New to Forum--RT brakes

[billbass]

Hi,
My name is Ed. I've been a BMWMOA member for a year, (joined because of ON) but haven't tried the Forum. Reading Michael Battaglia's letter in the March issue induced me to log on and he was right about the "useful info and mutual interest".

I rode Harleys in the 1950s, then a series of Jap bikes after marriage. This ended with a Kaw Z-1 that I rebuilt. I did my own wrenching and liked the older bikes. Then I decided it was time to do "more rideing and less wrenching", so I bought a 2004 R1150RT with 6K miles two years ago. I am thoroughly enjoying it. My first with all the "panels" - great aerodynamics but a bit of a negative for serviceability- but I'm learning.

My question: The RT with "full integral abs brake system". Exactly how does it work? The hand brake operates both front and rear, as does the foot. I assume there are proportioning valves to allocate F and R braking, different ratios for hand vs. foot. How (or can) one operate only the rear as for tight low speed turns and braking on "slippery surfaces"?

Thanks for any insight

[cwsenn]

As I understand the braking system on my RT, when you apply the front brake it is intergrated with the rear brake and the abs is working as well. When you apply the rear brake you still have the abs working but it does not apply the front brake at all.

[BradfordBenn]

Howdy-

Welcome to the fun. Yup, the integrated braking is as CWSenn indicated but the exact amount of use can vary based on the model year is my understanding.

[kbasa]

There's actually fully and partially integrated versions of this. In full integration, either foot or hand gets you both. In partial, hand gets you some of the rear and all of the front; foot gets you rear only.

[co_g30]

There's actually fully and partially integrated versions of this. In full integration, either foot or hand gets you both. In partial, hand gets you some of the rear and all of the front; foot gets you rear only.

interesting, so would providing the vin to a dealer enable him to tell you which version your RT has?

[billbass]

It is my understanding that the RT (possibly this is the only model) has the FULLY INTEGRATED brake system. This "Full Integration feature" affects both the system fluid replacement process and the breaking operation.

I am looking for specifics on both.

[henzilla]

My '05RT has partial...the front brake lever operates both , the rear, rear only...so you do not faceplant in gravel parking lots:thumb

I just put a new set of tires on last night and decided it was time to change rear brake pads AGAIN after another 14000 miles.When I bought it with 15K, the rear pads were paper thin . This time I had around 1/8th inch left on them.
The fronts look great and I do not ride the pedal, just a result of the linking and the use of a lot of front brake I guess... I get used to the front lever doing the work is all I can figure and it uses the rear all the time?:dunno
I have had vehicles that never replaced rear pads on while maybe going thru 3 sets of front pads

[Motorwerk]

As it pertains to the RT model:

1100=non-linked
1150=fully-linked
1200=partially-linked

For the 1150 the rear brake cannot be operated indepedently. This was the bane of this model for which much angst was spewed on many a forum (and elsewhere I'm sure). Thus, BMW unlinked the rear pedal from the front brake. There was some speculation about applied ratios of hand and foot-lever but nothing conclusive.

On the 1200 series if the hand-brake lever is applied along with the foot-brake lever, more braking force will be applied to the rear than with the hand-brake lever alone.

Hope that helps.

[EricJRW]

As it pertains to the RT model:

1150=fully-linked

Hope that helps. That is also my understanding for the '04, and seems to be further confirmed by the Douglas Raymond article, "The Haul Road" (ON, March '07).