This motorcycle is equipped with a linked ABS brake system. The rear wheel and front wheel work together. The motorcycle was without brakes for an undetermined period of time. *ak
2002 BMW R1150GS: ABS light or ABS activating
8 of the 21 complaints about the 2002 BMW R1150GS describe ABS light or ABS activating.
- owner complaints
- 8
- of this car's complaints
- 38%
- recalls
- 1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below
ABS light or ABS activating by model year
- 20031
- 20028
- 20011
What owners say
Final drive failure on bmw r1150gs motorcycle at 28,200 miles resulting in loss of oil and requiring complete final drive and ABS sensor replacement.
The front and rear brakes are linked on this motorcycle. When braking hard on rough road conditions, the excess force applied to the rear brake by the linked system can cause the ABS to modulate unexpectedly which has the effect of eliminating braking at a critical moment. I am concerned that this effect may cause me to have an accident at some time in the future. I am aware that bmw redesigned the brakes to address this issue for models manufactured after mine was manufactured. Refere to bmw motorcycles service bulletin no: 34 001 02 (012).
Abs activates under normal braking on rough surface- the modulator senses incorrect information. Potentially life threatening situation on a motorcycle. Bmw has issued a service bulletin in march 2002 #34-001-02(012) but will not repair under warranty or recall.
Reference bmw service bulletin, dated march 2002, bulletin no: 34 001002 (012). My motorcycle is early VIN which has the ABS brake modulator that is to be replaced per this service bulletin. I want bmw to update my motorcycle's brake system per their service bulletin, cost to be covered by existing mfg. Warrantee.
Bmw-na know of unsafe operation problems in the ABS on models with VIN <ze87455. They have modified the system on more recent vins to correct the problems, but refuse to correct the system under warranty without mechanical breakdown of unit.
Two problems related to the integral ABS system: 1) the rear pedal is too sensitive and grabs the front brakes hard, causing unexpected stops and caused me to drop my bike once on the left side. Since then, I have had to refrain from using the rear pedal completely. 2) when braking hard, especially on downhill bumpy roads, the weight is transferred off the rear wheel, causing the rear ABS to cycle. Occasionally, when braking very hard, when the rear ABS cycles, the front ABS also cycles causing a completely unexpected out-of-control condition. This has happened about ten times to me. I have not yet crashed the bike because of this, but I feel it's just a matter of time. I have run wide off onto the shoulder of the road a couple of times, and once ran wide over the centerline into the oncoming lane and was within a foot of colliding head-on into an SUV. Bmw has published a tsb (34-001-02 (012)) that implements a revised rear ABS modulator and caliper and all new production bikes get this fix. However bmw has refused to upgrade any older bikes for some reason. I feel this should be a recall, as it's a very dangerous design defect. It should also be noted that bmwna treats this tsb as a secret and has threatened to sue someone for posting a copy on his website. I am currently aware of at least eleven other owners who have complained to their dealer about this problem and have been told "sorry, but we will not fix the problem unless the part fails". I have a copy of the tsb if you would like it.
While going over a series of bumps, the ABS system is causing the brakes to release. This causes an extremely unsafe situation. Bmw has issued a service bulletin regarding this braking system, but refused to replace the ABS components until they fail. By then I could be killed. Please help force the manufacturer to replace these faulty brake components for all affected r1150rt owners.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: motorcycles. The distance between the brake line and the speedometer drive cable could be too small. Due to compression and rebound of the fork, the speedometer cable could contact and chafe the brake line.
- Risk
- Brake fluid leakage could occur, resulting in a loss of front braking capability. If this happened, depending on traffic conditions and the rider's reactions, a crash could occur.
- Remedy
- Dealers will measure the distance between the front brake line and speedometer cable. The brake line will be replaced if the distance to the speedometer cable is found to be too small or if it is damaged. A new protective sleeve will be installed in the speedometer cable near the front fender. Owner notification began december 18, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1‑800‑831‑1117, option #5.
Recall number 01V246000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2002 BMW R1150GS abs
Is ABS light or ABS activating a common problem on the 2002 BMW R1150GS?
8 of 21 owner complaints about the 2002 BMW R1150GS (38%) mention ABS light or ABS activating. The model year with the most reports is 2002.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2002 BMW R1150GS?
There is 1 recall and 0 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
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