2006 BMW K1200 R

WHILE RIDING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG FUEL SMELL WAS DETECTED. WHILE STOPPING TO INVESTIGATE, THE REAR TIRE LOCKED UP, BUT A CRASH WAS AVOIDED. I FOUND A LARGE VOLUME OF FUEL SPRAYING FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE FUEL CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE ALTERNATOR, THE HOT EXHAUST, AND THE REAR TIRE. BY THE TIME THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF TO TURN OFF THE FUEL PUMP, MY PANTS AND BOOTS HAD BEEN SATURATED WITH FUEL. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE QUICK DISCONNECT COUPLER FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE INJECTOR SUPPLY LINE HAD CRACKED AND SEPARATED INTO TWO PIECES. THIS ITEM IS LOCATED BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY THAT AN OUTSIDE FORCE, I.E. ROAD DEBRIS, COULD HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH THIS PART TO HAVE BROKEN IT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PART BREAK WITHOUT ANY OUTSIDE INFLUENCE AS WELL. THIS SORT OF FAILURE COULD EASILY RESULT IN FIRE AND/OR CRASH. THE PART NEEDS TO BE UPDATED TO A METAL CONNECTION THAT CAN WITHSTAND HEAT, VIBRATION, AND AGE TO BE SAFELY INSTALLED IN A TWO WHEELED APPLICATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW K1200R. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTS OUT OF SECOND GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THIS FAILURE OCCURS IN SECOND GEAR, BUT THEN THE FAILURE WILL PROGRESS TO INCLUDE THIRD AND FORTH GEAR. THE DEALER STATED THE RODS IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE BENT AND THAT CAUSES THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, BUT THERE IS NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

WHILE DEMONSTRATING THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ON MOTORCYCLES FOR A NUMBER OF MOTORCYCLE SAFETY INSTRUCTORS (IN A PARKING LOT,) I HAD RIDDEN WITHIN 5 MINUTES A HANDFUL OF SUCCESSFUL ABS DEMO RUNS. I WAS STARTING AT ONE SIDE OF THE LOT, GETTING UP TO 30-40 MPH, AND APPLYING THE BRAKES WITH ENOUGH FORCE FOR THE ABS TO ACTIVATE. DURING THE DEMONSTRATION, AFTER APPROXIMATELY HALF OF A DOZEN SUCCESSFUL RUNS, I DID THE EXACT SAME THING EXCEPT THE ABS FAILED TO ACTIVATE, WHICH RESULTED IN A FRONT TIRE SKID AND A SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH. THERE WAS NO INDICATION FROM THE INSTRUMENTS THAT THE ABS WOULD NOT FUNCTION, NOR WAS THERE A REASON FOR THE ABS TO NOT ACTIVATE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW K1200 R MOTORCYCLE. THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE WITH THE ABS BECAUSE THEY NO LONGER PRODUCE THOSE PARTICULAR BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 15,000. UPDATED 03/12/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A STEEP BANK AT 5 MPH. WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE ABS FEATURE ACTIVATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONSUMER WANTS THE ABS FEATURE REMOVED FROM THE BIKE. UPDATED 03/16/09. *JB