Servo brakes - naughty or nice?

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oddshapedballs

oddshapedballs

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OK, this maybe one of these questions that'll get me 50/50 split but....how reliable are servo assisted brakes?

My budget only really gets me up to a 2006 with higher mileage, so all the 12GS' available to me are servo assisted. All the write ups I can see are the stuff of nightmares!
 
Safe to say they aren't the most reliable system. Bare in mind though that you will only ever read about problems and never how good something is. For a 2006 with mileage I would expect a few problems and not only with the abs. Depends on what you define as higher mileage as well.
 
I've had a 2004 1200GS from new. The servo pump failed withing 90 miles. Replaced under warranty.

Not saying owt else in case I put the kiss of death on the bike ...

:beerjug:
 
What's your budget? Marki is on the money imho
Mileage is also about how those miles were covered ie urban or motorway
 
They are shite, bin em.

There is always the potential for failure which leaves you with the brakes of a c90 on something that weighs 1/4 ton.

The first thing I did on my 1150 servo'd bike is remove the servo. You lose abs, I ride accordingly and at least I know the brakes will always be there when I need them.
 
Very naughty, not nice at all.

Quite apart from the reliability they are only operational with the ignition turned on. This can catch you (or anyone else handling your bike) unaware when taking the bike off its stand or when wheeling it about. Also when holding the bike on its brakes at a junction (or on a hill) you will hear the motor whining away, which is most irritating.

I have had three 1200s with servos and six without, I would advise steering clear, save a little longer and buy better - there is usually a good reason when BMW drop a system !

Season's Greetings and good luck.
 
A 10 years old bike can be expected to have some lurking problems. Add some known to be troublesome techie parts like brake servos and it's likely to end up costing more in the long run than a newer bike.

But moving a servo brake bike with ignition off is simple. Leave it in gear and use the clutch. It's easier to balance the bike with LH on handlebar and RH on pillion grab handle. Keep side stand down for added security and whenever possible push the bike backwards.
Complicated faff? Maybe, but pushing it with both hands on handlebars I trip over the side stand and things get expensive if the bike leans too far away from me.
 
I actually liked the servos on my '05 GS, but twice the micro switch on the rear brake pedal was knocked out of place during spirited riding. It was easily rectified and no real problems in 25k. I know of another guy who had failure of the servo just by not using the bike it seems. He's only done about 5k since 2006 and the servo packed up when he went to go out on one of his too few runs.
 
Not all bad news

Well, the only (touching wood etc) problem I have had is when the handguard interfered with the brake lever - I got constant whirring and warning light, took a couple of minutes to realise and resolve.

I may be lucky but cannot afford to change to a newer bike, and actually feel no urge to do so. Brakes are strong and responsive and I don't nanny them, they get used!

Bike is 2005 GS with around 22k on it - no paint peeling, no new final drive, no replacement fuel strip, no ring antenae problems and no fuel pump controller issues.

Tyres, oil and a new clutch (leaking oil seal allowed contamination) and home servicing.

Bike had only done 247 miles in first 3 years (all done in the first week by original owner) then got up to 2345 miles after 5 years at which point I bought it.









Mind you, having written that I have probably jinxed it for evermore:blast
 
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I'm on my 2nd GS 1st had 64500 when I sold it no service history but very clean all working perfect,one I have now has 52000 this has FSH,as long as the bike you buy looks good why worry :confused: you'll get yourself in a tizz waz if you look up GS problems :blast
Both of these are 05 servo models too if it goes wrong I'll remove the system simple.

All bikes no matter the make have problems,some more notorious than others ffs don't panic don't panic oddshapedballs ;)
 
oddshapedballs said:
OK, this maybe one of these questions that'll get me 50/50 split but....how reliable are servo assisted brakes?

My budget only really gets me up to a 2006 with higher mileage, so all the 12GS' available to me are servo assisted. All the write ups I can see are the stuff of nightmares!
Click to expand...

The non servo ABS fitted to later bikes isn't without it's problems.
 
I specifically bought a bike without (2009 GS). If you're competet rider the requirement for ABS and servos on bike is a bit unnecessary IMHO

ABS is feckin pain (had it on my KTM - never again...or at least switch off every ride). On loose road surface, where you want the tyre to cut through the crap and make contact with the road below...kinda helps the stopping process a little bit ...ABS can kick in and increase stopping distances. There is so much feedback with a bike that unless you're prone to panicking, ABS is just not needed (Seen the MotoGP / TT riders?...can't see them needing it, they can stop quicker without)

BTW I think the replacement servos are £1200... :rob
 
The ABS/Servo motors can be stripped and brushes replaced. There is recent thread on that one. TBH I like the ABS on my GS though not how the back brake buzzes in too eagerly. The fronts however will pull the bike up amazingly hard and with zero drama. My Yamaha 900 with blue spots was also up for hard stopping but had less lever pressure so easier to modulate the pressure when needed. The original Yam brakes were crap so Im not comparing Apples & pears.
 
Bendy toy said:
The ABS/Servo motors can be stripped and brushes replaced. There is recent thread on that one. TBH I like the ABS on my GS though not how the back brake buzzes in too eagerly. The fronts however will pull the bike up amazingly hard and with zero drama. My Yamaha 900 with blue spots was also up for hard stopping but had less lever pressure so easier to modulate the pressure when needed. The original Yam brakes were crap so Im not comparing Apples & pears.
Click to expand...

I think a lot of the issue with the TDM was the soft suspension and dive - the blue spot brakes were pretty good (same as the R1 I think?)
 
You can get a 2004-2006 model WITHOUT servo ABS.

However, my 2005 model has servo ABS and is fine at 43,000 miles. If you sit holding the brakes on the servo will whine. However, if you sit using the REAR brake, then the servo stops after a few seconds.

Regular brake fluid changes are apparently important.

I like having ABS, especially on muddy country roads, with suicide pheasants waiting for you.
 
Time Traveller said:
I think a lot of the issue with the TDM was the soft suspension and dive - the blue spot brakes were pretty good (same as the R1 I think?)
Click to expand...

The 900 Diversion has basic suspension and frankly basic brakes as standard. They had stopping power but needed a lot of muscle. The blue spots were not costly (mine came from an R6) and made a huge difference. But ultimately the basic fork was a limiting factor. I would always see all of the front suspension travel used up. The GSA having no dive on the brakes normally uses only about 2 inches of its front wheel travel.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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