ABS dead

[VA4ster]

My '02 1150R w)ABS, 18K miles, recently lost brake function. Suddenly. No warning. The shop says a new ABS unit, installed, will be over $2500. I can 1) have it done and have a couple years warranty on the new ABS unit, 2) try to find a used ABS unit to save money (but no warranty), or 3) have the ABS taken out. I realize I am running the risk of reigniting the ABS controversy, but would really appreciate any opinions on any of these three options. For the record, I do (or did, anyway) like ABS, but now that I've experienced the thrill of riding brakeless (and once is enough) I wonder if I will trust it to be there or if the fear of brake failure will ride with me from now on.
I am particularly interested if there are any unexpected side effects from removing the ABS. Can it be done without compromising any other bike functions?

[iowabeakster]

Bad news...sorry to hear it.

Have you seen Sweatmark's ABS removal thread?

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13571&start=0&hilit=ABS

Since you have the R, and the R has a cable driven speedometer, that is an issue you won't have.

As to how to spend your money...I am not qualified to answer that. If you did qualify me to do that...you can expect some transfers to a bank here in Iowa City.


my .02 cents (yep .02 cents!)

If I were in that boat, I would be one angry ball of fire. If I was keeping the bike for a long time...I would take the ABS out.

I have ABS now. I like it fine. But I already paid for it once. Paying 2500 more?... just the idea...

If I were thinking of getting rid of it...I might put a used unit in it.

[llahbocaj]

Sweatmark's thread is an excellent read, also search through http://www.advrider.com and http://www.ukgser.com for more peoples' opinions.

If we're taking a poll here, when my ABS pump fails I'll have to pull it out, replumb the brakes, and rewire the brake lights. $2500 is too much money to pour into a bike with a resale value of whatever these bikes are selling for now...especially when I might plan on running the bike long enough to burn up the second would-be ABS pump...or until the final drive fails...or until...

If you don't mind, in your post you said '02 w/ 18k and no warning...what has your service history been? Previous owner? Is there anything that you can attribute the failure to with hindsight being 20/20?

[sweatmark]

I am particularly interested if there are any unexpected side effects from removing the ABS. Can it be done without compromising any other bike functions?

Removing iABS produces the following side effects:

loss of about 15 pounds located above the bike's center of gravity - enhances flickability, just like they say in the motomagazines... and a 500+ pound bike needs all the flickability it can get;

no more ABS servo pump whine - which is a little sad, because my Rockster's iABS always reminded me of that part in "Aliens" when Sigourney Weaver beats the crap out of the Queen using the Caterpillar exo-skeleton loader contraption (with similar whining sounds)... man, Sigourney was HOT in that movie;

loss of the "power brakes" effect - this is good with respect to brake feel, but bad if you like the nervous-teenager-doing-her-driving-license-test-brake-stomping effect that iABS so forcefully supplies... my other analogy pictures iABS as a shiny-black-neoprene-clad dominatrix barking out braking orders in a Germanic accent to a submissive R1150** rider, but I fear to use such imagery lest I find myself strangely aroused;

elimination of that "my iABS is dead and there's no more real braking function" feeling that plagued the boys from Long Way 'Round, thereby displacing cameraman Claudio from his GS, and making many of us BMW faithful feel a bit embarassed;

temporary lack of tail and brake lamp functions until you hook up my easy $5 dollar, 5-pin relay trick to make the iABS brake switches and lamps work like a charm;

obviously, you no longer have the valuable (potentially invaluable) safety function that an effective anti-lock braking system affords;

finally, you get good solid braking that's comparable (well, pretty much exactly equivalent) to the non-ABS R1150R variants.

So it's $2500 for replacement iABS, $500 for used module, or about $50 to convert to non-ABS. Each option has its merits.

[bikermeow]

Lost my ABS ... happier. YMMV.

Braking-wise, have to concede that servos means better braking power; but what you have after ABS/servos removal is very decent, and plus, you can do trail-braking. All in all, even if it was a compromise, it was a good one for me.

[VA4ster]

Thanks for the replies. My first inclination was to dispose of the bike however I needed to, but the connection to the R is stronger than I realized. I did follow Sweatmarks thread on removing the ABS, and was concerned about the speedo issue. As for service history, all 6K-interval service (I have changed oil and filter at 3K intervals myself) was done by BMW certified mechanics.

[combustor777]

Thanks for the replies. My first inclination was to dispose of the bike however I needed to, but the connection to the R is stronger than I realized. I did follow Sweatmarks thread on removing the ABS, and was concerned about the speedo issue. As for service history, all 6K-interval service (I have changed oil and filter at 3K intervals myself) was done by BMW certified mechanics.

I'm assuming that includes flushing the control and wheel circuits of the ABS system biennially/annually? I was kind of hoping the sludge of unchanged brake fluid caused the failure. I wonder what a disassembly of the module would reveal?