BMW recalls 122,000 K1200GT motorbikes

If you have a FSH with the dealer they should have all your details - vin # and telephone number. Is it wrong to assume that Atlantic will call me if my bike is one of the recalled models, or should I call them? I am sure they will get bombarded with calls so I do not want to waste their time.

"Those involved are the R 1200 GS Adventure model, the R 1200 GS, the R 1200 R, the R 1200 RT, the R 1200 ST and the K 1200 GT"

Morning all,

I have purposely refrained from getting involved in this topic while waiting for the official version of this from BMW Motorrad South Africa.

The following is from Rob Holder the top BMW M/C guy in SA :

From BMW

Rob Holder

Dear All,

 Sky news this morning announced that there is a massive safety critical recall on a large number of BMW Motorcycles relating to the brake lines. The media hype has blown the recall out of all proportions and we need your assistance in managing the customers fears and expectations.

Technical situation:

In the vehicles affected, it cannot be entirely ruled out that vibrations during travel could cause brace-mounted brake lines to leak and brake fluid to escape. In the event of this happening, there is a drop in the brake fluid level in the expansion reservoir of the front brake. If the rider does not notice the leaking brake fluid or the emptying of the expansion reservoir, the front brake could fail. The rear brake is not affected by this issue.

Why another Technical Campaign:

In spring 2008 we ran a Technical Campaign to refit brake lines in those vehicles in the field which were affected. The altered brake lines used were to solve the problem according to what was known at the time. However, as time has passed it has become clear that the altered brake lines do not provide a one hundred per cent effective remedy. For this reason a new, second solution has been developed and applied: here we can be sure that the problem will be solved on a lasting basis.

The new solution consists of an additional sheath in the screw connection area of the brake line.

We very much regret to have to ask customers of the vehicles affected to take their motorcycle into BMW Service once again so as to install the improved solution. We have also decided to extend the brake line campaign to a few other models in which leaks cannot be completely ruled out.

The following facts should be noted:

-          The number of vehicles in which leaking brake lines were noticed is very small (one-tenth of a per cent) (please note that this is NOT the same as brake failure!) and we are not aware of any accidents arising as a result of this fault.

-           We and our dealer network are writing directly to all owners of vehicles affected. This will ensure that only customers of those vehicles actually affected, i.e. those of the relevant period of production, take their vehicle in to be serviced.

-          There is absolutely no doubt that we would have preferred not to have carried out this second campaign. We also deeply regret the inconvenience caused to our customers.  

28,301 vehicles are to be refitted in Germany (figure to be adapted to the country in question). The total figure worldwide is 121,967 vehicles. The vehicle concerned is the K 1200 GT and models of the flat twin “Boxer” series from the production period 08/2006 to 05/2009.

There would be little point in providing exact details of the models with the relevant production periods or chassis numbers since this would only produce a complex list of figures which would cause even greater uncertainty among customers and readers. After all, we are informing precisely those customers who are affected.

Rudi Probst

AK-20 Motorrad

Rudolf-Andreas.Probst@bmw.de

Tel: 0049-89-382-22088

I ask you, how many other motor cycle manufactures would go to this extent to rectify a potential problem..?

Every single motorcycle rider has more chance of dying from a puncture or blowout than from this fault.  Typically, people take out velociraptor insurance and end up being killed by a common or garden motorist.  Let's summarize.  For this fault to cause a problem you need to:

1. ride a lot on bumpy roads
2. not take the bike in for regular services
3. not notice that brake fluid is leaking from the brake line
4. when you do notice, not do anything about it
5. not notice that the brake fluid level is dropping in your front brake resevoir
6. not notice that the front brake is gradually losing pressure
7. not use your back brake when you realize the front is failing

Thanks Geoff for getting the real facts.  I am glad I ride a BMW (and yes, Shane has grounded Mr. Badger in the past when he wasn't happy about the state of repair of the brakes).

Tx. to Geoff and Charles for putting this matter into perspective, another reason why I enjoy BMW and the club.