NHTSA Complaint #10137034 — 2000 BMW K1200LT

(1) WE WERE IN A VERY DESOLATE SECTION OF SOUTHERN IDAHO, WITH NO CELL PHONE SERVICE, WHEN OUR REAR DRIVE FAILED ON OUR MOTORCYCLE. WE HAD BEEN CRUISING AT ABOUT 65-70 WHEN WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A VERY PRONOUNCED RHYTHMIC SENSATION, NOT UNLIKE EXPANSION STRIPS CAUSE, BUT THE ROAD WAS SMOOTH! THIS WAS JUST A FEW MILES BEFORE IT GOT REALLY SHAKY AND NOISY. JUST AS A SIDE NOTE, I DID NOTICE SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT WHEN WE STARTED OUT THAT MORNING, BUT COULD NOT PUT A FINGER ON THE PROBLEM. HINDSIGHT SAYS THAT IT WAS TALKING TO ME ABOUT 150 MILES BEFORE IT FINALLY WENT, BUT I WAS NOT SURE IF IT WAS THE REAR DRIVE OR MY PARANOIA ABOUT JUST SUCH A THING HAPPENING ON OUR VACATION! (2) AFTER WE LUCKILY MANAGED TO PULL OVER IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE (SOUTHERN IDAHO, 111 MILES SOUTH OF MOUNTAIN HOME ON ID-51) WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THE ONLY SIGN OF CIVILIZATION ON A NEARBY HILLTOP. THANK HEAVENS THEY HAD A PHONE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CELL PHONE SERVICE IN THE AREA! AFTER THE BIKE WAS STOPPED IN A SAFE PLACE OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE REAR DRIVE IMMEDIATELY FINISHED DUMPING THE REMAINDER OF THE GEAR OIL ON THE BRAKE ROTOR AND WHEEL. IF WE HAD NEEDED TO STOP QUICKLY I AM SURE IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC WITH THAT BRAKE ROTOR SOAKED IN OIL! (3) I DO MOST OF MY OWN SERVICE, BUT HAVE UTILIZED PORTLAND AND SALEM BMW DEALERS FOR SERVICE AND PARTS. IN THIS CASE SINCE IT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD (DON'T MOST OF THEM?) IT WAS BIG TWIN CYCLES BMW IN BOISE IDAHO WHO DID THE REPLACEMENT. THE REPLACEMENT BEING THE ENTIRE REAR DRIVE ASSEMBLY WHICH HAD TO BE OVERNIGHTED FROM THE BMW NORTH AMERICAN WAREHOUSE TO BIG TWIN. AS IT WAS THE TOW BILL WAS STILL OUTRAGEOUS BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCES INVOLVED. WHAT IF WE HAD NOT BEEN NEAR (OVER 100 MILES = NEAR!) A BMW DEALER? IT COULD HAVE BEEN ASTRONOMICAL! *JB