R1200S servo brakes

[Herb]

ABS needs to be switched off for a track day. Witnessed a 1200GS disappear into the gravel in front of me on a trackday at Cadwell. Appears he didn't know and ended badly for both him, his bike and the bike in front which he took with him. Still, lots of nearly new spares available at the end of the day. Every cloud...

Sorry
This was the post I was referring too

I can see how this can happen.

The ABS releases the front when it detects a difference in wheel speed which on a track day may not signify a lock up. When it releases the brake momentarily several things can happen, the bike runs on, the rider panics and tries to release and reapply the brakes thinking there is a failure, the balance of the bike is upset at the point where you could be about to turn in.

the most recent ABS systems are far more sophisticated and track suitable on the latest super bikes.

[fontana]

ABS needs to be switched off for a track day. Witnessed a 1200GS disappear into the gravel in front of me on a trackday at Cadwell. Appears he didn't know and ended badly for both him, his bike and the bike in front which he took with him. Still, lots of nearly new spares available at the end of the day. Every cloud...

Sorry
This was the post I was referring too

I can see how this can happen.

The ABS releases the front when it detects a difference in wheel speed which on a track day may not signify a lock up. When it releases the brake momentarily several things can happen, the bike runs on, the rider panics and tries to release and reapply the brakes thinking there is a failure, the balance of the bike is upset at the point where you could be about to turn in.

the most recent ABS systems are far more sophisticated and track suitable on the latest super bikes.

Today's abs ssystems are far more refined and faster acting than earlier versions.
The abs 2 fitted to my R1100RS for example is so slow that during very hard braking at low speed the front bounces up and down like a pogo stick.
It also cuts in too early.
Modern systems allow far harder braking.
When I once rode an R1200s I found the braking effort required to get the abs to cut in on the front was far far greater than that required on my bike.
I used to be an abs sceptic till I rode that R12s
Not anymore
The system fitted to that bike is phenomenal

[Humbug]

ABS needs to be switched off for a track day. Witnessed a 1200GS disappear into the gravel in front of me on a trackday at Cadwell. Appears he didn't know and ended badly for both him, his bike and the bike in front which he took with him. Still, lots of nearly new spares available at the end of the day. Every cloud...

Sorry
This was the post I was referring too

I can see how this can happen.

The ABS releases the front when it detects a difference in wheel speed which on a track day may not signify a lock up. When it releases the brake momentarily several things can happen, the bike runs on, the rider panics and tries to release and reapply the brakes thinking there is a failure, the balance of the bike is upset at the point where you could be about to turn in.

the most recent ABS systems are far more sophisticated and track suitable on the latest super bikes.

Thats my take on the event, forgot to switch mine off on one session, the braking forces around Cadwell at full chat were certainly enough to get the ABS to cut in, unsettling to say the least, didn't forget for the rest of the day!

[fontana]

forgot to switch mine off on one session, the braking forces around Cadwell at full chat were certainly enough to get the ABS to cut in, unsettling to say the least, didn't forget for the rest of the day!

If you felt the abs chime in, then you were at the point of imminent wheel lock. I would find those pulses you describe far less unsettling than the front end sliding around.

[Herb]

forgot to switch mine off on one session, the braking forces around Cadwell at full chat were certainly enough to get the ABS to cut in, unsettling to say the least, didn't forget for the rest of the day!

If you felt the abs chime in, then you were at the point of imminent wheel lock. I would find those pulses you describe far less unsettling than the front end sliding around.

Not on a track day, not in the dry at least. ABS systems from 10 years ago are good on the road, but will cut in far too early on a track day, way before you reach the point of locking the front. That's one of the reasons BMW make it switchable and made an especially big deal on the marketing for the 1200s which they were touting as having sporting pretensions.

The most modern ABS systems on super sports bikes, initially pushed by Honda on the CBR and replicated an improved on to a degree by Other manufacturers are an order of magnitude more sophisticated. Not only are they designed to be left switched on for track use, they will enhance the braking performance.

[fontana]

Not on a track day, not in the dry at least. ABS systems from 10 years ago are good on the road, but will cut in far too early on a track day, way before you reach the point of locking the front. That's one of the reasons BMW make it switchable and made an especially big deal on the marketing for the 1200s which they were touting as having sporting pretensions.

The most modern ABS systems on super sports bikes, initially pushed by Honda on the CBR and replicated an improved on to a degree by Other manufacturers are an order of magnitude more sophisticated. Not only are they designed to be left switched on for track use, they will enhance the braking performance.

Well, since I've never had a bike on a race track, I must bow to your better knowledge.
I agree that older ABS systems cut in way too early.
My own R1100RS is a good example of that.
However, on a 12S I once rode, it took me three goes to get the abs to kick in on the front, so if it is cutting in early, it must be only just.
So I wonder if we will soon see race bikes fitted with abs, as with traction control.

[dysondiver]

ive by passed abs on my r1150r ,, with servo ,,, an afternoons job , cost a tenner , and the biggest part was folding up a new box for the electronics to sit in ,,
looked at the abs on my 12 at one point , with a view to removing it ,, long story cut short , with the brain , and can bus , etc , it was easier to fix it than remove it ,,,, so buy what you actually want to own.

[fontana]

ive by passed abs on my r1150r ,, with servo ,,, an afternoons job , cost a tenner , and the biggest part was folding up a new box for the electronics to sit in ,,
looked at the abs on my 12 at one point , with a view to removing it ,, long story cut short , with the brain , and can bus , etc , it was easier to fix it than remove it ,,,, so buy what you actually want to own.

You need to be quite careful with this.
Insurers think of abs in the same way as mirrors and indicators.
That is to say that if's it's factory fitted, it must be working.
No matter how well your brakes work without abs, if you've screwed with it, and it's not working, they class it as defective brakes.
Some insurers however are OK with it, but the golden rule here is to tell them.
They may insist on proof that the work was carried out by a qualified mechanic.
Of course the chances of them finding out are slim, but I know of one case where a guy on an old Yamaha FJ1200A crashed into the side of a car that pulled across his path.
It was serious enough to warrant having the bike inspected by a technician, whereupon his abs bypass was discovered, and as a result his claim was substantially reduced.
The best advice is before you do anything like this, run it by your insurance company to see how it sits with them

[dysondiver]

wise words ,,,
but the saving grace is that it was an option , and not standard on all models ,, but as with any modification , inform your insurer ,, but that includes an aftermarket can too.