Brake issues. Pads.

[Spartan]

Wanted to throw this information up here. Again, worth logging on the 1300RS section for future reference.

Long story short. Had a few instances of brake fade when in the hills etc. Not lever to the bar. But certainly a decent amount of fade. Its kinda to be expected as its a big heavy bike. Sent the bike in for 2nd service a little early at 8000km as I've also had a brake vibration that started recently. Asked them to check it and measure disc run out. But the vibration has turned out to be a slight buckle in the front wheel. But when stripped they showed me the pads and the standard BMW pads have basically fallen apart. Cracked and breaking up.

Tried to argue it. Basically saying its the Performance model which has higher spec brakes. To which the replied. They believe the bike has been on track. Which is complete nonsense.

Changed the pads to Vesrah for something a bit more capable. VD-9070 is the code for the Performance model calipers. And chose RJL-XX compound.

Night and day difference. Alot more power at the lever but also more feel. Work from cold. Dont seem to have any fade yet when hot.

I'm unsure if anyone has done trackdays on a R1300RS yet or has experienced the same. But the XX compound is a significant improvement over standard.
Hopefully this helps someone in future

 

[AndyW]

Interesting thanks.

Looking at the pic of your rear tyre in another discussion I can see why the Dealer made that track day use assumption (you know what they say about assuming lol) - that tyre has been worked hard by the looks of it!

 

[Spartan]

Its just the commute home really and constantly being on the bike. I commute through the mountains every day doing around 80km each way, and there are a few fast sections where you can play with the bike. The Mk4 version of Sportsmart are great and have lots of feel and really suit the bike. But I mentioned in another thread. To get the most out the bike and allow it to drive properly on exits the TC needs to be under -5.

I raced successfully at Amateur level (Thundersport GB) for many years. So although I'm old I still know what i want a bike to feel like. And the RS chassis is really dopey and blunt but alot of fun. Lots of feel, which means you can play with it and push it a bit and it had alot of feedback and neutrality as long and you are progresive with transferring the weight and loading it. Especially using that great midrange on exit. For sure it needs back brake to make it turn and steady it a bit. And it doesnt like being flicked or rushed going side to side, but once you connect with the bike it feels really natural and has alot of feel, albeit quite blunt and dopey.

I think i posted before, when I used to have the BMW app it showed over 60% throttle at 50deg lean. (Not that i believe its accurate). But I thought its a great data point to show the confidence those tyres matched with the New 1300RS chassis gives. Where you can drive so hard on exit, and sure it moves a bit, but nothing unexpected, snappy or risky.

Bit of a thread derail. But I went to MotoGP at Jerez last weekend. Covered 1000km, over 9 hours riding. And detoured on the way home to go through the hills to get more time on the bike. I like it so much. Got home and genuinely if I had forgotten something and had to turn and rode back to Jerez I'd be happy to do it. No discomfort. No pain. Just enjoy riding again for the first time in over 10 years. I retired in 2014 because I broke T4 and a shoulder at Oulton Park. Came back in 2016 and rode for a BS team (who I won't name) in Pre Injection 600. Hated bikes and didnt sit on a bike for 8 years and only now have I found i enjoy riding again.

Apologies for the waffle. Derailing my own thread.

 

[AndyW]

A good waffle.... an interesting derailment

 

[EGR]

Wanted to throw this information up here. Again, worth logging on the 1300RS section for future reference.

Long story short. Had a few instances of brake fade when in the hills etc. Not lever to the bar. But certainly a decent amount of fade. Its kinda to be expected as its a big heavy bike. Sent the bike in for 2nd service a little early at 8000km as I've also had a brake vibration that started recently. Asked them to check it and measure disc run out. But the vibration has turned out to be a slight buckle in the front wheel. But when stripped they showed me the pads and the standard BMW pads have basically fallen apart. Cracked and breaking up.

Tried to argue it. Basically saying its the Performance model which has higher spec brakes. To which the replied. They believe the bike has been on track. Which is complete nonsense.

Changed the pads to Vesrah for something a bit more capable. VD-9070 is the code for the Performance model calipers. And chose RJL-XX compound.

Night and day difference. Alot more power at the lever but also more feel. Work from cold. Dont seem to have any fade yet when hot.

I'm unsure if anyone has done trackdays on a R1300RS yet or has experienced the same. But the XX compound is a significant improvement over standard.
Hopefully this helps someone in future

Thanks for pad information. Very helpful. Also a Vesrah fan.

Also, sort of surprised at dealer comment, in Andalusia, about "track". Andalusia? Plenty of regular roads in mountains are easily track surface equivlents. Easily. Once, we were headed into Ronda on A369. In a left mirror check, two bike lights in mirror well back. Just tip right and a Panigale and Honda rr, pucks down, helmets about my left boot height, pass, flip left and gone... They were at Venta Solera where we stopped. Tires looked like any and all paddock tires I've ever seen.

 

[Spartan]

Yes, i agree. Although the road surfaces can be inconsistent. Lots of areas are very slippy as the surface gets polished with lots of traffic but little rain. Also the areas with alot of wild olive trees can be bad as the olives get crushed into the road then dragged by cars. So its like hitting pure olive oil on the road. There are areas where you have to put a foot out like motocross and wobble round the corner.

But yes I agree. There are other areas with decent grip. I wouldn't say anything has track grip levels. But you can at least have some fun.

The issue comes with the length of good roads we have. You can ride for 2 hours or more on constant twisties. From 4th 5th gear sweepers to hard braking 1st gear switch backs. If you know the area, from Ronda east along the A-366 to Yunquera. The RS is a bit big and heavy for it but there are alot of big braking sections. The Yunquera section is good but if i go there I leave home at 6pm and ride at dusk when its dead. If you go at 11am on a weekend there are place helicopters, drones, DGT stop areas etc. The bikers dont help themselves as there are photographers so they go there just to elbow down in one section to get a photo taken.

My commute takes me up the road from La Cañada shopping up past Ojén and Monda. Which is a good section. Then from Alhaurín golf down to Mijas is amazing. Grippy and proper fast. 4th 5th gear sweepers logging 50deg lean and the road really flows.

But you are right. Alot of guys here can ride. Again just time on the saddle at decent pace. It becomes natural.
Alot of the issues start around this time when the tourists arrive. To be fair, the only ones ive ever had trouble with are always Polish or German. Riding in big groups. And crossing solid white lines etc. Especially dangerous when you line them up for a pass exiting a corner to a wide weaving section and they straighten the road, cross the solid line, no mirrors and almost put you in the barriers.

 

[EGR]

Yes, i agree. Although the road surfaces can be inconsistent. Lots of areas are very slippy as the surface gets polished with lots of traffic but little rain. Also the areas with alot of wild olive trees can be bad as the olives get crushed into the road then dragged by cars. So its like hitting pure olive oil on the road. There are areas where you have to put a foot out like motocross and wobble round the corner.

But yes I agree. There are other areas with decent grip. I wouldn't say anything has track grip levels. But you can at least have some fun.

The issue comes with the length of good roads we have. You can ride for 2 hours or more on constant twisties. From 4th 5th gear sweepers to hard braking 1st gear switch backs. If you know the area, from Ronda east along the A-366 to Yunquera. The RS is a bit big and heavy for it but there are alot of big braking sections. The Yunquera section is good but if i go there I leave home at 6pm and ride at dusk when its dead. If you go at 11am on a weekend there are place helicopters, drones, DGT stop areas etc. The bikers dont help themselves as there are photographers so they go there just to elbow down in one section to get a photo taken.

My commute takes me up the road from La Cañada shopping up past Ojén and Monda. Which is a good section. Then from Alhaurín golf down to Mijas is amazing. Grippy and proper fast. 4th 5th gear sweepers logging 50deg lean and the road really flows.

But you are right. Alot of guys here can ride. Again just time on the saddle at decent pace. It becomes natural.
Alot of the issues start around this time when the tourists arrive. To be fair, the only ones ive ever had trouble with are always Polish or German. Riding in big groups. And crossing solid white lines etc. Especially dangerous when you line them up for a pass exiting a corner to a wide weaving section and they straighten the road, cross the solid line, no mirrors and almost put you in the barriers.

We are only in Andalusia March, April. So, fortunately completely miss the "Barbarian" tourist season. Only once in many years we got caught out in a late storm. We had to ride west up from Pontones over to Hornos "drafting" a snow plow.

I hope to arrange for my ashes to make my last of many Velefique Alto - Calar Alto loop runs - not soon.

N.B. we live near a wellknown tourist destination. I learned from the Mayor of Lynchburg, TN, and I think she coined the term "Touron". Reasonably obvious etymology.