Hi Guys,
Problem:
front brake lever can be pulled almost all the way through without effect on a BMW r1200gs, year 2011 with ABS.
Luckily not while riding through the mountains (where I guessed the problem came from) or speeding on straight roads, only when parking it with the engine still running, or in the morning after starting it.
So today I finally changed the brake fluid the conventional way, the only way I know: 1. valve at break lever, 2. left brake valve, 3. right valve, 4. valve at brake lever again. From the left brake air came through the tube while pumping. Then I pushed the bike 3 meter to park it but same happened: lever pulled almost all the way through again, but now even with the engine off.
The second grip on the brake is always successful.
Back wheel brake always worked.
Actually not sure if there is a real connection of engine on/off and the problem or it was just by chance first with engine on, then with engine off.

Running one more time brake fluid through the system?
Cleaning the brake cylinders for better movement, because they might not move back?
I dont know jet how the three brakes are connected, so if there might be a "central problem".

For any suggestions I will be very thankful,
cheers,
Thomas

If it is anything like my 2006 with abs, air in the servos was a right pain.
I had to leave my 1200 on her side overnight on a trail following a 'woops' moment. I woke up to a beautiful Greek morning, nicely rejuvenated, lifted the bike up only to find 'brake failure' flashing reds- my brake fluid had come out of the servos via the breather tube... front lever totally soft like yours.

All I had was residual and engine breaking all the way down the mountain and for a few hundred Kms to Athens where they used BMW specialised equipment to suck new fluid and get rid of air...
You should find a bleed nipple in the wheel arch but then you'll need the BMW special kit to vacuum the system so... it's go to the dealer time IMHO. Good luck and... bring your wallet!

I soooooo bless the day I sold mine and kept my F650 Dakar- brake fluid flush and renew + pads replaced all under an hour easy-peasy by the side of my tent.

2011 ABS won't be servo assisted. They bleed conventionally but If you've let air into the ABS it needs the pump to be activated to bleed it 100%.

As you can guess, only a main dealer can do this with the computer to activate the pump.


Before going that route though, has your master cylinder got it's own tiny bleed nipple ??



Try that first if you have one.


There is also the possibility that the Master Cylinder is goosed but that's fairly fair on a newish GS.

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So new, upgraded, latest GS but.... , same old- same old eh Ted?!

Yes yes, master cylinder has the nipple and I did it as well ... .
Dont think I had additional air coming into the system when i did the bleeding.

Is the BMW dealer doing anything else than the guy in these videos?
BMW 4V ABS-integral Part 1- Część 1 wymiana płynu - brake fluid exchange - YouTube
BMW 4V ABS-integral Part 2- Część 2 wymiana płynu - brake fluid exchange - YouTube
Though I dont think he is working on the same model as I have.

What I cant really believe is the necessity of the special BMW unit. If it is a closed system of fluids, why the hell would it not be possible to press all fluid out? Or, where would the air exactly hold position? In the places the guy in the video is working on?
Thanks, T.

Air can hide in all sorts of places...

Is there any reason that air could have got into your ABS control unit ??

Did you bleed the brakes dry ??

Bleeding brakes can be difficult no matter how experienced you are at it.

You could also try reverse bleeding from the calliper. It can really help if you can't shift some air.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

hmm, wrong term? Bleeding brakes means letting the fluid all out without replacing it right away?
I did replace it without letting air in, tube in the fluid etc..
So, Ted, you say that doing it this way there is no reason that air could go into the ABS control unit? I would not know any other reason but the mountain-braking that air was released and could be gone there as well.

Did you look at the videos? in one it seems he is activating that pump, but how? In the other he is doing it just manually, but also fitting tubes at the ABS unit.

I might just try again the usual way or from the calliper with lots of fluid and see.

Thanks,
Thomas

Do you have integral ABS (like in that video) ?? 2011 bikes should have latest generation I think..

When you pull your brake lever, can you hear an electronic pump ???


If you do have integral (pump motor) and you have bled the brakes the normal way, then you have sucked air into the ABS unit.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

sorry Guys, late but never too Late:

check this out, after changing the front tire and pushing the calipers in and pumping them out again before I rode the bike again, the problem was gone!!!

Cheers, Thomas

Hi, I have an 11 gs adventure and I want to bleed the system. I'm a little nervous. As I learned here, I could do it in a conventional way but have to be sure any air will not go into the system. If this happens I have to turn the pump on in a dealer. Why that tiny litthe bleeding bolt close to the master cilinder? Thanks mates

Note that a GS911 can be used to activate the pump, did it fine on my 07 GSA.

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Grant Johnson
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
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The chances of getting air into the system is actually very low Indeed. Generally, you'll only get that if you remove your brake lines or Abs pump.

Even when I removed and refit callipers I don't even have to prime the pump to get a solid lever.

If you can bleed brakes covenentially, then you can do it on a GSA.. it's actually easier !!

Go forth and bleed....

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Find me on Facebook: MotoTed & MotoRevive.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Thanx! I was reading on repair manual. It is usually done by conventional way and we have to reset the calipers, push back to remove all fluid, use a wood or special tool to get it still , first left side then right side. Actually they tell us to use a vacuum special tool( usually a syringe) , remove what u can than bleed on a conventional way...I 'll do on conventional way , pumping the lever and its good