Servo brakes .. are they that unreliable?

[Bryn]

So now I'm considering removing the servo etc.. How many have experienced problems with them? Mine's fine at the moment but I worry the brakes will pack up in the middle of europe - I know you'll still have residual braking but that's crap
I reckon its a stupid idea from BMW in the first place- why make things so complicated?

This could equally apply to 1200's ....

 

[John Armstrong]

None of my bikes have them now, and I'd purposely stay away from an 1150 / 1200 that had them, more for the ar5ing about when starting the bike up, and that they could be a bit abrupt, and the whining from the pump whenever they were on, and that if the brake levers were touching the guards etc you'd have a problem until it was sorted out.

Ohter than that they were 100% reliable for me.

 

[cookie]

i've noticed far fewer reports of failed servos recently, this forum used to be full of them. i don't think this can be accounted for just by the fact they are no longer fitted.

there's loads of old ones still running around

i certainly wouldn't remove the servo "just in case".

anyway, having tried the residual braking, i'm always amazed that so many people say how useless it is. ok, the reduction in stopping might come as a bit of a shock initially, but i found it perfectly useable. they need to ride some of my other bikes


having said that, i do admit that i only bought my 1200 after bmw ditched the servos though

 

[Stujw70]

Never had a single problem with them on any of the 1150's i have owned.

Had one problem on a 12GSA a few years ago, but turned out to be the lever making contact with the handguard. Moved handguard and all sorted.

 

[Myke Rocks]

Servos

So now I'm considering removing the servo etc.. How many have experienced problems with them? Mine's fine at the moment but I worry the brakes will pack up in the middle of europe - I know you'll still have residual braking but that's crap
I reckon its a stupid idea from BMW in the first place- why make things so complicated?

This could equally apply to 1200's ....

This argument has been done to death many, many times before, between those who are rabidly against them, and those who, like myself, are very happy with them and have covered very high mileages without a failure.

Two items spring to mind, though:

Item 1. If you remove the servo, you no longer have ABS.
I, for one, do not have the reactions of a formula one driver, and would not own a bike without it. Others (who believe themselves defied - look it up) may disagree with this, but they are entitled to their opinion - whilst they are still alive.

Item 2. On this grand trip, you may get a puncture. Have you considered Solid wheels. Guarenteed punctureproof. After all, most forklifts have them for this reason.

If you discard the second item as nonsense, you must ask yourself why you are so fixated with the first item. After all, the second item is much more likely to happen, and the cure is permanent.

Remember, you can ride a bike home from Poland without the servo working, albeit unpleasantly and possibly a little sphincter clenching, but try riding home from Poland with a puncture!

I must admit, though, I had a flat tyre in Moygashel 3 years ago, and, the local Modern Tyre Service Depot refused point blank to help, even of I removed the tyre off the rim myself. They stated that they never did tubeless repairs on a motorcycle because of liability problems. I asked was it not more dangerous to ride home to Newry (40 miles) on a flat and was informed - "That has nothing to do with us - Sir."
Well, I rode home on a flat tyre, but Modern tyres will never again have my custom.
Myke

 

[sproggy]

Remember, you can ride a bike home from Poland without the servo working, albeit unpleasantly and possibly a little sphincter clenching, but try riding home from Poland with a puncture!

You can get a puncture repaired pretty much anywhere in the world for a sensible price or a have tube put in it, or you can buy a new tyre and you have a choice of brands. Getting a servo replaced anywhere other than a BMW dealer/specialist is next to impossible and wherever it can be done it's very expensive. You have no choice over brand.

I removed mine although it had already been replaced before I bought the bike. It failed once and, eventually, would have failed again. But the main reason for replacing it was that the brakes were too hard to modulate in traffic and as I ride with a pillion we had more helmet impact in the few weeks before I de-servo'd the bike than we've had in the 9 years we've ridden together. I don't miss it, and prefer being without ABS (which I've not had on most previous bikes) to having ABS with a servo.

The servo is pointless expense, complication and weight. You don't need servo assistance on a bike to help you stop it (even an Electra Glide Ultra doesn't have a servo, and that's A LOT heavier than any GS or even LT), neither do you need a servo to get ABS.

 

[Blackal]

I feel that Servo brakes are the answer to a problem that isn't there

I don't like the low-speed "snatch" that I fall foul of on occasion, but wouldn't think about removing the servo.

What happens to your insurance if they find out that you have removed the servo (upon making a claim) - you have increased the risk in their eyes - probably to an unacceptable level, they would maintain.

Al

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

I didn't mind the servo, it did it's job very well. Then it packed up, so I took it off two years ago, much better

 

[Mutley]

I love my servo

Fully laden with a pillion they are absolutely fabulous and, coupled with the ABS, are the most secure and effective braking sustem I've ever had on a bike. I've had no issues with the system since I bought the bike and happily went to Marocco on mine.

I will say that they are a little grabby unladen and off road at very low speeds. This is easily modulated by taking a little care over stopping and I'd rather have the power and this issue than no power and no grab.

 

[oblertone]

They take ...

... some getting used to, and I find that coming to a halt using the back brake only is the only way to accomplish that 'gliding' to a halt sensation. Which probably accounts for my only major gripe, a set of rear pads every 6K

 

[Steptoe]

i've noticed far fewer reports of failed servos recently, this forum used to be full of them.

I used to get at least two a month arrive with servo failure, but it's been over 4 months since the last one rolled in here (not counting a K1200LT and a K1200RS, which i had to go and sort out at a non bmw workshop).

Perhaps there's no bad ones left.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

None of my bikes have them now, and I'd purposely stay away from an 1150 / 1200 that had them, more for the ar5ing about when starting the bike up, and that they could be a bit abrupt, and the whining from the pump whenever they were on, and that if the brake levers were touching the guards etc you'd have a problem until it was sorted out.

Ohter than that they were 100% reliable for me.

Ditto

 

[ThreeDawg]

Others (who believe themselves defied - look it up)

Fairly common word which I didn't need to look up, thanks, although used in a slightly odd context. Did you perhaps mean deified (someone considering themselves 'godlike' to save you looking it up )

 

[sproggy]

What happens to your insurance if they find out that you have removed the servo (upon making a claim) - you have increased the risk in their eyes - probably to an unacceptable level, they would maintain.

All you've done is convert the bike to an alternative specification that was offered by dealers when new. So the risk is no different than if you were insuring an otherwise identical bike that was never fitted with a servo from the factory.

I'd rather have the power and this issue than no power and no grab.

The servo doesn't make any difference to the power of the brakes - it just reduces the effort necessary at the lever to achieve a certain level of braking.

 

[MikeP]

The servo is still on my bike and will remain for as long as it functions correctly.

I've never worried that it might fail, it's easy to modulate but that might be due to mine being a later manifestation.

When or if it does go tits-up, if I cannot source a replacement cheaply, I'll do the removal/by-pass modification and live without it and the ABS (I like having ABS but I can live without it too).

As my servo-ABS has never given me a single moment of worry in nearly six years, I'll not worry about it now or in the future.

 

[Myke Rocks]

Fairly common word which I didn't need to look up, thanks, although used in a slightly odd context. Did you perhaps mean deified (someone considering themselves 'godlike' to save you looking it up )

Apologies. A spelling misteak. You are correct.

Deified it is and was meant to be!

Myke

 

[Timolgra]

I removed mine as a 'just in case' and will do so on my 'new' 1150 not only as a preventative measure but without the servo/abs the brakes are just as strong and with far more feel, very important offroad and on slippy surfaces.

I can live without ABS and have proved that to myself on many occasions.

 

[Littledumptruck]

Where's the 'won't buy a bike with them' option?

Yes they are that unreliable, almost every Beemer that turns up at our club has had a problem with them, cooked discs, intermittent repeated complete failure, and faulty servo's amongst them.

My mate has just had a new servo on K12rs, nearly £500 for a second hand one, plus labour to fit it. New one was £1200.

Sometimes being the only manufacturer to use something unique doesn't always mean its a good thing.

 

[MickDB1]

Ive a 1150 - 04 with 33000 the last style of linked 1150 servo's
It has been great
it has worked incredably well
It does worry me that it may fail eventually and cost 1200+ quid for a replacement - if I get one - which I wont
But
It has showd me just how much braking can be done without locking up
It has helped me improve my riding/braking on all me bikes

I would probably not buy a bike again with servo's etc.
But I would test ride the abs servo model before I bought a none servo
If this one ever fails - why should it - I would re - pipe the hoses direct

Bryn could you just have a hose with you for the front discs - I am sure thats enough to get you home on a big trip abroard

 

[Bryn]

Thanks for the input folks.... The Servo on the 1200 I had worked well enough around Europe... so the choice is leave it til it packs up ( if indeed it does) and then cope with it wherever I happen to be, or spend a few bob and a weekend converting it....

I'm still in two minds ( there they are )