NHTSA Complaint #10365423 — 2008 BMW F 800 ST

REAR VIEW MIRRORS ARE FUNCTIONALLY USELESS. THE LOCATION OF THE MIRRORS ON THE VEHICLE IS SUCH THAT, WHEN PROPERLY ADJUSTED, VISION TO THE REAR IS ALMOST COMPLETELY OBSTRUCTED BY THE IMAGE OF THE OPERATORS HANDS AND FOREARMS IN EITHER MIRROR. IN SHORT, THE MIRRORS ARE NOT LOCATED FAR ENOUGH FROM THEIR ATTACHMENT POINT ON THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS RESULTS IN THE OPERATOR'S REPEATEDLY HAVING TO TAKE HIS OR HER HANDS OFF THE HAND GRIPS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SEE TO THE REAR. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DANGER TO THE OPERATOR IN THREE SIGNIFICANT WAYS. FIRST: REMOVING HANDS FROM THE MOTORCYCLE'S POSES SUBSTANTIAL RISKS TO SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. SECOND: MAKING CONSTANT MOVEMENTS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SEE TO THE REAR PRESENTS A SERIES OF DISTRACTIONS THAT COULD ENDANGER NOT ONLY THE OPERATOR BUT THOSE AROUND THE OPERATOR AS WELL. THIRD: MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, THE LOSS OF VISION TO THE REAR VIA THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS POSES THE RISK OF DEATH TO THE OPERATOR WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN IN A SITUATION WHERE ANOTHER VEHICLE MIGHT BE PASSING THE MOTORCYCLE AT THE TIME OF THE TURN. THE RESULTING COLLISION MIGHT WELL BE AVOIDED WITH A CLEAR VIEW TO THE REAR. AT PRESENT, OWNERS OF THESE MOTORCYCLES ARE PUT UPON THEMSELVES TO REMEDY THE SITUATION BY MAKING THEIR OWN MODIFICATIONS TO THE VEHICLES. THESE COME IN THE FORM OF AFTER-MARKET EXTENDERS WHICH COME IN A VARIETY OF SIZES FOR THE PURPOSE. THE EXTENDERS ARE, HOWEVER, NEITHER MANUFACTURED BY BMW. CERTIFIED FOR USE IN THE APPLICATION OR STANDARDIZED IN ANY WAY. THIS CERTAINLY DEMONSTRATES THE NEED FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO REMEDY THE SITUATION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. *TR