BMW ABS WOES....Oh No!
Beautiful morning sunshine and I decide to ride to work today. Merlin (GL1000) and Taffy (XS650) are both undergoing further surgery so its The Brat only today. At the workshop space is at a premium so I move Merlin out of the way, a strenuous task, to allow me to back The Brat out of the shop. I then tog up into my riding gear. Turn on the ignition; the bike makes its usual noises as it checks systems and then I fire up; all good. Helmet and gloves on, Sena intercom connected to listen the local radio; leg over and away we go........ Or don't as it happens! As I tried to pull away it felt like the bike was dragging a brake; mabe it will loosen off after a few wheel rotations. 20 meters to the road junction and cautiously apply brakes early and.... Nothing; very little retardation and I don't feel safe. Ride around the block back to the shop. Feeling a little pi$$ed off I put The Brat back, remove riding gear and jump in the truck to get to work. Surely it can't have failed in under 8,000 miles?
In work I start investigating online what is a known failure issue with these early BMW ABS systems. I have a number of options; but as the bike is showroom fresh and low milage I really want to keep it factory original, but at what price.
The Offending Article
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Option 1: Get a new ABS Unit from BMW.
Last quoted at 2000€ plus about 1000€ fitting.
No longer availible from factory / Dealers.
Cost: £ Squillions
Option 2A: Rebuild my failed unit
ECU TESTING UK offers this service if you send them your unit. It a comprehensive service too including shipping and step by step information of the progress. On reciept they check the entire unit including the electronics module. replace all servicable parts and test.
Thier website states 2008 machine or later; mine is 2005. They will look at it and if they can't fix it will charge a £49.00 inspection fee.
WEB:
https://www.ecutesting.com/product-catalogue/bmw/r1200gs/abs-pump-ecumodule-combined/amc108633/
Cost: £310.00
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Option 3A: ABS delete.
Its is possible to remove the entire ABS system and reset the braking to a 'normal' hydraulic operation. This involes removal of the ABS pump and associated pipework saving quite a few Kg of wieght. There are a couple of ways of doing this, both reversible and non-reversible. A front brake 'loop' pipe would be required to the front brake lines to bypass the ABS pump circuit. The electronics module must be retained for bike systems to function. Some brake lines may be required depending on model.
Cost around £250.00
BMW MOTORWORKS UK Provide the following:
https://www.motorworks.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=+Abs+bypass+kit
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Option 3B: ABS delete.
RH ELECTRONICS Germany:
https://rhelectronics.de/en
This company offers a pump replacement kit with a new electronics module for bike systems. You still loose the whole ABS function.
Cost: 799€ + Shipping and import duties.
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Option 4: Ebay replacement unit
This is last resort for me as any secondhand part is prone to faliure at some time, if not already faulty.
Price £150.00 - £300.00
YouTube has a number of videos about the removal of the ABS system, and it looks straightforward enough; It would be the most economical soloution for what is to many a low cost old bike. As my machine is mint I would like to keep it in factory specification. So I am drawn towards the ECU Testing Rebuild.
Before that however some forums suggest checking the brake light lever switches which can fail or go out of specification. Possibly a sticking caliper or pad could trigger this failure. It amazing BMW put this under developed system in place with no failsafe backup in the event of the faliure. You loose up to 80% of brakes when this happens, to which I can attest.
Sadly all three of my bikes are now out of action.
Best,
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