Smoke and brake failure

[GSoh]

Had a scary moment this morning on a dual carriageway. Riding along when smoke started bellowing out from beneath me making it pretty difficult to see where I was going. I thought better try and brake, pull into the side (no hard shoulder!) and get off because I thought the bike was on fire. Touched the brakes and had nothing (doing around 60-70mph) and then spotted the rapidly flashing brake failure light on the dash. Managed to get over and slow down using the gears without getting twatted by the cars which insisted on undertaking me despite hazard lights and smoke.

Anyone got any ideas as to what it could be? It's a 06 (55plate) 1200gs. I'm thinking servo failure but not sure how this would happen when I wasn't braking. I'm no mechanic though. Bike has been recovered to a garage.

 

[Account removed]

Had a scary moment this morning on a dual carriageway. Riding along when smoke started bellowing out from beneath me making it pretty difficult to see where I was going. I thought better try and brake, pull into the side (no hard shoulder!) and get off because I thought the bike was on fire. Touched the brakes and had nothing (doing around 60-70mph) and then spotted the rapidly flashing brake failure light on the dash. Managed to get over and slow down using the gears without getting twatted by the cars which insisted on undertaking me despite hazard lights and smoke.

Anyone got any ideas as to what it could be? It's a 06 (55plate) 1200gs. I'm thinking servo failure but not sure how this would happen when I wasn't braking. I'm no mechanic though. Bike has been recovered to a garage.

Check the battery leads are not touching the frame, they can wear through the plastic coating over time.

 

[Big Nick]

Was the handguard fouling the front brake?

 

[Dahoum]

when you had finally stopped where was the smoke coming from specifically? that should give you an idea of where the problem is which seems like brakes from the rest of your description.

Cant say I've heard of any similar experiences on here tho

 

[harry]

Any sign of brake fluid from under the tank ?

 

[GSoh]

Cheers for responses folks. Didn't get a chance to check under tank or get a close look for brake fluid marks. I had to leave the bike in a pretty risky location and get behind a barrier. It was lifted from there straight to the garage (Motorrad East). They should hopefully come back to me this afternoon with some info on the problem(s). I'll post any info when it comes through.

Handguard doesn't make contact with the lever and am not entirely sure where the smoke was coming from other than in front/beneath me. Smelled like burning which is why I thought I was about to go up in flames! The smoke lasted for a couple of minutes.

I'm just bloody glad it didn't happen 5 or 10 minutes later when I would have been approaching major junctions. It could have been really nasty.

 

[GSoh]

UPDATE

Just took a call from the garage and it's not good news.

Apparently the main harness was rubbing on the frame, shorted and completely burned out. This also wrecked the alternator and possibly the ABS pump. Best case scenario £1,300 without ABS pump and £2,600 with ABS pump.

How the hell can the bike of this 'quality' be designed to allow the main harness to rub on the frame with potential fatal consequenses? Should it have been picked up at the 12k service? Do I have any comeback being out of warranty? The standard 50% contribution towards parts from BMW still wont allow me to afford this.

Help!!

 

[patzx12]

Strange one that, Have you owned the bike from new? and is it FSH if so you have a chance.
Could a Previous owner have messed about with the bike?

 

[Pukmeister]

Been a few reported cases of early 1200's having loom chafing and wiring damage especially to the ABS part of the loom where the wiring rubs on a frame bracket.

I suspect your has the same fault. You have my sympathy, I hope they decide to pay for more than 50% of the repair if it costs that much to fix it.

A pity it didn't go up in flames once you parked it, at least you could claim on the insurance and get a new bike.

 

[Account removed]

Just took a call from the garage and it's not good news.

Apparently the main harness was rubbing on the frame, shorted and completely burned out. This also wrecked the alternator and possibly the ABS pump. Best case scenario £1,300 without ABS pump and £2,600 with ABS pump.

How the hell can the bike of this 'quality' be designed to allow the main harness to rub on the frame with potential fatal consequenses? Should it have been picked up at the 12k service? Do I have any comeback being out of warranty? The standard 50% contribution towards parts from BMW still wont allow me to afford this.

Help!!

Sign up to this site and then PM me, I think I can help pls read my reply to your post.

MGJ

 

[GSoh]

Done! Hadn't noticed my subscription had lapsed.

Bike has BMW FSH, I am second owner but it was bought from a dealer with less than 2k on clock as used approved etc.