Should i buy a gsa with a servo.

[scifilord]

Hi guys, sold my r1150gs non servo/abs a few months ago as i want the adventure.

I know you can get the older gs adv without servo/abs but if i want a newer one with abs then i have to have a servo.

So my question is would you take a chance and buy one with the servo or go for a older one without servo.

I know the servo can be remover if it fails but i dont want to loose the abs.

Has anyone still got a working servo on a high mileage bike.

Thanks.

 

[flatdog]

Hi guys, sold my r1150gs non servo/abs a few months ago as i want the adventure.

I know you can get the older gs adv without servo/abs but if i want a newer one with abs then i have to have a servo.

So my question is would you take a chance and buy one with the servo or go for a older one without servo.

I know the servo can be remover if it fails but i dont want to loose the abs.

Has anyone still got a working servo on a high mileage bike.

Thanks.

2002 plate with 82k miles and no problems with servo during my ownership or historically.

 

[rodsharp]

I read all the stories on here and worried unnecessarily, but mine worked fine, and the brakes were really powerful.They do take just a little while to get used to but no problems whatsoever.

 

[Sunny Jim]

Had my GSA for 6yrs now with no problem whatsoever. Have only heard of 2 and they were on other sites (So that's 2 in God knows how many 1000's out there). The 'bike is always dealer serviced and oil in the servo changed when appropriate (every 2yrs if I remember rightly). So nah, don't even think about it.

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

I'd buy either version spending more time on condition rather than if it has servo or not. Mine packed up a couple of years ago so I just took it off, lots of people have done it now. Do I miss it.. no, would I buy another servo'd bike.. yes.

Don't worry about it, unless your one of these new breed that has to have ABS cause you have it on the car

 

[franco]

120,000kms in 7 years on my GSA, never had a problem with the servo...

 

[scifilord]

Thanks for the comments guys maybe i am worrying about nothing.

Yes i do have ABS on the car but have only had it on one of my previous bikes the gs1150. The thing is as i get a bit older i dont think by bones will not be as strong if i have an off, and the ABS just give me a bit more reassurance.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I wouldn't

but the choice is yours

 

[ahutcheon]

40k miles, 8 years, no servo problems, i've been glad of the abs at least once, and that's enough for me because i'm not fond of hospitals.

long version:

on the up side (above the abs) servo gives good braking at reasonable lever pressure. on the down side, at walking pace or below the brakes can seem a little fierce unless you're subtle in their application. on the curious side the servo pumps make all manner of weird noises, the back brake does something odd as it switches to power-save when holding the bike still on a hill and the whole plot moved a couple of centimetres (at least mine does and i've been told it's normal, feels like a big lurch until you get used to it but it's really a tiny movement of the bike). also, particularly because the front brake lever brings on both brakes, the anti-stoppie software can exhibit an interesting feature. if the back wheel loses traction it will sometimes ease the front brake briefly to prevent the back lifting. i can get this if i brake fairly hard, downhill, through a dip in the road such as a badly filled pothole. feels odd, but i'd suggest that if it causes you a mishap then you were either going to crash anyway or you're some kind of riding god at least compared to me.

oh, and there are surface conditions off-road that can make you wish you'd turned off the abs. not sure how much that's a servo thing rather than an abs thing.

 

[scifilord]

40k miles, 8 years, no servo problems, i've been glad of the abs at least once, and that's enough for me because i'm not fond of hospitals.

long version:

on the up side (above the abs) servo gives good braking at reasonable lever pressure. on the down side, at walking pace or below the brakes can seem a little fierce unless you're subtle in their application. on the curious side the servo pumps make all manner of weird noises, the back brake does something odd as it switches to power-save when holding the bike still on a hill and the whole plot moved a couple of centimetres (at least mine does and i've been told it's normal, feels like a big lurch until you get used to it but it's really a tiny movement of the bike). also, particularly because the front brake lever brings on both brakes, the anti-stoppie software can exhibit an interesting feature. if the back wheel loses traction it will sometimes ease the front brake briefly to prevent the back lifting. i can get this if i brake fairly hard, downhill, through a dip in the road such as a badly filled pothole. feels odd, but i'd suggest that if it causes you a mishap then you were either going to crash anyway or you're some kind of riding god at least compared to me.

oh, and there are surface conditions off-road that can make you wish you'd turned off the abs. not sure how much that's a servo thing rather than an abs thing.

Thanks sounds a bit unnerving but like you say something you get use to.

Going to have a look at one today with servo/abs Will take it for a test ride and see how the brakes feel.

I have read than keeping on top of the brake fluid changes is good for the servo so that is one of the first things i will do if a buy the bike.

 

[Paul Young]

I wouldn't

but the choice is yours

+1

I've known a couple of people who have had servo's fail & both were unscathed but had their faith in their bike totally wiped out (one nearly went through the back of his garage...). I never understood why BMW went with an electrical system that has no fail safe &, in fact, fails "unsafe" - & don't tell me that residual braking is a fail-safe...

 

[Mutley]

I have ABS & Servo on my GSA and the only time I don't like it is when I'm knocking off the final 2-3 mph, or off road. Braking from high speeds or in an emergency they are great.

Can I suggest you use the 'search' facility to look through the in depth discussions from the anti lobby

 

[luke scott]

The servo on my 2005 adventure failed with two weeks left on the warranty . It was in a main dealers at the time getting a service when it failed New servo fitted & no problems since. Now at 45,000 kms.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

took mine out. it kept trying to kill me. I miss it but happy with the brakes as they are now. Their still bloody good. If you find a good servo assisted bike you can always rip it out...

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

once my unit had been replaced three years ago ££££££££££ everything has been fine.... DOH that's done it.... shouldn't have said anything..


"Hello, is that the AA?"

 

[AberdeenAngus]

+1

I never understood why BMW went with an electrical system that has no fail safe &, in fact, fails "unsafe" - & don't tell me that residual braking is a fail-safe...

By 'fail-safe' do you mean you would want the brakes to come on upon failure?

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

By 'fail-safe' do you mean you would want the brakes to come on upon failure?

... perhaps he meant 'still work' when the unit fails (like mine didnt going into that corner at 60mph, residual braking hahahahahahahahaha what a joke)

 

[Hubs]

I've got an ABS Servo GSA, and I'm now trying to find space to get it to Steptoe for a full servorectomy - tired of no back brake / grabbing / flashing red lights / residual braking.

Don't think I'll miss it, it's just a shame that if it does go, it really needs junking.

Your mileage may vary..

Hubs

 

[chad]

40k in the last two years and the bikes now at 50k and its never given an issue

having said that if it does go then it will be removed simples

 

[motobiker]

40k in the last two years and the bikes now at 50k and its never given an issue

having said that if it does go then it will be removed simples

In which case you wave bye bye to the ABS. which isn't what the op wants.

I admire the GSA.. but i wouldn't buy one. ABS IS important to me. personally.. if I got it into my head to get a GSA.. I would buy a mint 1150 and convert it. to get all that is good about the GSA.. apart from the servo.

plenty of Tossers have taken that route.