NHTSA Complaint #10201261 — 2000 BMW BMW MOTORCYCLE

THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED WHEN THE ABS WAS USED ON A DIRT ROAD. STANDING ON THE REAR BRAKE FOOT PEDDLE AND SQUEEZING THE FRONT BRAKE HAND LEVER AS HARD AS POSSIBLE HAD NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER. JUST AS IF THEY WERENT EVEN USED. SECONDS EARLIER THE BRAKES WORKED PERFECTLY. AND AFTER RESTARTING THE MOTORCYCLE THEY WORKED PROPERLY AGAIN. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE TO ME THAT AN ABS SYSTEM WOULD BE DESIGNED IS A WAY THAT WHEN IT FAILED IT RENDERED THE BRAKES TOTALLY INOPERABLE: THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF FAIL SAFE. IN ONE CASE I NEARLY RAN OFF A CLIFF AT UNDER TEN MILES PER HOUR. ONCE I FIGURED OUT WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM I TURNED THE ABS OFF WHEN RIDING ON DIRT. NOT LONG AFTER THE LAST INCIDENT THE ABS QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE TROUBLE CODE SAID THE ABS MODULATOR HAD A STUCK PISTON. I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE MODULATOR FIGURING I WAS MUCH SAFER WITHOUT THE ABS.