NHTSA Complaint #10130449 — 2000 BMW R1100 RT

I PURCHASED A USED 2000 BMW R 1100 RT MOTORCYCLE WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH ABS-2 BRAKES AND SOON THEREAFTER RECOGNIZED THERE WAS A FAULT WITH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. I FOLLOWED THE RESET PROCEDURE AND THE FAULT KEPT COMING BACK. TO MY AMAZEMENT I SOON FOUND OUT THROUGH TALKING TO OTHER BMW RIDERS AND INTERNET CLUBS AND GROUPS THAT ABS FAILURES ON BMW BIKES WAS COMMON PLACE. AS I INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM FURTHER I FOUND OUT THAT A NEW ABS CONTROL UNIT FROM BMW WAS IN THE RANGE OF $1500.00, ADD TO THAT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO HAVE A BMW CERTIFIED MECHANIC REPLACE THE FAULTY UNIT YOU ARE TALKING ALMOST $2000.00 WHICH IS WELL OVER 10% OF WHAT THE MOTORCYCLE COST NEW! TO MY THINKING THIS IS AN INHERENT AND SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IN MY OPINION THESE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAULTS HAVE MORE TO DO WITH POOR ENGINEERING AND A LACK OF CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PART OF BMW THAN THE RIDING APPLICATIONS OF THE BIKE OWNERS. I WROTE TO BMW TO TRY TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE BUT I GOT NOTHING BUT AN INDIGNANT RESPONSE WHICH DID LITTLE TO QUELL MY CONCERN AND IN FACT FURTHER INDICATED THEIR LACK OF CONCERN AND RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE ISSUE. *NM