No Brakes!

[No Brakes]

Had a pleasant ride yesterday running down the A82, a steep hill pass called the Rest and Be Thankful when my brake warning and ABS warning lights came on. I tried the brakes and they seemed to work tried again - next to nothing. As I was doing 60+ mph down a steep hill this was somewhat disconcerting.

I managed to use the gears to decelerate and eventually pull into a lay-by.
Had a read at the manual which claims you retain emergency braking. I am used to running old bikes with drum brakes -the braking was between diabolical and almost non-existent.

The bike is a 2001 R1100SS with ABS and servo brakes. The pump runs when I use either brake and the brake light works for both brakes! The bike has done 12,000 miles from new.

I live two and a half hours from the nearest dealer -any suggestions?

Thanks.

[sproggy]

Welcome to the forum.....

The residual braking on early servo systems is close to non-existent as you discovered. This is a 'feature' that they all share - my Rockster was the same. But are you sure the bike's a 2001 model? I thought servo brakes came in with twin plug heads in 2003.

I don't think there's a whole lot of home servicing to be done on the servo/ABS system - best to call your breakdown service (assuming you have one) and get them to take the bike to the dealer. If they suggest taking it to any nearby bike shop, refuse - don't trust anyone other than a BMW dealer or possibly independent specialist with the servo system. It sounds as if there's a valve somewhere in the system not doing what it should (which is distribute effort between front and rear circuits).

[No Brakes]

Bike registered May 2001. Calipers have BMW cast into them, I believe that this brake/ABS system was available from late 2000.

I think the trip to the dealer via recovery may be the best bet, though have fears that repair will be very costly.

[JoeC]

Welcome to the world of BMW!

I think the trip to the dealer via recovery may be the best bet, though have fears that repair will be very costly.

[iandunn1100ss]

i had the same problem it was low brake fluid level, they require a different fill up line in the little window to the non servo brakes (see hand book for this). also check the air gap on both abs sensors .
hope you get it sorted soon.
ian

[No Brakes]

Left bike with mottorad central in Glasgow -need new ABS control unit at £1000+, though they have offered to source a 2nd hand unit from motorworks. Looks like an expensive repair after only 12500 miles from new!

[Cobbster]

Hi Nobrakes,
Have you considered ditching the abs and going for straight hydraulics instead. A few Goodridge flexi hoses and I'm sure all that expensive gubbins could be bypassed.
I may be wrong but I'm sure its been covered on here before.

Cheers cobbster.

[gus]

Get rid of the ABS and save some money and also you wont have a repeat of brakes then NO brakes!Shittttttttttttttttt!
I know some people sing its praises,but i,m a believer in keeping things simple.There is less to go wrong!
gus

[Twodogs]

Hi No brakes,does your bike have a full BMWSH? I had an ABS problem with mine around this time last year,mine had 11500 miles and full history at the time. The dealer (SPC) told me to put it right would cost around £1500!! I asked the dealer if was usual for a 4 year old bike with 11500 miles and a full dealer history to need £1500 spending on its braking system? They saw my point and spoke to BMW UK on my behalf who also agreed that i shouldn't have to bare that cost. The upshot is that BMW UK paid for the whole job,including the labour, and lent me R1200ST for six days while the job was carried out. I reckon the same argument is worth a shot in your case. Good luck and let us know how you get on

[oyster]

Get rid of the ABS and save some money and also you wont have a repeat of brakes then NO brakes!Shittttttttttttttttt!
I know some people sing its praises,but i,m a believer in keeping things simple.There is less to go wrong!

Quite! I ripped out my ABS system, now have feeds from the master to the callipers. Less drain on the electrics; no more strange clonking noises, no more irratating warning lights, MUCH easier servicing of brakes, etc.
Anyone want to buy a low mileage ABS pump + rigid pipes, £500. A bargain! Check with Motorworks.

[POB]

NBs right. I've an early 02 plate and it has the servos and ABS. Press BMW for a repair would be my angle.

[No Brakes]

Mottorad have repaired and serviced the bike for just under £800 with a 2nd hand ABS unit from motorworks. They were helpful and knocked a bit of the bill.

Though still the steepest bill I have ever had for a bike (or car), though have lost confidence in bike after 5 years trouble free ownership - will be on ebay soon!

Will stick to brakes without electronics - at least I can fix them myself and unlikely to be as frightening in the event of a failure.

[sproggy]

Though still the steepest bill I have ever had for a bike (or car), though have lost confidence in bike after 5 years trouble free ownership - will be on ebay soon!

5 trouble-free years, then just one problem (albeit a major one) and you lose confidence in the bike enough to sell it? Don't those 5 years count for anything?

[gripperod]

When you dump the ABS, what do you need to do to the electrics? disconnect the control unit, anything else? what happens with the ABS light?

Never had a problem with my ABS but being a luddite I am attracted to the idea of hand = front, foot =rear.

[Baldy Biker]

You think that’s bad I have stuck with BMW after this little lot.
I had the same problem on a 53 plate Rockster, bought it second-hand from a dealer with 1000 miles on it. Right from the start I had an intermittent brake failure problem. I know what you mean by emergency braking only
Took it back 4 -5 times only to be told that a diagnostic check showed no fault.
Then it sprang a leak in the petrol feed to the right cylinder. Fixed under warranty. I then put 6000 miles on it in 6 months and the warranty expired two weeks before a Spanish trip, no problem BMWs are reliable. Coming back on a French motorway sudden loss of power while cruising at 6500 rpm. One month later back at dealers. They stated that right hand cylinder had got so hot the exhaust value collar had slipped in slightly allowing the value to hit the piston. No problem fixed by the dealer out of warranty. While running in complete ABS failure. Again fixed out of warranty. First fast run after running in, sudden lost of power right hand cylinder exhaust value again. Not fixed under warranty as I moaned so much that they took it off me and I paid £500 quid and got 53 plate 1100s with 4000 miles on. One year later 10000 miles and no major problems apart from me falling of it.
The dealer did take a bit of time to repair it as they were making sure I hadn’t done anything wrong.
Would any Japanese dealer do the same.