NHTSA Complaint #741264 — 2000 BMW R1100 RT

I HAD STARTED UP MOTORCYCLE TO TAKE OUT FOR A RIDE, IT WAS COLD, I HAD WALKED TO MY OFFICE AND PICKED UP HELMUT, LEATHERS AND CAME BACK THE MOTORCYLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE MANUFACURER STATES DO NOT RUN MOTORCYCLE IDLING, WITH THE SIDE STAND THERE IS AN ENGINE CUT OFF, WITH THE CENTER STAND IT WILL RUN. I DO NOT SEE ANY DIFFERENCE IN IDLING/ MOTORCYCLE STANDING STILL AND IDLING INCHING FORWARD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE I CAN SEE IS THAT THERE WAS NOT A SERIOUS INJURY BECAUSE I WAS NOT SITTING ON THE BIKE, AND THE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED BECAUSE I HAD A FIRE EXTQUISHER NEAR BY AND MANAGED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE THE FULL FUEL TANK EXPLODED. THIS TO ME IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE, WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I HAD A RIDER ON THE BACK OF THE MOTORCYCLE WITH ME, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OFF THE CYCLE.*AK