Right folks, Just wanted to update everyone on the above subject. I appreciate there is a thread on this previously on the forum, but I'm doing this in the interest of safety for all those with a 2010 onwards ABS model. For the last few weeks I have been having issues with my brakes failing, albeit it at low speed never the less they are failing, however and more importantly Honda don't recognise there is a problem. Well hopefully they are going to have a wake up call, as today when I had it at the dealer for the second time, they still couldn't get the brakes to fail again. Although the garage have agreed to bleed the brakes in an attempt to try and rectify the problem because they haven't witness them failing whilst they have had it in the garage. However this is the good part, when i pulled away after reluctantly agreeing to bring it in next week again, the brakes failed but more importantly the ABS Flashing light came on...ya beauty. Straight back to the dealer with it, I didn't turn the engine off so they could see it for themselves, as I don't believe any dealer has witnessed the flashing ABS, although it was the first time i ever had it, i only get the brakes failing. So Honda when we say the brakes are failing and the ABS light is coming on bloody believe us before someone gets killed! Hopefully now the dealer has seen it, Honda will wake up and realise we are not all delusional and making it up in our head. Tomorrow morning I will be calling Honda and see what they got to say for themselves now, and failing that will drop a wee note to the BBC WATCHDOG, as I'm sure they will be keen to have this story specially as Matt sits on the back of a bike.
Good luck Honda do know about it trust me. I think that they play the feature of the system card a bit though. Keep pushing them though!
This is one of the reasons when I bought my blade in January 2013 I DID NOT GET ABS And to be honest for the extra money is it worth it , cause when you come to sell it do you think you'll get more than a standard ? Plus is a service more expensive with ABS ,? Hope you get it sorted , and soon , good luck
They (Honda) know the system is delicate! what I mean is that after the system has been thoroughly bled and I mean all abs components not just lines, the system works brilliantly. BUT it seems that the system needs the bleed at regular intervals to stay SAFE. Im dreading having to pay up for a brake bleed periodically when it was something i did myself on my previous non abs blade. Honda should at the minimum extend the warranty on the braking system! good luck and let me know if you need a previous (and future) victim!
Why have others mastered the ABS and don't need the expense Honda seems to have associated, with bleeding, BMW RR has it on its sports no issues! Not being pedantic. My last BMW K1300s with a full service and brake fluid change at 3 years old and 14K miles £200.... just an observation.
I think its the combined nature of the Honda system which sets it apart; standard abs is a proven technology. I have experienced issues with my cabs system, but also agree that its amazing when working without fault. Strangley, the 600RR doesnt seem to suffer the same woes so there must be a difference between the systems; component location maybe.
I totally agree with you, its the CABS and the locale of components it has to be! small bike lots of bulky bits to place.
It may all be down to the location of the front power unit and modulator. As it's attached to the engine near the radiator and manifolds. The 600rr had the power unit and module moves from the front to the centre of the bike i have been informed, by a source and that the original 600rr abs model had the same problems.
My 2005 BMW F650 has ABS, not had any problems at all. It's now approaching 40k, have bled non ABS sections twice. It is a Brembo system but you'd hope Honda could do the same.
Update - Spoke with Honda Technical at length yesterday. It would appear they are aware of the spongy feeling riders are reporting, but nothing about ABS light flashing, which i said was hard to believe after the few items i have read on this forum, but as usual they undermind these sites! Anyway they claim that because the light the ABS light has flashed it will have presented an error code to the system. They have also said they will pay the dealer technician time to ride my bike around town to see if the fault shows as it normally does then. So hopefully will be in a place to give more information after Tuesday. If anyone is experiencing the spongy feel i would get it to the garage IMO hopefully get covered under warranty! Will update you further after Tuesday
The code will be 52 it will list the following. 1) incomplete brake bleed 2) brake caliper fault 3) front power unit/modulator fault. They will offer to bleed the brake system fully and tell you to monitor it after, I had 2 brake bleeds and a caliper service with the fault reappearing every time until I took it back and they replaced the modulator unit. Since then so far no troubles what so ever. Just a sum up of what I know.
MMmm... What about the 'failures' without a flashing light I say... I find it hard to believe that Honda technicians are unaware of any problems. Perhaps that was just 'officially' unaware. H
That was my words on the phone, everyone is reporting the light coming on! so therefore if its been reported by garages surely it should be getting addressed or investigated, that would be enough to say, "Houston, we have a problem"
