1300 GS Top box recall

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Lest we forget, the original top-box on the then-new R1200GS (2005) was inclined to break around the latch and fall off! Mine did not suffer this fate but I saw one do it in front of me when the rider went over a drain dug across the road...

 

[stever1]

All this isn’t new. I bought a brand new 1200 GS in 2010. 3 months later the last I saw of my top box was seeing it sink into loch eck after it fell off as I rode up the A 815.
Dealer wasn’t happy when I went in mid morning one Saturday telling anyone who would listen not to use the dealer as they didn’t know what they where doing.
Turns out they hadn’t put some bolts in the carrier frame
Got my money for the box back though.
Put the next one on myself to make sure it was done properly.

 

[Stirgo]

This is really bad and not as per usual BMW Motorrad Standards.
I bought a BMW R 1300 GS in early April. Half the season has gone and I still do not have any luggage I can attach to this bike for long distance multi day adventure trips.
BMW is not communicating any updates or any dates when we can expect to have these cases available. I am very disappointed with BMW Motorrad !!

 

[stever1]

This is really bad and not as per usual BMW Motorrad Standards.
I bought a BMW R 1300 GS in early April. Half the season has gone and I still do not have any luggage I can attach to this bike for long distance multi day adventure trips.
BMW is not communicating any updates or any dates when we can expect to have these cases available. I am very disappointed with BMW Motorrad !!

Welcome to the poor quality, bad comms world of BMW motorrad

 

[Troppo]

My top box has been perfect. Mind you, I do check it whenever I ride....and most of the time it is empty when underway.

I normally use it to store my helmet/gloves when I'm stopped.

 

[Frankh]

My top box has been perfect. Mind you, I do check it whenever I ride....and most of the time it is empty when underway.

I normally use it to store my helmet/gloves when I'm stopped.

My topbox and panniers have just covered over 2000 miles in the last 10 days, fully loaded. No problems at all, very convenient adjustment as to just what you need. I use the wunderlich inners which fit perfect and make the side opening no problem at all, very happy with them. Also had need to charge some items that I could not do my normal overnight hotel charge as was in Switzerland and my adaptor does not fit (note to self get a Swiss plug) just plugged in to topbox and pannier while riding, easy. Very happy Also the advantage of no horrible scaffolding on the bike when not using panniers (which is most of the time)

 

[Troppo]

Pulled the top box off today - it came with the bike. I had forgotten how heavy the OEM boxes are....

 

[BlueRacer]

Hi,
So after a visit today to my BMW dealer, unrelated to my R1300, but I took a few minute to quiz the Motorrad guys on the latest luggage situation..
They informed me that their take on things was that I would most likely be receiving ‘new’ luggage from BMW to replace the stuff I’ve got, that came with the bike when I got it in Jan’24.
Until then, mine is fine to use apparently, and they’ve not been told to tell anyone who has the Vario luggage to not use it. Only that they are not to sell or release any luggage to any current or future customers until further notice.
I’ve not had any issues with the Vario panniers or Top Box since I got the bike, but concerned about things I see online, I’ve been asking regularly at the dealers when I go by.

 

[JWB]

I have a new 1300, bought in Canada, riding in US. The dealer wouldn't let me take the top box because "the factory have recalled it". So now I am touring with a stupid blue bag strapped to the back of my otherwise super-cool 1300. I mean, wtf? The dealer has no info on the fix date. Anybody else got this problem?

I ordered my 1300 GS in December 23 with full luggage. The bike did not arrive until June but with no luggage. I did not learn about this until the day before collection. Initially i was offered (and took) a complementary tank bank and soft bag as a temporary measure. Today 25 July the bike had its first service and i was offered a choice; either i could have my money back so that i could buy an aftermarket luggage set or i could take the defective cases with safety straps. No one knows when the replacement corrected luggage is expected and i was told this might not be until early 2025 and so as the cases look good and are fitted with the central locking i took the latter option. I was supplied with the top box, panniers and two ratchet straps to hold the lids on! I mean this is a 22k BMW motorcycle for F sake ! it now looks just great with two grubby white straps on it! They are not even black with BMW printed on them! This does not inspire great confidence in the bike. If BMW can't stop two plastic lids from falling off, what else might drop off at 70 mph!
Communication from BMW has not been great. Yours is the about the only post i have seen with a similar issue. I have no idea when this might be resolved and what they are going to do about it. BMW Motorrad need to get this sorted ASAP

 

[Stirgo]

I ordered my 1300 GS in December 23 with full luggage. The bike did not arrive until June but with no luggage. I did not learn about this until the day before collection. Initially i was offered (and took) a complementary tank bank and soft bag as a temporary measure. Today 25 July the bike had its first service and i was offered a choice; either i could have my money back so that i could buy an aftermarket luggage set or i could take the defective cases with safety straps. No one knows when the replacement corrected luggage is expected and i was told this might not be until early 2025 and so as the cases look good and are fitted with the central locking i took the latter option. I was supplied with the top box, panniers and two ratchet straps to hold the lids on! I mean this is a 22k BMW motorcycle for F sake ! it now looks just great with two grubby white straps on it! They are not even black with BMW printed on them! This does not inspire great confidence in the bike. If BMW can't stop two plastic lids from falling off, what else might drop off at 70 mph!
Communication from BMW has not been great. Yours is the about the only post i have seen with a similar issue. I have no idea when this might be resolved and what they are going to do about it. BMW Motorrad need to get this sorted ASAP

I got my R 1300 GS in April 2024 and while I also ordered the side cases, they would not sell them to me and just informed me on the day I was picking up the bike. Since then, I've had a bike I cannot use long distance trips with friends even if the dealer gave me a waterproof bag that I can secure with a net and hooks.
On Tuesday July 23rd, I talked with the US BMW Motorrad Corporate Office about the situation of the Vario cases recalls. The lady informed me that as of July 22nd, the Top Vario case is cleared from the recalls and that dealers will soon start selling these again. My dealer apparently doesn't know about it yet. As long as the side case are concerned, even the corporate office doesn't have any information and cannot say when they will be able to sell these again. This is clearly a lack of communication because somebody must kniw what is goign on, what is the pan to fix this. BMW, JUST KEEP YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMER INFORMED.!! That will go a long way. Even if the fix is still months away, just say it instead of leaving your custimers in the dark!
My dealer just offered to me a similar deal. Option 1: he can get me Atlas aftermarket cases and replace them by Vario cases when they become available. Option 2: he is willing to sell me the side cases he has but with a strap to make sure they do not open while riding. That is ridiculous but it is the optioin I have opted for as the cases indeed look good, come with central locking, light and charging USB socket. I will have them installed on the bike this Saturday.
Btw, the BMW lady told me there is a new recall on the starter relay that need to be replaced!

 

[TaskMule]

I got my R 1300 GS in April 2024 and while I also ordered the side cases, they would not sell them to me and just informed me on the day I was picking up the bike. Since then, I've had a bike I cannot use long distance trips with friends even if the dealer gave me a waterproof bag that I can secure with a net and hooks.
On Tuesday July 23rd, I talked with the US BMW Motorrad Corporate Office about the situation of the Vario cases recalls. The lady informed me that as of July 22nd, the Top Vario case is cleared from the recalls and that dealers will soon start selling these again. My dealer apparently doesn't know about it yet. As long as the side case are concerned, even the corporate office doesn't have any information and cannot say when they will be able to sell these again. This is clearly a lack of communication because somebody must kniw what is goign on, what is the pan to fix this. BMW, JUST KEEP YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMER INFORMED.!! That will go a long way. Even if the fix is still months away, just say it instead of leaving your custimers in the dark!
My dealer just offered to me a similar deal. Option 1: he can get me Atlas aftermarket cases and replace them by Vario cases when they become available. Option 2: he is willing to sell me the side cases he has but with a strap to make sure they do not open while riding. That is ridiculous but it is the optioin I have opted for as the cases indeed look good, come with central locking, light and charging USB socket. I will have them installed on the bike this Saturday.
Btw, the BMW lady told me there is a new recall on the starter relay that need to be replaced!

I was able to browse the dealer recall notice on the side cases and from what I can see the issue is simply that when closing them carelessly they may not fully latch. If you close them and hear two clicks of the latches engaging then all is good. No straps necessary. I say grab those cases from the dealer or you may never see them. There is a recall notice on mine as well but I will never take them in. As for the top case I believe the issue is that the key could be removed without them being fully latched, which doesn't jive with BMWs new policy of key trapped until fully latched. I waited 4 months for them to get the recall fix kit and another 3 weeks for the dealer to install it. As of this morning I now have the top case.