2002 BMW R Series Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW R1150RT MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE CONNECTING SLEEVE TO THE FLUID LINE. IN ADDITION, FUEL BEGAN LEAKING ONTO THE HOT CYLINDER. THIS WAS THE SECOND INSTANCE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 25,300. UPDATED 10/21/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/26/10

QUICK DISCONNECT FUEL LINE FITTING FAILURE (FRACTURED FOR NO SPECIAL REASON WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE) WAS NOT DAMAGED OR MISUSED IN ANY WAY. GASOLINE WAS SPILLING ONTO HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER, BUT NO FIRE. *JB

OPERATING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION AT SPEED BELOW 40 MPH. VEHICLE LOSS ALL POWER FROM ENGINE TO TRANSMISSION. ENGINE STILL OPERATES AND REVS NORMALLY, BUT NO ENGINE POWER IS TRANSFERRED TO TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION STILL SHIFT PROPER INTO EACH GEAR IN THE GEARBOX. VEHICLE TOWED TO MAIN LINE BMW MOTORCYCLE, DIAGNOSED WITH FAILURE OF CLUTCH AND DRIVE SHAFT SPLINE INTERFACE. CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT REPLACED, TRANSMISSION REBUILT UNDER VEHICLE FACTORY WARRANTY (2 YEAR/30,000 MI.).

CLUTCH TO TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT SPLINES FAILED ON MY 2002 BMW R1150RT MOTORCYCLE. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SPLINES WHICH CONNECT THE CLUTCH PLATE TO THE TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON A SIDE STREET WHICH WASN'T BUSY AND NEAR HOME. NO ACCIDENT RESULTED DUE TO LOCATION WHERE FAILURE OCCURRED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW R1150RT.. WHILE STARTING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE KICKSTAND BENT AND IT FELL OVER. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN HOME WHERE THE CONTACT REPAIRED IT HIMSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000. UPDATED 12/20/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY PAPER WORK TO FILL OUT. UPDATED 12/27/10 UPDATED 01/13/11*LJ UPDATED 01/27/11

EARLIER IN THE WEEK THE ABS FAILURE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THEN THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING EFFECTIVELY. THERE IS A BACKUP "RESIDUAL BRAKING" OF ABOUT 15%. I SURVIVED BECAUSE I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC AND DID NOT NEED A SERIOUS STOP. I HAD IT "FIXED" AT THE DEALER ON SATURDAY. THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AND THE BRAKES WORKED FOR ABOUT 4 ON OFF CYCLES. THEN THEY FAILED AGAIN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE. I THEN RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND IT IS RAMPANT. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED. MOTORCYCLES HAVE CRASHED OVER AND OVER. BMW IGNORES IT AND WANTS OVER $2,400 FOR THE PART REPLACEMENT ALONE. BUT THE DESIGN IS UNSAFE! WHEN THE ABS FAILS IT SHOULD GIVE FULL NORMAL BRAKING POWER. IT DOES NOT. MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE KILLED BY THESE SYSTEMS. BMW CLAIMS TO HAVE TESTED THE RESIDUAL BRAKING AND FOUND IT SAFE. THEY ARE LYING! NO ONE COULD SURVIVE AN EMERGENCY STOP EXPECTING NORMAL FUNCTION AND GETTING ONLY 15% WITH A TEN TIMES HARDER BRAKING EFFORT. FURTHER SOMETIMES THE FAILURES CAUSE THE BRAKES TO LOCK AND THE MOTORCYCLE TO CRASH. THEY SHOULD AT LEAST OFFER FREE REMOVAL OF THIS SYSTEM. IT CAN BE DONE AND MAKE THE MACHINES SAFE.