NHTSA Complaint #10068016 — 2002 BMW R1200C

I OWN A 2002 BMW R1200C THAT HAD ABOUT 5500 MILES ON IT BEFORE THE FOLLOWING FAILURE; THE BEARING ON THE END OF THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER PISTON FAILED, SPINNING THE SLAVE CYLINDER PISTON IN IT'S BORE, BURNED THE BRAKE FLUID AND BLED ALUMINUM PARTICLES THROUGHOUT THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH CIRCUIT. THIS RENDERED THE CLUTCH LEVER INOPERABLE AND I COULD NO LONGER PUT THE MOTORCYCLE IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND LET THE BIKE STALL IN GEAR, WHICH HAD A TENDENCY TO LOCK UP THE REAR TIRE. BMW FIXED THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I'VE FOUND OUT THROUGH CONVERSATION WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS, THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAPPENS FAIRLY FREQUENTLY. IF THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE THE NEW COMPONENTS FAIL.