Servo ABS...why not?

[gingerbeemer08]

Why dont folk like the servo assisted ABS brakes on the 1150GS then?
What do I need to know?
Seen a very low mileage 1150 (02) plate thats never seen a service let alone brake service, should I be wary??

 

[Steptoe]

Because the servo/abs unit is almost certain to fail at some point. And it's not a cheap fix.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Why dont folk like the servo assisted ABS brakes on the 1150GS then?
What do I need to know?
Seen a very low mileage 1150 (02) plate thats never seen a service let alone brake service, should I be wary??

An early 2002 bike may well not have Servo ABS

Check the ABS ring on the front wheel, they are different or listen for a Servo whine, with the ignition on and front brake applied

 

[Fanum]

Because the servo/abs unit is almost certain to fail at some point. And it's not a cheap fix.

If it hasn't failed by now, it's no more likely to fail than the engine or any other integral part of the bike is.

It's a FREE fix, unless you want to restore it to original operation

EDIT......an 11 year old bike that's never been serviced?
hmmmmm.......it's going to need a bloody good going over to make it safe....including a brake fluid change (Brake fluid is hygroscopic)

 

[David Nimrod]

That feckin' whining sound drives you nuts

 

[Timolgra]

Because the servo/abs unit is almost certain to fail at some point. And it's not a cheap fix.

Also grabs at low speed on slippy surfaces, virtually no brakes with the engine off...which is useless maneuvering the bike on a slope, particularly offroad

....basically, servo/abs = shite

 

[Fanum]

Also grabs at low speed on slippy surfaces, virtually no brakes with the engine off...which is useless maneuvering the bike on a slope, particularly offroad

....basically, servo/abs = shite

Rubbish.

 

[Mutley]

The only issue I have with mine is the very low speed 'grab' if you use the front brake. If you use the back brake below 5 mph then it's fine

The up side is superb power at higher speed and ABS









The ABS on my car has never failed either

 

[Timolgra]

Rubbish.

Go on then (if you can remember), explain why that's rubbish.

 

[DrFarkoff]

.basically, servo/abs = shite

Agree Strongly If I were to buy a bike with Servo ABS at this age I would more than likely remove it

I would say that a few mysterious motorcycle fatalities in years gone by could be attributed to this schite system going into residual mode JUST when you need brakes (I say fatalities because only they could tell us the brakes failed! but they can't)

Rubbish.

Here's one for you Bill Get your Servo ABS bike wound up to about 70mph on a straight level road turn your ignition off and just using the brakes how quickly can you stop??

They are DANGEROUS and should NEVER have been fitted on a bike

Yes I FUGGIN hate them with a vengeance!! I've had nearly every manifestation of failure on the ones that were only a year or two old whilst I worked at the dealers, 10 - 30 mph full power brakes locking the front wheel on a K1200LT, No fault found on Komet, etc etc Slow, medium and High speed residual braking Those really do make you clench your arse cheeks

Anyone asks me now What I think it's either buy a brand new one or get rid of it! End off

 

[Steptoe]

If it hasn't failed by now, it's no more likely to fail than the engine or any other integral part of the bike is.

I had approx 25 servo units piled up in my garage from last year. My man from germany took all of them earlier in the year to recondition. I'm now back up to 9 units

They can fail at any age or mileage, i've had them from 12k up to 90k miles.

The ABS on my car has never failed either

It's rarely the abs that fails. It's usually the servo part.

 

[Taff]

I will tell you what happened on mine - I started a thread on it.

• While it was in for a service the BMW trained mechanic (now an independent) said there was an ABS problem and in short wouldn't take it off as it was a "safety feature".
• The cost of replacing the unit was about £1,500 IIRC.
• I was obviously reluctant to spend £1,500 on anything unless it was essential.
• I remembered that the bike had refused to start a few weeks before due to a flat battery.
• It did start after a few days on the Optimate but it was an 8yr old battery and to be sure, I had the battery changed and wondered whether the poor battery may have caused the faulty ABS reading. I think I started a thread on that too.
• The original BMW mechanic told me that changing the battery wouldn't cure the faulty ABS - although I must say that having changed the battery there were no more ABS flashing warning lights.
• The wife refused to go pillion on "a bike with no brakes"
• My confidence in it was now shaken to the extent that I wouldn't take my kids on the back. Injuring yourself is one thing, but possibly hurting the kids is something else.
• Taking the wife or kids out on the bike is one of the joys of having a bike
• I asked the BMW dealer to check it. He thought it was unecessary but it was going to cost me £50 and I was happy with that.
• They checked the ABS thoroughly - even connecting via the internet to BMW apparently.
• They did find 2 "historic" recorded faults but
• After the historic faults were cleared they tested it again and couldn't find any problem with the ABS. I don't have the exact wording on the invoice, but can get it if needed.
• If it gets to the stage where there is a problem with it, Mr Steptoe will be getting a call but in the meantime while it's working fine it stays.
• The ABS only kicks in in an emergency. No hard braking - no need for the ABS to do anything. And touch wood I haven't had to rely on the ABS so I don't remember it kicking in once apart from when I was practicing in an empty car park. The independent mechanic did say it is a good idea to make it work periodically (nothing benefits from not being used as my old uncle used to say) so these days on most trips, I will deliberately try and lock up the back wheel.
• So far, no problems to report.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Also grabs at low speed on slippy surfaces, virtually no brakes with the engine off...which is useless maneuvering the bike on a slope, particularly offroad

....basically, servo/abs = shite

Servo ABS

Pity they fitted it to the 1150GSA SE and you were denied the choice, unlike the Black or Silver GSA's

Then you had to modify the SE to remove it

They tell me KTM 950's have superb brakes and are a lot better

 

[Timolgra]

Servo ABS

Pity they fitted it to the 1150GSA SE and you were denied the choice, unlike the Black or Silver GSA's

Then you had to modify the SE to remove it

They tell me KTM 950's have superb brakes and are a lot better

But I did have the choice.
Bought the bike I wanted with Servo/abs, rode it around the Alps and as Mutley says the power of the brakes at high speed is great

Got back and removed it for the reasons I mentioned earlier.... plus another reason I've remembered.....the brakes are linked and in certain circumstances the rear pads can wear rapidly, great...now you can feck your rear disc with the front brake lever on an adventure bike plus the servo may go tits up

Bought another SE and removed it straight away.

As for KTM brakes, you squeeze them they stop you, simple....generally you don't need them

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Is that the Stelvio

 

[Ogmios]

Is that the Stelvio

No silly - THIS is.....

 

[mandon]

it is definitely expensive,
mine went bad last year....and since i dont have the time to remove it and do the necessary revision i just ordered the abs/servo module from BMW(Philippines)

when they told me how much it cost, it nearly gave me a hearth attack...anyway went for it...for a not so cheap $3k++ including labor...

oh...and when it went bad i lost my brake...not even residual brake...you cant even ride to the stealership....i have to dish out another $200 to bring it to the stealership and wait approx 3 weeks for the module to arrive....

there's a thread here somewhere with pictures on how to remove the module and do the revision so that youll have brake lights(controlled by the module)...if ive seen it before...i would have done that and do away with abs/servo....

it could be repaired by servo master(i think) for $500...and a whooping 5 years warranty....

 

[Paul Young]

I said when they were launched, that electric servos were a potentially life-threatening problem. The ABS isn't the issue, just the servo assistance. It fails "dangerous" instead of safe & it does fail.

I wonder if it's a possible option, to remove the servo/ABS unit & replace it with a previous generation ABS unit? You could then have your GS SE with ABS...

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I said when they were launched, that electric servos were a potentially life-threatening problem. The ABS isn't the issue, just the servo assistance. It fails "dangerous" instead of safe & it does fail.

I wonder if it's a possible option, to remove the servo/ABS unit & replace it with a previous generation ABS unit? You could then have your GS SE with ABS...

I remember it well Paul and no doubt I agreed with you

I bought a new Servo ABS 1150GS in 2004, thinking it would be ok...........how wrong I was, it was horrible to ride and not a patch on previous Evo ABS2 GS

Did about 5000 miles on it over summer and dropped it into the dealer in late Sept, for him to sell over winter, whilst I ordered a new 1150GSA, sans ABS for Spring 2005 delivery

Never looked back

One less thing to worry about

 

[paul08]

I had a 2002 R850R which had the BMW abs/servo system. Never had a problem with it and I had it until April of this year. I was told by my local BMW dealer (when I was looking to trade it in against a new LC) that the brakes (not sure if it is the servo or the abs bit) are sensitive to the condition of the brake fluid and that, as long as you regularly change the brake fluid, then you should not have problems. But therein lies the rub: it is/was a 2 hour job to change the brake fluid!!

All that said, I liked the brakes and the security they gave under braking.