IllustrationFAILURE OF THE LARGE BEARING IN THE FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY. THE SEAL DID NOT LEAK PRIOR TO FAILURE. *TR
1995 BMW R1100RSL
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all R1100RSL years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Wheels. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
4 reportsMANUAL TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS UNSAFE SHIFTING CHARACTERISTICS: DIFICULT TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WITHOUT GETTING HUNG-UP IN NEUTRAL, SOMETIMES DROPS FROM HIGHER TO LOWER GEAR UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK
THE TIRES WERE ALWAYS INFLATED AT THE PRESSURES RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURERS. THE FRONT WHEEL WOULD BEND BECAUSE OF ITS THREE SPOKE DESIGN AND THE SOFT ALLOW USED. REPLACEMENT WAS ORIGINALLY $600 PLUS LABOR AND LATER, THE PRICE WAS DROPPED TO $400 PLUST LABOR. THE COMPANY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE THREE OTHE…
Read full complaint
THE TIRES WERE ALWAYS INFLATED AT THE PRESSURES RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURERS. THE FRONT WHEEL WOULD BEND BECAUSE OF ITS THREE SPOKE DESIGN AND THE SOFT ALLOW USED. REPLACEMENT WAS ORIGINALLY $600 PLUS LABOR AND LATER, THE PRICE WAS DROPPED TO $400 PLUST LABOR. THE COMPANY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE THREE OTHER MOTORCYCLES, USING THEM TO TRAVEL THE SAME ROUTE AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BENT FRONT WHEELS WITH ANY OF THEM. *AK
A NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BY OTHER BMW RIDERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM OVER THE INTERNET SITE(BMW-R1100@CINNAMON.COM)HAS PROMPED THIS COMPLAINT.THANK YOU FOR INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
Official recalls
197V173000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
Oct 8, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE OWNER'S MANUAL WARNS THE RIDER NOT TO LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING UNNECESSARILY WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS STATIONARY AND TO RIDE OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WARNING IS IGNORED AND THE ENGINE IS LEFT RUNNING AT AN INCREASED SPEED ABOVE IDLE WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS AT A STANDSTILL WITH THE AIR STREAM REQUIRED FOR COOLING MISSING, THE EXHAUST SYSTEM TEMPERATURE WILL RISE CONSIDERABLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A WARNING LABEL FOR THEIR MOTORCYCLE AND AN OWNER'S MANUAL INSERT.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.