Visian
look out!!!
I know what ABS is in principle, and I think servo is a sort of power-brake mechanism that is accomplished with a motor (as opposed to a vacuum diaphragm like in cars) but yes, I find them otherwise mysterious. And the servo things can go out and the repair can be expensive. I did see one 1150 that had factory ABS and not factory servo.
iirc, the servo system was added to the second-generation Bosch ABS to increase the pressure in the system. It was a last-ditch effort to get the Bosch system to pulse more rapidly. My 02 K12RS had this system and bleeding it properly was a painful process.
In 2006 I had the privilege of testing the R1200S for the BMW Owners News, which featured a new Continental ABS system, that did not require a pump for adequate ABS function. BMW made a big deal out of that at the press conference.
the comments about noisy modern bikes is interesting given that water cooling is supposed to make them quieter, not louder.
BMW sure changed designs quite a bit over the last twenty years. I guess I feel happy there is so much love for the 1100 through early 1200 bikes here. Simplicity is attractive to me.
My personal issue with the new LC design, outside of sounding like a rock crusher, is that they changed the orientation of the split in the engine cases, and relocated the alternator... now the entire engine requires disassembly should the alternator fail. This is worse, imo, than having to remove the back half of the oilheads in order to lube the splines. The new multi-plate clutch I saw as an improvement, at least you don't have to split the bike in half to service it!
They've made progress on the engine noise issue, imo, but engine in the last of the oilheads was far superior. Ever since then, BMW has been caught up in a horsepower war with KTM and Ducati (showroom specs showdown)
Yours truly, testing the last of the oilhead GS in Yosemite, also for the BMW Owners News.
Photo by Kevin Wing
Standing up for the camera!
Photo by Jon Beck
Remind me to tell you the story of the snow and Jimmy Lewis.
Photo by Jon Beck