Bloody Bike, I'm gonna flog it !!!

[franco]

Having gone through 70,000 trouble free kilometers on the bike, I had said to the wife what a great machine it's been, no problems blah blah. So, then the wiring craps out and I had to replace the cabling connection to the bottom of the ignition switch. Once that's done, a couple of days later I'm enjoying the GS again, but notice a slight vibration...on the right footpeg. Hmm, so, thinking no more of it (as I'd been using the CX for a couple of weeks, so thought it was just something I hadn't got used to). Go to overtake a car on a fast A-road, and hear this clunking noise, so, had to abort the overtake and pull into the side of the road, just as I'm slowing, the clank gets horrendous and the back wheel locks up. Had it trailered off by the rescue service to BMW Cannes, and it turned out to be a broken shaft. Had a look round here, but it doesn't seem a common problem. What strikes me is the amount of damage. This bike has been regularly serviced by BMW, so I would expect it to suffer two potentially very dangerous problems like this, and it's putting me off the bike now..
The wiring problem left me stranded in the middle of the road with the bike completely dead. The shaft problem could have been far worse if it had happened on the Gourdon road I'd just come down...
Check these pics...

 

[John Armstrong]

Ouch glad you managed to stop ok.

Probably wouldn't happen over here as our kit is water cooled most of the year

Might be worth having an experienced independant BM knowlegable fixer have a look at it. I'm sure Steptoe would love to if you pay his airfare

 

[roddy]

don't know if it's a reflection from something out of shot but it looks a bit blue and I always associate that to over heating.

does the shaft run dry ? I genuinely don't know, never had to look at that end of the bike yet except for changing the rear drive oil

 

[Steptoe]

I've posted plenty of warnings about the ignition loom, and how the problem is caused by the cable ties so cut them off.

I've not seen a shaft break like that on a R 1100/1150, that's not to say it doesn't happen. Used to see it happen on the older K series bikes, especially the K1100.

 

[franco]

.

I've posted plenty of warnings about the ignition loom, and how the problem is caused by the cable ties so cut them off.

I've not seen a shaft break like that on a R 1100/1150, that's not to say it doesn't happen. Used to see it happen on the older K series bikes, especially the K1100.

I never heed warnings Funny how you never look through the technical pages until you have a problem. Which is what I did, and found out I should have cut the cable ties off. Really bizarre break of the shaft though. I hadn't noticed any crunching or grinding noises until the vibration a few minutes before it failed. Guy in the garage said he's never seen one like it on a GS. As has been pointed out, looks like it had got very, very hot...Unless that was the French BMW mechanics cutting it apart with a blow torch. I'm still gonna write to BMW France, and kick up stink. The wiring fault should be known to BMW by now, and picked up in the regular servicing. The shaft failure is just weird...

 

[davegs]

Broken shafts

I cannot belive that this just "went" u/j's usually ptrovide plenty of "clonks"
and other symptoms. You had a very luck escape but it don't just go "Pop".
dave gs.

 

[judge]

Nah all the reports I've heard pinpoint both these problems to riding like a wuss and to prove it none of my bikes have suffered similar failures

Actually its retribution for all those pictures you've posted of your bike in fantastic locations on sunny days when we're shivvering and commuting round the M25 in the p1ssing rain.

I guess the right amount of pins have been stuck in the Franco dolls to have the desired effect you chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnntttt

 

[richie]

Never mind Rob, you can always trade it in for a proven 1200

 

[Noddy]

Actually its retribution for all those pictures you've posted of your bike in fantastic locations on sunny days when we're shivvering and commuting round the M25 in the p1ssing rain.

Very strange that, I thought exactly the same.

 

[Hay Ewe]

Bejayzus!

I have never heard of one breaking there. its only a suggestion but if the bearings were dry and heated up and then cooled down many times, it could affect the metturlagy of the surrounding metal causing it to break but I dont know in this case, there is a fair bit of material in the area.

Good Luck

Hay Ewe

 

[franco]

?

I cannot belive that this just "went" u/j's usually ptrovide plenty of "clonks"
and other symptoms. You had a very luck escape but it don't just go "Pop".
dave gs.

I can't believe it either, but it did just go pop. Well, clunk clunk screech actually I felt the vibration on the road a few moments before but we're talking 15 miles from first noticing something odd, to breaking down. Maybe I'm more insensitive these days
As for Judge and Noddy, fark off ye chaaaaarnts. Luckily I broke down at the side of the road which goes round the lovely Lac de St Cassien, and I had my mobile and a full pack of Cafe Cremes. Only bad thing, I had to walk nearly 300 metres to the lakeside cafe, and with all the bike gear on, it's very warm at this time of year