NHTSA Complaint #10585587 — 2009 BMW K 1300 GT

FOR A FEW WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, I COULD SMELL FUEL WHEN I PARKED THE BIKE. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS. I PLANNED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE LOOKED AT, WHENEVER THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED ITSELF. ON TUESDAY APRIL 29, 2014, I RODE 17 MILES TO WORK. THE BIKE RAN WELL AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF TROUBLE. IT RAINED WHILE I WAS WORKING AND 10 HOURS LATER WHEN I CAME OUT OF MY WORK PLACE THE BIKE WAS WET. I TOWELED THE SEAT DRY AND SET OFF FOR HOME. THE REAR TIRE LOST TRACTION AT LOW ACCELERATION BUT I DISMISSED IT TO COLD TIRES AND WET PAVEMENT. THE TIRES WERE NEW CONTINENTAL CONTAMINATION M THAT HAD BEEN INSTALLED ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR. ON THE FIRST 1/8 OF A MILE TO THE FIRST STOP LIGHT I FELT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS WATER ON MY RIGHT LEG. BECAUSE IT HAS RAINED, I DISMISSED IT AS WATER FROM THE FARING OF THE BIKE. BUT AS I TURNED ONTO THE MAIN STREET THE ROAD TURNED DRY BUT MY RIGHT LEG AND SNEAKER WAS GETTING SOAKED. I COULD SMELL GASOLINE AND SEE THAT THE LIQUID WAS OILY. AT ABOUT 1.8 MILES FROM WORK I PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT THERE WAS GASOLINE SOAKING THE ENGINE, MY LEG, THE EXHAUST, AND THE GROUND. VAPORIZED FUEL WAS STEAMING FROM THE SURFACE OF THE EXHAUST. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE BIKE OFF AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE GASOLINE EVAPORATED AND WAS GONE. THE LEAK STOPPED AS SOON AS I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. I PARKED THE BIKE AND CALLED FOR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO FIRE. *TR UPDATED 10/23/2014 *JS