How do I tell if I have ABS II or III?
 

I purchased a 2002 R1100S in December. From what I have read here some 2002's have ABS III while most seem to have ABS II. What's an easy way to tell which one I have?

Hold it up and look between it's legs!

As you're roaring into your driveway, turn the key off and then grab a handfull of brakes; if you hit the garage door, it's ABSIII.

If your front calipers say "BMW" then you got EVO brakes and if it's ABS, you got ABS III. ABS II calipers say "BREMBO" on them.

i like modog's suggestion...wonder how he learned this test method?!
repoe3

Thank You Carlos.

ABSIII,,,what a fricken joke. !! Yunno what the service manual says to do if you have a servo motor failure on ABS III?
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Put brake lever in setting 4 for maximum squeezing distance and get bike to authorized dealer immediately.
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So basically, ride at 3mph with the vehicle in front of you no closer than 100 yards all the way back to the dealer. (Because thats all ABS III can brake if it malfunctions)

It was my first day with the new bike...well, I didn't actually hit my garage door, but I sure did pucker; now I leave my key in the "on" position until my more serious braking chores are completed...and a lot has been said about the lack of braking on the ABS III bikes with the power off; it's not really all that bad once you know what to expect...it's rather like my R75/5 was all the time.

So what your saying is you know what to expect when having brake failure at 60mph?

Astropin - if you have ABSIII then you'd hear the power-assist servos buzzing whenever you activate the brakes (with the power on of course hehe). You'd also get superlative braking!

MoDog - when I got my second S with ABSIII the first thing I was told about was the importance of keeping the power on when wheeling it around. Overall I think the advantages of ABSIII far outweigh this minor inconvenience, and if the servo-assist should fail while on the bike (and I have never heard of this happening to anyone) there is definitely enough braking to stop safely. You just have to pull right back on the brake lever instead of using one finger like you can with servo-assist active. No Problemo!

Yeah, it's not great, but he's right.
It is indeed merely a drop to the level of brakes all BMWs had in the 70s (and still better than my 65 brakes)

Nothing to right home about, but I ride bikes with those brakes in heavy traffic often w/o a problem. Not great, but let's not exaggerate the problem. They're not useless, they merely suck.
:)
roger

http://www.charlotte.homeip.net/somethingawful/lol.gif

Piece of cake. I still keep and ride a Z1 around that's just like the one I had when I was 18, and the ABS III with the power off is comparable to the Z1 on it's best day...no problemo.

Dunno if you got a serious reply to your question yet...but look at the sensor ring on the front wheel. If it's cast (looks kinda like a gear) it's ABSII. If it's stamped (kinda like a cheese grater--has slots cut through it) it's ABSIII.

hmmm, I've owned a BMW with ABS III and my S has ABS II.
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I don't think the added braking sensitivity of ABS III is worth the downside.
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When you need braking you need braking. With ABS III I really doubt the default braking would be sufficient when you are surprised to see normal ABS III braking has failed. And you must make that stop NOW!!
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You become use to ABS III and when its not there you will be screwed as you've become expectant of the ABS III braking power.
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I don't buy any argument that default ABS III braking is o.k. Particularly after becoming use to stopping on a dime with ABS III.
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Bottom line: If in a stop I'm expectant of ABSIII braking power and its not there the braking power of a 25 year old boxer will most likely not save from myself danger. (going out into an intersection or riding off the road.) Simple as that.

Now, now, Pat - remember it's Friday, and, I believe that means it's *the Blue pill* today...and don't forget about yor heart - 2 white ones too!

jeff
practicing medicine for 30 years w/o a licence...

O.K. O.K. off to take 'em.

Everyone on this list that has a car or truck WITHOUT power assisted brakes, raise your hand. What do you think will happen if this fails? Just what your described for ABS III.

ABS III
 

Just a little FYI.......I have the ABS III.

ABS III doesn't offer a substantial leap in performance over regular ABS II or Non-ABS braking to offset the downsides to it.