brake fluid or ABS/servo?? GS1200 2004

[petrolhead]

just got back from a ride yesterday, halfway back noticed the brake failure light flashing and the red warning triangle on. Brakes worked fine for another 10 mins then front brake just went to partially working when pulled in hard.

Just noticed that there was nothing in the brake fluid chamber on the handlebars and wondered if there might be a leak.

OR could it be the dreaded abs/servo pump??

Lack of fluid made me think it was a leak, but does it do this if the servo pump has gone?

Any clues?

 

[trainman]

just got back from a ride yesterday, halfway back noticed the brake failure light flashing and the red warning triangle on. Brakes worked fine for another 10 mins then front brake just went to partially working when pulled in hard.

Just noticed that there was nothing in the brake fluid chamber on the handlebars and wondered if there might be a leak.

OR could it be the dreaded abs/servo pump??

Lack of fluid made me think it was a leak, but does it do this if the servo pump has gone?

Any clues?

check the obvious, is fluid low or really all gone, if low how are the pads, it could simply be worn pads and therefore low fluid which may flag a fault?

 

[mikeyboy]

you may need to remove the tank,top up the servo reservoirs and bleed the high pressure circuit.at that age its due a fluid change anyway.the fault codes will want checking ,and clearing if low fluid is the problem.

 

[jogo]

Is there really fluid missing in the handle bar reservoir (I changed fluid recently and its so light in color that I have to look very carefully to actually see it)?

The reservoir at the handle bar only provides fluid for the line from the brake handle to the ABS unit under the tank. It should therefore not change level due to brake pad wear.
The ABS unit itself has a reservoir each for front and rear brake. Those will eventually get low as the pads wear.
If you open those and look in (be very careful not to get dirt in there) the level should be something like up to the cross bar that sits underneath the filler cap.

This is what it looks like:

http://www.jimvonbaden.com/images/01-ABS-unit-02-marked.jpg

Picture borrowed from Jim von Baden