2002 BMW R1150GS

MY 2002 BMW 1150GS MOTORCYCLE HAS ONLY JUST OVER 41K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THESE MOTORCYCLES ARE ADVERTISED TO THE PUBLIC AS ABLE TO DRIVE FOREVER ACROSS CONTINENTS, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I WAS VERY SURPRISED WHEN IT LOST SOME INTERNAL GEARS LAST WEEKEND AND SOMETHING LET GO IN THE GEARBOX WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. AFTER REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE TRANSMISSION IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. METAL FRAGMENTS CAME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN DRAINED OF FLUID. THIS IS A TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TRAVELING AT NEAR 65 MILES PER HOUR ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY TWO WHEELS AND WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THAT THE BIKE'S REAR WHEEL DID NOT LOCK UP. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATALITY IF I WERE TO HAVE BEEN THROWN FROM THE BIKE AND / OR REAR ENDED BY OTHER VEHICLES UPON MY RAPID DECELERATION. THERE WAS A NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION RECALL OF SIMILAR BIKES BUILT AROUND THE SAME TIME (SEE NUMBER: 02V319000). ALTHOUGH MY MOTORCYCLE WAS MANUFACTURED AND ASSEMBLED AT OR NEAR THE SAME TIME, MY LOCAL BMW DEALER OR BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY REPAIRS. I BELIEVE THAT MY BMW MOTORCYCLE HAS SEVERE DESIGN, MANUFACTURING, AND OR MATERIAL DEFECTS THAT SHOULD BE EXAMINED IN MORE DETAIL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. A CURSORY REVIEW OF THE INTERNET REVEALS SIMILAR PROBLEMS OF RELATED MOTORCYCLES BUILT BY BMW. I URGE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ASSOCIATION TO FULLY INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER AND PROVIDE NOTICE TO OTHER CONSUMERS THAT MAY BE UNAWARE OF THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL DESIGN DEFECT. *TR

IN APRIL 2005, I EXPERIENCED A FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON MY 2002 BMW R1150GS. DURING A 36,000 MILE SERVICE, I REPORTED A SLIGHT OIL LEAK AROUND THE RUBBER BOOT ON THE FINAL DRIVE SHAFT. BMW REPLACED THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING THAT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE ENTIRE FINAL DRIVE WAS REPLACED DURING THE SERVICE AT NO CHARGE. THE FINAL DRIVE FAILURE PROBLEM IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND I AM AWARE OF SIX LOCAL BMW MOTORCYCLES, BOTH R AND K SERIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED FINAL DRIVE FAILURES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. *NM

2002 BMW R1150GS MOTORCYCLE SUFFERED A FAILURE OF THE FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY IN THE SHAFT DRIVE MECHANISM. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE SEAL BLEW OUT AND THE SHAFT BEARINGS DISINTEGRATED CAUSING THE WHEEL TO HOP UP AND DOWN SEVERELY AT ABOUT 70 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE BIKE OVER SAFELY WITHOUT A CRASH. THE ENTIRE FINAL DRIVE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. FORTUNATELY, IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HAD IT FAILED LITERALLY 30 SECONDS EARLIER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN LEANED WAY OVER IN A VERY TIGHT CORNER AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HIGH. THE LEAKING GEAR OIL COATED THE REAR TIRE CAUSING IT TO BECOME VERY SLICK. IT ALSO COATED THE REAR BRAKE PADS CAUSING THEM TO BECOME INEFFECTIVE. THE BIKE IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING REPAIRS.*AK