NHTSA Complaint #10303862 — 2005 BMW K1200 S

BMW MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVE FAILURE. I HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES OF THE REAR DRIVE UNIT ON MY 2005 BMW K1200S MOTORCYCLE OVER THE PAST 45,000 MILES. FIRST FAILURE (12,000 MILES) RESULTED IN LATERAL PLAY OF ABOUT 1/2 INCH AT THE TIRE CONTACT ZONE. UNIT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND FAILURE (40,000) WAS OF THE INPUT BEARING RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO ALL BEARINGS. ONLINE FORUMS ARE FULL OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THESE ISSUES. THIS REAR DRIVE DESIGN IS COMMON TO ALL CURRENT PRODUCTION SHAFT DRIVE MOTORCYCLES FROM BMW. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PAST YEAR, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN OFFERED TO OTHER OWNERS. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION, AS THE REAR DRIVE NOT ONLY PROVIDES POWER TRANSMISSION, BUT ALSO SUPPORTS THE REAR WHEEL IN A SINGLE SIDED SWINGARM ARRANGEMENT. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR