Servo brakes or not - Pros & cons please.

[cookie]

So maybe the question is "Can you guys with experience of GS servoed and new 07 non-servo brakes tell us how they compare? Do you get the same impressive braking effect as on servoed brakes? Is there more feel to the lever?"

i've ridden a 06 servo/ABS bike on demo & own an 07 non servo/ABS bike.

the braking on the servo bike i rode was extremely powerful, but i never got the feel for them.

i've also ridden 1150 servo/ABS bikes which had less power, but more feel. my 07 bike feels more like them to me. not as powerful as a servo 1200, but way more feel.
i'm not in favour of the servo at all, but sometimes, when i'm 2 up, i think it might be nice. don't want the complications though.

all very subjective. i'm sure i'd get used to any of them.

 

[Stevo]

Thanks for all the responses so far.

FYI Brian ROSEN, i go through Wickham Mkt everyday - l live 3 mile away.
The roads are still real sh1tty - farm muck as you mentioned.
You say watch the Fork Seals - can you explain?!?


Thanks for all the feedback on this topic - it's been e real eye opener.

Cheers

Stevo

 

[Engineer]

Hi Everyone.

Having only test riden a non servo '07 12GS, I'd like your views on what is best - pre '07 servo assisted or non servo brakes.

The brakes on the test ride were prety good and I managed to get on with them really well.

If i went for a second hand servo bike would i notice the difference and would i be disappointed?

A couple of things i've heard is that servo brakes have a high pitch whine and could drain the battery - any truth here?

I look forward to your comments and your real life feedback!

Cheers

ATB
Stevo

Hee Hee - here we go again!

Just get plain ordinary non-servo/non-abs brakes - why? cos they work!

Oh and the pads last - front barely 1/2 worn and rear maybe 2/3 worn after 18,300 ish miles - front is very effective with only two fingers and rear also gives good stopping power. - Oh and last but not least, they have been 100% reliable - I never have to worry about silly flashing lights, flat batteries and that daft residual braking nonsense!

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Problems?

"I never have to worry about silly flashing lights, flat batteries and that daft residual braking nonsense!"........me neither BUT I have the ABS and the servo!

 

[Ian]

I have a 06 gs with servo abs, go for non abs if ur going for new bike they are not worth it, also point to note if u start bike whilst holding brake lever in i.e on a hill, u then find u have no brakes!!!!!, and when they are working they pretty crap compared to my R1

 

[Peter Reilly]

I have just sold my 2005 servo/ABS bike to buy a 2007 non-servo/ABS model. I find the non-servo brakes much better. There were three things I didn't like about the servos. 1) very grabby at low speed. I ride in London a lot and slowing from 10mph to zero was often too aggressive 2) although very powerful at speed, I didn't find the response linear 3) I also disliked the whining noise and the thought that if the electronics failed then I lost most of the brakes.

You also have to ask yourself why, if servo brakes were so great, did BMW discontinue them. I think they were an aberration.

 

[runeo]

I have just sold my 2005 servo/ABS bike to buy a 2007 non-servo/ABS model. I find the non-servo brakes much better. There were three things I didn't like about the servos. 1) very grabby at low speed. I ride in London a lot and slowing from 10mph to zero was often too aggressive 2) although very powerful at speed, I didn't find the response linear 3) I also disliked the whining noise and the thought that if the electronics failed then I lost most of the brakes.

You also have to ask yourself why, if servo brakes were so great, did BMW discontinue them. I think they were an aberration.

Done the same trip from servo to just plain superb breaks. The difference is so big I traded in my -06 12GSAdv against a -07, just for the breaks.

 

[MikeP]

also point to note if u start bike whilst holding brake lever in i.e on a hill, u then find u have no brakes!!!!

Let's not confuse the issue with user-error.

and when they are working they pretty crap compared to my R1

I imagine the acceleration is different too.

 

[Slippy]

I had the 1150gs without the servos and it was good. Now I have the 1200gs and its allot less effort on the braking. But then you are buying a duel purpose bike and if you going to use it on the road most of the time go for the servos and ABS. If you going to use it for more offroading then onroading then get the non servo ones... I would still get the ABS as you can switch it off if you get to the gravel.

 

[quendi]

I's go non ABS Servo

I had a 2004 1200GS with ABS and servo and quite frankly its a pain. The servo noise, the start up routine and it consumes rear pads in a few thousand miles. Plus the system failed and I was left with the so called residual braking only, (which is useless). I'd rather have brakes that work and that don't eat pads.

The brake failure was the final straw and I traded my 04 in for an 07 without the ABS/Servo. What a joy, rear pads only half worn at 7,000 miles, no complex start up routine and no fear they won't work. Non servoed brakes are great and have more feel!

Jon

 

[JohnC]

Let's not confuse the issue with user-error.

I imagine the acceleration is different too.

And the lack of weight

 

[Brian ROSEN]

How very strange

"The servo noise, the start up routine and it consumes rear pads in a few thousand miles. Plus the system failed and I was left with the so called residual braking only, (which is useless). I'd rather have brakes that work and that don't eat pads."
The servo noise is hardly audible. The start up routine takes less time than putting on my gloves and it only seems necessary to wait the first time it starts up in a day. My brake pads are fine after 14000 kms; and, even more strangely, when I 'lost' my servo the residual braking was QUITE SATISFACTORY although it required a little more effort. (The fault was mine - brake lever touching the handguard.) Because it is very hilly around here I do use the brakes rather a lot and I value the servo - but perhaps I have a more delicate touch than some? We all have our own style of riding - some consume tyres, brake pads & petrol at a furious rate; why not - chacun à son goût!

 

[twofat]

Personal

I guess in the end, it comes down to personal opinion. I had an r1100s with no servo and never felt the need for more powerful brakes. I now have an 06 1200gs, with servo and am considering a trade on an 07 non servo model. I feel that something as important as your braking system should be kept as simple as possible, although abs should be standard equipment for all road users. I find the servo brakes too grabby at low speed and far too aggressive on gravel roads.
Just my 2p.
Cheers.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Personal opinion or type of use?

"I find the servo brakes too grabby at low speed and far too aggressive on gravel roads." What you say is true - but in both these cases a touch on the rear brake pedal is all that is required.

 

[looney]

Having had a 2004 GS with servo/ABS for two years and now a 2007 GS with ABS sans servos, there is maybe another point not mentioned yet:
the new (2007) non-servo ABS works MUCH better compared to its predecessor. Especially when braking over cobble stone, pot holes, railway lines and the like. In fact the new ABS kicks in only when it is really needed IMHO and then it works like a charm.
This alone would make the 2007 ABS model the clear winner for me, regardless of price.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

That seems to be the answer?

Having had a 2004 GS with servo/ABS for two years and now a 2007 GS with ABS sans servos, there is maybe another point not mentioned yet:
the new (2007) non-servo ABS works MUCH better compared to its predecessor. Especially when braking over cobble stone, pot holes, railway lines and the like. In fact the new ABS kicks in only when it is really needed IMHO and then it works like a charm.
This alone would make the 2007 ABS model the clear winner for me, regardless of price.

So it would seem that BMW have improved the system in such a way that the servo (obviously an added expense) is no longer necessary; I wonder what the differences are.