NHTSA Complaint #10275008 — 2005 BMW R1200 RT

UPON RETURNING HOME FROM A RIDE ON MY 2005 BMW R1200RT MOTORCYCLE, I ATTEMPTED TO LOWER MY SIDE STAND AND NOTICED THAT THE CENTER STAND ASSEMBLY WAS DANGLING BY MERELY A RETRACTION SPRING. FORTUNATELY, IT HAD NOT COME COMPLETELY UNDONE AND BECOME ENTANGLED IN THE REAR WHEEL, WHICH WOULD MOST CERTAINLY HAVE CAUSED AN IMMEDIATE CRASH. BOTH BOLTS THAT HOLD THIS ITEM TO THE BIKE'S UNDERCARRIAGE HAS SHEARED OFF MID-WAY. I CONTACTED BMW NA ABOUT THIS, AND RECEIVED ONLY A BRIEF APOLOGY, BUT NO ADMISSION OF FAULT OR COMPENSATION. I INVESTED APPROX. $45 IN OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS FROM A BMW DEALER TO REPAIR THE UNIT, WHICH THE DEALER STATES IS NOW PERMANENTLY 'BENT.' SIMILAR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE (SKID MARKS ON PAVEMENT CONSISTENT WITH WIDTH OF CENTER STAND LEGS) IMPLICATED IN TWO DEATHS (10/05/08 - MONROE CO., PA - DETAILS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST). I HAVE RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE BOLTS. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED ON AUGUST 20, 2010, THE FINAL DRIVE ON HIS MOTORCYCLE FAILED. THE SUPER-HEATING FROM THE CROWN GEAR BEARING FAILED AND LEAKED OIL. THE REPAIRS EXCEEDED $2,000. UPDATED IVOQ 02/15/12