NHTSA Complaint #10364218 — 2005 BMW R 1200 GS

BMW R1200GS REAL WHEEL FLANGE THE FLANGE IS A BILLET PART THAT CONNECTS THE REAR WHEEL AND THE REAR BRAKE DISC TO THE MOTORCYCLE. WORLD-WIDE THERE ARE REPORTS FROM USERS OF R1200GS MODELS MANUFACTURED IN 2004 AND 2005 ABOUT CRACKS IN THE FLANGE AROUND EITHER THE MOUNTING HOLES FOR THE BRAKE DISC OR THE MOUNTING HOLES FOR THE REAR WHEEL. SEVERAL INCIDENTS ARE KNOWN WHERE THE REAR BRAKE DISC BROKE OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. ON LAST INSPECTION THE FLANGE ON MY MOTORCYCLE HAD DEVELOPED CRACKS AROUND ALL 5 MOUNTING HOLES FOR THE REAR WHEEL BOLTS. BMW DENIES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL PART AND REFUSES REPLACEMENT, CLAIMING THAT IN ALL INCIDENTS THE BOLTS MUST HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH TOO HIGH TORQUE. THE REAR WHEEL HAS ALWAYS BEEN MOUNTED BY MYSELF, AND ALWAYS USING A TORQUE WRENCH WITH THE CORRECT SETTING. THE ORIGINAL PARTS ONE THESE MOTORCYCLES APPARENTLY WERE BMW PART-NUMBER 33117694910; AS REPLACEMENT BMW NOW SELLS A RE-DESIGNED PART WITH THE NEW PART-NUMBER 33117699631. THE DANGER FOR A CRASH SHOULD THE REAR WHEEL OR THE REAR BRAKE DISC BREAK OFF WHILE IN MOTION ARE OBVIOUS. BMW HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, DOESN'T OFFER FREE REPLACEMENTS AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE HAS NOT SENT OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN OR ANY OTHER KIND OF WARNING TO DEALERS OR CUSTOMERS. *TR