Get off & brake failure

[Hoseman]

Whilst stopped to study map at side of road, my hapless bulky pillion decided to weight shift drastically to starboard. The unexpected inertia caused the usual 10 seconds hernia inducing struggle before Mr Newton favorite Law took charge and capsized my beauty. (R1200GS ABS 700miles)

After removing our heads from the centre of the busy road we picked her up, to inspected the damage, cheifly an assortment of nasty scars on the right hand Cylinder cover. Anyway after a few minutes of relection it occured to me that those aluminuim cylinder covers as fitted to the adventure would cover the aformentioned scars.

Does anyone know how much they cost and do they fit directly to the standard GS.

Anyway no other damage was apparent until i put the key in the ingnition and there wasn't the usual servo noise when the front brake was applied. Brake failure was confirmed with a short test ride. Bmw Emergency service was summonded and responed promptly (about 45mins). Engineer pumped the braked about 20 times and the servos came back to life and stated that the system was now fine.

Has this happened to anyone else? Should i get the system checked out by the dealer? I rode it home with out incident but confidence in the system is now in question. The engineer said it was probably air in the system after the spill which was perged by the pumping of the lever.

 

[Deadskin]

Evening H
What a bummer, they say the first scratch is always the deepest
The GSA covers will fit on the 1200 though some crash bars maybe a cheaper
option.

If in doubt have your dealer look at the brakes

 

[wilbjr21]

Sounds like the usual hand guard problem after a spill.

 

[aspad]

yep either the handguard or damage to the rear brake lever if bike went over on the RH side - which it sounds like from your description.

 

[Sergeant Pluck]

The engineer said it was probably air in the system after the spill which was perged by the pumping of the lever.

I'm sure he's right - same thing happens on mine every time I dump it - usually the back brake.

 

[NeverRodeBefore]

Handguards... that'll be it

Just check if the handguard is scuffed aswell, If the guard is slightly loose it will pivot round on the bar end mount bringing the inside of the guard to rest on the front brake lever, this is enough to stop the ABS sensor from allowing the full system to work.

There speaks the voice of experience....

And £130 quid for the plate should be enough... about £150 if you want them fitted.... the hardest part is finding a torque wrench that'll go down to 9Nm!

They do a fine good of hidding the little scratches, although the plastic ones took the brunt of my little mistake.

 

[Stu-13]

I have the alu cylinder guards, but added the crash bars as well.
The Alu looks loads better than the black plastic ones, far better side fall over protection but don't offer much front protection. Hence I'd recommend the combination of metal bars and covers.

 

[wilbjr21]

I have the alu cylinder guards, but added the crash bars as well.
The Alu looks loads better than the black plastic ones, far better side fall over protection but don't offer much front protection. Hence I'd recommend the combination of metal bars and covers.

Couldn't agree more. The Alu head covers are a supplement to the BMW engine bars; as they don't cover the heads like SW Motech etc. do.

 

[Searanger]

I am refitting my rocker covers this week - anyone got torque settings for them?

 

[Spagforth]

Dodgy Rocker covers

Not convinced about the alloy rocker covers, my local dealer has experience of bikes falling over when fitted with them and because they are attached to rather flimsly lugs on the cyclinder heads it results in them snapping off, requiring a new cylinder head! and of course major surgery to rectify. My dealer is now refusing to sell them, its cheaper to replace scuffed rocker covers. I have just fitted Motech engine bars from Nippy Normans, excellent fit, no bending or bodging and really solidy attached to the frame/engine.

Cheers Spagforth

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Not much use on Howie's 1200 Adv crash, both were buggered even though the bike only went down on the right hand side and the Adv crashbars were about as strong as a chocolate fireguard, cosmetic only with no real crash protection

TT or Hepco/Becker stuff is stronger, but not as pretty

 

[Hoseman]

Oh bugger just ordered the ally covers, £90 from alan Jefferies. Do you know if the Motech bars fit with the BMW ally covers? Cheers for everyones responses.

 

[GS TRV]

Get the pillion to pay

 

[Hoseman]

Just check if the handguard is scuffed aswell, If the guard is slightly loose it will pivot round on the bar end mount bringing the inside of the guard to rest on the front brake lever, this is enough to stop the ABS sensor from allowing the full system to work.

There speaks the voice of experience....

And £130 quid for the plate should be enough... about £150 if you want them fitted.... the hardest part is finding a torque wrench that'll go down to 9Nm!

They do a fine good of hidding the little scratches, although the plastic ones took the brunt of my little mistake.

Cheers, Just been quoted £90inc vat from alan jefferies, Don't Motorad dealers have a fixed price for spares??

 

[IanC]

The alloy guards IMHO are good protection (I speak from experience!). There is a solid rubber block which fits snugly between the rocker cover and the guards. The lugs are flimsy, but they shouldn't take too much strain in the event of a fall - the load is transferred to the head bolts, which should be as strong as anything.

The BMW bar is next to useless - one very slow off-road spill and it disloacted.

 

[NeverRodeBefore]

Blimey Hoseman....£90

Flippin heck... I thought BM's prices were carved in stone.... how did you manage to get 'em for £90?

Williams and Rainbow both said £130 to me... perhaps my face doesn't fit?

Oh, Spagforth, I presume you're still talking R1200GS.... how did you find the Motech bars from Nippy's for ease of fitting?

I must admit to being a little worried about snapping off the cylinder head, but then again, I don't do offroad (at the mo), but I did read about a fellow member sliding his bike down the road on the alloy guards...

Oh well, wait and see... maybe fit some bars later on when funds allow?

Cheers

Tony.