NHTSA Complaint #10244404 — 2002 BMW F650GS DAKAR

THE FRONT AXLE DETACHED FROM THE RHS FORK LEG WHILST TRAVELING AT APPROX 40KMS/HR DOWN A GRASSY LANE WAY IN A VINEYARD. THE RESULT WAS A VERY HEAVY FALL TO THE RIGHT INTO THE GROUND HEADFIRST & SUBSEQUENT MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR A BADLY BRUISED NECK AND, THE DOCTOR'S TELL ME "SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE TO THE BRAIN" I COMPLETELY DESTROYED A BMW PHASE III HELMET IN THE PROCESS. I BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION AT THIS TIME EVEN THOUGH THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED IN AUSTRALIA DUE TO THE RECENT INCIDENT ALREADY REPORTED TO YOU & SHOWN NOW ON YOUR PUBLIC FILES. BMW AUSTRALIA CLAIMED TO ME AT THE TIME THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY OTHER SUCH INCIDENTS WORLDWIDE. I DID NOT BELIEVE THEM AT THE TIME BUT WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR PROJECT AND COULD NOT AFFORD THE TIME AWAY FROM THE PROJECT TO PURSUE THE MATTER. THE PARTS FROM MY INCIDENT WERE SENT TO GERMANY FOR STRESS TESTING AND SO THERE ARE RECORDS OF THE INCIDENT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT STRICTLY ON A PUBLIC ROADWAY. BMW CLAIMED TO ME THAT THE TESTING DID NOT SHOW ANY FAILURE IN THE METALS OF THE RHS FORK LEG AND THAT I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING WHICH I DID NOT. I NOTED AT THE TIME THAT A REPLACEMENT RHS FORK LEG SUPPLIED IN THE REPAIR LOOKED DIFFERENT TO THE ONE WHICH WAS REMOVED BUT I HAVE ONLY JUST BEEN MADE AWARE THEY CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE FORK LEG DURING EARLY 2003 AND ALL MACHINES PRODUCED POST JUNE 2003 ARE FITTED WITH THE REVISED CASTING. I AM NOW ALSO AWARE OF BETWEEN 7 AND 10 SIMILAR INCIDENTS MOSTLY IN THE USA. I WOULD BE PLEASED TO PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION IF YOU CONSIDER IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO YOU. I AM A MOTOR CYCLIST WITH 35 YEARS AND IN EXCESS OF 1 MILLION KMS EXPERIENCE IN ALL WEATHER AND ALL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE APPEARS TO BE A PATTERN OF DENIAL IN THE RESPONSE OF BMW TO EACH OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED AN INCIDENT OF THIS TYPE WITH THE F650GS AND IT CONCERNS ME GREATLY THAT IF SOME COMMONSENSE DOES NOT OCCUR OTHERS WILL ALSO BE INJURED OR DIE. I PREFER THAT MY DETAILS REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL. *TR