[MichaelD]

Are you folks aware of this. It looks to cover both late R1200's up to and including R1250's. Best not to go from 200 kph in 6th, down to first and then drop the clutch.............................................until repaired

BMW has issued an urgent recall of 3778 motorbikes over fears of a loss of vehicle control.
The regulator has reported the defect could increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to road users.
BMW Australia warned the issue applied to a range of models including the BMW (K50) R1250 S, (K51) R1250 GS Adventure and the (K52) R1250 RT-P Authority Vehicle.
The affected models were manufactured from 2017 to 2023.
“Under certain circumstances, operating the vehicle with abrupt and major speed differences between the engine and final drive can result in overloading, and subsequent damage to the transmission input shaft,” the Department of Transport said.
“This may cause the rear wheel to lock, resulting in a loss of vehicle control.”
Owners are asked to contact their preferred BMW Motorrad dealer to have the necessary recall work performed as soon as possible.
A list of dealers can be found on the BMW Motorrad website.
For more information on the defect, consumers should contact the BMW Customer Interaction Centre (CIC) on 1800 813 299 or visit their website.

 

[daniel.poirier]

Is this serious? Or a parody of a recall?

 

[Panzermann]

I always said that judder damper BMW introduced in 2017 was a recipe for disaster. 😏

This is going to cost BMW a bomb. Replacing the input shaft requires dropping the engine and disassembling the gearbox. I wonder if it will be addressed via a complex in situ checking mechanism like they instigated for the Cardan joint wear issue. Is it simply a ploy by BMW to have owners use dealers for maintenance (“Only dealers have the expertise and tools to check for this potentially fatal flaw, and we only do it during scheduled services.”)

 

[Panzermann]

Is this serious? Or a parody of a recall?

It’s legit.

https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-005609

Doesn’t include Roadsters, just the GS, GS Adventure and police RT. Perhaps their transmissions are assessed as having tougher usage. As far as I know, the drive trains are essentially identical across the Boxers.

 

[BMWDon]

It's just a software update, nothing mechanical is done to the bike.

 

[toddhollander]

From the ADV forum, possibly only 6 bikes had the failure, mostly with serious off-road use.

 

[Panzermann]

It's just a software update, nothing mechanical is done to the bike.

I’d be interested to know how a software update could solve the issue as there’s nothing electronic within the gearbox other than the gear position sensor.

 

[Tiz]

I’d be interested to know how a software update could solve the issue as there’s nothing electronic within the gearbox other than the gear position sensor.

I think the issue happened when jumping (long jumps) and the driver has the throttle to the max in 6th gears, then when landing if the rear wheel (while jumping) is spinning at much higher speed than the actual speed of the bike when landing the damage could happen. The software monitors the suspension travel (max since the bike is in the air), the throttle and gear and basically cuts the power to the engine and/or uses the dynamic engine brake, that's my understanding.

 

[Panzermann]

That makes sense, @Tiz, although doesn’t completely gel with the narrative provided (acknowledging that it doesn’t really make sense unless the clutch is pulled).

“… operating the vehicle with abrupt and major speed differences between the engine and final drive can result in overloading, and subsequent damage to the transmission input shaft…”

Interesting that the RT-P models are included - are they normally abused in such a manner?

My bevel SS didn’t need such intervention on my daily run to work through the Adelaide Hills, back in the day, noting that it didn’t spin up that quickly.

 

[zer0netgain]

For those in the USA wanting to check…

Safety and Emission Recalls

 

[BMWDon]

I'm not that worried and will wait until service time for either of my bikes affected by this.

 

[r0ckrat]

Hmm... Not being able to control pitch with the throttle may upset a few hardcore off-roaders...

 

[Anthonyp0808]

I have a R1250GS and have booked it in for this recall. I can confirm it is just a software update. There is also a service recall (not statutory) to add a vent in the driveshaft that they will do at the same time. Neither of these items apply to the R1250R

 

[MotoCon]

Best not to go from 200 kph in 6th, down to first and then drop the clutch.............................................until repaired

I remember a time in which things like that were called "common sense"...

 

[mjgt]

The biggest problem with using common sense is that, it's not common.

 

[Panzermann]

The biggest problem with using common sense is that, it's not common.

Which is why the fuel cap is labelled FUEL.

 

[dbyker]

And coffee cups are labeled HOT.

 

[MotoCon]

And we have warnings in the microwave's manual to NOT dry your cat.
(dogs seem to be okay?)

 

[dbyker]

I know LOTS of us remember . . .

"Preserve Nature
Always Wear A Helmet
Think Safety"

Most of which probably got torn off by the first owner.

(not saying I did) (but I did)

Cheers! Dave

 

[zer0netgain]

And we have warnings in the microwave's manual to NOT dry your cat.
(dogs seem to be okay?)

Silly moo…have you ever seen the stores stock Hot Cat buns?