NHTSA Complaint #10244337 — 2006 BMW R1200 RT

THE MOTORCYCLE WAS IN NORMAL USE. I WAS ACTUALLY RETURNING HOME FROM A 3300 MILE TRIP WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. AT FIRST I DETECTED A REAR WHEEL "WOBBLE" WHICH I ATTRIBUTED TO A TIRE PROBLEM. AFTER PULLING OFF THE ROAD AND INSPECTING THE REAR WHEEL I DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRE WAS FINE BUT THE WHEEL ITSELF WAS LOOSE AND COULD BE MOVED NEARLY AN INCH SIDE TO SIDE. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THE REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY ON THIS BIKE. I REPORTED THE FIRST OCCURRENCE IN 2006 AS WELL. AT THE SHOP THE MECHANICS WERE ABLE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL BY SIMPLY PULLING ON IT. AT THAT TIME I REALIZED HOW LUCK I WAS TO HAVE PULLED OFF BEFORE THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. THE MANUFACTURER, BMW NA, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND AUTHORIZED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE BRAKES (WHICH WERE DAMAGED BY THE WHEEL MOVEMENT). *TR