Pan European ABS/TCS disaster

Don't you ever go to the movies? How are you gonna slide under the
artic blocking the road if you can't lock the back wheel? Or do a
'handbrake turn' to chase after the baddies?

 

In

Did the only time I tried to do one.


--
Pete M

Mercedes 260E, Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2
Ford Capri (ressurection started)
"Never moon a werewolf"

COSOC #5
Scouse Git extraordinaire. Liverpool, Great Britain

 

I recognise the name - I think - but that's about all. Is it a MacGyver
type thing?

 

I know this isn't what you meant, but I suspect a good rider will stop
quicker without ABS than with it. I probably won't. Unless we're
talking cars.

 

When a shagged ABS controller decides to put the brakes on when I'm
not actually braking, for example.

 

Bear emerged from their own little world to say

I don't think so. Release them at the wrong time maybe but not apply them.
How would it pressurise the system when there are only a few servo operated
pressure release valves in the black box?

 

That's not possible, ABS releases the brake pressure it doesn't put it
on.

If the ABS hasn't set (which it wont do if there is any fault) it just
wont activate at all.

 

Bear composed the following;:

LOL what a nice way of putting it ..

 

Only in the same way that interstellar flight in a paper bag is
possible.

 

Nope - not on the system used on the Pan anyway. There is no pressure
pump in it and it's not designed to increase or hold brake pressure,
just to release a locked wheel.

It's (theoretically) possible with some newer cars that have 'emergency
brake assist' which effectively shoves the brakes on full if it detects
you hitting the pedal hard. This is cos they reckon most people don't
brake hard enough in an emergency and tend to release the brakes when
they feel the ABS cycling.

I've never heard of one jamming on though.

With the ABS in fault mode, it will ride like any other bike with
linked brakes and no ABS - I'm sure that 99.9999% of the time the rider
would notice no difference as it's not as if the ABS is actually needed
that often.

I've posted a link to a site that would enable him to establish what
the problem really is anyway. He could have fixed it by now.

 

I experienced similar in Seattle on the GL1800 when someone stepped
off the kerb in front of me. I stopped about 10 yards shy of them. On
the fifteen I'd have smeared them across the road.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C
|_\_____/_| ..74309../..18302.../..3184./.19406
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG*
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4
'^' RBR Landmarks: 12 Pts: 220 Miles: 914

 

I thought the 1500 had ABS etc too? Don't say I'm wrong again... My
life will be in ruins...

 

It's barely got fucking brakes, let alone ABS.

Unless you accept that they're ABS by nature, rather than design,

--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C
|_\_____/_| ..74309../..18302.../..3184./.19406
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG*
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4
'^' RBR Landmarks: 12 Pts: 220 Miles: 914

 

Bear emerged from their own little world to say

BMW ABS systems need to detect a supply voltage >11.2V during the
initialisation phase. If you have a fairly discharged battery, or in my
case an old inefficient one, then the voltage drops below the threshold
when you press the starter button. The bike still starts but the ABS
does not set.

You get lots of red flashing lights as the ABS is not working. I never
gave a toss. Rode around most of last summer and autumn without the ABS
working. I seem to be alive still. I eventually replaced the battery as
its efficiency became much worse as the weather got colder. I now have
one of those new fangled AGM batteries which are less prone to voltage
drops under load, allegedly.

I know some people who have put a bit of gaffer tape over the warning
lights, especially on older bikes with confirmed faulty controllers.

As Bear says: carry on riding it until you come across someone with a
clue.

 

Fair enough - I am a little surprised though. They've been on the
Pan's for years (since 94ish IIRC) so I'd have though the 1500 would
have got them by default.

 

That raises an interesting point. I think you're assuming (possibly
correctly) that you brake quickest if the tyre never quite loses
adhesion. I'm more used (after years of rallying a car in ice and
snow) to cadence braking, which is in effect what ABS does. So I'll
stab the brakes on (which is easy), then immediately lift them off
again - which takes nerve and practice! Which you know, as we've had
threads about learning to unlock your brakes in the past.

For someone who isn't used to braking hard in dodgy conditions then
yes, I guess ABS is worth having. For myself, on the borderline, I'll
opt for keeping control myself.

 

Send me a cheque for 20k and I'll send you the kit by return.

 

Actually, on reflection, so might I. I'd certainly like to give it a
go.

From which I can only conclude, Bear old chap, that you are definitely
getting old!

 

Salad Dodger says...

Sounds like the CB250RS brakes. That lever on the right bar serves only
to induce a rubbing sound from the front and to switch the brake light
on.

 

Packs bags.