Brake quirk

[GSJoe]

Hi being new to this fourum pls excuse me if this has been covered before.

I have owned my 12GS for about 8 weeks and have covered about 2600 miles. I am experiencing an odd sensation from the brakes. Sometimes when I apply the front brake the bike starts to slow down then seems to release for a second then bites again. It almost feels as if you are going to over shoot but it doesn't it just pulls up okay but it feels quite alarming when you don't expect it. Is this normal for 12GS's fitted with abs?

I would apreciate any advice.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Hi and welcome

Sounds very much like the ABS cutting in - are you braking very hard / on loose / wet surfaces when it happens?

Andres

 

[harry]

GS 12 brakes

They all do that sir!
I'm fairly sure there is a dealer download which helps.
i'm so used to it i don't notice it any more.

 

[Cooky]

usually happens to me when going over bumps. I assume because as the wheel is momentarily in the air the brake nearly locks the front wheel and the abs kicks in.

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Familiar feeling, there is one bumpy turn where I notice it most markedly. A bugger. I wonder is this sometimes mistaken for brake failure?

 

[GSJoe]

brake quirk

Hi Andres,

this thing with the brake that I described happens at normal braking and does not feel the same as when the abs cuts in. Basically I progressively pull on the front lever and sometimes just for a moment the brake seems to disengage and the bike surges forward and then the braking force comes back in. All this happens in a split second but being both new to BMW's and especially the 12GS, i found it quite disconcerting. The brakes always pull the bike up well and from what a few of the other members appear to be saying this is normal?

I wondered if the sensor was giving an incorrect signal just for a moment, just a thought.

Still I wanted to try and get some feedback before speaking to my dealer. I have already been back because on a recent trip riding through the Yorkshire Dales I experienced a slight clutch slip, and I noticed quite a strong smell from the friction lining. The clutch is not slipping at the moment but at the time I was fully loaded up plus pillion and was doing a lot of start stops. Some of the roads we were using were unclassified and some were gated. The bike smelt hot but the gauge read normal, and whilst riding I could smell the clutch.

But just trawling through some old posts it seems that it is common for these bikes to do this, so you can understand why I want to try and get a better understanding of this brake issue before taking the bike back and looking stupid................again.

 

[nadeem]

The clutch smells on all modern bmw's due to the fact that they're more environmentally friendly and contain no asbestos ...the brake problem definitely sounds like the abs kicking in...even small bumps can cause the effect you're talking about- basically feels like it's releasing for a split second then applies again...one way to check is to ride a road that it's happened on before...then go back, but this time disengaging your abs first...this can be done by switching off the ignition and then turning it back on starting the bike whilst holding the abs button down...you'll know it's off because the brake failure light will keep flashing after you ride off...

 

[GSJoe]

b

Hi Nadeem,
what you have described is exactly how it feels, so maybe it is just the front wheel hitting a small bump causing the abs to kick in. It is in reality only a split second that this happens in but when your new to this experience is can be a bit alarming.

Other than this brake operation, this bike has given me masses of confidence especially in cornering. How can some people say the 12GS is boring? I'm having stacks of fun on it, and the bike can really lean too I'm right on the edge of the tyres, there is no unused strip left at all. Now I am no Rossie but this bike is responsible for me wearing the outside edge of my boots through. Does anyone think I could claim a new pair from BMW.