BMW Motorcycle Brake Failure
My 2004 BMW R1150RT is in the shop. I was riding on Denny St in Seattle Thursday afternoon when I suddenly lost all power assist to my brakes. After narrowly avoiding pancaking into the delivery van in front of me, my heart was pounding about 200 bpm. The brakes came back but failed 4-5 more times while I nursed it back to the office. It's in the shop now. They say it's a failed ABS brake modulator. That's just not something you ever want to happen to you. You have no idea how conditioned your response is to vehicle brakes until you push the brake pedal/pull the brake lever and nothing happens. It's terrifying on an existential level....
Anyway, I'm sans bike for most of next week while I wait for the new part to come in. Props to Ride West BMW for squeezing me in the same day and determining quickly what was wrong. Just wish they had had the part in stock or had a loaner bike for me.
[update]
The shop replaced the bad abs modulator and everything is fine now. A couple of interesting side effects. The brakes are not as touchy as they used to be and the rear brake emits a loud clunk when you press hard on the rear brake only. I took it back to the shop and they told me that the noise was the ABS kicking in. Funny thing is that it never did that before so I wonder how long the ABS modulator was misbehaving.
the abs modulator on those
the abs modulator on those years go faulty alot, they should make a recall on that modulator.
San Diego BMW Service Repair
8680 Miralani Dr, Suite 124, San Diego, CA
(858) 635-9063
BMW brake failure
I am not alone. My ABS pressure modulator failed on my 2002 R1150RT on a trip up the Blue Ridge Parkway. I should say failed intermittently. It is quite concerning because residual braking (what you have when the modulator is not working) is only 15% of what you have with the modulator. The price of the unit is now $2,190.32 in the US. Holy crap is what I said. There are a couple of places to find used ones. Beemer Boneyard on the web and Deep 6 Auctions on ebay. They are hard to find for the 02RT. New ones are guaranteed by BMW for two years. Some consolation. I am going to park the bike for a month and see if a used one comes up. If not, I will buy the new modulator and then sell the bike. Time to upgrade anyway to a newer RT or a GT.
brake failure
I had the same thing happen on my 2003 1150rt almost planted the bike into the back of a truck. Has anyone looked into bypassing the abs sytem? A friend of mine a ex BMW mechanic got tired of seeing people get ripped off and has found a way to do it with basicly stock bmw parts. Its worth checking out what good is abs if it does not work and cost you 2k to fix each time.
ABS PUMP
i have a six year old GS1150 with only 10,000 miles
In the last 3 years i have on done 3k since a service
I left my 10 year off at school, reached the next junction ,ABS fashes on , almost no brakes , PANIC! When i think what could have happened had she been on.
Eventually the dealer fitted the bike in , and to my horror a quote for £1300
I spoke to an independant specilist ,who said it was common fault, and for £300 could replum the bike like a non abs model, while i was there a guy from the south of ireland pulled up , guess what ? abs problem on a GS1200...
I contacted BMW customer service ? Got the runaround . and asked what was i doing contacting them ,"that was the dealers job" I though i was the customer ( silly me)....this is a HEALTH AND SAFTY issue..
R 1150 RT ABS Pump
Hi
I was wondering if you could forward me the details of the specialist who sorted your ABS. The ABS pump has failed (electrical fault) on my 03 R1150RT (23K miles) and I've been quoted over £1500 for repairs. I too have had the runaround from BMW who I know have helped people with this issue in the past.
My email address is shepleyowl@hotmail.com
Many thanks
Andy
brake failure
i had the same event happen to me. I have a 2002 model with 43k on it...riding up route 202 in NJ on a sunday, i was approaching a yellow light and put on the brakes...nothing happens! i look down and see all these red lights flashing. It was a long yellow thankfully so made it through and cruised home cautiously...stopped at a parking lot along the way to try and reset them but it didn't work. But i wonder how many other owners this has happened to? Its a definite safety issue. This modulator is 1500 bucks for that alone, luckily i found one at a dealer in canada for 400 bucks. But this issue alone is a deal breaker for me...will be looking at other brands.
Rich
power assist brake failure
I also ride the same bike and I recently experienced a power assist brake failure which resulted in a front wheel lock up. My alternator failed causing my battery to drain which resulted in a complete loss of electrical power to include the power assist and ABS. I was making my way to the shoulder of the freeway with a very slight pressure on the front brake so I could get the bike stopped when the front wheel SUDDENLY locked up. I was in busey rush hour traffic and was fortunate to not go down. I released the front brake lever wich allowed the front wheel to turn and the bike stood back up. needless to say this was a scary incident. I am a police officer and I ride this bike every day yet when I informed our local bmw shop I got the impression they thought I somehow applied too much pressure to the lever causing the lock up. I am also a police motorcycle instructor and I know the diffenrence between rider induced lock up and a faulty brake system. If you lose all electrical power to your bike and your power assist is not functioning then stay off the front brake if possible. Ride safe
RT1200p brake failure rear wheel lock up
I usually ride Yamaha bikes, but my work have just purchased a RT1200p response bike. Yesterday I was taking a corner at slow speed when the brake warning lights came on and the back wheel locked causing me to be thrown from the bike and the bike spun and hit me in the chest. Until this happened I had no idea that there were so many problems with the ABS on BMW bikes. Luckily for me there was a police van watching and was able to prevent anybody running me over and witnessed the whole event (if not for this I would probably be suspended from riding). BMW have been notified today and hopefully will have some answers soon. We have only owned the bike for 4 weeks and I am already wishing we had got the FJR1300 Yamaha.
possible brake failure
I just experienced a complete brake failure on my 2002 R1150RT. I was taking off in a long line at a light that just went green when somebody up front stopped. this cascaded back and when I saw the brake lights of the car in front of me I applied FULL brakes but the usual rapid decelleration did not happen and I rear ended the car in front of me. The front fork is totalled and fortuanely for me I ended up with relatively minor cuts, bruses and aabrasions with the rest of the bike intact. But i do not know if i can prove the bike at fault. I don't now if the hydrolic line went or the power module failed. Hopefully I can figure it out before getting hit with a surcharge!
Brake Failure
Kev (U.k owner)
I recently I took my R1150RT for a 30,000 mile service and MOT, when I collected my machine I was pleased to be told that the vehicle was in fine condition with no problems. Imagine my surprise whilst on the ride home the brakes failed. I pulled over and contacted the dealer and I agreed to nurse the vehicle back and they would stay open and await my return.
The service department contacted me after the weekend and explained that the problem was a faulty ABS pump that would require replacing and was quite an expensive repair. Because the motorcycle had been regularly serviced, was in good overall condition with relatively low mileage, the service department contacted BMW on my behalf to enquire if they would be willing to make a goodwill gesture towards the repair which they declined. cost of repair £1575.00
abs pump
Gary uk owner in ireland
I have an 1150gs 2003. it has only 10,000 miles.it has only covered 3000miles in the last 3years,serviced by BMW AT 6000.I left my little TEN YEAR OLD of at school.(she thinks it so cool) I drive to the junction the ABS FLASHES, and im left with virtually NO BRAKES. panic!
I HATE TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED
I nursed it home , and went to work by car
Eventually the local Dealer was able to fit me in ,to be informed it was a £1300 abs pump failure.
I inquired and was given Customer Services Dept number
They gave me the runaround,and stated it was the Dealer who should be contacting them and no me...THE CUSTOMER..
I think this is a health and safty issue , i know its out off warrent Etc..,But brakes failing on a motorbike within 10,000 miles , i am wating for a reply from BMW on paper
SO MUCH for the hype ,customer service ,
I spoke to a local independant specialist , who suggested repluming the brakes like an NON abs for £300
But out goes the resale value . He also said it was a common fault on R/Ts GSs etc
Cheers Gary
Brake failure
Gary
Zap me your details as I would like to talk to you re your ABS issues
Regards
Peter townsend
Athlone
peter.townsend@ida.ie
brake lockup
i had exactly the same.
at 90km/h in a slight curve
just a little braking , power assist failed, so i had to put more pressure on the handle.
next frontwheel lockup which did not release when i released the lever.
outcome. i survived with multiple injuries.
bmw probably totalled.
it is being examined by police and bmw now.
did not get the outcome yet.