
The servo on the 12 plays up for a different reason than the 1150.
Wont make any odds on My 1150 GSA it doesnt have ABS so no flashing dash lights.

 

[littleredrooster]

what bike do you ride ?
The servo on the 12 plays up for a different reason than the 1150.
Wont make any odds on My 1150 GSA it doesnt have ABS so no flashing dash lights.

I had an 1150GS for 3 years / 33000 miles (ABS, no servo) and now have a 1200GS (18000 miles).

For what different reason does the 1200 servo play up? I may yet have this to come to!

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

So my question is for those who have scrapped the servo and converted to normal brakes, how do they perform,and are you pleased with the results?

ABS failure

Does that system have a life expectancy?

 

[littleredrooster]

I would like to say I know what you are all talking about, but with No Servo brakes and No ABS, I get the same braking everytime with nothing electrical to go wrong.

KISS.

Now as soon as I can find a decent set of carbs and get rid of that fuel injection my world will be complete ;-)

So why not regress to an airhead?? You obviously don't want any of the modern advances.......

 

[littleredrooster]

.....and where's Speedy? He still hasn't answered my question from yesterday...?

 

[Speedy]

.....and where's Speedy? He still hasn't answered my question from yesterday...?

Calm down dear, some of us have to go to work you knowAnyway, I can't remember where I read it first, but there are several mentions of servos and tail-lights in the search section if you have a look.When a friend had problems with his servo he rang his dealer and the first question they asked was had he checked his tail-light.It seemed so unlikely at the time that it stuck in my head.I can't explain it but there definitely seems to be a link between servo and tail-light function.

 

[ciderman gs]

lrr change for change sake are not advances bikes have done without servo(power assisted) brakes for years so why do we need them do we need abs do we need traction control do we need fuel injection the thing is now people do not fix anything (present company accepted) so if an oilhead could be made with carbs (paris dakar 1100's were sleeved down to 900cc and had carbs instead of injection) and pass emissions then it would have been so there is nothing wrong with wanting simplicity in life

 

[texbid]

i have had the same problem on my r1150r. It only happens in urban traffic and when the engine is on low revs. High speed runs, twisties ... no problem, its only when i get into town that this problem surfaces.

Has there been any resolution to the original question. I love my ABS, it has been a life saver many times.

VP

 

[snoopy]

The bulb is a four point design, if the top or bottom element wire blows and touches the other one a short is detected and the ABS shuts down.

 

[Hubs]

Thanks for the reminder - just added a brake light bulb to the jacket pocket tool kit....

Mark

 

[Roger Chatterton]

to cut to the chase on this topic -just how easy/difficult is it to remove the servo, and does that mean that you can remove the servos and keep ABS, or, that removing servos automatically necessitates removal of ABS ?

I loath the servos on my 1150GSA...real pain in the ass, and have been wondering about this for a while now .

 

[how far to]

The bulb is a four point design, if the top or bottom element wire blows and touches the other one a short is detected and the ABS shuts down.

you can buy LED bulbs that fit in the standard socket that presumably would eliminate the design fault,trying to find the link,cheers

 

[Fanum]

There's something very wrong here....this is not how it works and people are getting panicked /disgusted over the so called 'bad design' for no reason.

If your rear bulb fails, it DOES NOT cut the servo....that is bollocks.

If the bulb fails, or one of the switches (hand or foot brake microswitches) is engaged (ie you start on a hill or just touching a brake) then the ABS does not set.....this is sensible, as having oincorrectly working abs based on false readings is dangerous.

IT DOES NOT CUT THE SERVOs THOUGH!!!!!

And you get plenty of warning...the warning lights flash/stay on in different ways to warn you.

Just to make 100% sure my memory wasn't playing tricks (I've had multiple failed rear bulbs over the years, as well as a knackered rear switch, bent handguards and many other variants of the brake fault triggering occurring) I just went outside, removed the brake bulb and rode up the alley......the top light (the one that flashes at 4hz until the abs sensor picks up movement) went out after 6-8 feet as usual, the Servos worked both front circuit and rear circuit but the ABS was disabled...as it should be.

The bottom warning light stayed on, solid.

I REPEAT....YOU DO NOT LOSE SERVO BRAKING JUST BECAUSE A BULB HAS FAILED!!!

Not on my variant anyway..Late 04 manufactured 1150GSA.

 

[Roger Chatterton]

to cut to the chase on this topic -just how easy/difficult is it to remove the servo, and does that mean that you can remove the servos and keep ABS, or, that removing servos automatically necessitates removal of ABS ?

I loath the servos on my 1150GSA...real pain in the ass, and have been wondering about this for a while now .

BUMP ...anyone know if it can be done, ie remove servos ,and retain ABS, or is it a dumb question ??

 

[Voyager]

BUMP ...anyone know if it can be done, ie remove servos ,and retain ABS, or is it a dumb question ??

I recall 'Gordon' removing his Servo earlier this year. But I have a feeling that his was a non-ABS bike in the first place.

I may be wrong . . I'll have a hunt for his thread.

Bob.

 

[Carl]

Look in the Font...

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138600

 

[Voyager]

Look in the Font...

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138600

That's the one - you just beat me to it

Gordon removed both the Servo and the ABS. It isn't clear whether he could have (easily) retained the ABS had he wanted to (though he hints that he would have liked to but the extra cost wasn't justified).

I guess its the old story - anything is possible if you are prepared to spend the time and money on it.

Best of luck.

Bob.

 

[Carl]

The servos and ABS are one unit, you cant keep ABS and remove the servos. Its all or nothing unfortunately.

FWIW I quite like the servo brakes (I hope I don't regret saying that )

 

[Roger Chatterton]

The servos and ABS are one unit, you cant keep ABS and remove the servos. Its all or nothing unfortunately.

FWIW I quite like the servo brakes (I hope I don't regret saying that )

Much as I suspected, but thanks for the info; I'll check out the link in one of the earlier replies too. I know Jaws has successfully removed the ABS from his 1150, but not sure if his was a servo model or not.
What I do not like about the servo is the fact that unless the engine is running, you have virtually no brakes, so for moving bike around , restarting on a hill, paddling it out of a tight spot etc., it is a real pain- I have no dislikes of the servo once up and running, just seems a pretty pointless exercise from BMW, extra weight and extra potential problems, for what purpose I ask myself ??

 

[Rhino]

well just turn the ignioton on and you will get your brake servo running it is an electric not engne driven servo.
Form what I have seen in other posts the bulb blowing has caught them out when they havent noticed the check lights whe pullign away after things like fuel stops.

My problem with the servo/abs was on the gs12 and that did fail dangerously more than once. Also its the cost of ownership of the abs/servo bike outside of warantee. They do go wrong and are much more complecated to bleed. I have ridden bikes for 28 years now and the 2 gs12s were the only ones with fancy brakes. I dont see the point of servo assist on a bike as you can easily brake harder than your tyres contact patch can handle without a servo, hence them being abs and servo, as without it you would be on the deck very very quicly.