XPLOR Final Drive Failure Registry

	Final Drive Failure Registry
Kmkkoz Joined: Jan 08, 2007 Location: Livonia, NY	http://www.bmwfinaldrive.com/ Members of the LDRiders forum, among others, have decided to try to accumulate enough data to be able to convince the NHTSA to take some action about this problem as a potential life-threatening safety problem. If you have had a final drive failure, bearing replacement, etc, you may want to document the problem here. I found this on a different forum, of which I am a member, and I thought some here might like to check it out. Kevin --------------------------------- SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES .. . . THEY ARE NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT THEY STILL BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN YOU PUSH THEM DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS. Posted on 02/23/2008 at 17:17
Madhatter Joined: May 22, 2007 Location: Cheyenne, WY	Re: Final Drive Failure Registry Kevin -- Thanks for the link. I hope I don't get the chance to use it. Robo -- Looks like this applies to you man. --------------------------------- "There ain't no Devil, there's just God when he's drunk." -- T. Waits Posted on 02/25/2008 at 14:09
Thisguy Joined: Jan 19, 2007	Re: Final Drive Failure Registry Yeah, good post. Thanks for the link. Steven --------------------------------- Posted on 02/25/2008 at 14:25
Drakko Joined: Feb 14, 2007	Re: Final Drive Failure Registry I found out about the final drive failure the hard way - mine failed in early June, six months and 2500 kms after warranty (52,500 kms on the bike - 2004 R1150RT). Shortly before, I had felt some vibration but attributed that to a bad valve job and/or road conditions. When it did go, it was quick. I was also lucky I didn't wipe out as gear oil dumped all over the right side of the tire, rim and brake. The dealer said it looked like a ball bearing may have split and ground away for some time before causing the main bearing and the differential to go. I was going to get it fixed but as a friend asked "would I trust the bike again?" Answer was no and I've been riding a Concours C14 since July. I miss the comfort/handling of the RT but Kawasaki offers a 5 year extended warranty. I also note they don't put the whole back end on a single swing arm like BMW and I question whether the paralever design isn't part of the problem. Posted on 09/06/2008 at 20:15
Csteinman Joined: Dec 24, 2006 Location: Austin, TX	Re: Final Drive Failure Registry I think the problem is an unproven seal/bearing design, and below-spec bits from an unfortunate supplier. That's the rumor anyways. This little challenge has cost BMW (at least in North America) much more than the cost of the warranty repairs. I've had non-riders mention to me: "Hey I heard that something in the back wheels of beemers keeps exploding. What's up with that?" When the non-riding public knows about a mechanical problem . . . I'm just saying . . . Personally I don't worry about it. Statistically the failure rate isn't quite as bad as say . . . rust holes in the fender wells of a '72 Dodge Dart. C --------------------------------- Another sunrise, These bright and crystal moments, Crow flies overhead. Posted on 09/06/2008 at 20:30
Roborider Joined: Nov 17, 2006 Location: Raleigh, NC	Re: Final Drive Failure Registry Madhatter said: Kevin -- Thanks for the link. I hope I don't get the chance to use it. Robo -- Looks like this applies to you man. Yep, Jack, I put mine on there last year. Posted on 09/07/2008 at 15:23

Joined: Jan 08, 2007

Location: Livonia, NY

http://www.bmwfinaldrive.com/

Members of the LDRiders forum, among others, have decided to try to accumulate enough data to be able to convince the NHTSA to take some action about this problem as a potential life-threatening safety problem. If you have had a final drive failure, bearing replacement, etc, you may want to document the problem here.

I found this on a different forum, of which I am a member, and I thought some here might like to check it out. Kevin

---------------------------------

SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES .. . . THEY ARE NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT THEY STILL BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN YOU PUSH THEM DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS.

Posted on 02/23/2008 at 17:17

Madhatter

Joined: May 22, 2007

Location: Cheyenne, WY

Re: Final Drive Failure Registry

Kevin --

Thanks for the link. I hope I don't get the chance to use it.

Robo --

Looks like this applies to you man.

---------------------------------

"There ain't no Devil, there's just God when he's drunk." -- T. Waits

Posted on 02/25/2008 at 14:09

Thisguy

Joined: Jan 19, 2007

Re: Final Drive Failure Registry

Yeah, good post.
Thanks for the link.

Steven

---------------------------------

Posted on 02/25/2008 at 14:25

Drakko

Joined: Feb 14, 2007

Re: Final Drive Failure Registry

I found out about the final drive failure the hard way - mine failed in early June, six months and 2500 kms after warranty (52,500 kms on the bike - 2004 R1150RT). Shortly before, I had felt some vibration but attributed that to a bad valve job and/or road conditions. When it did go, it was quick. I was also lucky I didn't wipe out as gear oil dumped all over the right side of the tire, rim and brake. The dealer said it looked like a ball bearing may have split and ground away for some time before causing the main bearing and the differential to go. I was going to get it fixed but as a friend asked "would I trust the bike again?" Answer was no and I've been riding a Concours C14 since July. I miss the comfort/handling of the RT but Kawasaki offers a 5 year extended warranty. I also note they don't put the whole back end on a single swing arm like BMW and I question whether the paralever design isn't part of the problem.

Posted on 09/06/2008 at 20:15

Csteinman

Joined: Dec 24, 2006

Location: Austin, TX

Re: Final Drive Failure Registry

I think the problem is an unproven seal/bearing design, and below-spec bits from an unfortunate supplier. That's the rumor anyways.

This little challenge has cost BMW (at least in North America) much more than the cost of the warranty repairs. I've had non-riders mention to me: "Hey I heard that something in the back wheels of beemers keeps exploding. What's up with that?"

When the non-riding public knows about a mechanical problem . . .

I'm just saying . . .

Personally I don't worry about it. Statistically the failure rate isn't quite as bad as say . . . rust holes in the fender wells of a '72 Dodge Dart.

C

---------------------------------

Another sunrise, These bright and crystal moments, Crow flies overhead.

Posted on 09/06/2008 at 20:30