32 mpg? SOLVED

[peels]

well, was having a crap sorta day yesterday... so spent some time in garage.

looked at the back brake. Spun the back wheel, it was pretty tough, but not "stuck" like I might have been looking for. Would free spin a quarter turn. But to test, I took off caliper, and it spun almost 2 full turns(in neutral). so I'm thinking I might have found the culprit? pads really thin already. the wheel side pad is SEMI-uneven. only 2000 miles or so. I do use it heavily...but Not THAT heavily.

sticking piston? I cleaned everything pretty thoroughly when I put the pads on. And the carrier moves freely by hand.

Ive never had this problem with any machine. Anyone point me to a relative thread or how to? OR have any pointers? thanks!

Think I need to sort this, regardless if it's the fuel sucker.

[Roger 04 rt]

Why am I only getting 25 mpg: http://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php ... highlight=

[peels]

Why am I only getting 25 mpg: http://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php ... highlight=

well that pretty much covers everything.

I learned more from that thread than I did reading any manuals. LOL

Thank you Roger.

[AZBMWRIDER]

Do you still have the OEM brake lines on the bike ?????

[peels]

Do you still have the OEM brake lines on the bike ?????

yep, Im assuming so. but not for long lol

that wasnt an issue I was aware of....

[swamper]

Master cylinder needs to be vented and some fluid drained off if you are pushing the pistons back to install the pads. Common problem on Harleys when guys replace pads.

[peels]

Master cylinder needs to be vented and some fluid drained off if you are pushing the pistons back to install the pads. Common problem on Harleys when guys replace pads.

that would be why the lines "swell" like Ive read about then? back pressure when they're already weak? makes sense. IM guessing its the "crumbled hose" problem for me though... smashed into the banjo. I think tonight Ill take it apart and have a look, and do a flush, just because. then order some parts.

we opened it, and bled them when I changed pads. But...now that I'm thinking about it... When I did the all my maintenance and new tires...when I put the caliper back on, I pried them apart, but did not open it. So, I you just likened me to "harley guys" and I dont like your tone


Didn't have time over the weekend to mess with it, moms day PLUS anniversary... So, Today, I rode my short commute today very gingerly, on purpose for research. so as not to use the rear brake. Only touched it once, at only 5 mph on a gravelly intersection. When I got to work, the disc was HOT. TOO hot in my opinion.

I am just about convinced that this is ALL of My MPG problem now. Good and bad news, really. But in the end, simple enough. we shall see.

Few quick questions, to make sure I take the right pill and go down the correct rabbithole.

-the correct plan of attack is to completelyreplace the lines, correct? I think I'm going to do the rear before my trip, then tackle the fronts later on. Though they look VERY new. I might go through the previous owners' paperwork and see if it had been done. note: my front wheel spins magnificently free and smooth.

-Is there something simple (read "mega cheap" as I'm pretty tight right now)to try first to alleviate it, or would that be totally futile? Like a complete flush and bleed?


any other advice is greatly appreciated.

thanks again!

[Anduril]

Do you have ABS servo assisted brakes? If so, then your rear brake is braking everytime you touch your front brakes... because it's semi integral system.
I have completly disassembled all calipers on mine R and cleaned them, changed brake fluid. Rear wheel only does a quarter turn by hand, rear brake is dragging a bit and fuel consumption is all right.
So maybe problem is somewhere else, maybe not. Just wanted to say, that with ABS, rear brake is always braking, not depending if you are pressing rear brake pedal.

[peels]

adding to this:

At lunch today, I rode about 14 blocks at 45 max. used back brakes once on the way. discs were hot again upon my return.

So I think Ill leave the fuel system alone for awhile (call me cap'n obvious) until this is sorted. At which time, I might make a new thread for dragging brakes. And put a link to it here. For future reference or other researchers.

[swamper]

Pop the top off the Master and push the rear pads back from the disc. Go ride and don't touch the rear brake and see how hot it gets, should be no heat at all. Just use your front brake and down shift, be careful. Most track course instructors will tell you they don't use their rear brake. New hoses sound like they are in order.

[peels]

Pop the top off the Master and push the rear pads back from the disc. Go ride and don't touch the rear brake and see how hot it gets, should be no heat at all. Just use your front brake and down shift, be careful. Most track course instructors will tell you they don't use their rear brake. New hoses sound like they are in order.

well..... I made a hot mess of it lol.

Shouldn't have gone out to the garage late at night. I was absolutely not informed enough to work on that brake system I must have read a manual for a different abs system frickin noobs.

its funny, Last year, I made a comment on how simple the brake pad replacement was, expecting the usual german complications. Well I can say I have now found said complications. the pump has its own circuit, which I nearly ran dry. anyways, though technologically, that is cool, in the real world, it is dumb. And, i'm thinking extra hard about pitching the abs system in its entirety. As good to have as it is, i'm irritated by its design.

I was just going to bleed and watch some crap come out, press pistons in, then see if it got hot again. Basically do what you mentioned. But I mucked it up. Tank has to come off, and fill brake fluid in the reservoir in the abs system itself. This displeases me. I was tired and not in the greatest mood. And I'm really seeing why people say these bikes cost so much to maintain. I bet they'd charge me 3-400 bucks for this.

I thought about riding it today, with no back brakes... briefly. Also, the abs lights were flashing, i'm guessing due to no fluid, lack of pressure.. so I was unsure if the fronts would work correctly, if it was in some sort of error mode.... hopefully Ill have time to be working on it tonight....

[swamper]

Mine doesn't have ABS. I've read good and bad about it on the r1150r's. Some complete failures noted on the board here. What it boils down to for me is I wouldn't buy another new bike without ABS. My newest bike 650 Wee2Strom (inherited) has ABS and I see it as a safety feature for self insurance, I've never so far felt it kick in. One of the reasons I'm taking the Wee2 to Alaska next month for our 35 day ride. I've been over on the R1200R site lately and see your thinking of a newer R bike, lots more technical if you want to work on it yourself. You know nobody buying a new R isn't going to tell you it isn't better than a 1150. What's really better?, the paints age? My opinion is the 1150 does everything I want it to do and does a good job of it, the oil cooler scoops are just a bonus. I'm sticking around here with Towerworker and seeing how many miles I can put on mine. Next week-end going to the 49'r BMW rally on my R, 4 day camp-out with a bunch of night time beer drinking old farts trying to figure out how to set up tents and complaining that the ground didn't use to be that low and hard. I'm usually the only R bike there, most have RT's and GS's, with an occasional Airhead. Funny there is always someone who comes by and says they have never seen an R1150R before??, you'd think I was on a Dinosaur.

[peels]

HA!

sure, i'm "thinking" but it wont happen at the prices bikes are getting to. I don't have enough time to ride a new bike that would warrant that price tag. I wont get rid of this R unless it dies a horrible death. I love it. That new RS sure is pretty, though.

I like ABS too. But it isn't SO good that i'd cry if it were gone.

There are literally NO BMW bikes around me. Iv'e seen a few in the town 20 miles east. And then around Iowa city where the shop is. But I'm a loner. Where I am at, you would simply classify my R as "not a Harley" there are precious few of us. I did have a younger fellow say "nice bike, dont see many BMW's" He was dreaming of buying himself an r75 apparently. That was nice. Oh, and out near the amish settlements, there was a couple on a NEW 1200gs and 800gs eating a romantic dinner at the restaurant we were at for our anniversary. My wife chastised me for staring at their machines, and wouldn't let me go interrupt their dinner LOL.


Iv'e taken to a new thread for the brake problem.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34197

[cgguy09]

Hey peels, sorry hear the moronic reset didn't do it for you....
On my end it did. I got roughly 40 mpg and I rode it pretty hard a few times. Green light came on at 130 miles or so ( while upright)

[cgguy09]

Motronic...not moronic.... Although that's how I felt when it fixed the problem

[swamper]

Is the new RS at the stealers? My local doesn't even have the new R yet on display. They did have a R90T, looks nice for a day rider. I asked about the new R and was given the old story they are pre-sold and never hit the floor. Sometimes they can be irritating to try to deal with, some of the answers they give just don't make sense. My local is having a garage sale this Saturday so I'll ask about the RS when I'm there. Hope to snag a good pair of riding pants at the sale.

[peels]

I like moronic. i'll go with it.

the new owners' website shows the RS. so that must mean its en route, because it wasn't there, yet, and the new staff aren't quite knowledgeable yet. so they couldnt tell me.

[peels]

brakes are functioning correctly, no squeeze.

sadly, my mpg, first tank, normal riding was crap.

32.4.



im lost.

for sh!ts and giggles, i went out at lunch, pulled that ccp that folks mention, and reset the motronic. AGAIN.

could a faulty o2 sensor richen it that way? curious

[kirby]

don't know how your checking your mileage but I have never seen a 1150 get so poor mileage during normal use.
Check your odometer???

[jrsndman]

FWIW: My 2002 has a Two Brothers Racing exhaust and Rhine West Performance chip installed. I have a pretty aggressive riding style and routinely get around 32 MPG.


Are you sure your bike is stock?