'02 R1150GS Valeo Starter failure

After owning and riding the GS for just over a yr, it still seems very quirky to me in many ways - even after 35yrs of riding everything else.  Midsept I was heading out with Ken George (Keng) and my ABS light didn't go off.  Ken informed me that low voltage can cause this.  We rode to Enfield.  Ken filled up and when I re-started the ABS light went off as usual.  We continued to Upper Mosquitobite and Ken rode right past the Gunsmith's place (Brian Densmore - great guy) so I stopped and waited for Ken to come back.  When I restarted, ABS light stayed on.  I pulled up close to Brian's house and plugged into an exterior outlet with my "tender."  I carry it, not so I i'll have it with me for situations like this, but so I'll know where it is!
After 20min, it started fine and ABS went off.
When I got home, I checked the battery (12.8v) and plugged in the tender anyway. The motor seemed to be rolling over slow.  Pulled battery (Oddysey), took to Maritime Battery where they did a load test and said it passed!
Went home and started looking for that needle in the haystack.
Then I went to Yukon for a week - but that's another story.
When I got back, after checking fuses, wires, connections, volts, ohms, amps, I pulled the battery again.  Went back to Maritime and asked how much a new one was.  For some odd reason, they just exchanged mine (09/11 date code) and gave me a new one.  I went home with a smile, installed it and . . . oh no!!  It won't even roll over enough to start now!
I decided to think for a day or two.  Then I started googling and discovered this:  
http://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?60797-Intermittent-Starting-Problems-1150RT

It seemed to be ominously similar to what I had experienced.  Either gummed up Bendix or dislodged magnets!  It was late at night so I slept very little that night and got up early and pulled off the starter.  The Bendix was gummed up so I cleaned with brake cleaner.  Then did a "bench test."  It seemed sluggish.  Pulled it apart and the magnets were dislodged and armature damaged.  I had already researched replacement starters (while not sleeping the might before) and had found a Canadian supplier on Ebay that provided a 1yr warranty and free shipping.  I ordered it (for $117 all in) on Thanksgiving Monday and (three days later) I rode to the Chickenburger!  
Seller ID - totalpartscanada
Auction Link - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/NEW-Starter-BMW-R1100-R1150-R1200-R850-Motorcycle-93-07-/231283565075?hash=item35d9932213:g:JXwAAOSwo0JWG-JN&vxp=mtr

Hope this helps someone else!  Beware the French manufactured Valeo starter!!

Update - forgot to mention that when I determined it was the starter and not the battery, I returned the new Oddysey battery to Maritime and got my old one back. Great staff and service there!

Glad you got good results Matinz. What year is the GS?
This is an example of a sharing of experiences that can benefit this clubs membership and others.
Thanks for sharing.

2002 R1150GS

K bikes had the exact same problem with the magnets
I don't know the R1150 Gs, but on the old Ks most of the electrical is getting the ground from the starter. If the starter fails, lights, flashers and horn won't work.
The load shed relay is controlled by the starter....