Dynamic Brake Lights Question

[Hamslay]

Hey chaps.

My new 2017 bike has dynamic brake lights as part of the ABS Pro package. That's backed up by my owner's manual and a VIN checker. However, my mate that I ride with assures me that the brake light NEVER flashes, even with deliberate hard braking from 90mph down to 10mph. Does anyone know whether it's possible that the feature didn't get "activated" at the factory? I don't really mind about the lights not flashing, but I did quite like the cornering ABS feature and having paid for it, I'm a bit concerned it may not actually be "on".

Any ideas?

 

[Tractors are go]

Ask the dealer to demonstrate it to you.

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk

 

[Hamslay]

Ask the dealer to demonstrate it to you.

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk

I did call them and ask them to confirm it's on the bike and if it could be inactive. They haven't got back to me. I'll ask again in 2 weeks at the first service but I thought a load of people here might have first hand experience of dynamic brake lights now. I find the forum members more knowledgeable than the dealers in 99% of cases.

 

[Tractors are go]

Possibly, often as men we tend to ignore the manual.



Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk

 

[yofi]

I did call them and ask them to confirm it's on the bike and if it could be inactive. They haven't got back to me. I'll ask again in 2 weeks at the first service but I thought a load of people here might have first hand experience of dynamic brake lights now. I find the forum members more knowledgeable than the dealers in 99% of cases.

How did you get on with this. According to the BMW site this is something that, whilst requiring ABS Pro, has to be fitted ex-works (presumably dealer).

 

[ChazzyB]

My guess is you're not actually braking hard enough to activate it. It's difficult to do a real emergency stop on demand. I had the car (520d) do it once, when I really did hit the brakes very hard - the hazard lights started up and the contents of the car ended in the front footwells.

 

[Warlord]

I use the HEX EzCan on my 2017 GSA and it has a similar feature.

Rear auxiliary red LED lights are triggered to 'flash' or 'pulse' when G-Force on deceleration hits a pre-programmed target. This is done without the brakes being used. So it shows you are decelerating heavily but not using the brakes.

The 'target' G-Force trigger sensitivity can be programmed into the EzCan.

My mates think its a really good idea, having followed my bike. They like the pulse flashing as they know I'm slowing using engine braking only.

 

[Jacal]

My guess is you're not actually braking hard enough to activate it. It's difficult to do a real emergency stop on demand. I had the car (520d) do it once, when I really did hit the brakes very hard - the hazard lights started up and the contents of the car ended in the front footwells.

I'll second that
I had the same thing and got the dealer to check it out, sure enough when the mechanic toke it out and I followed on a loan bike all worked fine when he applied an emergency stop....The brake light flashed and when nearly stopped the hazards came on.
You really have to pull the front brake hard to get it to work, which for an old dog like me is hard to do, I've always gone for the back brake first and its hard to brake the habit (no pun intended)

 

[yofi]

So, question remains, is this something you have to get by greasing the palms of the stealer (it being stated as an ex-works item)?

"The dynamic brake light is only available as a piece of optional equipment ex-works in connection with ABS Pro (in connection with optional equipment Pro Riding Modes)"

https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/en/experience/engineering/safety/dynamicbrakelight.html

 

[Hamslay]

How did you get on with this. According to the BMW site this is something that, whilst requiring ABS Pro, has to be fitted ex-works (presumably dealer).

The dealer said they'd had other owners with the same query and a test ride by the mechanics always proved it was working. After my service they took the bike out and reported that the brake light did indeed flash. However, my own tests riding in front of a mate still show that braking hard from 80mph and almost going over the bars still doesn't flicker the light. I've just stopped thinking about it.

 

[Jacal]

If your not happy with it Hamslay, then ask the dealer to take the bike out while you follow

 

[GSJones]

Don't want to open a can of worms but could someone who knows explain the legality of this system. I think it's great as it has the potential to aid visibility. However I know when this sort of system was discussed re ezcan there was some question about it. Or was that only in relatuon to the flashing spotlights with the horn? Many thanks

 

[dave hendy]

Don't want to open a can of worms but could someone who knows explain the legality of this system. I think it's great as it has the potential to aid visibility. However I know when this sort of system was discussed re ezcan there was some question about it. Or was that only in relatuon to the flashing spotlights with the horn? Many thanks

The system is also fitted to a lot of cars so I guess it is legal

 

[GSJones]

The system is also fitted to a lot of cars so I guess it is legal

I imagine it would be if marketed here, i was just curious about the functions i could employ in the ezcan and how they compare with this new oem feature. Thanks

 

[casbar]

They say its legal - http://www.visordown.com/news/general/are-flashing-brake-lights-legal

But having brake lights that flash everytime you apply your brakes is not apparently

 

[Adventure Boy]

Mine has it also and ive tried to activate it but the same it wont, I spoke the the dealer who insisted that it was fitted and would only work in a extreme breaking condition ive really tried but still nothing
hopefully ill never need it !!