Changes over the lifetime of the 1150

[Adam-the-kiwi]

Hi All,

First up, not sure if this question is most appropriate here or in the 850/1100/1150 section, but here goes anyway...

OK, so I'm pretty certain it will be an 1150GS so I'm after a little information. Can anyone tell me what changes occurred over the lifetime of the 1150 and when, as well as any comments on whether they were improvements? Also could you give me any information on options that I should be looking for?

Thanks in advance...

Adam.

 

[Colban]

If its just the GS you're referring to and not the GSA (adventure) variant,there are thankfully few major changes.
Aside from changes in tank/plastics colour,you have an option of a black engine and transmission.
The biggest changes came at the end of 2002.A new "smoother",cleaner burning twin-spark motor appeared.
These can lose a coil stick,which cost about £55 to replace.
They can also feature the later ABS which has servos to operate the brake pads (servos later dropped on the 1200s for normal ABS).
These servo brakes have a special fun feature;if you blow a stop bulb,your brakes only operate with residual pressure.Nice eh !.
I've no doubt theres plenty of minor changes i've missed,but overall,BWM dont bugger about with the bikes every year like the Japanese do.

 

[motobiker]

Given the choice I would try to contain my enthusiasm and wait for the right 'early' 1150 to come along. I would definitely NOT want servo. or twin spark.

Both of which were 'solutions to problems that never existed' - when they go wrong they are expensive to repair - servo, prohibitively so. A quick scan of the 1100/1150 section will soon draw your attention to the number of people who have had problems and chosen to remove the entire system. (servo)

Of course those who have had no problems love it.

However, when the brakes fail BMW have at least added a cute little warning light that comes on to tell you that your brakes have failed. Nice to know as you're squeezing the bars like a man possessed.

Apparently its not a nice thing to experience.

NB Twinspark was only developed to meet stiffer emission regs in germany (i believe) the effect on fuel consumption is negligable and more than offset by the extra costs - plugs particularly. (and stick coils when they fail)

 

[ianboydsnr]

There were plenty of changes, as has been mentioned, the significant ones are twin spark and servo abs, neither are to much to worry about, twinsparks are less likely to surge, ok coil caps can fail, but are easy to replace, servos can fail to, but so can the abs controller on the old model and if it does it can be removed, as they did sell the same model without abs and servo, other than that, the calipers changed, so probably the forks did to, some had different thinner front discs, I am sure there is more

Just get the newest and best condition you can afford, dont worry about the servo or twinspark, in fact a late mint 1100gs is a better buy than a rough early 1150

 

[Adam-the-kiwi]

Excellent - thanks very much for the info.

Some people have posted that when a servo goes, you just get 'normal' braking - that is, you have to squeeze harder but you get an appropriate amount of braking - whereas others have said you lose almost all braking - which is it? Also, are there any symptoms of impending failure? Is there any preventative maintenance?

Cheers - Adam...

PS: Checked the company bank accounts last night and if the wedding stays at least close to budget I've got about £5-6k to spend afterwards!

 

[bladerunner]

Excellent - if the wedding stays at least close to budget I've got about £5-6k to spend afterwards!

Wrong priority there sir! Buy the bike and then check if you have enough money to get married!!

 

[ianboydsnr]

Excellent - thanks very much for the info.

Some people have posted that when a servo goes, you just get 'normal' braking - that is, you have to squeeze harder but you get an appropriate amount of braking - whereas others have said you lose almost all braking - which is it? Also, are there any symptoms of impending failure? Is there any preventative maintenance?

Cheers - Adam...

PS: Checked the company bank accounts last night and if the wedding stays at least close to budget I've got about £5-6k to spend afterwards!

I am sure they are both right, its just once your used to a 1 finger pull on the brakes, then a non servo is a bit of a shock, my non servo 03 non abs model is as good as the fazer 1000 it replaced

 

[Mutley]

Some people have posted that when a servo goes, you just get 'normal' braking - that is, you have to squeeze harder but you get an appropriate amount of braking - whereas others have said you lose almost all braking - which is it? Also, are there any symptoms of impending failure? Is there any preventative maintenance?

When the servo goes you are left with 'residual breaking'. This is the same as normal breaking but can feel like a lot less as the servo breaks are very powerfull. There is no warning of failure I'm afraid.

I have a servo equiped twin spark adventure and have never had a moments worry in 4 years of owbership. The bike is maintained at regular service intervals and checked thoroughly before rides. Simple really

 

[mateyboy]

Alternatively, get married and put the GS on the wedding list

 

[elevensies]

Just get the newest and best condition you can afford, dont worry about the servo or twinspark, in fact a late mint 1100gs is a better buy than a rough early 1150

what he said

 

[Timolgra]

When the servo goes you are left with 'residual breaking'. This is the same as normal breaking but can feel like a lot less as the servo breaks are very powerfull. There is no warning of failure I'm afraid.

I have a servo equiped twin spark adventure and have never had a moments worry in 4 years of owbership. The bike is maintained at regular service intervals and checked thoroughly before rides. Simple really

I think you've said it all there regarding servo failure.

First...there's no warning (necessarily).
Second...regular servicing and checking before riding have no bearing on servo failure....it's pot luck.

I'd disagree that 'residual' braking is the same as servo but a lot less because of servo enhancement...they not, braking becomes dangerously inadequate as the master cyclinder alone tries to direct force through the whole servo/abs system.

For this reason I removed mine before it failed.

 

[nikos]

If a servo fails you are left with one shot residual pressure.... (in normal operation each time you apply the brake the little pump operates to generate the pressure.) This is how you can easily tell whether they are servo or not.

On a non servo abs bike, if the abs unit fails the brakes operate normally (but without abs functions) - the brake pressure is generated at the master cylinder.

 

[ahutcheon]

Residual braking on a servo bike isn't great, but no worse than I remember old CB550 Hondas and they were state of the art back in the 1970s...

Blown brake light causes a warning light to suggest you change it but doesn't affect servo operation, you still have full brakes.

Servo brakes can be a bit sudden at very low speeds (I mostly notice them when stopping while parking), they don't "feather" very nicely below walking pace.


I found non-servo BMW brakes really heavy (needed lots of level pressure) after years of modern Japanese bikes, but I don't quite know why BMW had to go to the servo solution to get one-finger braking when lots of other brands already had that...

 

[Supertech]

Have just bought a BM with servo I've been reading with dismay the problems with it. I've seen prices of £1400 talked about. Is this a new unit...can you get then reconditioned like you can for some cars?

I'm seriously thinking of selling the bike earilier then I would have and get one without servo brakes. In traffic fully loaded having such powerful brakes is a real pain, I've had a couple of incidences already. Then a few heart stoppers when I jump back on a normal bike. I've got a R1150R, 02 model what bikes don't have servo brake with the same single spark engine?

 

[Chev.]

Hi all

Just got my March 2003 1150 GS (non-adventure, twin-spark, Servo/ABS,) with 18.500 kilometers on the clock last autumn, one week after I obtained the license for riding. Although done just a little bit of biking earlier the whole concept is quite new to me.

Nevertheless I'm nothing but overwhelmed with joy. More than 1.000 Ks first weekend of ownership. Normally I live in Oslo, but for the time being I’m going to live and work (for a Norwegian company) in Kiev, Ukraine for two years. Bringing the bike here this summer after touring Europe.

Believe I’ve read all threads (in this and a few other forums) related to: Servo/ABS, screens/buffeting, lights, tires, oil and procedures of periodic maintenance. Thanks to all contributors, big help and good inspiration.

Just a few words after 5.000 Ks of experience of the bike (based on nothing else to compare with): Like most of you says, some buffeting after 130 k/hr (I’ve original screen). Brakes good, on the contrary to many posters I think the feel is excellent both in high and low speed, no problem at all and using them is a share joy. Although I guess the joy stops when the servo cuts. Would seriously consider to remove the whole servo/ABS if going for long trip in the outback, but keeping it for now as long as it works (hope it won’t stop working in the absolute wrong moment).

I’m quite sure I’m going to trade the bike in for a 1200 GS when moved back to Norway, mainly due more power (faster acceleration, for the fun of it) and lower weight (corner faster when+ 100 k/hr).

So far bike seems working absolute perfect, no strange sounds (except the servo when starting ), pulling good on all revs. Very happy indeed, in particular based on the fact that I didn’t have a clue at all when I bought the bike.

Big thank you to all main contributors in here. Absolutely great when totally unfamiliar with all questions at hand.

Cheers

Chev.