Love the bike, but still got problems

[DRAIN MAN]

Took delivery of a new GSA TE in March, just been back for a 12,000 mile service.
I very rarely use the back brake- the rear pads nearly down to backing plate. Was informed this is due to the linked brake system applying the rear brake when using the front. Bit strange as there is plenty of pad left on the front.

Left hand side switch gear needs replacing due to faulty cruise control action and the wheel not altering the BMW sat nav. When using cruise control if it wants to work which it will about 20% of the time it then switches off if using a indicator, not great when pulling out to overtake.

Sad lack of paint left on centre stand ( more rust than paint nearly ) this was reported to dealer at 2000 miles, according to them it is a common problem with most of the BMW range before and still is !!!

Good points, bike never overheated even in temps of 48 degrees, no oil usage at all, fuel gauge seems to work ok so far, no problems with gearbox or shaft drive unit so far. Fuel comsumption better than previous GSA, averaging 51 to the gallon fully loaded.

As any one else had problems with the switch gear!! or have I just been unlucky ?

 

[cug]

Switch gear and rear pads are common complaints. Haven't heard about the center stand issue. I'd say 12k miles in 2 months is fairly impressive. Long trip or normal for you?

 

[DRAIN MAN]

Switch gear and rear pads are common complaints. Haven't heard about the center stand issue. I'd say 12k miles in 2 months is fairly impressive. Long trip or normal for you?

Long trip!! from England to Dakar in Senegal and back!!

 

[Bayman]

Long trip!! from England to Dakar in Senegal and back!!

That is a trip

 

[Jumblemo]

It's no surprise about the rear brakes. The linked braking applies a bias to the rear dependant on speed when you pull the hand lever. Many riders on this forum claim not to ever use the rear brake, but they do so regardless due to the linked system

 

[Schtum]

Rear pad life should be increased if you regularly clean the accumulated brake dust out of the holes in the rear disc.

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

I find the brakes grabby at very low speed, ive a feeling quite a lot of rear brake is being applied when i grab the lever for the fronts, asked the dealer and they reckoned they were normal, seems the standard response from them.

 

[Steve 63]

I find the brakes grabby at very low speed, ive a feeling quite a lot of rear brake is being applied when i grab the lever for the fronts, asked the dealer and they reckoned they were normal, seems the standard response from them.

l totally agree with this feeling at low speed. I very rarly apply the rear brake. My pads havent got much life left at 5600 front still has loads.

 

[dave hendy]

Had 2 switch assemblies replaced so far!

Just ordered some EBC HH rear pads hope they sort it and only £20

 

[GSMartin]

My replacement pads, fitted at 1700 miles have now done 3500 miles and still have lots of meat on them. So either the first set were too soft or the rough disc has been worn smooth.

 

[Streetbike]

Had 2 switch assemblies replaced so far!

Just ordered some EBC HH rear pads hope they sort it and only £20

Was that front or rear pads Dave?

 

[Gossy]

l totally agree with this feeling at low speed. I very rarly apply the rear brake. My pads havent got much life left at 5600 front still has loads.

Only ever use rear brake pedal occasionally during slow manoeuvring/Uturns etc - never had an issue, I do dust off the discs though.

 

[Steve 63]

Its not an issue its just you can feel the rear brake come on.

I do keep my bike clean but i dont dust off the discs ffs. All the bikes I've owned I've never had to change the rear pads upto 15,000 miles, i'm not a heavy break user anyway. The dealer said they would only change them if they had done less than 3,000 miles i think thats crap!

I still love the bike though and will put in some new brembo pads before my trip to Austria

 

[dave hendy]

Was that front or rear pads Dave?

Rear ordered yesterday so should have them for the weekend

 

[paddy]

Centre Stand

Yep

This is a problem on all the BMW's I 've had recently with stand.!

All they need is thicker paint or rubber around the middle of the stand where spray and dirt come off the back tyre.

Lack of the usual German design thoughtfulness.

 

[Daxaar]

Just ordered some EBC HH rear pads hope they sort it and only £20

Where from?

My rear pads are far lower than they should be but I can't be bothered to argue with the dealer as I know I'll get the usual nonchalant response so I'll just replace them myself.

 

[Eunuch]

My bike went in for it's 6K and the rear pads were down to the metal - shame on me for not spotting it. I rarely use the rear too and though Barnstormers followed up with BMW as a warranty claim they wouldn't accept it. Apparently they would have if it had been under 4K miles.

Kinda peed, but I have to get on with life ... at least it was identified before I scoot off to Tuscany .

 

[dave hendy]

Where from?

My rear pads are far lower than they should be but I can't be bothered to argue with the dealer as I know I'll get the usual nonchalant response so I'll just replace them myself.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400701255719

I didn't get them from NN or Motorworks as these were all I wanted and I didn't want to pay postage costs on top!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Bendy toy]

The old Austin Mini had brake pressure reducers on the back brakes. It sounds like another farkle for Touratech to look into


Sent from a widget that can't spell.

 

[Nick V]

I very rarely use the back brake- the rear pads nearly down to backing plate. Was informed this is due to the linked brake system applying the rear brake when using the front. Bit strange as there is plenty of pad left on the front.

Logic says to me that the LC's rear pads WILL wear faster than the hexhead/camhead. Looking in the manual, they specify organic pads for the rear brake - not sintered.

Organic pads are more 'sensitive' (they give better low-speed modulation) when using only the rear. Although why BMW should have taken this step after using sintered pads since 2004 is beyond me - the hexhead/camhead rear brakes were perfectly fine.

Just ordered some EBC HH rear pads hope they sort it and only £20

Dave, be careful: if those pads are sintered, there's every chance of wrecking the brake disc.

About seven years ago, I had a riding buddy who grabbed a set of sintered pads at random to use on the rear of his R1200C. I asked him: "Are the old pad backing plates painted black, or gold?" "Black", he said. And the new ones? "Gold", he said. "Don't use those pads", I said; "you'll score the shite out of the disc". "Garbage", said he. He installed the pads and buggered off for a 2 000 Km tour.
Two days later, he phoned me up. "You were right," said he. "This disc is toast..."