2009 BMW K1300GT

[Ignacio]

QUOTE (El Toro @ Nov 26 2008, 05:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It inevitably goes this way.
You'd be correct...especially in a forum that isn't a BMW forum.

But, it's not just about one brand loyalist taking a swipe at another brand. If anything, FJR owners and fellow LD riders are extremely sympathetic and understanding. They want BMW to fix the issue just as much as die-hard BMWphiles.

Even with simple Googling you'll find BMW loyals talking about this. BMWMOA is prominent where a hardcore late-model K1200 owner talking about the indignity of a cruiser buddy and trailer picking them up. This snarky jewel covers the gamut of hard-core loyalist to the formerly hard core that went from 1st to DNF in less than one tank because his drive puked in less than 8,000 miles.

My favorite from a late-model LT owner:

QUOTE
I think we are dealing with bikes with Titanium pricing that turn out to have pot metel reliability. Atleast our frames aren't cracking.
And not to be missed is a couple that also had a BMW fail in a rally, bail to a Goldwing, and get second place in the same event Meese DNF'ed. They even say they'd return to the brand if BMW would just fix the problem.

Peppered in those are tales of negotiations where BMW doesn't even cover the full cost of those repairs. Coming from a brand that even covers bikes that are now over 5 years old on ticking issues far, FAR out of warranty and I have to just shake my head.

It's pretty clear we're not going to convince you El Toro. I'm curious though if or when a few '09 final drive fails would you possibly reconsider?

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

<snip>...The thread quickly degenerated into a bunch of whining from folks who've never personally had a final drive failure, many of whom never owned a BMW even "back in the day" when they had the reputation of Oliver Wendell Holmes veritable One Hoss Shay.It inevitably goes this way.

'Twas always thus.

Still..., there have been examples of a cure for 'catastrophic final-drive failure'.

Back in the day, after WW II (The Big One), BSA motorcycles inherited the famous old Sunbeam marque. They promptly introduced a new super-de-luxe touring-machine with shaft final-drive. Problem was: the Sunbeam S7 had, quite literally, an 'Achilles Heel'. Rear-drive failures were solved by limiting (further) the modest H.P. output of the engine. (BMW -- take note...)

(The O.P. said BMW increased the H.P.....??)

BSA, a motorcycle world giant at one time, may be an interesting case study? Re: BSA/Sunbeam final-drives (excerpts from a book on the British m/c industry) -- "Sunbeam was then part of the BSA Group. Although its only product, the shaft-drive motorcycle, was lauded by and who's writings on the subject practically filled the technical press -- none of these admirers were anxious to own one of these wonders. Very few were sold and the activity fluttered through a year or two to a lingering death. The machine was a heavy financial burden mainly because the problems in service were due to fundamental design faults which could not be corrected without starting afresh."

Those who do not learn from history....(BMW -- take note...) :blink:

 

[Brian R]

Let me just go down the list of people I can think of off-hand that had a FD, I'll try not to embarrass anyone....

CH - Blown RD and all kinds of problems (Rides an FJR with pride - BUT - Just bought a Beemer (for his wife)

Large Sarge -Loving his GL1800

B&S T - blown RD in Spank Rally - still sticking by their Beemers - but at an astronomical cost in maintenance $$ trying not to have a FD

T&M M - Run their own Rally - blown RD in Spank but still drinking Kool-Aid.

T&R S - Loving their new Gl1800 after RD failure in WORD!

Helodoc - Riding new GL1800 and pissed as hell at BMW for Multiple failures on KGT (Rear Drive, Tranny, Tensioners, Brakes)

CS - Because of his RD Failure I finished in top 20 of 07 IBR - Riding one again in 09.

BL - Blew RD in Daytona - had a HELL of a time with Daytona BMW - swore he would never buy another, Blew that RD by the time he got home to Pennsylvania. Will be riding that same POS LT in upcoming IBR

KM - HUGE BEEMERPHYLE - blown rear drive blew a big win in Spank, pissed as hell but still sticking by the marquee.

David (WTF was his name) - I loved pissing off this UBER BMW Kool-Aid Drinker. He blew a RD and went BALLISTIC on BMW all over the internet.

AT - was one of the big apologists for BMW in the LD community - pretty sure he blew a drive and then blew off BMW.

This is just off the top of my head and the people I happen to just know who ride Beemers.

Several of those who are still riding the Marquee have expressed (either to me) or in public forum that the new KGT1300 was going to be "The Fix". Some have even suggested buying the Rear Drive for that new bike and putting it on their older iron. That is where this all ties together.

Brian R.

El Toro - sorry I missed the Motard thread - Loving the offerings from APrillia and I just saw a super hot Duc (that looked beyone factory) advertised the other day. Sweet bikes for sure and even us guys with long days can appreciate a shorter ride on something that fun.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

All this final-drive catastrophic failure stuff may be moot -- as far as BMW is concerned...?

From what I hear the "Roundel folks' have turned a corner and are now into "rac'n".... The S1000RR has two top echelon riders signed on, Zeus and Corser, the dirt crew signed Knight, Salminen, and Tarkkala -- all ranked world riders.

On to bigger and better things -- "Onward and Awkward" -- I always say...!

 

[Bustanut joker]

Damn! does this mean I'm on my way to the dark side???

:jester:

 

[SkooterG]

Damn! does this mean I'm on my way to the dark side???

:jester:

No. It means yer a flippin MORON.

For 2009 it's a K1300GT, ya big dope!

:tease:

 

[Bustanut joker]

Big Dope??? Why I otter.......

Damn I knew sumpin wasn't right.Thanks Greg!!!!!!!!

:jester:

 

[El Toro]

Bustanut: At least someone's got wood over the BMW's. Thanks. 1200. 1300. Its all good. :fans:

Hey Iggy, Warchild, Brian, etc. Long Distance Community at Large.... :wizard: :worriedsmiley: :yahoo: :who-let-rip-smiley:

I'm not a loyalist for any marque. They all have to earn their spot to get to stay in my garage. I'm about as fickle as you can get. It comes with the rationality.

Your data don't match my data. Your experience with BMW doesn't match my own. For now the BMW's are getting to stay in my garage. FWIW, so is the FJR.

Iggy, if you are already predicting the demise of the 09's, I can't help. They haven't even been shipped to the USA and you're already counting the failures.

You know, poor Beemerdons doesn't actually believe all the negative stuff. He just knows that if he wants to get along with you guys, he's got to tow the line... Fat Nazi BMW ******* or whatever.

I know this is your board. I appreciate the good info that's here.

If you guys have the position that the BMW's all suck and that the company sucks, well, like I said... its your board.

My experience has been exceptionally different. There's no more to say. :dinamo:

 

[El Toro]

All this final-drive catastrophic failure stuff may be moot -- as far as BMW is concerned...?From what I hear the "Roundel folks' have turned a corner and are now into "rac'n".... The S1000RR has two top echelon riders signed on, Zeus and Corser, the dirt crew signed Knight, Salminen, and Tarkkala -- all ranked world riders.

On to bigger and better things -- "Onward and Awkward" -- I always say...!

Here's the link to the S1000RR web site. Seems heavy on video. I think they start taking orders in March. The bike will be shown at the Long Beach MIS show unless plans have changed.

https://www.s1000rr.com/

 

[SkooterG]

If you guys have the position that the BMW's all suck and that the company sucks, well, like I said... its your board.

Dude. Not only are you close-minded on this issue (as well as others) but you have selective hearing. Nobody has said anything remotely close to what you claim.

If you think that BMW doesn't have a quality issue, you need to pull your head out of the sand.

Me, I like some of the BMWs. I WILL have a R1200GS in the garage someday when I can afford it. It will be right next to the FJR I will ALWAYS have. But I'll never rally on it. And I'll be damned leery of taking any extended trips on it. I have never been stranded on a motorcyle, and I don't want to start anytime soon. ***

*** - Other than the time I was with the g/f and SHE was stranded on her brand spankin new 2009 BMW F650GS with 1200 miles on it. She rode the 450 miles home on the back of my 158,000 mile FJR and I got to fly back out the following weekend to retrieve it.

Now, don't get your panties in a bunch. Just expressing MY opinion (which happens to be the correct one ) and we still love you :wub: around here even if you are a kool-aid drinking blind BMW propaganda spreadin cultist.

 

[Ignacio]

Iggy, if you are already predicting the demise of the 09's, I can't help.

Huh? How do you get that? I reread my posts and I don't find a prediction anywhere. I'll say the same thing I've said three other times....just more emphatically.

I really, Really, REALLY hope they are fixed. I'm not very confident given their track record, but that does not a prediction make.

So, are you predicting they are fixed?

If so, my question still stands.

 

[Bustanut joker]

Iggy, if you are already predicting the demise of the 09's, I can't help.

Huh? How do you get that? I reread my posts and I don't find a prediction anywhere. I'll say the same thing I've said three other times....just more emphatically.

I really, Really, REALLY hope they are fixed. I'm not very confident given their track record, but that does not a prediction make.

So, are you predicting they are fixed?

If so, my question still stands.

White noise.

Yeah thats what it was........He heard white noise iggy.

 

[PapaUtah]

I find the BMW fairing to be one of the fugliest designs. Looks like a card board mockup that got passed right through to production. I am sure this Kraut bike will come in close to $20K and you'll have that nagging fear that the rear drive is ready to explode at any moment. I'll pass, buy a new FJR and use the difference to stay in nice hotels the entire trip.

BMW = Broken Motor Works

 

[fjrb0]

You boys should just find you a good used 2004 model. Still the best bike out there. No problems in four years, takes a licking, keeps on ticking. No ignition problems, nothing, nada, zip. Just a great bike!!!!

 

[beemerdons]

https://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=536.0 El Toro, A number of people on this Forum have given you real life true examples of BMW Final Drive Failures. Warchild, Ignacio and Brian R., with their current high profile participation in the Iron Butt Association, gave you multiple examples of BMW FD disasters. I gave you two members of my own AZB Club.

Well, here is another example from a friend of mine who was a BMW Factory Mechanic in Munchen and currently runs one of the largest BMW Rental Firms in Central Germany. Every four years like clockwork, I lead my BMW Club to Germany to ride the Alps. I have been doing this since I left Bavaria Thanksgiving of 1970. My good friend Stefan Knopf owns and operates Knopf Motorradreisen out of Kircheim, a suburb of Heidelberg. On the trip link posted above, we met a Canadian couple from Toronto that were heading to London, while we were heading South to Italy. They had rented a BMW K1200LT.

The rental K1200LT made it as far as Calais, France when their final drive blew up; only 35,000 kilometers on the odometer.

We returned ten days later and found the K1200LT on Stefan's lift with the rear drive removed. Long story short: This was not the first K1200LT that broke its final drive on Herr Knopf. He now refuses to maintain K1200LT's in his M/C rental fleet.

https://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=537.0 Interested in future BMW Alps trips: Contact [email protected]

https://picasaweb.google.com/beemerdons/Alps2007Ride# Can get FJR's from Ad-Mo in Munich, if there's FJR Forum interest.

https://www.rental-motorcycle.com/europe/ge...ich_rental.html Sorry for off topic. WOW, FJR's on Passo di Stelvio!

 

[beemerdons]

https://www.bmwk1200s.com/ A very well respected gentleman in the BMW K Bike Community is New York's Shahram Shiva.

I'd the pleasure of spending an hour with him in the Beer Tent at BMWMOA International Rally held in Vermont in July 2005.

I'd the opportunity to ride the roads around Burlington and Lake Champlain with Shahram; great rider and BMW knowledge!

In closely examining Mr. Shiva's website, there is nothing jumping out at me that tells this oldie BMW guy there is a new FD.

However, it's truly impossible to tell from SS's Internet pictures. But keep an eye on his website, the info will be there soon!

 

[tripletango]

My friend rides a K1200 GT. No real problems at all. There is really no comparison as you all have said, price being the issue. BMW riders seem to like the B M W look at me I have a BMW K1200GT issue more than any other reason for owning one.

On large group rides most of the mechanical problems occur with BMWs and Harleys. They seem to be on the get me home trailer more than any other brands.

That said when compared ride wise the BMW is very refined. I especially like the adjustable suspension settings - really handy. Good smooth ride to stiff but compliant. Getting back on my FJR feels like riding on a raw or more real motorcycle. For the price difference I can handle it. Kinda like "raw"

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

My friend rides a K1200 GT. No real problems at all. There is really no comparison as you all have said, price being the issue. BMW riders seem to like the B M W look at me I have a BMW K1200GT issue more than any other reason for owning one. On large group rides most of the mechanical problems occur with BMWs and Harleys. They seem to be on the get me home trailer more than any other brands.

That said when compared ride wise the BMW is very refined. I especially like the adjustable suspension settings - really handy. Good smooth ride to stiff but compliant. Getting back on my FJR feels like riding on a raw or more real motorcycle. For the price difference I can handle it. Kinda like "raw"

Once upon a time: two guys were discussing (the relative merits of) a certain motorcycle when one said, "It runs like a Swiss watch."

Whereupon the other replied, "That may be all well and good -- but, I'd prefer that it runs like a motorcycle." :blink:

 

[tripletango]

My friend rides a K1200 GT. No real problems at all. There is really no comparison as you all have said, price being the issue. BMW riders seem to like the B M W look at me I have a BMW K1200GT issue more than any other reason for owning one. On large group rides most of the mechanical problems occur with BMWs and Harleys. They seem to be on the get me home trailer more than any other brands.

That said when compared ride wise the BMW is very refined. I especially like the adjustable suspension settings - really handy. Good smooth ride to stiff but compliant. Getting back on my FJR feels like riding on a raw or more real motorcycle. For the price difference I can handle it. Kinda like "raw"

Once upon a time: two guys were discussing (the relative merits of) a certain motorcycle when one said, "It runs like a Swiss watch."

Whereupon the other replied, "That may be all well and good -- but, I'd prefer that it runs like a motorcycle." :blink:

Too true!

 

[Gizmo]

I still don't understand WTF is up with that huge slab of plastic on the GT :dribble: