This morning I got on my 2007 BMW G650 Xmoto (ABS) to ride to work, as usual, but after about half a mile or so the bike slowed down and eventually stopped. When I tried to move it off the road I couldnt not with the clutch disengaged and the gearbox in neutral. Both brake rotors (front and rear) were crazy hot with the brakes locked solid. After cooling down for 10 minutes or so the brakes freed up and I managed to get the bike back home although the rotors were again very hot. I put the bike on the stands and, when cold, both wheels can be spun by hand but the front rotor is rubbing in the calliper perhaps a little more than it should but, again, I can easily turn the wheel by hand. The other thing I noticed is that the brake lever is now very hard, i.e. it has no play at all it wasnt like that before. The front rotor discoloured from the heat (see photos below) but, luckily, it does not appear to be warped. <?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o> At this stage, I cant even get the bike to the dealer and I would appreciate suggestions for troubleshooting. Why would both my brakes lock up all of a sudden after travelling a short distance with no use of the brakes??
That is very weird. The ABS is made to turn the brakes OFF not lock them on. You need to have the codes read from the ABS computer. Try disconnecting the battery for 20 minutes and re-connecting it to restart the computer. Do the brakes work normally with the bike off? If you hold the ABS button to disable ABS do the brakes work normally?
something is causing the MC piston from not getting to the compensation port in the resevoir, and the heat is expanding the fluid and locking the brakes.....
I haven't been able to try what happens with the ABS off BUT on Friday I did change the orientation of the brake lever slightly - it was tilted too far down for my liking and I moved it up a bit. The reservoir is now about level/horizontal, whereas before it was tilted forward. Now, looking at the viewing glass it appears that it is too full - I can't see the level. I need to find someone to drain the fluid, flush the system and replace it with fresh fluid. Because I have ABS, I understand that a special tool is required to do this - correct? I've only had the bike for 6 months or so and I am not sure when the brakes were last serviced - if they have been serviced at all!!
Open the top of the reservoir and pull some fluid out. You do not have to worry about air getting in the system as you are dealing with the open bath portion. Syringe, small spoon, or even a clean rag.
Update: I took some brake fluid out of the reservoir above the brake lever (it was full) and the problem went away - no more scorching rotors and locking brakes. The lever still appears to be harder than it was before but, again, the bike is operational again. I'll take the bike to the dealer as soon as I can to get the brakes serviced (flushed and the fluid replaced) because, as I understand it, to flush the ABS unit I need some electronic gadget (GS-911) hooked up to the OBD connector. Thanks for the help!!
I had the same thing happen on my FZ6 ABS on the rear brake only. Manual says the brake fluid should be changed once a year on the ABS bikes and I almost found out why the hard way. Same symptoms as yours, but only rear. My ABS unit seized in closed position and the workshop barely managed to unclog the thing and make it work again. A new ABS unit it over $2,5k for the FZ6. So, whatever it is, CHANGE YOUR BRAKING FLUID NOW.