ABS? BMW hard luggage

[Dino Y]

Should I go for the ABS on the r1150gs? How nessesary they are?
should I buy BMW hard luggage or any other brand (concerning hard luggage)

[rpalmen]

You won't need ABS until the moment you will never need it anymore...
Go for the ABS and switch it off when nescesary

------------------

Planning to travel to Maroc / Mauritania / Senegal around april 2002.

[Grant Johnson]

I agree on the ABS - definitely!

Re luggage, there are several threads on luggage, check them out. It's a tough decision and no two people agree.

------------------
Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

[nick_horley]

The ABS works very well, but there are a few negatives to consider.

1) its heavy
2) its expensive
3) it draws lots of current, so requires a bigger battery, i.e. yet more weight
4) the control unit is not as tough as it might be - not as tough as the Motronic. Mine died in a low speed tumble and was very expensive to replace
5) it cuts in quite early. If you practice your emergency braking a lot, in the wet as well as the dry, you can brake later without it. But in my experience you're unlikely to get to this skill level unless you put in some time at the race track - and keep at it in the rain.
6) it is easily confused by hard braking over a series of bumps. E.g. when pulling up at a T junction on a road surface whose top layer has worn away. In these circumstances it can release the brakes, leaving you sailing across the junction out of control (happened to me twice - luckily no cars hit me.)
7) if it packs up you tend to panic in an emergency because you've become reliant on it and your braking technique is rusty. (Happened to me once - BIG accident followed.
8) it makes the whole brake system spongey, requiring more lever pressure from you and reducing feedback.

Having said all that, there's still a good chance it will save your life, probably on a wet road, especially if you are one of the majority who doesn't practice emergency braking and tends to freeze up at the vital moment. So get it, but be aware of its limitations.

P.S. I've used ABS 1 and 2, but not the latest Evo brakes - maybe some of my comments are out of date? I'd be interested to hear from anyone who knows.

[nick_horley]

P.P.S. Came off today in Central London - might not have done if I'd had ABS!

[Hedgehog5]

I've had one big accident, & I reckon ABS would have saved it (ditched the bike & missed white van man), but countless incidents since I've had ABS where who knows what would have happened.
Recommended - & on the 1150/1100/650GS you always have the option of switching it off.

Actually on the F650GS it worked better than any other I've tried! Never felt it was there except when I got careless. They developed it specially for the bike 'cos it's so much lighter - just wish it would get adapted for other small bikes.

Now on a '01 1150GS and I agree that I do notice it doing strange things when it shouldn't - but it's never any problem.

Hedge

[Dino Y]

well I went a ride on the 650gs and ABS were useless and more likely dangerous the rear brake pedal was kliking up and down under my foot. I tested the bike whith and with out ABS and with out ABS it stoped far better than with. Considering I have done serius offroad riding (motocrossing) I think that ABS on the gs 650 are a danger,( the bike was bran new ,I drove it at a BMW center) I didnt try the gs 1150 wiht ABS.

how much is the Xtra weight on the 1150 for the ABS.

[nick_horley]

I don't know - so I'll guess: sensors, sensor rings, pump, control unit, pipes/lines, bigger battery: 30 lbs?

[Hedgehog5]

Dino
That's what ABS does on the rear. It's not a problem - it's just telling you when it's working. With such a light bike it does it quite a lot on the 650.
On the road most of the braking power is done through the front wheel - so it's nice to have a 'fire & forget' rear that won't lock-up & swing round on you.
On the dirt it's a different matter - probably best to turn it off completely and use your own style to get you round - it tends to hurt less when you come off anyway.
If it was the front that you thought was dangerous (on road) then fair enough - sounds like a problem with the ABS on that particular bike.

Otherwise save your money - doesn't sound like ABS is for you.

Hedge

[This message has been edited by Hedgehog5 (edited 09 November 2001).]

[Dino Y]

well it could be ABS with a function problem but if not I test ride the bike on the street and actualy tested with the same speed and see how well it stoped and as i told the braking was far better with out the ABS ( traveling at 60km/h and hit both brakes hard)

for a guy that realy likes offroad and long trips which bike would you recomend(1150 gs or any or any other gs seires or f )