2003 BMW R1200C

AN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FINAL DRIVES IN OUR R1200C'S AND R1200CL'S IS THE DREADED FINAL DRIVE FAILURE. MOST OF US WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS, FIRST NOTICED EITHER A LATERAL WOBBLE OF THE REAR WHEEL, DROPS OF FLUID ON OUR REAR WHEELS, AND/OR FLUID STAINS SPRAYED RADIALLY ON THE REAR TIRE. WELL, I TOOK A 600 MILE JAUNT LAST WEEKEND TO MAKE SURE THE BIKE COULD HANDLE THE NEW TOURING BAGS AND THE T-BAG I BOUGHT. THE TRIP WAS GREAT - NEAR QUINCY, CA. WHEN I GOT HOME, I NOTICED SOME OIL SPOTS ON THE RIGHT REAR BAG, THE HORROR OF HORRORS, RADIAL STRIPES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE REAR TIRE. I LOOKED UP UNDER THE FINAL DRIVE AND WHAT DO I SEE? - YES, A BIG OLD DROP OF OIL! GROAN, AND I'M LEAVING ON SATURDAY FOR SC. *KB

WHILE RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE FUEL STARTING SPRAYING FROM A FUEL LINE DISCONNECT FITTING. THE MALE PORTION BROKE. I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND NOTICED FUEL JUST GUSHING OUT OF ONE OF THE SIDE PANELS AND SPLASHING ON THE EXHAUST. MY ENTIRE TANK (APROX 2 GALLONS) EMPTIED IN A MATTER OF 1-2 MINUTES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME BUT FROM RESEARCH ON ONLINE FORUMS WWW.CHROMEHEADS.COM IT IS VERY COMMON. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE. THE FUEL WAS DRIPPING DIRECTLY ONTO MY HOT EXHAUST PIPES, LEGS AND BOOTS. IF THE FUEL HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED ME SERIOUS INJURY. BMW NOW SELLS METAL QUICK CONNECTS. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND ALL THESE PLASTIC QUICK CONNECTS SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH METAL ONES. *TR

TRAVELING HOME ON TWO LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. I HAD TRAVELED 40 MILES FROM MY STARTING POINT PRIOR TO EVENT. HEARD A LOUD POP AND AIR ESCAPING FROM REAR TIRE. THE TIRE WENT FLAT AND THE MOTORCYCLE MOVED VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND FLIPPED. I TRIED TO CONTROL BUT THE BIKE FLIPPED ME OFF AND I SUSTAINED INJURIES. I TALKED WITH THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY FOUND NO HOLES IN THE TIRE ALTHOUGH FELT THE VALVE STEM FAILED DUE TO RUBBER FAILURE. THIS MOTORCYCLE IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD HAVE OTHERS FAILED SO EARLY?

THE BMW "CRUISER" FAMILY OF MOTORCYCLES EXHIBITS A LARGE PROPORTION OF UNITS THAT HAVE A "PULL TO THE RIGHT" ISSUE, IN VARYING DEGREES. THIS IS EXTREMLY DANGEROUS ON A TWO WHEELED VEHICLE. A REVIEW OF WEB SITES THAT SUPPORT THESE VEHICLES ALL REPORT THE SAME ISSUE OCCURING. TO DATE, BMW HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE. I AM CONTACTING YOU AS BMW HAS DISCONTINUED THE MODEL THIS YEAR AND I FEEL THAT NO FIX WILL BE FORTHCOMING. OWNERS HAVE DONE VARIOUS QUICK FIXES, BUT NONE HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY BMW. CURRENTLY MY BIKE WITH 6,000 MILES IS SHOWING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR INDICATIVE OF A "PTTR" (PULL TO THE RIGHT) ISSUE. THIS PTTR ALSO HAS BEEN REPORTED TO CAUSE FATIGUE AMONG SOME RIDERS, ALL WHICH COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENT/INJURIES. REFER TO WWW.CHROMEHEADS.ORG FOR BOARD DISCUSSION OF THE PTTR ISSUE AMONG OWNERS. THANK YOU, R KARLSTAD. *AK

BMW R1200CLC MOTORCYCLE SUFFICIENTLY MISBALANCED (I.E. CENTER OF GRAVITY).HE RIGHT OF CENTER LINE, SUCH THAT A RIGHT COUNTER STEER IS CONTINUOUSLY REQUIRED TO ENABLE THE BIKE TO TRACK STRAIGHT; IMPLYING THAT THE BIKE. *AK COULD NOT BE RELIABLY BE RIDDEN STRAIGHT WITHOUT FALLING OVER, ON LOW TRACTION SURFACES SUCH AS GREASY, OR ICY ROADS; AS WELL AS CREATING LEFT ARM RIDER FATIGUE OVER LONG DISTANCES, AND INDUCING EXCESSIVE LEFT SIDE FRONT TIRE WEAR.