Question: stopped at a light on a very steep hill...

[sbreland]

Had the rear brake system checked - twice - under warranty. The rear brake still releases then grabs while holding on a hill. No fault codes on the BMW diagnostic computer. Finally got an answer from BMW Germany: My 2004 has the computer software formerly found only on the enforcement bikes. BMW says the "feature" is designed to save wear and tear on the pump when stopped for long periods as might be done by a motor officer.

It seems to be an issue only with relatively light pressure on the pedal. I'm not sure if I'm concerned enough to bitch more or just live with it. I'll continue to experiment.

[BoiseBeemer]

Front braking and using the throttle at the same time is just not a skill I've developed...

It's definitely a skill you should learn, but the free advice you've been getting about always putting both feet down "for stability" is misguided. My wife is new to riding and has dropped her beloved Rockster 4 times. Each drop was caused by trying to stop on a steep lateral incline (i.e., sloping to the left or right). Since she's inexperienced and the bike is relatively heavy for her, the only way she feels comfortable at rest is if both feet are down. Unfortunately, on a sideways incline, both-feet-down will put your bike off perpendicular to gravity and none of us is strong enough to hold up 500 pounds when it gets unbalanced, particularly when the out-of-balance state occurs as the result of a sudden stop. In those situations, the best balance you can get is the tripod formed by the two wheels and your high-side foot. She worked on it all last summer and started to feel more in control of bringing her bike to a comfortable stop under any conditions. This spring, when the bikes come out of hibernation, we're going to a hilly parking lot and spend a whole day there just stopping and starting.

I rarely find it necessary to use the back brake to start the bike, even on a steep slope, but even so the only time I ever put both feet down is if I miss the light and get stuck there for a few minutes, or if I'm in a long line of creeping traffic and I just want to coast forward to keep from getting run over from behind. Still... I've come to a stop on some monster hills, and the ability to hold the bike steady with foot down and one foot on the back brake can be a big help. We've all killed the engine with a careless start on level ground; doing it on a steep slope is really unsettling.

Learn to start up both ways; each skill is helpful at different times, and it's just silly to pretend that not knowing how to do one or the other is some kind of manly virtue.

IMHO.

[cbesey]

sbreland, do you know how to determine which software you have? With my '04 I have the same thing happening on SF's hills that toner87 describes, tho it seems usually mitigated by standing *hard* on the rear brake before getting off the front. Wondering if it's a bleed issue or the "feature" you describe

Chris

[sbreland]

I'm out of town now so I can't get the exact build date of my 04, but it is around 9/03. My bike did NOT exhibit this behaviour until the spring of last year when I had the dealer replace the brake fluild as recommended in the maint guide. I suspect I got a software "upgrade" as part of the process, although I have no other evidence to support that possibilty.
In answer to your question, I do not think one can tell the software version without access to the BMW diagnostic computer.

I'm riding over to Atlanta for the motorcycle show on the 23rd. That should be about a 500 mile week-end. After that I'll decide if the situation needs bitching or ignoring. Hmm, think I'll stop at Atlanta BMW and ask them if they've heard of this. Also at the BMW booth at the bike show. I'll let you know what I find out.

[socalrob]

When rolling backwards down a steep slope the back wheel now becomes the front wheel, and like a typical fron wheel, is responsible for 80 percent or more of braking ability.

I have a pretty steep slope out of my office parking garage, and if its late & the gate is down, I'll ride up the slope to trigger the gate, & then roll backwards 10 or 15 feet (so that the heavy iron overhead gate won't kill me it it falls). If I roll backwards at a good clip & use the front brake lever only(I've got the ABS partially linked) it will cycle through the ABS. If I use the rear it will stop the bike immediatly.

I vote that there is something wrong with your back brake.

[Eqyn Dad]

Don't know if this helps but....I installed one of those aluminum collars on my rear brake lever (replaces the rubber) and this made the rear brake lever slightly closer to my boot and improved the feel. This especially helped on those off-canter hills when you must hold the bike with the rear brake.

[GJBushman]

Interesting topic. I'm with Boisebeemer. I mostly use only one foot at stops, even two up. Most of the time it is my left foot but often due to road conditions it will be the right. It seems you were in a scary situation. My instinct would be to use the rear brake on steep inclines. I am almost always in gear at stops for the first 20 or 30 secs so if I lost traction on my rear I would be able to slip the clutch quickly. Like Boisebeemer I also practice steep hill stops, uphill and downhill, and you should mix it up some; steep uphill stops to a right turn, steep uphill stops to a left turn, and on various left or right slopes if you can find them. We have a park near by that provides a few of these conditions. You've got to practice these if you expect to pull them off well. Once you've stalled in this position you're in even worse shape that when you started. Then the front brake/throttle hand work comes into play. If you've never practiced that, well, you're in even worse shape again. I now ride a K12RS so I have pretty good brakes and some weight (which can help). I wouldn't expect this situation to happen but it could. I hope I am ready for it when it does happen.