brake faliure problem news from Germany

[viatormundi]

I came across this articel about brake failure investigated by authorities in Germany. According to the article some people attending ADAC's safety driving courses had accidents with their BMWs after braking heavily multiple times since the servo system broke down and not only made braking very difficult also deactivated ABS system.
You can see the articel in german at this link: http://www.handelsblatt.com/pshb/fn/relhbi/sfn/buildhbi/cn/GoArt!205910,205913,923152/SH/0/depot/0/

According to the authorities, BMW is actually aware of this problem since 2 years but refuse to comment on it. Most probably because it would cost them a fortune to replace brake systems of 220000 sold bikes since 2001.

Did anybody hear about this possible problem, if so how can we influence BMW to take an action on this?

 

[Kropotkin]

See this thread. And try and keep this ABS thing to one thread, it's bad enough as it is.

 

[Le singe]

I can't decide whether Dr ABS is for real, is he just slightly mad or is he the Mother Theresa of victims of alleged manufacturer failings?

 

[Kropotkin]

Check his new handle: "Nemezis", or the Greek goddess of vengeance. I think that tells you all you need to know. I read the article about him (Alexander Ries) in the German bike mag, and he seemed like a nice enough bloke, but with a major fixation. The kind of fellow you'd be happy enough to buy a pint, but which everyone would be terrified of mentioning a particular subject to. The kind of bloke that, when he walks into a room, everyone nudges each other and whispers "don't mention the war..."


The biggest shame is that Dr Brake can't use his considerable tenacity to do something useful, like end world poverty. Bush and Blair would be on their knees in no time...

 

[Mouse]

If BMW are knowlingly selling bikes with defective brakes, don't you think exposing the fact is useful?

I'm not saying they are, just saying IF they are I for one would like to know about it.

 

[Kropotkin]

Yes, that would be useful. However, at what point does this zeal turn into a mindless crusade, and does the hype become the problem?

I am convinced that Servo brakes are a bad idea on a motorcycle, (don't have a car, so don't care). However, I'm equally convinced that if the servos fail, the residual braking is enough to fill the MINIMUM LEGAL REQUIREMENTS.

Now, as a rider, you may get a nasty surprise about how poor those minimum requirements are, however, you were issued a manual, which explains the details. You should have read it.