NHTSA Complaint #10244210 — 2006 BMW R1200 RT

IN JULY 2007 I EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT PLAY IN THE REAR WHEEL OF MY 2006 BMW R1200RT MOTORCYCLE. THE REAR WHEEL BOLTS TO A FLANGE WHICH IS PRESSED ONTO THE AXLE TUBE OF THE FINAL DRIVE. THIS IS A COMPRESSION FIT, TOGETHER WITH A CIRCLIP. WHEN I DETECTED THE PROBLEM, AFTER REMOVING THE CIRCLIP, I COULD REMOVE THE REAR WHEEL WITH NO RESISTANCE WHATSOEVER, I.E., THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE AS THE SPLINED SURFACE OF THE FLANGE, AND THE SPLINED SURFACE OF THE AXLE TUBE, HAD WORN AWAY TO SUCH AN EXTENT. I TRUCKED THE BIKE TO SALT LAKE CITY WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY (REPLACEMENT OF THE FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY, WHICH INCLUDES THE FLANGE), REAR BRAKE ROTOR AND ALL LUG NUTS. I CHECK THE PLAY IN THE REAR WHEEL REGULARLY, AND IT DETERIORATED TO THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION IN VERY SHORT ORDER. FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE WAS A BLACK METALLIC RESIDUE ON THE REAR WHEEL,AND THE PLAY IN THE REAR WHEEL. *TR