R1150GS Adv Servo Removal

[Geldof]

Hi all. I am contemplating removing the Servo from a 2004 R1150GS Adventure
as I cannot get on with the vicious nature of the braking at low speeds.

Got a few questions

1) Does Servo removal imply you would be left with the equivalent of std brakes
without ABS? Is ABS reliant on the existance of the Servo? Would a bike with
the Servo completely removed still have what would be considered to be good brakes?

2) If the Servo was removed, would the bike be worth less, or regarded as less
desirable than with Servo intact?

3) Would there be any issues resulting from Servo removal when it came time for MOT?

4) Would a mod like this be something you would have to declare to the DVLA or to
your Insurance company for instance?

Basically, I am trying to weigh up the pros and cons of doing this, so want to be a clued
up as possible before deciding either way. If there are any other considerations good or
bad I would like to hear them also. Thx

 

[Steptoe]

You end up with the same brakes as a non servo/abs bike, which was an option at the time.

I don't think it makes much difference to the value.

Some people tell their insurance company, some don't - be prepared to get "computer says no" if you do.

I've had a couple of bikes in for repair with servos removed that have been involved in collisions and the insurance assessors haven't batted an eyelid.
Same as they couldn't tell the difference between a bike with ABS and non ABS.

There's a "how to remove the servo at no cost" in the font of all knowledge.

 

[MikeO]

Hi all. I am contemplating removing the Servo from a 2004 R1150GS Adventure
as I cannot get on with the vicious nature of the braking at low speeds.

Got a few questions

1) Does Servo removal imply you would be left with the equivalent of std brakes
without ABS? Is ABS reliant on the existance of the Servo? Would a bike with
the Servo completely removed still have what would be considered to be good brakes?

2) If the Servo was removed, would the bike be worth less, or regarded as less
desirable than with Servo intact?

3) Would there be any issues resulting from Servo removal when it came time for MOT?

4) Would a mod like this be something you would have to declare to the DVLA or to
your Insurance company for instance?

Basically, I am trying to weigh up the pros and cons of doing this, so want to be a clued
up as possible before deciding either way. If there are any other considerations good or
bad I would like to hear them also. Thx

1. Yes - if you remove the servo, you remove the ABS. The brakes are fine without either.

2. Personally, I took mine off as soon as I bought it. If the previous owner had done it, it would merely have saved me a job - but buyers/sellers vary...

3. The bike will pass the MoT if its braking system is efficient. Don't forget, what you are doing is converting this to a non-servo, non-ABS bike - and BMW marketed that version in the UK...

4. No requirement to declare to the DVLA. I told my insurance company (Aviva through Devitt) and they weren't concerned at all.

Hope this helps - there's a great guide on how to do it here...

Cheers,

Mike

Edit - Steptoe types quicker than me...

 

[Geldof]

Thanks Steptoe and Mike. Great answers.
Thats it - Servo is going in the bin

 

[richierex]

Nice thread and no bollocks about "residual braking" either.

 

[MikeO]

Thanks Steptoe and Mike. Great answers.
Thats it - Servo is going in the bin

One thing I forgot - when you remove the connector from the rear brake and reattach the hose, the bend in the end of the hose means it adopts a weird angle. I replaced the hose with a new Goodrich one from Motorworks to cure this (order the one for a non-ABS Adventure). It's probably not strictly necessary, but it was less than £30 delivered (plus I sold the old one for a tenner) and the hose is under no stress now. Be careful to re-route the front brake hose so that it doesn't foul the steering (another angle issue - solved with a cable tie)

Cheers,

Mike

 

[Geldof]

Cheers Mike. To be honest I will probably try to get someone handy with spanners
to sort it for me as I don't have a garage, and it seems to have been raining continously
now for approx 2 years. I noticed also that one of the "forks" is weeping, seems like a seal
needs doing. I also want to dump the cat and fit a Y-piece, so a nice bit of work there for
a spanner samurai

 

[Redsprocket]

I followed the guide on here, : excellent.

Worth the price of the subscription alone

The servo brakes were the one part of the bike I was never fussed by, and when it started play up, out it came!

Shame it had the servo in conjunction with abs, as I would have kept that. However this is the only bike I've had with abs in 28 years, so I won't miss it that much!

 

[Geldof]

Thx to Motoscot, servo now just a distant memory.
Brakes are very powerful even with Servo removed.
That Servo unit is heavy - weighs in at just under 5kg

 

[Richard J]

Has anyone found a neat way to fill the hole left if you remove the rear ABS sensor? I know you can just leave it in place but wanted to a proper job.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Never figured that out.

I recon a rowntrees sweet tube from the early '80's has a lid that might fit. I doubt it does but a dab of araldite and it would be grand.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

I preferred mine before it came out. If its not broken leave it alone.

 

[Yeti]

You end up with the same brakes as a non servo/abs bike, which was an option at the time.

I don't think it makes much difference to the value.

Some people tell their insurance company, some don't - be prepared to get "computer says no" if you do.

I've had a couple of bikes in for repair with servos removed that have been involved in collisions and the insurance assessors haven't batted an eyelid.
Same as they couldn't tell the difference between a bike with ABS and non ABS.

There's a "how to remove the servo at no cost" in the font of all knowledge.

I swear I couldn't navigate my way out of an elevator with a GPS. Accordingly, I can't find the "font of all knowledge." I found a "Font of All Wisdom" and while there were many wise things there, I was unable to locate the how to remove the servo at no cost.

Please have mercy on this expatriate Scot , and provide me with a link or further info. I'm about to lose my shite with the servo brakes. (Yes, I know I need help.)

 

[Ian J Hartley]

You should have looked in the sticky at the top of this section

Here you go:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=232002

 

[Yeti]

You should have looked in the sticky at the top of this section

Here you go:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=232002

I might as well change my avatar to this guy ------>

Thanks!