Horror Story Picking up 1200GS

[Neil.M]

So the big day arrives, I am off to collect my 1200GS. I hop on my F650GS twin and head off to the dealership to pick up the beast. Half way there and I pull the brakes with plenty of room between me and the car ahead, ABS kicks in immediately on a flat smooth road, release the brake apply again, stop in time. For those of you with a twin take care, I am told this is due to the anti stoppy technology and one of the main reasons why I have ordered the beast.
“Let’s be safe for the last 10 miles” so I switch off the ABS at the next traffic light. Bad mistake, 5 miles later car pulls out in front of me in a traffic circle, grab the front brake and it slips out from under me and down I go. SOB drives off and I am lying in a pile with the bike on top of me in the middle of a traffic circle. Where’s my ABS now!
No serious damage to me, sprained ankle, torn ligaments and huge bruised ego. Spitting every profanity on the planet I get up pick up the bike and move to the side and check it over. £700 quid later and on the day it was to be traded in.
To cut a long story short I have a 1200GS, love it, less money and more respect for the road than ever before.
Moral of the story, any day could be your day just treat it that way but enjoy it! Oh yeah, and if you are on an F650GS with ABS take extra care.
Cool running’s!

 

[Pathologic]

Glad your OK.

Is london (one of) the most dangerous places to ride a bike? At least everything went through on your new bike OK.

Glad your enjoying the new beast. Hopefully see you around.

Regards,


Path.

P.S I pick up a new 1200 on Saturday (all things being equal).

 

[Dainese Brave]

When I got my GSA I traded in an old Honda that I used to use during winter in all weathers.

It had never let me down, been any trouble, and generally went like a rocket.....

....until it packed up on the A14 on the way to Braintree!

.....oh how the dealer laughed as it was winched down from the transporter, and then out of habit I put the steering lock on.

Obviously seeing what looked like a right dud landing on their forecourt, they greeted me with an amused grin and "do you think someone is going to nick it sir????

 

[JPB]

Forgive what may seem a dumb question, but why release the brake when the ABS kicked-in the first time? I thought the whole point of ABS was you can keep the pressure on and the technology makes sure you stop in the shortest possible distance without locking the wheels and losing control.

 

[ebbo]

ABS kicks in immediately on a flat smooth road, release the brake apply again, stop in time.

Did you think the ABS was faulty? I suspect so, and that's why you turned the ABS off?

Perhaps that smooth flat road was actually quite slippery

Sorry about your off though, not nice at the best of times

 

[Neil.M]

Ebbo

I haven’t been comfortable with the ABS since I bought it, took it back to BMW and they checked it over and gave it the thumbs up. Its always been the same issue, delayed response every now and then, normally on bumpy patches though. So you might be right, a slippery road.

Either way I don’t blame anyone but myself. Will take a look at some advanced rider training in the next few weeks.

 

[dogman]

The very reason I didnt have ABS on mine!

 

[Fanum]

It only takes one bead of gravel to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and the abs will kick in- if you're not used to it, it can feel like you've suddenly lost brakes or they're delayed or something.
Manhole, sorry, Personhole covers will do the same, as will the occasional tramline of tarmac joining bits of road or a white line.

I'd say it also sounds like you're used to over-pulling the lever......relying on the ABS to do its work...then when you turned it off, the next over-vigorous pull locked the front up and dumped you off

 

[Mr K]

ABS - read the manual.

Mash the brakes - do not release... that's what the gizmos are for..

 

[GSmonkey]

I've had more scary moments with my ABS equipped bikes than with the others. As said above, with ABS you've got to hold on for dear life and hope that the brakes reapply sometime in the near future! The ABS systems seem to work better on the heavier bikes eg ADV which are less prone to bouncing around on road bumps. Just got a Honda scoot with ABS so will be interested to see how that works.

Unfortunately the best braking system is based on experience which only thousands of miles in the saddle in all conditions is going to teach. Advanced riding, as you've indicated you're interested in will hopefully have you relying on the brakes less - which is by far the best approach!!!

Good luck with the 12!

 

[BegesRus]

Keecked me pans when I decided to run my GSA off the tarmac and down a shortcut gravel track - as I approached the downhill hairpin bend I applied a little brake - nowt but ABS - a quick downshift and go for it got me round OK but leasson learned - turn it off

 

[Annette]

You could check your ABS sensor disk. My brother in law had a problem with his not working properly and the disk on the wheel was slightly bent out of shape and the sensor was not reading properly. £10 for a 2nd hand one from Motorworks or £10 for a new one if you need one.

 

[BegesRus]

That reminds me - tyre fitter crimped by sensor (painfull) and the ABSwas cutting in and out until I discovered the nick - removed it and bashed it round again - job done - Tyre fiotter denied any knowledge of course.
But yeah it's really scary when you fetch on the anchors and nowt happens

 

[marcus]

DO NOT release the brakes when the ABS kicks in

DO release a small amount of pressure.

Then squeeze some more.

Practice.

It is possible to stop an ABS bike quicker without the ABS kicking in than it is with the ABS kicking in, if you see what I mean.

 

[Snoopy]

It is possible to stop an ABS bike quicker without the ABS kicking in than it is with the ABS kicking in, if you see what I mean.

Aye if you are God

 

[Rushy]

“Let’s be safe for the last 10 miles” so I switch off the ABS at the next traffic light.

Sorry Neil but thats one of the funniest things i've read in a while

 

[Dahoum]

Nice one Neil - hope you got all the spills over in one trip

 

[Dahoum]

Is london (one of) the most dangerous places to ride a bike?

Safer here than down all them cow shite covered country lanes

 

[Uinneag]

fanny alert

 

[mark2jag]

being a tit.....

I've had more scary moments with my ABS equipped bikes than with the others. As said above, with ABS you've got to hold on for dear life and hope that the brakes reapply sometime in the near future! The ABS systems seem to work better on the heavier bikes eg ADV which are less prone to bouncing around on road bumps. Just got a Honda scoot with ABS so will be interested to see how that works.

Unfortunately the best braking system is based on experience which only thousands of miles in the saddle in all conditions is going to teach. Advanced riding, as you've indicated you're interested in will hopefully have you relying on the brakes less - which is by far the best approach!!!

Good luck with the 12!

rode my bike into the bike club one evening, forgetting we have a nice shiny floor, turned left into my marked bike bay, hit the brakes, which chose that exact moment to do their delaying tactics stuff, and ran full tilt into my locker at about 10 mph. Result: very slightly dented locker, undented by judicious use of very large boot and help from a friend, luckily no scissors involved so didnt need a RESPONSIBLE adult!! Also spent the next 20 minutes talking in a high pitched squeaky voice and clutching at my balls, which i'm told was extremely funny (he says he wished he had it on youtube the b*st*rd!!!!!!!)Hey ho such is life I guess....