Project-S

[witttom]

The short version (if that is possible)....

Owned a 2004 BMW R1100S but needed the cash and sold it late-2011. Have always wanted another ever since.



This past Summer, I had the opportunity to buy a friend's 2004 BMW R1100S. The catch however, was that the bike was stranded in Western Colorado with a bad transmission, partially disassembled by the local BMW dealership during troubleshooting. I worked out a deal, and made arrangements to go retrieve it, 1500 miles away. The bike was pretty much a basket case, slapped back together by the dealership just enough to call it a roller. The parts that came with it filled the entire bed of a full-size truck, and then some.




Over the past five months, I've had one ordeal after another, from the transmission itself, to missing hardware, to difficulties getting Ohio to issue a title, to all of the subsystems that I've had to reassemble along the way, but... I'm in the home stretch.

I am now reassembling the complicated Power/Servo assisted ABS linked braking system. Shew. Hehe... The ABS unit had been removed, as well as the rear caliper, rear master, and hard lines. Of course with the ABS unit removed, that means the front half had been disconnected as well. With all lines separated in the system, every circuit was lacking fluid and obviously had lots of air in the system. ...and as I'm sure anyone who owns a R1100S knows this ain't exactly straight forward. However, I've done a fair amount of research on the 'How-To' and think I've done a pretty good job of assembly, routing lines, and bleeding each and every circuit in the entire system.

My initial power up (required for ABS unit to build pressure), the 'brake failure' light came on with a fast flash/click, as expected. As I've worked with it, baby steps, bleeding every circuit multiple times, that fast flash/click eventually became a slow flash/click. After bleeding everything over and over again, I now have good brakes both front and rear, the vast majority of the air removed from the system, but that 'brake failure' warning has yet to go away. I've disconnected the battery for a period of time, and then reattached, hoping for a reset of some kind. That didn't work. What else do I need to do?

[wswartzwel]

Lights flash until you have ridden a few feet after startup.

[Groceryrun]

Like Bill said.

If you still have the bike on it's center stand, rotate the front wheel ( or is it the rear) a few turns and the flashing light should go away.

[witttom]

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

Lights flash until you have ridden a few feet after startup.

Hmm... I didn't know that.

Originally Posted by Groceryrun

If you still have the bike on it's center stand, rotate the front wheel ( or is it the rear) a few turns and the flashing light should go away.

Spun the rear wheel. Still flashing. Spun the front wheel. Still flashing. Pulled the bike off the lift. Rolled it back-n-forth in my workshop several times. Still flashing. Rolled it FAST across my workshop a couple times, cycling both the front and rear brakes, still flashing. Back on the lift it goes.



Surely it doesn't need to be running, does it? I'm still a little ways away from firing it up and would like to get this resolved before I put the tank back on.

[Groceryrun]

Sorry about that.

It works when the engine is running.
I have not tried with the engine not running.

[witttom]

Just stumbled upon a section in my factory manual, where the BMW techs do the inspection (when they're new), they have to get them up to 5kph(3mph) to get both ABS warning lights to go out (I don't see but one light).

Took me a while to figure out if the speed was being picked up off the front wheel or rear. My manual shows an ABS and a speed sensor on the rear. I do not see the speed sensor. Thinking maybe the ABS and speed are combined in one unit on this one. I dunno. I once again spun the rear wheel up, and noticed that I was indeed making the speedometer needle move. I'm guessing I can get it up to 5-10 mph. Definitely faster than me trying to push it across my basement floor.

I'm hoping I don't have to actually start it up to make this light go out, as that would mean I need to put it all back together putting faith in this actually working, because... if it doesn't, I've gotta strip it down again. Hehe...

[KMoore]

Maybe something here???
ABS lights go left right left
Is the battery fully charged?

[witttom]

Originally Posted by KMoore

Maybe something here???
ABS lights go left right left
Is the battery fully charged?

I only have one warning light for the brake system (not a left and right).

[ckcarr]

Don't even want to know how much cash you've put into the project. These bikes are genuinely affordable now, in pristine shape. Not sure I'd drive to western Colorado for that, and it's only 100 miles...

[signit98]

Originally Posted by Groceryrun

Like Bill said.

If you still have the bike on it's center stand, rotate the front wheel ( or is it the rear) a few turns and the flashing light should go away.

They both need to roll at the same time at corresponding speed.

[SeabeckS]

What Ralf said...

[Groceryrun]

Sorry for the confusion.
As others have pointed out, it would only make sense if both wheels were turning together so that the computer can check the ABS.

[Groceryrun]

Here are a couple brake checks without running the engine:

While pushing the bike in the garage, you should have a minor braking effect when pulling the brake lever with the key in the off position.

While pushing the bike in the garage, you should hear the wizzy whine from the ABS unit when you pull the brake lever and it will probably be full braking effect, with the key in the on position but the engine not running.

[1100s nut]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

Don't even want to know how much cash you've put into the project. These bikes are genuinely affordable now, in pristine shape. Not sure I'd drive to western Colorado for that, and it's only 100 miles...

Encouraging words Mr. Chipper. I do not understand post like yours. I mean why?

[Droptarotter]

Yep, you have to try riding the bike to get the light out, like Whittam said.

Cheers

[witttom]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

Don't even want to know how much cash you've put into the project. These bikes are genuinely affordable now, in pristine shape. Not sure I'd drive to western Colorado for that, and it's only 100 miles...

Originally Posted by 1100s nut

Encouraging words Mr. Chipper. I do not understand post like yours. I mean why?

Was kinda wondering why myself and wasn't going to response to that one since it was doing nothing to help me address my current challenges, but....

The short version: Good friend broke down during his travels back from the West coast. Cost to repair the 1100S (via the dealership where he left it) was excessively expensive, exceeding the value of the bike. He had already racked up a bill with the dealership for the diagnostics and tear down. The cost to recover the bike, without repairing it, was going to be expensive. So he offered me up a killer deal and I was willing to help him out of a jam. He still lost out substantially and I had some fairly big hoops that I needed to jump through, but overall I think it was a win-win situation.

I was originally planning a trip looping the Great Lakes this past Summer with a different friend. Instead, we loaded up our bikes on my trailer, rented a truck, and drove straight to Grand Junction. Settled up the bill with the BMW dealership, loaded up the bike along with a truckload of parts (holy $h!t), and left. We then drove to the Gunnison area, made camp, unloaded bikes, and spend a few days riding the area. Was probably one of the most enjoyable motorcycle trips I've had.

There's a lot more to this story, but that's the gist of it. The cash investment that I've made into this bike is well worth it IMHO and I have far FAR more time in it than anything else. An excessive amount of time actually, but time is something that I had available. I do know that the value of these bikes has been dropping a bit recently, but I think I'm still doing ok. Thanks for your concern.

It's an exceptionally nice 2004 with 14k-miles, hard bags and a few other little extras. I'm not sure if I would call it pristine, but it's pretty darn close. I rode it for the first time yesterday. The brake warning light went out within a few feet. It runs exceptionally well. I plan to pull it back into my basement workshop and tidy up some loose ends before tagging/insuring it and logging any serious miles. Appreciate everyone's help. Will post more details later.

[wswartzwel]

Nice bike, you don't see many blue ones. Very pretty.

[bradzdotcom]

Originally Posted by witttom

...and I have far FAR more time in it than anything else.

the time you spent putting together that puzzle is where the real value is.
it was probably fun, educational and even might have cost a skinned knuckle or two.
bet you got a few new tools for your collection too.

i used to gripe about our maicos requiring 2+ hours of maintenance for each hour ridden, when in fact, most of the memories from that period weren't the racing part, but the fun in the garage with the bikes and the other guys.
and tools. you just can't let the snap-on truck get past you without a little something.

[RBMann]

Eight years ago my bro-in-law's '99 S clutch started slipping at 60k miles. He was convinced the trans was jumping gears too as the RPMs would randomly increase. He took it to the dealer and they said clutch plus transmission $4500+ please. He asked if I would take it for $2000. I test rode it and thought it only needed a clutch. He insisted it needed the trans too and he didn't want to spend any $$ on it. I asked what are the odds that the clutch and trans go bad at the same time. Bad as in jumping gears not worn input splines.

Paid the $2000. Bought about $1000 in clutch parts and upgrades. The trans was fine. Sold the S to a friend for $5000. The friend was happy, I gave my bro-in-law another $500 because it cost less to fix than I thought it would, I had $1500 for my time/trouble and everyone was happy.

Sometimes it works out.

Although some years later the S was stolen from my friend and trashed.

[witttom]

This morning I took it out for an eight-mile ride. Running great, seemed happy, and I froze my a$s off. I was certain that I addressed the problem. As I pulled back into my neighborhood, the triangle/exclamation light came back on again. I've now pulled the back back into my basement workshop, and parked it on the bike lift until I can figure out what's up.