doin' me own servicing

[Flying banana]

ladeez and gents, what are your thought? I have a 02 1150gs, Evo brakes, etc, etc. Now then, I am a competent spanner twirler of 30 years experience as a home mechanic, with a pathalogical dislike of dealers, as a result of bad experiences over the years, and a refusal to pay good money for something I can do myself. My bike is due a service, and it has got me to thinking. I have researched the site extensively, and found loads of info/opinions about servicing generally.
The strong impression is that there are loads of potential problems to befall the home mechanic as far as the brakes, ABS is concerned. Additionally, it seems that BMW have designed the bikes to be so fecking complicated, that no one in their right mind will even contemplate doing it themselves! I read lots of stories about the ABS playing up big time if you even think of touching a brake pad, or God forbid, pushing it back into the caliper too quickly!! My point is that if its all gonna be that much of a pain, much as I luv the bike to bits to ride, I refuse to be held to ransom when it comes to servicing, and it will go
I am not prone to bouts of paranoia as a rule, but its getting to me!!
What say you all?

(Oh yes, it took me five minutes to type this, and two hours to go through it and make sure the spelling was spot on)




FB

 

[skywalker]

Why not do everything else bar the brakes,then let the dealer do that for you. would think its a bit of a chancey area if you got it wrong(not doubting your abilities by the way).Seems a bit of hasty decision to get rid especially if you like the bike

 

[Steptoe]

Have you got servo brakes, they can cause the problems not the ABS, they're very basic fuel injected bikes, just do as it says in the manual to start, then you'll see you don't have to remove half the things they say to do certain jobs ( typical Haynes, but it starts you off right) you'll learn the quickest way to do things the more you work on them, hey if a BM mechanic can do it !

so you'll be needing service parts then,

 

[Flying banana]

Yep fair comment. However, it seems crazy that even just replacing pads, which is a simple task, (or should be), appears can course loads of problems out of all proportion to the orginal task. I have changed pads, and bled brakes on countless bikes over the years, all very simple. Now I read of having to bleed this bit, and that bit, and so such and such for the servos, and then summat else for the brake circuit, etc. Why it should be so potentially problematic on this bike I know not why. I have never had the same problems with any cars that I have owned, and they all have servos, albeit not electric, I accept, but even so, in this days and age, it shoudl not be so troublesome.
OOHH get me, I have got the right 'ump, haven't I?

FB

 

[Sleepy]

I've done my own servicing since buying my bike new, over three years ago including changing the (non-evo) brake pads, it's all very basic stuff.. no probs with the ABS either..

Compared to the Jap bikes I've owned, the GS is an absolute doddle, just make sure you have the correct tools.. ie: oil filter thingy (technical term), and you should have no problems.

 

[Flying banana]

Steptoe m'boy, I think you're the man to talk to, from wot i've read. Yep, it has servo brakes. From what I can gather, it seems the servo komputa can paly tricks. I am not normally worried about getting me hands dirty, but this is different, and I obviously don't wanna screw it all up and have to get BWM to bail me out. Basically, I hate someone esle doing what I knwo I can do meself.
As far as sevice parts are concerned, you were in me mind. Will sort out a list, methinks.

Cheers

FB

 

[Spout]

"it seems that BMW have designed the bikes to be so fecking complicated"

Remember when a bikes petrol tank breather was a tiny hole in the filler cap? Well they now have a 'breather system'. Does the same job, nowhere near as well and more expensive to replace.
Is this an advancement in design, or someone taking the p*ss?

So a hydraulic braking system that relies on electronic circuitry should be no suprise

 

[Reprobate]

I have a 02 1150gs, Evo brakes, etc, etc.

Tssk, tssk, buying a bike without FIRST checking the ease of maintenance. If you had, you would've bought a 1998/1999 R1100GS.

 

[Timolgra]

If you feel confident, just methodically service the whole bike yourself. All the info you need can be found somewhere on this site.
Apart from the first service my 00 1150 at 37K has not been touched by anyone else, and (touch wood) has never had any probs whatsoever.
This way adds to the enjoyment of ownership, saves loads of cash and if you want a job doing properly................servicing a simple bike being no exception.

Better just check my breakdown cover now

Tim

 

[Jimb]

Banana

I do all my own on my 02 with ABS, it ain't difficult, get some Speedbleeders or a Mityvac bleed pump and change the fluid thru the ABS without touching it, no problem. Hien Gericke have them £36

Even fitting braided lines is no problem with the Mityvac.

Pads take 15 mins to replace on the front and a bit longer on the rear as the caliper has to come off.

Get the workshop manual, I have it on CD and can burn you a copy along with the wiring diagrams.

One tool you will find handy is a T bar allen key for the valve clearances, Aldi have a set of long ball ended ones for £3.99 just the job.

have fun

 

[Mick Fagan]

The USA Advrider site a couple of months ago had a mention on one of the threads that the Hall of Wisdom fellas were working on a brake bleed and/or service fix for the latest servo assisted EVO brake systems. I just tried to find it but couldn't, so I assume it hasn't materialised just yet.

I understand that at the moment you cannot with the limited knowledge available in the public domain, service the brakes on the latest BMW bikes. But that's about all you cannot do.

Realistically you should be able to do everything else, especially if you have been fiddling with bikes for as long as you state.

I myself was rather worried in 97-98 before I bought my 1100, but now that I've almost had it apart doing this and that, here and there, I find that it's really a simple machine just like the other flat twins of yesterday.

Mick.

Ps:- make sure you have the correct torque wrenches or you will be in trouble as nearly everything is torqued to within an inch of it's limits and if you so much as go a poofteenth over the limit, then it's pretty much on the cards that you'll be repairing something!

 

[Flying banana]

Reprobate - yeah yeah, I know, but I wanted the toy, I really did, ans I didnt think beforehand, I know, it was stupid of me, but i am better now, no really I am, I can handle it
#fb

 

[Wayne's World]

I am not prone to bouts of paranoia as a rule, but its getting to me!!

I am (got the medical records to prove it!), that is one of the reasons I bought a GSA without the ABS, I did not wish to pay someone for servicing them but would have had insufficient knowledge to look after them myself.

 

[Reprobate]

Reprobate - yeah yeah, I know, but I wanted the toy, I really did, ans I didnt think beforehand, I know, it was stupid of me, but i am better now, no really I am, I can handle it
#fb

It's not too late to redeem yourself!