2005 BMW K1200 S Problems

MY MOTORCYCLE IS LEAKING GASOLINE SOMEWHERE. I CAN'T LEAVE IT IN THE GARAGE DUE TO THE STRONG GAS SMELL. I'VE REMOVED THE FAIRING, BUT STILL CAN'T FIND WHERE THE LEAK IS COMING FROM.

APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE BIKE I WAS RIDING WHEN I SMELLED GASOLINE, MY LEFT LEG FELT WET AND I RETURNED TO THE HOUSE. GASOLINE PUDDLED UNDER THE BIKE LEAKING FROM BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES OF THE BIKE. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATED THIS WAS PROBABLY THE FUEL TANK QUICK DISCONNECT FAILING. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE BMW BLOGS. I THEN CHECKED SAFECAR.GOV AND FOUND THE RECALL. *TR

*2005 BMW K1200s ABS Power Brake system became and is Intermittent. Is available for inspection. Dealer owner and mechanic stated they were unaware of any said BMW ABS problems * On my birthday , Riding my motorcycle approximately 40mph, no indicator light on, no prier symptoms existed and unaware that the ABS Power Brake system was (off) not operating and as I needed to slow down, the system allowed me to over press/squeeze front power brake lever. Front Power BRAKE turned on and I eminently became a member of The over the Handle Bar's Club. * Woke up in the Hospital with broken Collar Bone, 3 damaged Ribs and a heavy Head Concussion * HPD Officers Report was inadequate

ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7TH I WAS RIDING MY 2005 BMW K1200S ON A ROUNDTRIP FROM LITTLE ROCK, AR TO PETIT JEAN MOUNTAIN STATE PARK. APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES FROM HOME ON HWY 300 NEAR THE LITTLE ITALY TOWNSHIP I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE/ABS FAILURE WHILE TRAIL BRAKING THROUGH A TURN. THIS IS A ROAD WITH SEVERAL STEEP AND TIGHT HAIRPIN TURNS AND VERY LIMITED/NON-EXISTENT RUNOFF ROOM. I RAN WIDE ON THE NEXT CORNER AND ENDED UP CROSSING THE DOUBLE YELLOW AND WAS NEARLY HIT BY AN ONCOMING CAR. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO USE THE GEARBOX TO DOWNSHIFT AND USED ENGINE BRAKING TO SLOW MY MOTORCYCLE DOWN TO A SAFE (ALREADY BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT) SPEED. I PULLED OVER ONCE I CAME TO A SHORT STRAIGHT SECTION OF HWY 300 THAT HAD A SHOULDER. I TURNED MY MOTORCYCLE OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON, BUT BRAKING POWER WAS NOT RESTORED. I CALLED A CLOSE FRIEND TO BRING A TRAILER AND WE TOWED MY MOTORCYCLE BACK TO MY GARAGE. I HAVE BEEN A RIDER FOR 30 YEARS AND HAVE OWNED MANY TYPES/BRANDS OF MOTORCYCLES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER LOST BRAKING POWER ON ANY MOTORCYCLE. THIS IS UNSAFE AND UNACCEPTABLE. IT IS ALSO A SHAME BECAUSE THIS IS A HIGH-PERFORMANCE MOTORCYCLE SADDLED WITH AN INCREDIBLY UNSAFE BRAKING/ABS SYSTEM. I COULD NOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SELL THIS MOTORCYCLE TO SOMEONE ELSE AT THIS POINT WITH THIS DESIGN FLAW IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I SHOULD NOTE THAT MY 2005 BMW K1200S WAS BOUGHT AT A BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALER IN BENTONVILLE, AR IN MARCH, 2016. THE MOTORCYCLE HAD 4,300 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IT WAS SOLD ORIGINALLY/SERVICED BY THE SAME DEALER. THE MOTORCYCLE CURRENTLY HAS A TOTAL OF 5,800 MILES ON IT. I HAVE INCLUDED BELOW A PICTURE OF THE MOTORCYCLE IN THE CONDITION I BOUGHT IT BACK IN MARCH, 2016. AS YOU CAN SEE THIS WAS/IS NOT AN ABUSED MOTORCYCLE. I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND WHY BMW MOTORRAD USA HAS NOT INSTITUTED SOME SORT OF RECALL/BUY-BACK PROGRAM FOR THESE MOTORCYCLES.

WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD: THE BIKE STALLS WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOPLIGHT WITH CLOSED THROTTLE AND THE CLUTCH IN. THIS ISN'T A PROBLEM WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM. WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM: 1. THE ENGINE SURGES IN THE FIRST 3 GEARS AT LOWER SPEEDS (UNDER 30MPH) WITH THE THROTTLE BARELY CRACKED OPEN, AND THE ON/OFF IDLE RESPONSE IS ROUGH. THIS REQUIRES DILIGENT CLUTCH WORK TO SMOOTH OUT. 2. IF I REV THE ENGINE FROM IDLE WITH THE CLUTCH IN, THE REVS HANG AND THEN SLOWLY DECREASE BACK TO NORMAL IDLE. 3. REVS HANG ON ACCELERATION AFTER CLOSING THE THROTTLE. 4. INCONSISTENT ENGINE BRAKING. THESE ISSUES WERE FIXED BY REPLACING THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AND AIRBOX WITH UPDATED MODELS. *TR

MY 2005 BMW K1200S HAS HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE. WHILE HEADING WEST ON I 110 IN HARRISION COUNTY I HAD NOTICED A SLIGHT JERK IN THE ENGINE, 5 SECONDS LATER I HAD A SUDDEN EXPLOSION. I HAD THOUGHT I HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE REAR TIRE BUT AS I WAS TRYING TO CONTROL THE MOTORCYCLE I NOTICED A HUGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE BEHIND ME THAT FILLED THE INTERSTATE ON BOTH SIDES THAT WAS VERY DENSE. WHEN FINALLY COMING TO A STOP JUST PAST THE PASS CHRISTIAN EXIT IN THE SERVICE LANE I NOTICED OIL POURING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE MOTOR. HAD THE TRAFFIC BEEN HEAVY I'M SURE I WOULD HAVE BEEN RAN OVER OR CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN EITHER LANES OF TRAFFIC.LOOKING AT THE BIKE AND REMOVING THE LEFT BODY PANEL, I FOUND A HOLE ABOUT 3 INCHES BY 2 INCHES WITH THE CONNECTOR ROD HANGING OUT OF THE HOLE. IT APPEARS THE COLLAR CONNECTING THE ROD TO THE CAM SHAFT BECAME LOSE AND CAME APART. THE SCREWS ARE STILL IN THE COLLAR AND LOSE WITH NO HEAD.THE ENGINE HAD PLENTY OF OIL AS I ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE LEVEL IS GOOD BEFORE GOING LONG DISTANCES. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY HAD TOLD ME THEY NEVER HAD HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING BEFORE AND THOUGHT FOR SURE THAT BMW WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. BUT AFTER THEY CONTACTED BMW THEY SAID NO. I CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM AND ALL THE RED TAPE IT CAME TO THIS. BMW TOLD ME IF IT IS A DEFECT ON THERE PART OR NOT, THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANY REPAIRS WHAT SO EVER. TOLD ME A NEW MOTOR WAS ABOUT 11 THOUSAND DOLLARS. SO, I HAVE A K1200S SITTING IN MY SHED IN WHICH I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON. BEFORE THIS EPISODE I THOUGHT I DID NOTICE A SLIGHT RATTLE IN THE ENGINE WHEN TAKING OFF BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE VALVES TAPPING BECAUSE I WAS DUE FOR A SERVICE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS AND HAVE FOUND A FEW OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IDENTICAL TO MINE. MY DEALER DID TAKE AN OIL SAMPLE TO HAVE IT ANALYZED BUT I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEED (65-75 MPH) AN AUDIBLE CHANGE TO THE OVERALL SOUND AND FEEL OF THE MOTORCYCLE OCCURRED. DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH HAD NO AFFECT ON THE SOUND. THE TONE WAS IMPACTED BY SLOWING DOWN AND WAS NO LONGER AUDIBLE AT REST. SHORTLY AFTER, MY SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER COMPLETELY FAILED. PUSHING THE BIKE BACKWARDS RESULTED IN THE GEARING BEING JAMMED PREVENTING REVERSE TRAVEL. PUSHING FORWARD WAS POSSIBLE. UPON REMOVAL OF THE FINAL GEAR (ANGLE DRIVE) HOUSING COVER, I DISCOVERED THAT 2 TEETH ON THE RING GEAR HAD BROKEN OFF CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE PINION GEAR AND THE HOUSING. THE TWO BROKEN TEETH WE RECOVERED IN THE HOUSING. THE OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERN IS IF THOSE BROKEN TEETH HAD BECOME LODGED IN THE FORWARD DIRECTION AT FREEWAY SPEED.

BMW MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVE FAILURE. I HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES OF THE REAR DRIVE UNIT ON MY 2005 BMW K1200S MOTORCYCLE OVER THE PAST 45,000 MILES. FIRST FAILURE (12,000 MILES) RESULTED IN LATERAL PLAY OF ABOUT 1/2 INCH AT THE TIRE CONTACT ZONE. UNIT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND FAILURE (40,000) WAS OF THE INPUT BEARING RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO ALL BEARINGS. ONLINE FORUMS ARE FULL OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THESE ISSUES. THIS REAR DRIVE DESIGN IS COMMON TO ALL CURRENT PRODUCTION SHAFT DRIVE MOTORCYCLES FROM BMW. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PAST YEAR, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN OFFERED TO OTHER OWNERS. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION, AS THE REAR DRIVE NOT ONLY PROVIDES POWER TRANSMISSION, BUT ALSO SUPPORTS THE REAR WHEEL IN A SINGLE SIDED SWINGARM ARRANGEMENT. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR

THE DRIVER LOST STEERING ON A CURVE AND RAN OFF THE ROAD AND HIT HIS HEAD ON A MAILBOX POST. *TR

MY 2005 BMW K1200S MOTORCYCLE FREQUENTLY SLIPS OUT OF SECOND GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL. OCCASIONALLY, I CANNOT SHIFT FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION WILL STAY IN NEUTRAL. THE CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY LESS THAN 500 MI. AGO AND THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL ACTING AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. *JB

*2005 BMW K1200s ABS Power Brake system became and is Intermittent. Is available for inspection. Dealer owner and mechanic stated they were unaware of any said BMW ABS problems * On my birthday , Riding my motorcycle approximately 40mph, no indicator light on, no prier symptoms existed and unaware that the ABS Power Brake system was (off) not operating and as I needed to slow down, the system allowed me to over press/squeeze front power brake lever. Front Power BRAKE turned on and I eminently became a member of The over the Handle Bar's Club. * Woke up in the Hospital with broken Collar Bone, 3 damaged Ribs and a heavy Head Concussion * HPD Officers Report was inadequate

THE DRIVER LOST STEERING ON A CURVE AND RAN OFF THE ROAD AND HIT HIS HEAD ON A MAILBOX POST. *TR

BMW MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVE FAILURE. I HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES OF THE REAR DRIVE UNIT ON MY 2005 BMW K1200S MOTORCYCLE OVER THE PAST 45,000 MILES. FIRST FAILURE (12,000 MILES) RESULTED IN LATERAL PLAY OF ABOUT 1/2 INCH AT THE TIRE CONTACT ZONE. UNIT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND FAILURE (40,000) WAS OF THE INPUT BEARING RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO ALL BEARINGS. ONLINE FORUMS ARE FULL OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THESE ISSUES. THIS REAR DRIVE DESIGN IS COMMON TO ALL CURRENT PRODUCTION SHAFT DRIVE MOTORCYCLES FROM BMW. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PAST YEAR, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN OFFERED TO OTHER OWNERS. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION, AS THE REAR DRIVE NOT ONLY PROVIDES POWER TRANSMISSION, BUT ALSO SUPPORTS THE REAR WHEEL IN A SINGLE SIDED SWINGARM ARRANGEMENT. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR