2000 BMW K1200LT — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

AVON STORM 3 MOTORCYCLE FRONT TIRE DEVELOPED A FLAT AREA AFTER ONLY 1500 MILES. TIRE IS OUT OF ROUND.

DP12001 THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED AT 74,000 MILES WITH THE BEARING FAILING AND THE SEAL LEAKING OIL ONTO THE REAR WHEEL. AFTER REPAIR AT AN AUTHORIZE BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALER THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED A SECOND TIME AT 91,000 MILES.

WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I NOTICED A NEW RHYTHMIC VIBRATION TRANSMITTED THROUGH FOOTPEGS, VARIED SPEED & VIBRATION RATE ALSO VARIED. STOPPED, CHECKED WHEELS & TIRES, NO DEFECTS NOTED, CONTINUED TO DESTINATION. PARKED MOTORCYCLE ON IT'S CENTER STAND, REMOVED HELMET, GLOVES, JACKET & STOWED. VISUALLY INSPECTED MOTORCYCLE APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER & FOUND FINAL DRIVE LUBE DRIPPING FROM FINAL DRIVE, REAR BRAKE CALIPER ONTO REAR WHEEL, RUNNING DOWN RH SIDE OF REAR TIRE AND DRIPPING ON THE FLOOR. FLUID LOSS AT THAT POINT ESTIMATED TO BE APROX. 1 TEASPOON. ROTATING REAR WHEEL FOUND ROTATION "NOTCHY"/NOT SMOOTH, TURNING FASTER BY HAND COULD HEAR RUMBLE. SUSPECT CROWN BEARING CAGE FAILURE, FURTHER DAMAGING SEAL. DRAINED FINAL DRIVE, FOUND FLUID VERY DARK WITH METAL PARTICLES SUSPENDED IN FLUID. MAGNETIC DRAIN PLUG COATED WITH FLAKES & SLUDGE OVER 1/4 INCH THICK. EXAMINED DRAINED FLUID & FOUND PIECES OF SEAL MATERIAL. PHOTOGRAPHED ALL FINDINGS. FINAL DRIVE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR REPAIRS. FINAL DRIVE HAS HAD REGULAR, SCHEDULED FLUID CHANGES WITH NO ABNORMALITIES NOTED, LAST CHANGE AT 52K MILES, NEXT CHANGE WOULD HAVE BEEN 60K MILES. A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE CROWN BEARING COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE, AND POTENTIALLY SERIOUS INJURY TO A RIDER &/OR PASSENGER. SUSPECT THAT THE PRELOAD ON THE BEARING WAS SET TOO HIGH FROM THE FACTORY & THAT THE DAMAGE PROGRESSION CAUSED BY THIS ERROR WAS EXPONENTIAL OVER TIME. *TR

THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED AND THE BEARING SEAL LEAKED OIL ON THE REAR TIRE. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW K1200 LT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE AS IF THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WAS NO VISIBLE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FINAL DRIVE BALL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,035 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,500.