Full BMW history saved my bacon

[ianran]

On the GS range equipped with ABS BMW installed an assisted brake system in modelyears 2001-2006. This system would 1) assist the brakes (servo function), 2) carry out the integral function, and 3) carry out the ABS function. When braking, there would always be electric pumps augmenting brake pressure. Braking with the handlever would mean two electric pumps applying pressure on front and rear brakes. Braking with the foot pedal would mean one electric pump applying pressure on rear brake. If the wheels would block under braking, then the same pump system would carry out the ABS function.
If the electric servo pump fails, you're left with 'residual' braking, since a part of brake pressure is lost. This is potentially dangerous : the rider not expecting 'residual' brakes could get into trouble. You also loose the integral function and ABS. In itself, the failures have nothing to do with ABS. Since the servo function was not really needed on bikes BMW gave the servo system up, while holding onto ABS.


Since model year 2007 (before the R1200GS got a facelift) BMW has installed it's improved brake system on ABS equipped R1200GS's. When braking with the hand lever, the front brake is working without intervention of an electric pump, while the rear brake is functioning because of an electric pump (integral function). When only using the foot pedal, the rear brake is functioning without the intervention of an electric pump. If the wheels block under braking, then electric pumps carry out the ABS function.
If the pumps fail, you're always left with fully functioning front brake (via hand lever) and fully functioning rear brake (via pedal). What is lost is integral braking and ABS. What you're left with is braking pressure as usual.

I hope this clarifies things a bit. I'm a strong believer in ABS. But I sold my 2005 R12GS after the servo system failed. IMHO the most important part in any moving vehicle are the brakes.

Cheers!

IS my 2009 faulty coz my front lever only does the front, there is no links according to my dealer and aindipendant specialist.!

 

[Myke Rocks]

Originally Posted by Cornwallis
Sadly, we're not all blessed with Beermonster's riding skills and rely on ABS to keep us safe and return us to our families unscathed. And some of us just end up buying a bike with ABS because it's a great deal at the time.......

Perhaps your not which indeed is sad, far better to rely on those said skills than abs, if you ain't got them that's something you may want to attend to. As for a great deal, not really, especially if you have to pay the dealer to bleed the bloody thing or worse still replace the module.

You could of course do it yourself which I have done on someone else's bike, it just confirmed my opinion about ABS, was a right PIA. Anyway apparently it's soon to be compulsory on new bikes so our rulers yet again get to decide whats best for us, whilst we have to pay for the additional cost.

So whilst we may have differing opinions as to the merits of ABS it just won't matter in the long run.

Perhaps Beermonster has a belief in his riding skills which belies his true ability, perhaps not.

Nevertheless, when caught on the hop in a very sudden emergency, I would rather be with ABS than rely on my own split second abilty to cadence brake, and not lock up the back wheel.
As someone who has raced both cars and motorcyles, and who has covered over 1.5 million miles in cars, and around 200,000 on motorcyles, I have reasonable experience of emergencies.
I have only had 3 "offs" on motorcyles in the last 11 years. All were on non ABS bikes, & caused by too much rear brake in panic situations.
In all cases, with ABS, I would not even have had a fright.

Maybe Beermonster has reactions like a Formula 1 driver.

Neither I nor anyone I know has, so we, who have experience, and have the knowledge of our limitations, will stick with ABS thank you, and hope that, it is made compulsory on all bikes as soon as possible.
Myke

 

[Rusty Bolts]

I like ABS

 

[Cornwallis]

Perhaps your not which indeed is sad, far better to rely on those said skills than abs, if you ain't got them that's something you may want to attend to.

You could of course do it yourself which I have done on someone else's bike

Superior riding skils and the ability to bleed brakes? We lesser ABS beings salute the great Beermonster.......

 

[GSband]

IS my 2009 faulty coz my front lever only does the front, there is no links according to my dealer and aindipendant specialist.!

Try this : put bike on centre stand, turn rear wheel, use handbrake, see what happens. ABS equipped R12GS have linked brakes, no matter what model year.
Cheers !

 

[GSband]

...

Maybe Beermonster has reactions like a Formula 1 driver.

Neither I nor anyone I know has, so we, who have experience, and have the knowledge of our limitations, will stick with ABS thank you, and hope that, it is made compulsory on all bikes as soon as possible.
Myke

+1

Let's not forget that prices will tumble as production and competition increases.
And as it gets smaller it doesn't hinder on our bikes the way the first generations did: the latest ABS module on KTM's 990 SMT from Bosch is as large as a fist and weighs only 500 grams.

Cheers !