NHTSA Complaint #10542418 — 1998 BMW BMW MOTORCYCLE

STRUCK A LARGE POT HOLE ON A CITY STREET. AS EXPECTED THE FRONT SUSPENSION COMPRESSED BUT THE FRONT FENDER (TRAILING SECTION) CAUGHT IN THE ENGINE COWLING AS THE SUSPENSION DECOMPRESSED. THIS MAKES THE STEERING RESTRICTED TO MOVEMENTS OF ABOUT +/- 10 DEGREES WITH SIGNIFICANT FRICTION IN THE STEERING OVER THIS RANGE. THIS MAKES THE BIKE VERY UNSTABLE ON TURNS! THE REPAIR IS TO STOP AND REMOVE THE FRONT TRAILING FENDER FROM THE COWLING BY REMOVING THE BOLTS HOLDING IT TO THE FRONT FORK AND THEN REATTACHING FENDER IN THE CORRECT POSITION. TYPICALLY THE TOP SCREW HOLE IN THE FENDER IS BADLY DEFORMED FROM PRESSURE ON THE FENDER. THE LONG TERM SOLUTION IS TO REMOVE THE FENDER AND SAW OFF APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES OF MATERIAL FROM THE BOTTOM EDGE. BMW 1998 K1200RS