upgrade R1200R non-ABS to ABS

[pieter1]

Is it possible to buy an used ABS unit with all missing pipes and build it into a non-ABS bike?

I can buy a non-ABS R1200R at a very reasonable price and play with the option to convert it to a full spec ABS bike in future. Will it be just a matter of getting a used ABS unit from a similar bike, install and re-code computer, or is it not worth it?

[MTBeemer]

Is it possible to buy an used ABS unit with all missing pipes and build it into a non-ABS bike?

I can buy a non-ABS R1200R at a very reasonable price and play with the option to convert it to a full spec ABS bike in future. Will it be just a matter of getting a used ABS unit from a similar bike, install and re-code computer, or is it not worth it?

A costly endeavor with doubtful results. May turn the bike into a problem child that no mechanic or dealer will touch. That recoding the computer step could be the step that is hard to do and cause serious problems.

[pieter1]

There is various opinions on the forum regarding pro ABS and Non-ABS. I have currently the R1150R Rockster with ABS and never really used it to its full extend. In going the R1200R non ABS option I am concerned that I will fly over the handlebars or slide all the way to the accident as this function is not available.

Will there a big difference in braking ability?

[MrPMS]

There is various opinions on the forum regarding pro ABS and Non-ABS. I have currently the R1150R Rockster with ABS and never really used it to its full extend. In going the R1200R non ABS option I am concerned that I will fly over the handlebars or slide all the way to the accident as this function is not available.

Will there a big difference in braking ability?

IMHO there is no comparison. For starters, the ABS will use BOTH brakes when you pull on the handlebar lever. Next, it will haul you down much faster than any manual combination unless you are an expert or do a lot of off-road riding. Try this on a gravel road with ABS: grab a handful of front brake and see how quickly you stop! I've been riding for almost 60 years and am still amazed at the power of ABS. Once you try it you won't go back.

[Jed]

There is various opinions on the forum regarding pro ABS and Non-ABS. I have currently the R1150R Rockster with ABS and never really used it to its full extend. In going the R1200R non ABS option I am concerned that I will fly over the handlebars or slide all the way to the accident as this function is not available.

Will there a big difference in braking ability?

IMHO there is no comparison. For starters, the ABS will use BOTH brakes when you pull on the handlebar lever. Next, it will haul you down much faster than any manual combination unless you are an expert or do a lot of off-road riding. Try this on a gravel road with ABS: grab a handful of front brake and see how quickly you stop! I've been riding for almost 60 years and am still amazed at the power of ABS. Once you try it you won't go back.

The brakes are the same with or without ABS. The ABS unit does link the front and rear and it will modulate the brakes if the tires start to lock-up. It's true that most riders will be safer on ABS during panic stops. But the pads, calipers and rotors are all the same. So for most riding you will not feel a difference in the braking between an ABS equipped R12R and one without ABS. If you are stopping hard, the rear tire will still un-weight somewhat, so you aren't losing much without the linked brakes IMO.

By all accounts the current generation ABS from BWM is superb. I bought my R12R without ABS based on complaints I had heard about previous generations of ABS. I'm fully satisfied with my choice to ride a non-ABS equipped R12R. I've never had a problem in over 3 years and 33K miles on this bike. I do not ride slowly and I regularly brake aggressively to maintain skills in that regard. I have locked the front while braking a couple of times. As long as you know what your getting into with a locked front wheel, it's not too difficult to manage but it can be an expensive and painful skill to learn. The next R12R I get will probably come standard with ABS and that will be fine too. In very slippery conditions on the road, I'm still conflicted regarding skills vs ABS. But for most riders in most situations the better choice would be ABS.

That being said, I wouldn't try to retro-fit ABS on a non-ABS bike. Too many potential problems.

cheers and good luck with your choice.

[David R]

ABS bikes have different rear pads than with out ABS. Look at the parts sheet.

Linked brakes are better for me, so is ABS.

If you really want ABS, keep looking for a bike. Most came with it.

Control unit
Speed sensor and ring front and back
different brake lines and hoses.
Switch on left handlebar
Light in speedo
power circuit
Probably most of the wiring harness
It adds up fa$t.


David

[deilenberger]

Adding the ABS would require coding the ZFE to recognize the ABS. That isn't going to happen since it's coded by the VIN# - and BMW won't provide the enabling code needed. It would be much wiser to find the bike equipped as you want it to be. And that's from someone who added ABS to two K-bricks in years past.

On the road in Nova Scotia..

[qfman]

i got a great deal on my non-ABS R12R back in '08. I love it and dont miss ABS at all. If I wanted to go back to ABS, I would sell it and buy an R12 with factory ABS. Retro-fitting ABS is not really viable financially or mechanically.


Tom

[celticus]

As far as I can tell the ABS was the first thing on the bike and then they added every thing else all around it. It seems to me that just physically attaching the ABS would be difficult let alone all of the computer stuff you would have to mess with. During the months when my ABS was not working my brakes were just fine. I prefer having the ABS but the bike was very drivable without it. Not to mention that it would cost close to $2000 for the ABS and parts.

[jkhomes]

No question for me to buy a bike with ABS. I would not buy a BMW without it. Next one will have traction control too.

[websterize]

John, there's an ASC retrofit that works on all models except some early 2007s. Requires a firmware upgrade and new switchgear. Your dealer has to do the job, though. One can't have too many Motorrad acronyms.

[xprof]

In fact, my dealer (may she rest in peace) did it without the switchgear, which saved me a LOT of $$$. Of course, with non-switchable ASC I can no longer pop a wheelie. At my age, maybe that is for the best...

[towerworker]

Just a few nites ago I was rounding a curve near home running about 35-40. A car came out of a side street turning left directly into my path. I grabbed a handful of front brake (kinda sorta in a panic). I don't remember how many feet it took me to stop, I just know I felt the ABS modulate the rear brake (possibly the front as well). I stopped quickly with no loss of control and ended up about 8' from the driver's door. I feel pretty certain that if I had been on my previous R (non-abs 2003) I would have either gone down and slid into the car or hit and gone over it. I'm 58 and I'll readily admit I am not as skilled a rider as many. I'd rather put my trust into ABS than my own abilities.