2021 BMW R 1250 RT — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

Original owner, purchased July 2021. Adaptive cruise control (ACC) continues to drop off intermittently after numerous complaints to BMW service techs and BMW Customer Relations since new. Attempts to repair include dealer 'recalibration' and software updates none of which have solved the issue. When in use, ACC suddenly, without warning drops out leaving driver to actively recover previous speed (throttle). Not such a problem at lower speeds, however at highway speeds the dropout could be life-threatening. In my case, traveling the posted 85mph highway speed outside of Salt Lake City, the ACC dropped out. The sudden deceleration nearly threw me from the motorcycle as if I had suddenly braked at highway speed. The highway was congested with the vehicle behind me having to emergency brake to avoid a collision. Most recently, on August 27th, 2024, I brought the motorcycle to a BMW dealership in Anchorage, Alaska for annual service and to request warranty repair of the faulty ACC unit. I showed images of the failure notifications, gave history of previous repair requests and repair attempts by other dealers. The service manager assured me he would contact BMW tech support to resolve the issue. After a mandatory software update and 'recalibration' I rode the motorcycle home. The unit failed three times over the 400-mile trip. Ultimately, the service center failed to complete warranty service on the ongoing life-threatening ACC failure due to lack of technical expertise to address the issue and false narrative of contacting BMW tech for a solution.

Page 67 of the BMW Motorad Owners Manual describes operation of the "self," cancelling , "Comfort turn indicators" as follows: After the turn signal is pushed to the right or left, the turn signal indictors automatically turn off under the following conditions: -Speed is under 18mph; after a distance of 165Ft is covered. -Speed is between 18 mph and 60 mph: after a speed dependent distance is covered or during acceleration. -Speed is above 60 mph: after turn signal indicator flashes five times. The turn signals don't turn off as described above. The auto cancelling signals only turn off after a distance of approximately 1500 feet regardless of speed. This can create a dangerous situation as oncoming traffic expects you to turn the motorcycle but you intend to go straight as the turn signal indicator remains on unless you remember each time the turn signal is activated to manually cancel it. I have been to MAX BMW Motorad dealer in Connecticut for 3 attempts to remedy the electronic issue to no avail. They stated all they can do is set the distance to cancel. (1500feet). The cancelling feature as a function of speed cannot be corrected. Hopefully no rider will be injured or die when the system doesn't work as specified in the owner's manual and the "auto," cancelling signals don't auto cancel causing confusion of a car operator to not understand the intent of the motorcyclist to go straight vice turning.

BMW is selling a motorcycle with no information to the user on how to maintain it. The manual doesn't even have basic maintenance procedures or torques. You can't even get a service CD from the dealer. If the bike can't maintained or you do something wrong it could fail on the road and possibly kill you. I thought there were laws that you didn't have to have the bike serviced by the dealer or if so it should be free. I have never bought a bike that didn't have some information available.

The distance control on the cruise control will just fail while in use. Going through Atlanta with cruise set at 65 MPH in traffic and it just fails (alert pop up too) and throttle goes to zero which on a motorcycle means immediate engine braking. Nearly get run over by car behind me. Has been to the dealer and they did a calibration and said it was fine only for it to return in about 200 miles. This is a new feature on these bikes and the dealer has no idea what to do at thie point. At a minimum BMW should look into this and get to the issue then notify all owners.

BMW is selling a motorcycle with no information to the user on how to maintain it. The manual doesn't even have basic maintenance procedures or torques. You can't even get a service CD from the dealer. If the bike can't maintained or you do something wrong it could fail on the road and possibly kill you. I thought there were laws that you didn't have to have the bike serviced by the dealer or if so it should be free. I have never bought a bike that didn't have some information available.