Speed sensor location...
 

...with the recent change of my FD the new FD does not have a hole for the speed sensor. The FD on the bike when I bought it has it, the FD (from a 2002) I just purchased does not have it. Where is the speed signal come from on a 2002 (and others I am sure)?

...that's VERY odd, as both my 2000 and my 2003 BCR have the Speed Sensor in the same location!? Different FD?

http://images.carzone.ie/images/5045...13090946_1.jpg
Here is the style of the new FD.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/attac...4&d=1022085878
The old FD has the speed sensor in this location.

...yeah, that is a problem... you might want to talk to your dealer about that... I don't think it's wise to sell you a FD that does not fit your bike's requirements!

My 2001 has 2 sensors on the FD, an ABS sensor and an electronic pickup for the speedo. Since reading about all the problems with the FD I thought I'd look at Beemerboneyard.com and pickup a spare FD if the price was right. That's when I noticed not all FD's have both sensor's.....

The iABS bikes get their speed from the ABS unit. You said that came from an '04, right? So it was an iABS bike.

The new one came from a 2002. Mine is a 2000.

My 2004 BCPrep (non-ABS) has a speedo sensor there on top of the FD. I have heard that some other models have the speedo sensor on the tranny, but never seen that.

According to the ETK, iABS started in early '01 so that would explain it.

Bob, I've definitely never seen a speed pickup on the tranny on any Oilhead. Front wheel, rear wheel, rear ABS ring, yes.

Anton - is iABS the same as servo assist?

Kinda what I thought. I heard this suggestion from a guy who sells used BMW parts when I was trying to buy a used speed sensor for my bike. As it worked out, I didn't need the sensor just needed to mend a broken wire. If anyone needs a used and working speed sensor lemme know. thanks.

Yes. If you don't have this, there will be a speed sensor on the final drive. And if you have ABS2, there will be both sensors because ABS2 doesn't process the speed signal for the instruments.

BTW it always mystifies me why BMW used cable-driven speedos on the 'classic' Oilheads. They had a few early problems with the FD sensors on the K bikes, but they were very reliable by the time the Oilheads came along. So back to cables? And then after the R1100S, back to cables again on the 1150s? Never understood that.

Anyway, as for the problem at hand, the non-sensor drive really isn't workable for the early S. All of the internals would have to be swapped over to the drilled housing, which is several hours of labor. Might as well fix the original one at that point.