[roadog29]

Purchased a new K1600GTL that arrived yesterday. Super excited, super impressed and so far extremely happy with my decision to convert from HD. After reading some posts on this forum and experiecnign the "no usb" iPod issue, I immediately took it in to the dealer today and had the firmware updated... still doesn't work, so I guess I'll have to try a different cable.

The real reason I am reaching out to the forum is because of a noise I get when I apply the front brake. Its only the front, and happens every time I apply the front brake. Really there are two sounds and a vibration. 1st sound is what I would attribute to air in a brake line, it sounds like liquid/bubbles getting forced through some sort valve or something. The 2nd noise I would attribute to an ABS "pumping" noise, kind of like a mini compressor or something. Both noises happen simultaneously and originate from somewhere up front. There is also a vibration that i feel... reminds me of ABS kicking in... short burst of pumping.

All of this is very quick, 1-1.2 seconds, maybe 2. The key has to be on, but it doesn't matter if the bike is running. The dealer listened to it, ran up and compared it to a demo and said it was normal.

The brakes seem to function fine. I will tell you that I have felt the ABS kick in when using both the back and front simultaneously. Probably operator error on my part.

To give a little more detail, it seems to "re-set" itself each time. Here is what I mean by that:

If I roll up to a stop and apply the break, it will make the noise. If I let off and then reapply the break prior to coming to a complete stop, it wont make the noise. At the next stop, the first time the break is applied it will make the noise again... etc.

Another example would be while I'm sitting in my garage. I can roll the bike forward, grab the brake and it will make the noise. If I then release the brake and re-apply with the bike still stopped, it wont make the noise. If I roll the back forward again (or backwards) it makes the noise.

Knowing that a picture is worth 1000 words... I shot some video of me rolling it back and forth in my garage applying and releasing the brake. The video is worthless... but the audio does a good job describing what I am hearing. Here is the link to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrP0HZMSMHk&feature=youtu.be

Any help you have would be great... Thanks

 

[gerhard]

How aggressively are you riding? I have not owned my RT for a month yet but during that time I have not had the ABS actuate. I think that the ABS light comes on if it becomes active at least that is the case with the Stability Control.

Gerhard

 

[JimE]

The thing I had to get accustomed to was the behavior of the linked brakes, having never had a bike with it. I would get startled when lightly applying rear brake, such as when beginning parking lot maneuvers, and I would feel a little "kick" from the pedal. Just one. Feels like it does when ABS is working...the pulse...but just one. The dealer (and others) explained to me that it is related to the linked brakes, and happens when I am using light front brake, and then I apply more rear brake than the system is applying based on my front brake pressure. In other words, it's when I "take over" the rear brake from the system. I knew I wasn't braking enough to kick in the ABS, but that's what it felt like until I understood what's going on.

Once I learned what it is, it made sense. It no longer startles me and is certainly not an issue.

Could this be what you're experiencing?

 

[JPSpen]

You'd better find another dealer.. Or go in and test ride another bike...To prove to yourself that they all do it...Did the dealer show you that it does that on a different bike ?

I don't have a K1600 but that can't be a normal sound....

If so........Well, I don't know what to tell you...

And it doesn't matter what speed you're going ? It still makes that sound on first application of the brakes after moving ?

If you grab the brakes and then let off and grab again while you're moving, I does it everytime ?


Good Luck on that one .

John

 

[JimE]

Re-read your post again after my reply earlier. You say:

The brakes seem to function fine. I will tell you that I have felt the ABS kick in when using both the back and front simultaneously. Probably operator error on my part.

I think you are feeling the linked brake thing that I discussed in my earlier reply. Not operator error, but simply normal behavior that is unfamiliar to a new operator, as it was to me. That part sounds completely normal.

The rest of it doesn't sound anything like normal to me. I'd go back to the dealer and sit there until they fix it or convince you that it's not broken.

 

[crosswrap]

Have 17000Km on my GTL, have never heard a noise from the brakes at all. Have jammed them on a few times, great breaking, but no noise. I think the advice to go camp at the dealer is good. They need to fix your noise.

 

[Bighopper]

Don't own a 1600, but that noise is not normal. Get another opinion or insist someone from BMW Motorad (HO Technical Support) listens to your Youtube video.

 

[rcopeland]

Go to your dealer and take their demo k16 for a test ride and see if it does the same thing. Then if you're still unsure go to a different dealer and ride their demo k16. If they all do that then that probably means that's normal behavior. Ask the other dealer a bunch of questions too. Better to be safe than sorry.