Great video, thanks ! I have a 2014 1200 GSA, third owner. Had the driveshaft checked at a BMW dealer at 55000 km and it was replaced without charge. What bothers me is that they knew this for a long time and just made the owners pay for it. It would be the right thing if they would reimburse the owners that had their pockets emptied for a replacement driveshaft. Greetings from The Netherlands.
The explanation for why BMW is doing this free is simple. To understand why, you have to think from a legal perspective. When we bought our boxers, we knew what the maintenance requirements were. It didn’t include replacing the driveshaft at 60,000 Kilometres or 36 K miles. That is however now a service requirement based on failure rates, and subsequent safety risks. That can’t retroactively impose a major service requirement after the fact. (After you bought your bike) They are doing the right thing, (due diligence), but not out of the goodness of their heart. I think they also want it inspected (at your cost) at 24k miles. I think the service interval on the 1300 is longer, but because it’s identified up front (In the manual), there’s no free replacements for them ever.
Recently purchased a 2017 R1200GS and it’s my first foray into this brand after owning pretty much everything else. Really impressed by BMW standing behind their product.
The R1300 service interval calls for driveshaft replacement at 48k miles (80k km). This is currently an OWNER cost, but it IS longer than the new service schedule for the earlier models.
'23 R1250RS. Thanks for the video. I haven't received any notification by mail and had no idea this SB was a thing (had heard about driveshaft issues though). Will be interesting to see if it is mentioned when I schedule my next service with my local dealer, which happens to be the 12,000 service. Thanks again!
Bought my 2018 R1200RS in 2020 with 8k miles. Had the driveshaft replaced this spring with 38k miles. Just got the bike back from the dealer 2 weeks ago after having all the cams replaced. Luckily, I had an extended service contract or I'd be out $6000. . I'm not sure I'll buy another BMW.
I also had all the cams replaced on my 2018 R1200GS. Unfortunately I was 8 months out of warranty, but BMW still covered 75% of the cost so I was only $1500 out of pocket. Still really turned me off of the brand since it should be a recall with how many people are having this issue. Now this driveshaft issue, I think I'm done with the brand once I'm done with my GS.
@@TheBMWGuy The test is spelled out in detail in two Technical Service Bulletins, which have been in place for quite some time now. The bike must be hooked up to the BMW dealer computer. The rear wheel is removed, and a special hub installed. That hub must then be spun by a specific model of cordless drill. It's a simple pass/fail test, with the result popping up on the dealer computer. If it fails, the driveshaft is replaced, regardless of mileage. The clock then starts ticking from zero again on the 36,000-mile driveshaft replacement interval (it's the shaft mileage, not the bike mileage). These two Technical Service Bulletins (issued to dealers) have been widely available online for a while now. One of the two bulletins was amended back in August, 2024, to add model year 2024 K5x models. When originally issued these bulletins applied to all K5x models, model year 2023 and older. That was changed to model year 2024, and older.
As for the 1300GS's driveshaft, it too is a service, and replacement, item. The only difference (other than its cost) is that the replacement interval is every 48,000 miles, as opposed to the 36,000-mile interval for the 1200 and 1250 K5x models. The service/replacement requirements for the 1300 GS were spelled out in the Rider's Manual since its introduction, and ongoing costs are not covered by BMW. Getting back to the 1200s and 1250s, it's also important to note that the dealer service at the 12,000-mile intervals is more than a visual inspection and regrease of the splines. It involves a test of the driveshaft, with the bike hooked up to the dealer's shop computer. The rear wheel is removed, a special "hub" installed, and the hub spun with a specific model of cordless drill. It's a simple pass/fail test, with the result popping up on the BMW shop's computer. If it fails, the driveshaft is replaced, regardless of mileage. These procedures are spelled out in two related Technical Service Bulletins, one of which was amended once, primarily to add model year 2024 K5x models, llike the 2024 1250 GSA, for example. These Service Bulletins (issued to BMW dealers) have been widely available online for quite some time. All this to say, while the letter to owners is recent, this service campaign has been going on for some time.
Hi Kevin- Nice follow up on the service bulletin. When I received that in the mail last weekend, I had to read it several times to make sure I was reading it correctly. I agree with you that BMW did the right thing. Will be interesting to learn what new changes to the driveshaft were made in the 1300.
I believe the acute angle is why the shaft fail. That’s also why the 1300 should last longer, the swing arm is longer and the angle less acute. Universal joints endure more stress the more acute the angle.
Good theory, but a driveshaft should never be a disposal component. At this point you change your driveshaft at the same intervals at fuel filters on the older models
The driveshaft looks very thick and sturdy. Problem with this, is that it then can't function like torsion spring, or do they have some other means to spring load drive wheel?
Does BMW use the urethane type material for the cushioning of the drive train? If so I believe the urethane deforming is a major cause of the drive shaft failures. I had two drive fail on a 20008 R1200GSA. One drive the front u-joint came completely apart the second shaft the U-joints was out of phase. Being out of phase it put stress on the u-joint binding on each revolution.
BMW Have been replacing the shaft here in the UK for a while now, had my 2019 done back in 2020 I think, so why has it taken so long for this recall to be rolled out in the USA?
As far as I know the 1300s have the same issue but the shaft replacement is listed on the service schedule, so BMW is not covering the cost for those. The 1200 and 1250 are being covered because it wasn't originally part of the maintenance schedule.
Can you explain why this issue is specific to water-cooled models? I currently have an RNineT, which I understand has the same oil/air cooled 1200 engine they used to put in 1200 GS's. As far as I can tell, this model is not included in the drive shaft replacement schedule, but I'm not sure why.
When taking my 2015 R1200RT in for an oil change last November they did the recall automatically. With only 15K on the bike the dealer replaced the shaft drive and installed the swingarm drain fixture as well. No charge to me. Oh, and I got my letter from BMW a week after the dealer did the work.
To go from a price of $1200 dollars to $225 dollars! Just shows what a scam parts pricing is. Arbitrary and capricious doesn't begin to describe BMW's pricing.
I have a question outside of this issue. When I switch my ignition on my R1200RT I hear the bike priming itself with a slight hmmmm sound. Now I’m hearing a crackling sound which I believe its the throttle body servo and a lot of BMW R owners have also heard this same noise, but the bike runs just fine. However, I did notice my battery on my bike needs to be replaced as I’m having a hard time cranking the bike over. Could the cracking be tied to the battery needing to be replaced and maybe the throttle body servo not going through their complete cycle ? TY. Will follow. Your channel as it’s great info you provide.
Did you ever had a chance to instal the emerald island drive shafts (sold on ted porter’s web site)for 1100/1150 models? If you had what is your opinion about them? I recently broke the drive shaft on my R1150GSA at 82000mi while riding off road. I would like to put brand new drive shaft but 1500$ I think is too much. Ted Porter sells it for 750$ and looks to me like better built than BMW OEM. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!👍
What year RT? I’ve had a couple customers report that when the shaft failed it locked the wheel up at 80MPH while on a iron butt ride. They said there was no vibration or noise leading up to the failure.
I've seen nothing on any of the New Zealand Facebook pages for a recall here in NZ! Hopefully they include us as well, there lots of GS's that fall into this category here in New Zealand.
Great video and thanks. Greasing the splines will be a winter project! Have you ever been asked to troubleshoot the 1250 engine for a "clanking" sound that only occurs upon acceleration between 3K-4K rpm when the engine oil is hot (does not occur when cold)?
hmmmm. Last year I bought a 2020 R1250GS with 38,000 kms. Within 3,000kms it developed a very loud clanking noise between 3k-4k rpm. (almost like a bent valve noise from the middle of the motor) It did have an extended warranty. Took it to a BMW dealership and they spent 6 weeks fooling around with it, replacing various parts. Then they called me up and asked me to bring in all my documentation on the service history of the bike (which included their shop via the previous owner). They sent the dossier of the bike to the factory, and six weeks later I got my bike back with a brand new motor! No cost to me. The motor of course included gearbox and clutch - all as a single unit! An independent BMW workshop I spoke to suggested the problem was known to BMW and starts with excessive camshaft wear which then quickly contributes to downstream problems in the drivetrain. Don't know if that's true, but very happy with BMW's response. I've since added 9,000kms to the "new" motor and it performs like a charm. As a side note observation, with the new motor the gear changes are a lot better......perhaps the damage included something in the gearbox. Very happy I bought a bike with the extended warranty! Oh, and I live in the south of France,
Great information! I like to perform my own maintenance. I have a 2024 R12. Where would I be able to purchase a shop manual? BMW makes it feel like anything other than adding oil to the bike is top secret. I've owned quite a few motorcycles and have always purchased the shop manual when I picked up my new bike.
@@TheBMWGuy If only this commitment to "exceptional service" applied equally to the many unadmitted faults that do not have the potential for lawsuits.
@@TheBMWGuy I'd say that BMW's legal department had as much to do with this, as its engineering department. Makes one wonder if BMW had already settled out of court with an owner/owners, or their heirs, for injury/death, resulting from a driveshaft failure. I'm sure we'll never know.
BMW Driveshaft failures predate the 2012 water cooled models. I experienced failure on a 2007 GSA at 40K miles. I have 45K on my 2011 and am contemplating preemptive replacement . I would not expect a free replacement, but the 4 figure cost for a OEM driveshaft is not looking like BMW stepping up from my perspective.
I have seen enough videos of drive shaft failures that I had just ordered some Molly lube just hours before I got the letter. Cancelled the order as I am 2500 miles away from a new drive shaft. Question. I had it in my mind that the splines were rusting, would freeze up and that the u-joints were the weakest point and that is what broke first. Am I wrong? If the splines remain free at both ends shouldn’t the u-joints last the life of the bike?
my bike wasn't in the recall years, but I'm keeping an eye on drive shaft. I got one free fuel strip and it went bad after a year and the warranty had ran out. free fuel pump recall came with a free scratch I didn't notice until after I got home.
@@TheBMWGuy I got the bike at 49K miles and had the drive shaft serviced then. I'm around 55K miles now and will probably have the service done either this season or next. there's a dead throttle side heated grip too, but I have heated gloves, so it's low on the list. don't ask me about the rear main seal leak..I think you know how that goes.
Something that I have found on my old K1200RS, which has the paralever rear swing-arm, is that the BMW factory service procedure does not even mention aligning the driveshaft u-joints to be in-phase during assembly. There is plenty of ad-hoc information about driveshaft phasing and the problems it can cause if out of phase, but the fact that neither the Factory Service Manual nor the aftermarket service manuals mention this alignment means that there are a lot of driveshafts out there that are misaligned. Could this be the root cause of these driveshaft failures?
The factory service manual I have does mention the driveshaft phasing for those models. But the newer k5x series only have 1 u-joint rather than 2 so phasing isn’t a problem
@ - really? So there’s only one u-joint at the front end of the shaft then? Didn’t know that. Edit- I just looked at the parts fiche for an R1250GS (K50) and there are definitely 2 u-joints on the drive shaft. It looks pretty much the same as the one on my K1200RS. What’s even funnier is the picture of the driveshaft in the fiche has the u-joint yokes improperly phased.
I just had my both r1200gs fuel pumps replaced under recall program.. One was 2005 and 2006 . The 2005 just touched 38000 miles I think I should call them and check for shaft replacement! Will give a try winter is the time to baby my gs. Thank you.
I guess the problem isn't nessesary the quality of ths shaft itself as it needs to keep on being replaced, and in the light of the drainage addition I would guess it's about the design and waterproof of the shaft housing and connecions to engine and final gear. I personally own a K600 GT and the design is similar but no recall or service bulletin. But then again, just my personal reflection.
Driveshafts, ABS servo brakes, cam wear and all the new electronic stuff. My GS is an '08 and it just keeps making me feel like the Hexhead version is the best intersection of features and reliability. Prior owner had to get the ABS module rebuilt, but at least it was a candidate for a rebuild. Maintenance seemed strange in some ways when I first got it, but now it mostly makes sense and I'll be able to handle anything needed up to any serious engine work. These bikes are getting so inexpensive that I'd just buy another and transfer my farkles instead of tearing the engine apart.
Mine failed at 55,000 kms and I had to buy a used one out of pocket to keep riding the bike. Now I'm at +73,000 kms and the local dealer hasn't replaced it for me, because they don't have the drive shaft in stock.
Hi BMW guy. Really appreciate your great videos. I was wondering.. i have a 2014 K1300S, and I notice the speed needle occasionally dropping to zero while riding (all other guages remain working).. to go with that problem, occasionally I will put the key in, and turn it, and nothing will come up on the dash, or it will flick on and off. After a few trys, it will work as normal, seems tempormental... have you heard of such a problem? My original though was the ABS wheel sensor wires.. or worse yet, the ABS module.. then the dash not turning on happened and I suspect a problem somwhere else instead.. thanks heaps for tour videos.. would love to see more K1200 and K1300 bikes on here!
i typically don't problem solve for people in the comments, but this can be caused by your EWS ring or "ring antenna" its what reads your key chip and talks to the bike.
@TheBMWGuy I appreciate you sharing your knowledge, it will help us keep all our BMW bikes in top condition! Thanks from New Zealand, I will investigate this antenna further.
I wonder if maybe the design of the drive shaft in relation to its position on the recalled bikes is different than the new 1300. Perhaps the recall bike puts more pressure on its shaft.
Great video, thanks for the update. BMW would have lost a lot of business had they not done this, especially since you pay a huge premium to buy their motorcycles in the first place.
@@TheBMWGuythanks for your informative video. I enjoy your content. I’ve really enjoyed my 2018 R1200 GSA. I did have the drain valve installed last year but no mention at the time of this potential issue. I’m curious to know which bikes that you would consider more reliable? I don’t have a significant amount of miles on mine but it has been reliable as far as I can tell.
@ agreed and I’m someone who’s owned a number of BMW’s but currently in the process of selling my 2021 XR and unlikely to ever buy another BMW. Too expensive to maintain and too many recalls.
Hi! I was hoping you were closer. I’m in Eden Prairie, the ride up to Monticello almost killed me for my new RS 600 mile service, Charlie J in Victoria didn’t want to do it. I want to trade it anywayfor the 1300RT when it comes out.
If i was their marketing manager, I would now claim that that for R series from 2012 the driveshaft is Liftetime,unlimited mileage warranty. For older model user, the great independent BMW mechanic should form a network and establish a presence at least at the National Rallies, so old model user know who to rely on while they are on the road.
Thanks for going into the details. What a great service to the community. BTW i heard from a service manager at BMW that the oild head air head on non LC never had the issue. Was it a different part?
The rear joint on my 1996 R1100gs failed on a trip almost a year ago. Hauled the bike home (500 miles) and replaced it my self. Totally my fault, should have been inspecting it. I have already greased the splines on my 2016 gs with 23000 miles on it.
I have a 2006 1200 rt with 180000 km on it with the original drive shaft. Should I be worried. I put the bike on the centre stand and check the play in the wheel side to side and forward and back and it feels rock solid so I’m guessing it’s ok. Any thoughts anyone??
A video in Uk surfaced a few months ago of a GS with rear facing camera locking wheel solid and rider knocked off, bike was doing 60mph on A road, rider was unharmed, first documented case of drive shaft faluire on camera. Next thing is they will need another plant just to produce drive shafts for hundreds of thousands of bikes over 12 year period, i bet the waiting list will grow for driveshafts as months go on.
I was informed by someone in the know that the driveshafts are fitted dry, get your new one fitted then take it apart and grease it and there won’t be a problem.
Mine, as well as many other GS, was manufactured without grease on the prop splines. As a result of the corrosion issues with the prop box section the props are "welded" to the final drives and output shafts. This means any work which requires propshaft removal (example, new rubber boots) the propshaft will need to be cut off and replaced. BMW do not except any responsibility for this and won't touch them until the 30k replacement trigger.
I am the third owner of a 2014 R1200RT and received the letter from BMW a few days ago. I have done all of my own maintenance even though BMW Scottsdale is 2 miles from my home. I do a better job and it's much cheaper. I will have them do the required service per the bulletin.
The dealer in Indianapolis tells me you get one driveshaft at 36,000 miles after that the cost of a new DS is on the owner. Guess we will see if this changes.
Absolutely incorrect. The dealer will have had, for some time, at least two Technical Service Bulletins spelling out the details. I suggest your dealer might need a remedial reading course.
If an official BMW service gives you the drive-shaft for a specific (deserving) bike and they don't have to spend the time on the replacement that they cannot charge the customer, it would make sense.
The shaft was replaced on my 2019 gs1250 with 19,000km, yes 19,000km 😂 I've sold it since. Didn't they have a previous notification that said they'd replace it after 80,000km? Maybe looking at the data coming in, they saw these were failing very early. Nothing is free, watch them increase their servicing costs to cover this additional expense. Good news for you, I guess
Strange how its only the water cooled boxer twins , its doubtful that BMW would have fitted a weaker driveshaft to a more powerful twin, compared to the oil/air cooled models ... !!??
The RT, R and RS's are not the problem. The heavily articulated drive shafts on the GSA and GS regular ( not Lows) are most affected, since the driveshaft angle is so steep on these bikes with 8 to 9 inches of travel in the rear.
They HAD it correct for decades. Maybe it's the higher torque/impact the newer motors give system. It weird that it took them 12 years to "make right" and at only every 36k miles. & 80% price drop. Weird. But at least they own upto it
@TheBMWGuy i think the Boxer engine, while antique, will retain people forever. If Harley can do it with parts falling off... I just learned that the oilhead shafts were rubber bushings! Yup too much vibration/power on newer engines
The service campaign has been underway, in Canada/USA, since at least 2022 (it's detailed in two Service Bulletins issued to dealers). All that's new now is the letter to owners, along with new pages to imsert in the Rider's Manual, with an updated maintenance schedule.
Hmmm, it's interesting that the 1200 shaft was $1200 at one point.. and now $250 !! Makes you ask, did BW get a new shitty Chinese supplier?? 🤔 That's a huge difference in price
IMHO, a possible cause may be that the BMW LC boxer engines are becoming more and more powerful up to date, and they´ve began to compromise the transmission through the weakest point, which are the shaft cardan joints. If they want a more durable shaft drive, they should make it stronger, bigger, and heavier... thus they made a decision: the shaft drive stays as it is now, but it has a limited lifespan. I´ve own many BMW R bikes, I like the shaft drive, it´s clean, it´s silent... but I don´t think is better than other secundary transmissions. It´s different, that´s all. I traded my 2020 R1250RT for a Yamaha Tracer 9GT+, I´m very happy with the new bike and don´t mind to have a chain to clean and lube again. I have a BMW R850RT with stock everything but suspension and a rear drive seal, and I´m starting to think that this 27 years old machine is going to bury all those modern R bikes 🤣🤣🤣
This is going to hurt their sales, Hell My 2011 harley with 125,000 miles and I'm still using the original drive belt... BMW doesn't make cheap units and apperently making cheaper parts to get profits up!! Like all other corporations
I'll believe this when I see it (the letter, that is). They have not stepped up to the plate for me yet. I have a 2016 R1200RS and while others have been contacted already, us RS owners seem to be second-class citizens. I already have a sour taste in my mouth thanks to BMW. I had better get my letter soon and get my driveshaft replaced. The bike has just over 60k miles on it and the driveshaft is stock.
@@TheBMWGuy See I have known about this for a long time now ... ever since GS and RT owners were reporting that it was being done on their bikes. Way back when this all kicked off for them I went in to two BMW dealers in Houston and asked them about it - one of whom I bought the bike from and the other is my current dealership. They both looked up my VIN and declared "there is nothing in the system for my bike regarding the driveshaft". Now I *know* the GS and RT guys were getting these letters at that time that stated all K5x bikes were affected / included and which my R1200RS is included model ... yet "nothing was in the system". I doubt that the guys were lying so clearly BMW ineffectively handled the advice to the dealers and the letter mail-outs to the owners. They knew about this problem, all right. They were just screwing around trying to do damage control and trying to weasel out of liability and not calling this a recall. The fact remained the yokes on their universal joints *are not up to the task*. Another riding buddy of mine had the driveshaft on his RS fail on a trip while he was riding and caused a lot of damage to his engine and transmission, both of which had to be replaced at partial cost to him. And he is a long-time BMW owner and unofficial brand ambassador. The images of his failed yoke are in a video on my channel. This has been going on for a long time now for the GS and RT owners, and one of my RS buddies reported on Faceplant that he *just got* his letter! 😒
You do not need to wait for a letter. This service campaugn has been underway for quite some time now. The dealer will have had two related Technical Service Bulletins on this issue, one of which was amended in August 2024 (primarily to include model year 2024 K5x models). These Tech Service Bulletins have been widely available online for many months.
@@markmayhew5487 You would think. However, earlier this year after I saw reports of GS and RT owners getting letters, I went to 2 dealerships and both said "there is nothing in the system" regarding my RS. They should have had two related Technical Service Bulletins on this issue. Because of that nonsense, I decided to "wait" until getting a letter. BMW USA finally got their act together and I got my letter (with my RS's VIN) on it last week. Now, even if they still have "nothing in the system", I have my letter.
Not crazy if you have been driven crazy.Moto guzzi no problem. Large Kilometers on Bmw 1200 3 breakdowns because of drive shafts . Last Knocking at Wagga wagga 2023. .$8,500 repair At Tamworth Dealer,BMW assist was great, but didnt cover 4 days in Tamworth due to Country& Western week !!All European motor cycles now looked at Dubiously!
Haha, but those are also plagued with driveshaft and rear drive issues. Maybe BMW will get there act together with the 2025 models. Only time will tell
The good news is that BMW will now pay to replace every drive shaft at 36000 miles. The bad news is all new BMW motorcycles will be chain drive! (or maybe that's more good news, it's all very confusing.🤪)
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Great video, thanks ! I have a 2014 1200 GSA, third owner. Had the driveshaft checked at a BMW dealer at 55000 km and it was replaced without charge. What bothers me is that they knew this for a long time and just made the owners pay for it. It would be the right thing if they would reimburse the owners that had their pockets emptied for a replacement driveshaft. Greetings from The Netherlands.
The explanation for why BMW is doing this free is simple.
To understand why, you have to think from a legal perspective.
When we bought our boxers, we knew what the maintenance requirements were. It didn’t include replacing the driveshaft at 60,000 Kilometres or 36 K miles. That is however now a service requirement based on failure rates, and subsequent safety risks.
That can’t retroactively impose a major service requirement after the fact.
(After you bought your bike)
They are doing the right thing, (due diligence), but not out of the goodness of their heart.
I think they also want it inspected (at your cost) at 24k miles.
I think the service interval on the 1300 is longer, but because it’s identified up front (In the manual), there’s no free replacements for them ever.
Recently purchased a 2017 R1200GS and it’s my first foray into this brand after owning pretty much everything else. Really impressed by BMW standing behind their product.
Thanks for keeping us updated🎉
You bet!
Thanks for the informational video. I think 2013 was the first model year for the R1200GS LC.
Yes, some were produced in 2012 but sold as a 2013 model year. I should I clarified that. Thanks
The R1300 service interval calls for driveshaft replacement at 48k miles (80k km). This is currently an OWNER cost, but it IS longer than the new service schedule for the earlier models.
They are starting to make some progress, but it is still a far cry from what owners are expecting.
'23 R1250RS. Thanks for the video. I haven't received any notification by mail and had no idea this SB was a thing (had heard about driveshaft issues though). Will be interesting to see if it is mentioned when I schedule my next service with my local dealer, which happens to be the 12,000 service. Thanks again!
I just had the driveshaft replaced on my 2017 R1200GS at GoAZ in Scottsdale, AZ. No charge to me. 😊
Good to know go AZ. Need to take my R1200RT to Go AZ
And you're happy about that?
Thanks!
No brother, thank you! This is what keeps the channel going.
Bought my 2018 R1200RS in 2020 with 8k miles. Had the driveshaft replaced this spring with 38k miles. Just got the bike back from the dealer 2 weeks ago after having all the cams replaced. Luckily, I had an extended service contract or I'd be out $6000. . I'm not sure I'll buy another BMW.
I also had all the cams replaced on my 2018 R1200GS. Unfortunately I was 8 months out of warranty, but BMW still covered 75% of the cost so I was only $1500 out of pocket. Still really turned me off of the brand since it should be a recall with how many people are having this issue. Now this driveshaft issue, I think I'm done with the brand once I'm done with my GS.
So what exactly is the LED method?? That was unclear. Is there an LED light/tool or something you're supposed to use to inspect the spines??
I can say 100% but that’s what Im thinking.
@@TheBMWGuy The test is spelled out in detail in two Technical Service Bulletins, which have been in place for quite some time now. The bike must be hooked up to the BMW dealer computer. The rear wheel is removed, and a special hub installed. That hub must then be spun by a specific model of cordless drill. It's a simple pass/fail test, with the result popping up on the dealer computer. If it fails, the driveshaft is replaced, regardless of mileage. The clock then starts ticking from zero again on the 36,000-mile driveshaft replacement interval (it's the shaft mileage, not the bike mileage). These two Technical Service Bulletins (issued to dealers) have been widely available online for a while now. One of the two bulletins was amended back in August, 2024, to add model year 2024 K5x models. When originally issued these bulletins applied to all K5x models, model year 2023 and older. That was changed to model year 2024, and older.
As for the 1300GS's driveshaft, it too is a service, and replacement, item. The only difference (other than its cost) is that the replacement interval is every 48,000 miles, as opposed to the 36,000-mile interval for the 1200 and 1250 K5x models. The service/replacement requirements for the 1300 GS were spelled out in the Rider's Manual since its introduction, and ongoing costs are not covered by BMW.
Getting back to the 1200s and 1250s, it's also important to note that the dealer service at the 12,000-mile intervals is more than a visual inspection and regrease of the splines. It involves a test of the driveshaft, with the bike hooked up to the dealer's shop computer. The rear wheel is removed, a special "hub" installed, and the hub spun with a specific model of cordless drill. It's a simple pass/fail test, with the result popping up on the BMW shop's computer. If it fails, the driveshaft is replaced, regardless of mileage. These procedures are spelled out in two related Technical Service Bulletins, one of which was amended once, primarily to add model year 2024 K5x models, llike the 2024 1250 GSA, for example. These Service Bulletins (issued to BMW dealers) have been widely available online for quite some time. All this to say, while the letter to owners is recent, this service campaign has been going on for some time.
Hi Kevin- Nice follow up on the service bulletin. When I received that in the mail last weekend, I had to read it several times to make sure I was reading it correctly. I agree with you that BMW did the right thing. Will be interesting to learn what new changes to the driveshaft were made in the 1300.
I believe the acute angle is why the shaft fail. That’s also why the 1300 should last longer, the swing arm is longer and the angle less acute. Universal joints endure more stress the more acute the angle.
Good theory, but a driveshaft should never be a disposal component. At this point you change your driveshaft at the same intervals at fuel filters on the older models
I want know what the drive shaft play limit is on a k1600gtl 2016 model.
Surely by now BMW should have mastered shaft drive since that's pretty much all they've made.
One would think
I take it the K series bikes aren’t affected?
The driveshaft looks very thick and sturdy.
Problem with this, is that it then can't function like torsion spring, or do they have some other means to spring load drive wheel?
There's a rubber element built in.
What is the best place to subscribe for access to BMW vehicles TSB’s. Thanks
Does BMW use the urethane type material for the cushioning of the drive train? If so I believe the urethane deforming is a major cause of the drive shaft failures. I had two drive fail on a 20008 R1200GSA. One drive the front u-joint came completely apart the second shaft the U-joints was out of phase. Being out of phase it put stress on the u-joint binding on each revolution.
No they do not. Rigidity mounted
BMW Have been replacing the shaft here in the UK for a while now, had my 2019 done back in 2020 I think, so why has it taken so long for this recall to be rolled out in the USA?
Great video. That’s a huge fail for BMW. Good thing they are paying for the repair because we invest $30k (CAD) in these bikes to buy them brand new
Right! Hopefully it’s sorted out for the 1300’s
Glad I sold my 2013 GSA and bought a 2023 K1600 GT!
Why? Do you have free driveshaft replacement on the k? Nope! Lol. @@rockout1180
As far as I know the 1300s have the same issue but the shaft replacement is listed on the service schedule, so BMW is not covering the cost for those. The 1200 and 1250 are being covered because it wasn't originally part of the maintenance schedule.
Re GS1300 Spline greasing and examination. Can the shaft be completely removed without taking the swing arm casting off?
Can you explain why this issue is specific to water-cooled models? I currently have an RNineT, which I understand has the same oil/air cooled 1200 engine they used to put in 1200 GS's. As far as I can tell, this model is not included in the drive shaft replacement schedule, but I'm not sure why.
different shaft, way less power and torque than the water-cooled models. your model is not an issue
When taking my 2015 R1200RT in for an oil change last November they did the recall automatically. With only 15K on the bike the dealer replaced the shaft drive and installed the swingarm drain fixture as well. No charge to me. Oh, and I got my letter from BMW a week after the dealer did the work.
Thats the way it should be!
You mentioned a link to the moly lube BMW recommends and you use. Can you provide that? Thx.
bmwpartsguy.com/products/final-drive-spline-grease-15grams-enduralast-lube477
What is the typical life of an older generation driveshaft?
To go from a price of $1200 dollars to $225 dollars! Just shows what a scam parts pricing is. Arbitrary and capricious doesn't begin to describe BMW's pricing.
I have a question outside of this issue. When I switch my ignition on my R1200RT I hear the bike priming itself with a slight hmmmm sound. Now I’m hearing a crackling sound which I believe its the throttle body servo and a lot of BMW R owners have also heard this same noise, but the bike runs just fine. However, I did notice my battery on my bike needs to be replaced as I’m having a hard time cranking the bike over. Could the cracking be tied to the battery needing to be replaced and maybe the throttle body servo not going through their complete cycle ? TY. Will follow. Your channel as it’s great info you provide.
the 12 k lube is not covered by bmw! just the replacement an lube when installed
The part number also changed when the price dropped to $219 about two years ago.
That’s a drastic drop.
Did you ever had a chance to instal the emerald island drive shafts (sold on ted porter’s web site)for 1100/1150 models? If you had what is your opinion about them?
I recently broke the drive shaft on my R1150GSA at 82000mi while riding off road. I would like to put brand new drive shaft but 1500$ I think is too much. Ted Porter sells it for 750$ and looks to me like better built than BMW OEM.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!👍
This makes me wonder if my 1999 k1200 rs with 77000 miles needs a new drive shaft. What do you think?
The chain on my 2020F900XR lasts about 18,000 miles. Drive shafts now last twice as long as chains. Seems like they should last longer than that.
I like chains.
Had a virago that did not have this issue. Scary that my R1200RT can lock up if the shaft fails
What year RT? I’ve had a couple customers report that when the shaft failed it locked the wheel up at 80MPH while on a iron butt ride. They said there was no vibration or noise leading up to the failure.
Same can happen with chain drive if it gets in the right place ,or brake your foot and or casing
I've seen nothing on any of the New Zealand Facebook pages for a recall here in NZ! Hopefully they include us as well, there lots of GS's that fall into this category here in New Zealand.
I've had two drive shafts fail (properly greased with the BMW stuff). I'll see if they'll do anything for me!
I have replaced TONS of shafts for people that will never get it back.
Great video and thanks. Greasing the splines will be a winter project! Have you ever been asked to troubleshoot the 1250 engine for a "clanking" sound that only occurs upon acceleration between 3K-4K rpm when the engine oil is hot (does not occur when cold)?
hmmmm. Last year I bought a 2020 R1250GS with 38,000 kms. Within 3,000kms it developed a very loud clanking noise between 3k-4k rpm. (almost like a bent valve noise from the middle of the motor) It did have an extended warranty. Took it to a BMW dealership and they spent 6 weeks fooling around with it, replacing various parts. Then they called me up and asked me to bring in all my documentation on the service history of the bike (which included their shop via the previous owner). They sent the dossier of the bike to the factory, and six weeks later I got my bike back with a brand new motor! No cost to me. The motor of course included gearbox and clutch - all as a single unit!
An independent BMW workshop I spoke to suggested the problem was known to BMW and starts with excessive camshaft wear which then quickly contributes to downstream problems in the drivetrain. Don't know if that's true, but very happy with BMW's response. I've since added 9,000kms to the "new" motor and it performs like a charm.
As a side note observation, with the new motor the gear changes are a lot better......perhaps the damage included something in the gearbox. Very happy I bought a bike with the extended warranty! Oh, and I live in the south of France,
Great information! I like to perform my own maintenance. I have a 2024 R12. Where would I be able to purchase a shop manual? BMW makes it feel like anything other than adding oil to the bike is top secret. I've owned quite a few motorcycles and have always purchased the shop manual when I picked up my new bike.
Not yet in Australia!
its coming
"Stepping up to the plate" or mitigating future potential lawsuits when failures result in injury or death?
I'd say it's a little of both.
@@TheBMWGuy If only this commitment to "exceptional service" applied equally to the many unadmitted faults that do not have the potential for lawsuits.
@@TheBMWGuy I'd say that BMW's legal department had as much to do with this, as its engineering department. Makes one wonder if BMW had already settled out of court with an owner/owners, or their heirs, for injury/death, resulting from a driveshaft failure. I'm sure we'll never know.
BMW Driveshaft failures predate the 2012 water cooled models. I experienced failure on a 2007 GSA at 40K miles. I have 45K on my 2011 and am contemplating preemptive replacement . I would not expect a free replacement, but the 4 figure cost for a OEM driveshaft is not looking like BMW stepping up from my perspective.
Great vid,, is this just a North American or worldwide ?
should be worldwide
I have seen enough videos of drive shaft failures that I had just ordered some Molly lube just hours before I got the letter. Cancelled the order as I am 2500 miles away from a new drive shaft.
Question. I had it in my mind that the splines were rusting, would freeze up and that the u-joints were the weakest point and that is what broke first. Am I wrong? If the splines remain free at both ends shouldn’t the u-joints last the life of the bike?
Did the oil cooled drive shafts not have this issue? It seems like a similar housing and set up. On the 1200 oil cooled.
Nope, they still have the same issues just less frequent
my bike wasn't in the recall years, but I'm keeping an eye on drive shaft. I got one free fuel strip and it went bad after a year and the warranty had ran out. free fuel pump recall came with a free scratch I didn't notice until after I got home.
I would start doing a spline lube every 12k miles
@@TheBMWGuy I got the bike at 49K miles and had the drive shaft serviced then. I'm around 55K miles now and will probably have the service done either this season or next. there's a dead throttle side heated grip too, but I have heated gloves, so it's low on the list. don't ask me about the rear main seal leak..I think you know how that goes.
I wonder why the K1600 bikes of the same range of years are not affected?
Good point, I imagine they use a different shaft. I haven’t seen any k1600 shaft failures before
Something that I have found on my old K1200RS, which has the paralever rear swing-arm, is that the BMW factory service procedure does not even mention aligning the driveshaft u-joints to be in-phase during assembly. There is plenty of ad-hoc information about driveshaft phasing and the problems it can cause if out of phase, but the fact that neither the Factory Service Manual nor the aftermarket service manuals mention this alignment means that there are a lot of driveshafts out there that are misaligned.
Could this be the root cause of these driveshaft failures?
The factory service manual I have does mention the driveshaft phasing for those models. But the newer k5x series only have 1 u-joint rather than 2 so phasing isn’t a problem
@ - really? So there’s only one u-joint at the front end of the shaft then? Didn’t know that.
Edit- I just looked at the parts fiche for an R1250GS (K50) and there are definitely 2 u-joints on the drive shaft. It looks pretty much the same as the one on my K1200RS. What’s even funnier is the picture of the driveshaft in the fiche has the u-joint yokes improperly phased.
I had the recall on my '16 GSA done with 2500 miles on it. The drive shaft failed the test parameters and was replaced.
I'm surprised they caught it so early!
I just had my both r1200gs fuel pumps replaced under recall program..
One was 2005 and 2006 . The 2005 just touched 38000 miles I think I should call them and check for shaft replacement! Will give a try winter is the time to baby my gs.
Thank you.
That is not a k5x model. The shaft replacement would not apply
In other words ONLY 1200 an 1250 Wethead models.
Didn’t they have a problem with seals on the R1200RT water pump…it took 4K miles for the seals to bed in.
I don’t think so.
I guess the problem isn't nessesary the quality of ths shaft itself as it needs to keep on being replaced, and in the light of the drainage addition I would guess it's about the design and waterproof of the shaft housing and connecions to engine and final gear. I personally own a K600 GT and the design is similar but no recall or service bulletin. But then again, just my personal reflection.
Thanks for the great explanation. BMW does reimburse their dealers for any Warranty and Recall work. I would just send your customers to them.
Driveshafts, ABS servo brakes, cam wear and all the new electronic stuff. My GS is an '08 and it just keeps making me feel like the Hexhead version is the best intersection of features and reliability. Prior owner had to get the ABS module rebuilt, but at least it was a candidate for a rebuild. Maintenance seemed strange in some ways when I first got it, but now it mostly makes sense and I'll be able to handle anything needed up to any serious engine work. These bikes are getting so inexpensive that I'd just buy another and transfer my farkles instead of tearing the engine apart.
Mine failed at 55,000 kms and I had to buy a used one out of pocket to keep riding the bike. Now I'm at +73,000 kms and the local dealer hasn't replaced it for me, because they don't have the drive shaft in stock.
man that sucks, i have replaced TONS of shafts for people that will never get it back. i feel bad.
Hi BMW guy. Really appreciate your great videos. I was wondering.. i have a 2014 K1300S, and I notice the speed needle occasionally dropping to zero while riding (all other guages remain working).. to go with that problem, occasionally I will put the key in, and turn it, and nothing will come up on the dash, or it will flick on and off. After a few trys, it will work as normal, seems tempormental... have you heard of such a problem?
My original though was the ABS wheel sensor wires.. or worse yet, the ABS module.. then the dash not turning on happened and I suspect a problem somwhere else instead.. thanks heaps for tour videos.. would love to see more K1200 and K1300 bikes on here!
i typically don't problem solve for people in the comments, but this can be caused by your EWS ring or "ring antenna" its what reads your key chip and talks to the bike.
@TheBMWGuy I appreciate you sharing your knowledge, it will help us keep all our BMW bikes in top condition! Thanks from New Zealand, I will investigate this antenna further.
Does anyone know the part number or have a link to the BMW grease mentioned in the video?
Molykote paste with 60% Molybdenum sulfide, at least. Usually called Spline lube.
@@feloniousmonk3049 Thank you.
I wonder if maybe the design of the drive shaft in relation to its position on the recalled bikes is different than the new 1300. Perhaps the recall bike puts more pressure on its shaft.
Maybe. Only time will tell.
Great video, thanks for the update. BMW would have lost a lot of business had they not done this, especially since you pay a huge premium to buy their motorcycles in the first place.
It will probably get a few people to switch over to a different brand. Lots of bikes out there that are far more reliable
@@TheBMWGuythanks for your informative video. I enjoy your content.
I’ve really enjoyed my 2018 R1200 GSA. I did have the drain valve installed last year but no mention at the time of this potential issue. I’m curious to know which bikes that you would consider more reliable? I don’t have a significant amount of miles on mine but it has been reliable as far as I can tell.
@ agreed and I’m someone who’s owned a number of BMW’s but currently in the process of selling my 2021 XR and unlikely to ever buy another BMW. Too expensive to maintain and too many recalls.
Hi! I was hoping you were closer. I’m in Eden Prairie, the ride up to Monticello almost killed me for my new RS 600 mile service, Charlie J in Victoria didn’t want to do it. I want to trade it anywayfor the 1300RT when it comes out.
I am pretty close to you. In hudson Wisconsin
If i was their marketing manager, I would now claim that that for R series from 2012 the driveshaft is Liftetime,unlimited mileage warranty. For older model user, the great independent BMW mechanic should form a network and establish a presence at least at the National Rallies, so old model user know who to rely on while they are on the road.
Thanks for going into the details. What a great service to the community. BTW i heard from a service manager at BMW that the oild head air head on non LC never had the issue. Was it a different part?
The rear joint on my 1996 R1100gs failed on a trip almost a year ago. Hauled the bike home (500 miles) and replaced it my self. Totally my fault, should have been inspecting it. I have already greased the splines on my 2016 gs with 23000 miles on it.
The 1300 shafts are also regularly replaced but at owners' expense.
At 1500$ each.. that’s pretty aggressive for regular maintenance
@@TheBMWGuy Understatement! 🤣
Yes, but with a 48,000-mile replacement interval, unless it fails the test at one of the 12,000-mile service/test intervals.
I have a 2006 1200 rt with 180000 km on it with the original drive shaft. Should I be worried. I put the bike on the centre stand and check the play in the wheel side to side and forward and back and it feels rock solid so I’m guessing it’s ok. Any thoughts anyone??
The bike. That is sitting next to you in the vid how many miles has that done I bet it has not had any drive shaft probs
Right, they also make like 20HP and the shaft is in an oil bath.
what about 2004 R1150R driveshafts?
Not affected by this service bulletin. But they do have similar issues, I would recommend greasing the splines every 12k
A video in Uk surfaced a few months ago of a GS with rear facing camera locking wheel solid and rider knocked off, bike was doing 60mph on A road, rider was unharmed, first documented case of drive shaft faluire on camera.
Next thing is they will need another plant just to produce drive shafts for hundreds of thousands of bikes over 12 year period, i bet the waiting list will grow for driveshafts as months go on.
I bet bmw has been preparing for a massive influx of driveshaft replacements
I was informed by someone in the know that the driveshafts are fitted dry, get your new one fitted then take it apart and grease it and there won’t be a problem.
That’s false. They are greased from the factory. I’ve disassembled plenty of brand new bikes
Mine, as well as many other GS, was manufactured without grease on the prop splines. As a result of the corrosion issues with the prop box section the props are "welded" to the final drives and output shafts. This means any work which requires propshaft removal (example, new rubber boots) the propshaft will need to be cut off and replaced. BMW do not except any responsibility for this and won't touch them until the 30k replacement trigger.
Automotive component testing is out of this world - heat, vibration might affect the hardened parts of the driveshaft - good solution.
I work for a OEM motorcycle manufacturer as an engineer. I believe it’s a miss on bmw or a supplier problem.
I am the third owner of a 2014 R1200RT and received the letter from BMW a few days ago. I have done all of my own maintenance even though BMW Scottsdale is 2 miles from my home. I do a better job and it's much cheaper. I will have them do the required service per the bulletin.
How many miles? I wonder if the dealership will provide you with the shaft to do at home if you are willing to do so.
@@TheBMWGuy
I bet not.
I had enough of my bmw . I went last year and bought a Harley pan America. I am so glad i did
How do you like it?
It's the best bike I have ever owned
The dealer in Indianapolis tells me you get one driveshaft at 36,000 miles after that the cost of a new DS is on the owner. Guess we will see if this changes.
That’s incorrect, new shaft is every 36,000 miles for the lifetime of the vehicle
That's incorrect. BMW has determined that the shaft is a wear item, after calling it a "for life of vehicle" part.
Absolutely incorrect. The dealer will have had, for some time, at least two Technical Service Bulletins spelling out the details. I suggest your dealer might need a remedial reading course.
Moto Guzzi uses open shaft and the solution was to put a shaft guard around it when it fails. 😓
Thanks man!
Glad you found it useful!
If an official BMW service gives you the drive-shaft for a specific (deserving) bike and they don't have to spend the time on the replacement that they cannot charge the customer, it would make sense.
Apparently, the r1300gs needs a driveshaft replacement every 48k miles!
At 1500$ each time. But that might be only once in the bikes life.
The shaft was replaced on my 2019 gs1250 with 19,000km, yes 19,000km 😂 I've sold it since. Didn't they have a previous notification that said they'd replace it after 80,000km? Maybe looking at the data coming in, they saw these were failing very early.
Nothing is free, watch them increase their servicing costs to cover this additional expense. Good news for you, I guess
Strange how its only the water cooled boxer twins , its doubtful that BMW would have fitted a weaker driveshaft to a more powerful twin, compared to the oil/air cooled models ... !!??
Could be a different design that’s flawed. The LC models make far more power than it’s oil cooled counterpart
No wonder why I still have two airheads in my garage
Last of the air-cooled, first of the 4 valves happy R1200GS owner sending thanks...
Thanks for watching!
My 2015 R1200RT did 100,000km over 6 years without issue.
The RT, R and RS's are not the problem. The heavily articulated drive shafts on the GSA and GS regular ( not Lows) are most affected, since the driveshaft angle is so steep on these bikes with 8 to 9 inches of travel in the rear.
Great explanation! Tks 🎉🎉🎉
Glad it was helpful!
They HAD it correct for decades. Maybe it's the higher torque/impact the newer motors give system. It weird that it took them 12 years to "make right" and at only every 36k miles. & 80% price drop. Weird. But at least they own upto it
Probably to retain customers. At some point the BMW guys are going to jump ship to Japanese brands
@TheBMWGuy i think the Boxer engine, while antique, will retain people forever. If Harley can do it with parts falling off... I just learned that the oilhead shafts were rubber bushings! Yup too much vibration/power on newer engines
Here in the UK we got the notification regards this in Spring 2024…. Not sure why you guys in the US are only getting this info. 🤷🏻♂️😎
The service campaign has been underway, in Canada/USA, since at least 2022 (it's detailed in two Service Bulletins issued to dealers). All that's new now is the letter to owners, along with new pages to imsert in the Rider's Manual, with an updated maintenance schedule.
Hmmm, it's interesting that the 1200 shaft was $1200 at one point.. and now $250 !!
Makes you ask, did BW get a new shitty Chinese supplier?? 🤔
That's a huge difference in price
Or were they profiting 600% on the shafts.
IMHO, a possible cause may be that the BMW LC boxer engines are becoming more and more powerful up to date, and they´ve began to compromise the transmission through the weakest point, which are the shaft cardan joints. If they want a more durable shaft drive, they should make it stronger, bigger, and heavier... thus they made a decision: the shaft drive stays as it is now, but it has a limited lifespan.
I´ve own many BMW R bikes, I like the shaft drive, it´s clean, it´s silent... but I don´t think is better than other secundary transmissions. It´s different, that´s all. I traded my 2020 R1250RT for a Yamaha Tracer 9GT+, I´m very happy with the new bike and don´t mind to have a chain to clean and lube again.
I have a BMW R850RT with stock everything but suspension and a rear drive seal, and I´m starting to think that this 27 years old machine is going to bury all those modern R bikes 🤣🤣🤣
I got my R1200gs drive shaft changed, 3 rd owner for free
This is going to hurt their sales, Hell My 2011 harley with 125,000 miles and I'm still using the original drive belt... BMW doesn't make cheap units and apperently making cheaper parts to get profits up!! Like all other corporations
I'll believe this when I see it (the letter, that is). They have not stepped up to the plate for me yet. I have a 2016 R1200RS and while others have been contacted already, us RS owners seem to be second-class citizens. I already have a sour taste in my mouth thanks to BMW. I had better get my letter soon and get my driveshaft replaced. The bike has just over 60k miles on it and the driveshaft is stock.
You should be able to look it up online using your vin number. Your bike is affected by the service bulletin.
Just go to your stealer and book in. They should replace the shaft if you have the klm/ miles.
That is how it has been done I Canada
@@TheBMWGuy See I have known about this for a long time now ... ever since GS and RT owners were reporting that it was being done on their bikes. Way back when this all kicked off for them I went in to two BMW dealers in Houston and asked them about it - one of whom I bought the bike from and the other is my current dealership. They both looked up my VIN and declared "there is nothing in the system for my bike regarding the driveshaft".
Now I *know* the GS and RT guys were getting these letters at that time that stated all K5x bikes were affected / included and which my R1200RS is included model ... yet "nothing was in the system". I doubt that the guys were lying so clearly BMW ineffectively handled the advice to the dealers and the letter mail-outs to the owners. They knew about this problem, all right. They were just screwing around trying to do damage control and trying to weasel out of liability and not calling this a recall. The fact remained the yokes on their universal joints *are not up to the task*.
Another riding buddy of mine had the driveshaft on his RS fail on a trip while he was riding and caused a lot of damage to his engine and transmission, both of which had to be replaced at partial cost to him. And he is a long-time BMW owner and unofficial brand ambassador. The images of his failed yoke are in a video on my channel.
This has been going on for a long time now for the GS and RT owners, and one of my RS buddies reported on Faceplant that he *just got* his letter! 😒
You do not need to wait for a letter. This service campaugn has been underway for quite some time now. The dealer will have had two related Technical Service Bulletins on this issue, one of which was amended in August 2024 (primarily to include model year 2024 K5x models). These Tech Service Bulletins have been widely available online for many months.
@@markmayhew5487 You would think.
However, earlier this year after I saw reports of GS and RT owners getting letters, I went to 2 dealerships and both said "there is nothing in the system" regarding my RS. They should have had two related Technical Service Bulletins on this issue. Because of that nonsense, I decided to "wait" until getting a letter.
BMW USA finally got their act together and I got my letter (with my RS's VIN) on it last week. Now, even if they still have "nothing in the system", I have my letter.
I have a 1983 R80RT. I'm ok. Driveshaft runs in oil. Lasts forever.
Shafts are in an oil bath and the bike makes 5hp. Recipe for reliability, I personally would take an old airhead over any modern BMW.
Not crazy if you have been driven crazy.Moto guzzi no problem. Large Kilometers on Bmw 1200 3 breakdowns because of drive shafts . Last Knocking at Wagga wagga 2023. .$8,500 repair At Tamworth Dealer,BMW assist was great, but didnt cover 4 days in Tamworth due to Country& Western week !!All European motor cycles now looked at Dubiously!
Owning a BMW motorcycle is becoming like a game of Russian Roulette 😂😂😂😂
I have a 1997 R1100RS with over 200,000 kms and no issue as yet with the drive,to me this is going backwards and sounds absolutely ridiculous.
Those are plagued with rear drive issues
Bearing in mind the KTM debacle (big cam problems denied for years), I think BMW are avoiding bankruptcy unlike KTM.
Meanwhile the Japanese brands are basically maintenance free.
@TheBMWGuy oh they've had their share of chocolate cams I can assure you. VFR750 and CX500 for example.
R1300 drive shaft replacement is every 50k miles at the owners expense
At 1500$ each time. Maybe they are using the 1300 to recoup cost from the previous models.
It's actually every 48,000 miles for the 1300's.
@@markmayhew5487 That makes all the difference. 🤣
I have an 2005 GS 1200, I'm ok.
Solid bike, they have there own issues but don’t they all. I had a 2009 R1200GS at one point in time.
New sub here👍🏾👍🏾
Welcome aboard!
Did you say R1150GS? Hehehe I wish!
Haha, but those are also plagued with driveshaft and rear drive issues. Maybe BMW will get there act together with the 2025 models. Only time will tell
Yup! 90K on mine and so far so good!
The good news is that BMW will now pay to replace every drive shaft at 36000 miles. The bad news is all new BMW motorcycles will be chain drive! (or maybe that's more good news, it's all very confusing.🤪)
The r1300 is shaft driven. I can’t see them moving to a chain driven boxer engine.
@@TheBMWGuy I guess humor (sarcasm) doesn't cross the web like it used to.
I’ll just keep my airhead.