2002 BMW R1200C — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

MY FINAL DRIVE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AT 29,963 MILES ON 12/18/08. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CROWN GEAR OR BEARINGS DETERIORATED, CHEWED UP THE SEALS, AND CAUSED GEAR OIL TO LEAK ONTO MY REAR WHEEL. A BMW DEALER REBUILT THE DRIVE USING OEM PARTS, AND IT FAILED AGAIN AT 32,164 MILES ON 6/25/09. IT WAS REBUILT A 2ND TIME AND RECENTLY FAILED A 3RD TIME ON 9/29/11 AT 47,647. THIS TIME I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW FINAL DRIVE FROM BMW IN GERMANY FOR ALMOST $1400 RATHER THAN REBUILDING AGAIN, HOWEVER, I'M AFRAID ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. LAST TIME I NEEDED TO GET TOWED HOME AND BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NORTHERN STATE PARKWAY IN LONG ISLAND. EACH TIME THE REPAIR WAS PAID FOR OUT OF MY POCKET AS THE BIKE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. EACH TIME THE DEALER AND BMW DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF FINAL DRIVE INTEGRITY ISSUES WITHOUT EH BMW R1200C MODELS. *KB

I OWN A 2002 BMW R1200C THAT HAD ABOUT 5500 MILES ON IT BEFORE THE FOLLOWING FAILURE; THE BEARING ON THE END OF THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER PISTON FAILED, SPINNING THE SLAVE CYLINDER PISTON IN IT'S BORE, BURNED THE BRAKE FLUID AND BLED ALUMINUM PARTICLES THROUGHOUT THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH CIRCUIT. THIS RENDERED THE CLUTCH LEVER INOPERABLE AND I COULD NO LONGER PUT THE MOTORCYCLE IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND LET THE BIKE STALL IN GEAR, WHICH HAD A TENDENCY TO LOCK UP THE REAR TIRE. BMW FIXED THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I'VE FOUND OUT THROUGH CONVERSATION WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS, THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAPPENS FAIRLY FREQUENTLY. IF THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE THE NEW COMPONENTS FAIL.

I OWN A 2002 BMW R1200C THAT HAD ABOUT 5500 MILES ON IT BEFORE THE FOLLOWING FAILURE; THE BEARING ON THE END OF THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER PISTON FAILED, SPINNING THE SLAVE CYLINDER PISTON IN IT'S BORE, BURNED THE BRAKE FLUID AND BLED ALUMINUM PARTICLES THROUGHOUT THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH CIRCUIT. THIS RENDERED THE CLUTCH LEVER INOPERABLE AND I COULD NO LONGER PUT THE MOTORCYCLE IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND LET THE BIKE STALL IN GEAR, WHICH HAD A TENDENCY TO LOCK UP THE REAR TIRE. BMW FIXED THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I'VE FOUND OUT THROUGH CONVERSATION WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS, THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAPPENS FAIRLY FREQUENTLY. IF THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE THE NEW COMPONENTS FAIL.

WHILE RIDING BACKREST FELL OFF.*AK

WHILE RIDING, BACK REST FELL OFF.*AK *YH