I kinda like the 1150 brakes

[fish]

Nasty commute today. Cold, rain, snow, sleetish stuff, lots of
freezing water on the ground. All electrics on...very comfortable.

Now the brakes...I was really happy with the way they performed
today. Strong, positive, effective, confidence-inspiring. I like 'em.

[stevenknapp]

I wonder if they have some sort of "brake assist" type function.

The only time I hate them is when I'm in a mild panic, not a real "stop now" panic, more a "whoa, let's scrub *some* speed quick"...I grab the "front brake lever" quickly and the system overreacts and I get a spike of hard braking then the slowing I asked for. Maybe it's just me. :):

[jcolombo]

I concur- snow and sleet over the Dublin Grade, but NP. I think the stability of the Telelever makes a difference as well. I also find, to my surprise, that going back and forth between bikes with and without Integral braking is not that big of a deal.

Might still be nice to have the rear just be the rear, but it's nothing I think much about.

My only concern is reliability, however. Given the current job and home situation, I'm looking at 25 k commute miles per year. With the quick exit of the warrantly, I'm not planning on some $2500 brake expense. Let's hope that BMW did testing to the limits that their owners will do.

-JC

[fish]

Originally posted by stevenknapp
I wonder if they have some sort of "brake assist" type function.

The only time I hate them is when I'm in a mild panic, not a real "stop now" panic, more a "whoa, let's scrub *some* speed quick"...I grab the "front brake lever" quickly and the system overreacts and I get a spike of hard braking then the slowing I asked for. Maybe it's just me. :):

I hear ya. They don't take kindly to ham-fistedness. Certainly not as well as the mighty GS does. But when you need that Integral ABS the most, it's there for you. You should go for a ride and check it out.

[Marc]

Interesting, fish.

You get the chance to switch back and forth between the RT (with the assisted, integral ABS brakes) and the GS (with just ABS) on a daily basis. Is the difference really that great on a day in / day out basis? I've only had the chance to try them out briefly (on a K1200RS), but was amazed by how quickly they brought the bike to a stop.

After almost a year to compare, is it really that good? I'd like to know.

Marc

[Sig]

Originally posted by fish

I kinda like the 1150 brakes

it sure beats the fred flintstone thing.

[Gordy]

I agree Fish,
I have been doing a lot of "practice" stops from all speeds on all kinds of different surfaces and my confidence in the system has went from "well maybe" to "this thing could save my life".
One of the things that sold me on the RT was a local cycle cop who said that they practice stops from about 50 mph in a gravel parking lot with no crashes!

Gordy

[Arch]

The brakes on previous RTs were just as nice if one takes lever effort out of the equation, and lever effort wasn't problem on them either. There will come a day when your ("your" being the generic term as this isn't aimed at anyone) 1150's will ABS cycle when least expected. Could be tomorrow, could be next week, could be in a few months, could be next year. We all ride at different paces and over varying road surfaces, but there will come a day. It will cycle because the brakes are linked, not because there's anything wrong with the ABS.

If you wanna know what it will feel like, think of what happens when braking hard enough in a straight line to dip into ABS. Remember that feeling of perceived acceleration (relative to your slowing) as the front brake lever momentarily eases up? You'll get that someday while braking hard up to or into a corner, and it won't be because anything in the road required an ABS safety net, it'll be because your weight's transferred forward, the rear's light and bumps & such that meant nothing to an R1100RT - have suddenly become an issue because the front brake lever is trying to do what millions of us have trained our right foot to do, if we so choose. Again, if it hasn't happened yet, rest assured that it will. Here's hoping there's room for it to be dealt with.

As for the cops on gravel, wonder if Ponch mentioned that his RT's brakes aren't linked?

Man would I ever love to have my '99 RT's perfectly functional brakes on my '02. Go ahead and skewer me. This niggle's a fat thorn in this little SPORT-tourer's arse..

[Rod]

Originally posted by Arch
The brakes on previous RTs were just as nice if one takes lever effort out of the equation, and lever effort wasn't problem on them either. There will come a day when your ("your" being the generic term as this isn't aimed at anyone) 1150's will ABS cycle when least expected. Could be tomorrow, could be next week, could be in a few months, could be next year. We all ride at different paces and over varying road surfaces, but there will come a day. It will cycle because the brakes are linked, not because there's anything wrong with the ABS.

If you wanna know what it will feel like, think of what happens when braking hard enough in a straight line to dip into ABS. Remember that feeling of perceived acceleration (relative to your slowing) as the front brake lever momentarily eases up? You'll get that someday while braking hard up to or into a corner, and it won't be because anything in the road required an ABS safety net, it'll be because your weight's transferred forward, the rear's light and bumps & such that meant nothing to an R1100RT - have suddenly become an issue because the front brake lever is trying to do what millions of us have trained our right foot to do, if we so choose. Again, if it hasn't happened yet, rest assured that it will. Here's hoping there's room for it to be dealt with.

As for the cops on gravel, wonder if Ponch mentioned that his RT's brakes aren't linked?

Man would I ever love to have my '99 RT's perfectly functional brakes on my '02. Go ahead and skewer me. This niggle's a fat thorn in this little SPORT-tourer's arse..

Hey Arch

I don't think anyone is saying that they have not felt what your talking about, this is with the brakes, the only thing I see us disagreeing with is wether the rear barke lets go or both the rear and front let go over bumps, and for me I feel it is both that let go!!! as I have had this happen on both gravel and tar roads 2 up and solo, and just on the week end trip I just did 2 up.

[Gordy]

Arch,
I know what you are saying....but....for me, I think that I would be dreaming to think in a true absolute panic situation that I could get on both brakes as fast as the linked brakes will do for me. I know we should ride covering the front brake, but in reality, when the BIG panic comes, I will have both ends working for me just as fast as I can get either one going. I like em. I know that this is not the popular opinion...........
Gordy

[fish]

Originally posted by Arch
The brakes on previous RTs were just as nice if one takes lever effort out of the equation, and lever effort wasn't problem on them either. There will come a day when your ("your" being the generic term as this isn't aimed at anyone) 1150's will ABS cycle when least expected. Could be tomorrow, could be next week, could be in a few months, could be next year. We all ride at different paces and over varying road surfaces, but there will come a day. It will cycle because the brakes are linked, not because there's anything wrong with the ABS.

I've read this and reread it several times, and can't make any sense out of it. Can you rephrase what you're trying to say?

I started this thread because I like the way the 1150 brakes work in slippery real world conditions. I know the back seems to cycle too easily in downhill bumpy conditions at high speed. But I'm willing to overlook that, because a) I have a GS for use as a sportbike, and b) because these brakes saved my ass three or four times in just the last 48 hours. Worth their weight in gold, imho.



It's an RT, not an R1.

Man would I ever love to have my '99 RT's perfectly functional brakes on my '02. Go ahead and skewer me. This niggle's a fat thorn in this little SPORT-tourer's arse..

No skewer. You have your opinion and I have mine. You're disgruntled, and I'm not. Welcome to the asylum. Geez, do you think this is MRN.com or something?

[Arch]

Originally posted by fish
I've read this and reread it several times, and can't make any sense out of it. Can you rephrase what you're trying to say?

Not sure I'm capable of saying it any clearer my friend.

I started this thread because I like the way the 1150 brakes work in slippery real world conditions. I know the back seems to cycle too easily in downhill bumpy conditions at high speed. But I'm willing to overlook that, because a) I have a GS for use as a sportbike, and b) because these brakes saved my ass three or four times in just the last 48 hours. Worth their weight in gold, imho.

It's an RT, not an R1.

Umm, I don't expect it to be as capable as an R1 in the twisties. I have other motorcycles that are. But it'd be nice if it was as capable as my previous RTs and I know why it isn't. I'm not willing to overlook a braking system that can put me on my ear when I haven't been on my ear since 1982. Around here at least, bumps can be found on millions of corner entries on roads I've been riding for over 20 years, the last four on RTs at times.

It's great that your brakes have saved your arse so many times in so many hours, but it doesn't mean that someone on a '99 wouldn't have enjoyed the same results. And what if you'd have been on the GS? Every time we stop our brakes have saved our arse.

Again, one of these days your ABS will cycle on a bumpy corner entry when such shenanigans are least expected and not needed. Then you'll see what I'm saying. It'll happen, I guarantee it.

No skewer. You have your opinion and I have mine. You're disgruntled, and I'm not. Welcome to the asylum. Geez, do you think this is MRN.com or something?

Hey bro, I don't take this stuff personally so hope it doesn't come off that way. I'm just supremely disappointed at the way my shiny new RT fights efforts to ride at paces and over roads that my previous two gobbled up with glee.

Love the new motor, tranny, lights, wheels, horns, controls, etc. though. Split the brakes and I'm back to lurking!

back at ya...

[fish]

Originally posted by Arch

Again, one of these days your ABS will cycle on a bumpy corner entry when such shenanigans are least expected and not needed. Then you'll see what I'm saying. It'll happen, I guarantee it.

I sense you have a lot of rage building. That's unfortunate. Maybe you
oughta just sell the bike and buy a good 2001? I guess I just don't see
the issue as something that warrants a lawsuit...or hystrionics.

FWIW, I regularly dip into the ABS...on every corner when I'm going
fast on familiar roads. It's easier on the GS, because I never use the
rear brake. I have to go a bit slower on the RT, but it still rocks for a
big bike.

Hey bro, I don't take this stuff personally so hope it doesn't come off that way. I'm just supremely disappointed at the way my shiny new RT fights efforts to ride at paces and over roads that my previous two gobbled up with glee.

I understand your dissappointment. It took me 6months and 9K+
miles to realize my brand new K12LT was a big fat fookin pig. So I
sold it to buy my RT and I love it.

Love the new motor, tranny, lights, wheels, horns, controls, etc. though. Split the brakes and I'm back to lurking!

Fuck you, and I mean that in only the most pleasurable way.... You've already outted yourself. You have to keep playing.

[Arch]

Don't recall filing any lawsuits or going into any hystrionics, but if that's how I'm coming off, then I suppose it's time to shut-up about my RT's new and improved brake system. That's cool, nuttin' much else to say about it anyway.

On the bright side, my Big Mak goodies just arrived, so it's off to fiddle in the garage. Gotta vent all this rage somehow ya know...

[fish]

Originally posted by Arch
On the bright side, my Big Mak goodies just arrived, so it's off to fiddle in the garage. Gotta vent all this rage somehow ya know...

What'd ya get?