HI Guys I have just taken my 2012 abs cbr1000 into have its yearly service and I have received a bit of a shock concerning the ABS. I have been told that on top of the charge for the service I also need my brake fluid changing as it is cloudy and as it is an ABS model the dealer has said" Honda allow six hours to do this as it is an ABS model and that it should be done every two years!!!!! Now the cost of six hours is not going to be cheap on top of the £170 service- oh and tyres....Ouchiooo My problem with all of this is that I have had my bike serviced every single year by my Honda dealer and now they tell me that Honda UK say this should be done every two years so why wasn't it mentioned before as my bike is now 4 years old (8000 miles) also I wasn't I informed that there was an extra service cost when I bought the bike. Look forward to your comments . Many Thanks Ufoxed
You do know your going to open up a whole can of worms now You pretty much have no choice, other than an independent mechanic or if your feeling confident enough to have a go by yourself! But let me tell you it's a complete ball ache... totally So much so that I removed the whole system and have no more dramas about brake fade or bleeding issues that are well documented on here. A few people on here have mastered the technique but it's still a pain. Sorry but it's the only advice I can give you. But what I would say is it's long overdue!! Potentially 4/5 years of the same fluid
Apart from the fact that I think ABS is a waste of space and time (and has caused crashes) you have also pointed out another reason why I detest ABS on bikes. I was one of those that did a lot of work with Lockheed Girling in the early days of ABS and it was deemed back then that it would be a pain in the backside and potentially expensive.
Hi Dave thanks for taking time to reply...It is too big a job for me to take on and your right I have no other choice but to stump up and your also so right that it is too long for the brake fluid but to be honest I would have thought it was up to the dealer to do this on one of its many services that's the thing that gets me no one even mentioned it @ purchase or at one of its many services. Just out of curiosity how easy was it to remove the whole system? I suppose that effects insurance too.... Regards A skint Ufoxed !!!!!
Like Dave says it's a pain I made the decision to remove mine on a 600 back to conventional brake after honda said not to but I took a lot of weight off bike but was not a easy job I left one pipe in as would have had to take lump out to access it the abs module ecu is independent to bike ,like Dave says u have opened a can of worms as many a discussion on here about abs works for some but not for others good luck
Hi TC I am coming around to your type of thinking. I REALLY do love riding my blade and have had no braking problems thus far but with the servicing cost and also the added ABS cost it just seems TOO much cost....As I understand it and I am sure you will correct me but aren't Honda going to make all bikes with ABS-will you be able to buy one without ABS? Seems an expensive business having a fun bike that's not fun!!!!! Regards ufoxed
Yes but honda have gone to Bosch abs controlled by IMU opposed to there combined abs own system correct me if I am wrong sure peeps will know
Honda's C-ABS system is overly complicated and is a pain in the a$£ to bleed even for the Honda dealer tec's, Bosch's abs is more reliable and takes a fraction of the time to fully bleed, funny enough, that's what you get on the new FireBlade!!!!!
Hi guys When I spoke to the dealership on the phone he said it was a very complicated job to do and that they needed their lead technician in to do the job but the thing that got me was he seemed surprised that Honda allowed 6 hours to do the job and so had to charge that. -they must have had this done before being a well known Honda dealership -Me thinks I need to get rid of my fun bike as I have the big service up next year!! Another £600....
if they had of told you about the total cost to maintain your bike at the main stealers you would have walked straight out the shop! But now your burdened with a big bill! I could remove your complete system reverting it back to conventional brakes in a day! The fact is they can pretty much charge what they want! The ABS system is way to over complicated for its own good. Doesn't help you out much, I also wouldn't have too much faith in their ability to do a proper job! As many have had issues after a full bleed!
That's correct Graeme, as per most systems now all using the Bosch, Fitted some race lines on a new ZX10 a while ago and it's the same as bleeding conventional system, One unit controls the lot....
U have a point trouble is jay honda for years have being brushing customers opinion under the carpet for a system that did not work ,quick to take your money tho
If it was me the question to ask yourself is whether you intend on keeping the bike for years and years. If you do then I would bite the bullet and pay to have it removed and upgrade to the brakes you want. If you are going to swap it within the next few years then pay to have it bled just this once and get rid before it's due again. Or the last option is to try and find a budget solution for bleeding them whether that's learning to DIY or finding an independent garage who you can trust. At least you have faith in the system.... Can't be said for all ABS owners. Good luck!
Did anyone else pick up on the fact the so called top mechanic at the dealer in question was surprised Honda say 6 hr timescale to bleed the c-abs? That would automatically telly me he/she has never done a blade/baby blade c-abs system bleed before and they started to hit the uk in late 09! Should have been done at least 3 times on bikes made from that time period! With more c-abs blade/baby blades hitting the streets in each additional yr. Was the dealer just ignoring the long running industry standard of replacing brake fluid every 2 yrs? Ignoring only the c-abs equipped bikes??? As far as why the dealers were not forthcoming about extra maintenance costs involved in the c-abs, most if not all potential customers would just walk away or choose another model after being told about the extra £3-400 service costs every 2yrs! Losing them the sale and money........that's not in their interests so wouldn't do it!
Yeh top mechanic!!!! the chuckle pin is connected to the laughter shaft isn't it I've seen some of the work that's come out of my local main Honda stealer..... let's just say they couldn't even fit the fairing back properly on my mates blade!! and another one all the fasteners were hand tight! If they couldn't even get the basic easy bits right
