Crashed GS12

[Phil W]

Nightmare, just been to Allan Jefferies yesterday to fit oil cooler cover. On the way back following my mate on his Husky, he slowed down. I put my brakes on suddenly there was a massive squeeling from the front tire and down i went, watching my pride and joy slide up the road on its side!
I dusted my self down a few pains here and there luckily nothing fractured.
The bike as expected was scraped all down the left side where it had gone down......NIGHTMARE!!
I then noticed the forks were totally twisted and the wheel was totally out of alignment, and all the brake fluid had pissed out of one of the connecters on the bottom yoke.
The accident happened at no more than 20mph, and the tyre, wheels and forks were untouched!! At this point i started to recap on the events taken place and realised that the forks had somehow twisted prior to the accident causing the lock up of the front wheel!!
Three engineers all bikers have looked at the bike and all agree. Jefferies have now taken the bike away to examine it. I did have tyres fitted 1000 miles ago.....Whether it was mechanical or human error i dont know. All very scary!! One things for sure the damage to the forks just doesn't tally with the mechanisms and other damage sustained.......Watch this space

 

[nadeem]

Good that you're okay Phil...Bikes can be replaced...people can't...

Let us know the outcome....

 

[Mouse]

Have you read this?

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?p=476744

Not obviously related but it did make me wonder.

 

[Cestria]

Very sorry to hear about your tumble Phil. Pleased you are OK.

Mouse, you beat me to it.
I could not help wondering about that also. Think I'll go check my pinch bolts again.

 

[Raindancer]

Bridge Bolts

Have you read this?

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?p=476744

Not obviously related but it did make me wonder.

Mouse

Any chance of pics of where thes bolts are located.

Cheers

 

[Pukmeister]

I'd wager that those bolts have come loose in your lower yokes, allowing the front forks to rotate and the wheel to twist sideways. Like Mouse posted, mine were also slightly loose but not by much, I still haven't loctited mine yet but will do so this weekend as a precaution.

Hope your bike gets repaired soonest mate, good luck.

 

[Raindancer]

Bride Brace Bolts

Mouse

Its OK..... found them and managed to tighten them about a quarter turn each. Have marked bridge and bolts with a dab of touch up paint as a "line up feature" to check and see if they have loosened. Like you I will now include this as a pre-ride check up.

Cheers for the tip off.

 

[Mouse]

To do it properly the bolts should be torqued to 25Nm. But "reasonably tight" will probably do

25Nm is not actually that much, don't overtighten them and break the clamp!

 

[sjwb]

25Nm (18 lbf ft) is spot on for an M8 (8.8) bolt.
There is absolutely no reason for these fixings to come loose. However, if anyone has any doubts, then go back to your dealer and get them checked.

 

[Pukmeister]

I just rechecked mine during a bit of cleaning and off-roading preps, and no surprises, they are not at full torque, probably only 20Nm as they turned another eighth of a turn. I removed each in turn, applied Loctite 242, then retorqued to 25Nm. I have paint marked them to provide easy indication if they slacken.

This is the second time they have been found to be looser than the recommended 25Nm.

My bike is an early 2004 model.

 

[nadeem]

Pics please guys - An important safety issue..let everyone see...

 

[Raindancer]

Bridge Bolts

Pics please guys - An important safety issue..let everyone see...

Nadem

There you go




Regards

 

[GADGET]

Read this post and decided to check mine, all were a lot less than 25NM, my wrench is an expensive one, came with a calibration certificate, so its not that, thanks. john

 

[peterh]

Checked mine and three were slightly loose.

Thanks.

 

[nadeem]

Cheers Dan...

 

[aspad]

Thanks for this - checked these and many other torx bolts all over the bike. All fine apart from a couple holding the screen bracket to the frame and one holding the brake lever on which were marginally loose. It is a good process to check especially if riding dirt and gravel roads with a whole lot a shakin' going on.
Thanks for the reminder.

 

[hobbit]

Does anyone find

Is anyone having to tighten these bolts repeatedly, or is it a one-off job?
I'm just wondering if there's something in here that should be part of a safety recall for BeeEmm or if it's something that only needs looked at once.

 

[phy5ic5]

Just bought my 1200GS.. not ridden it yet,, only 3000 miles on it... BUT I'll be checking these 1st chance i get. Torx bits on shopping list for tomorrow.. THX guys.

GS newbie...

 

[swebb]

Is anyone having to tighten these bolts repeatedly, or is it a one-off job?
I'm just wondering if there's something in here that should be part of a safety recall for BeeEmm or if it's something that only needs looked at once.

This has been covered in great depth on another thread, See here seems to be something worth doing as a pre-ride check, yep thats right, EVERY ride!!

I can't remember who, but there is a guy currently locked in battle with BMW about an accident he had, again that looks to have been down to these bolts coming loose. As far as i remember from the other thread, BM currently say "it's not possible" despite the fact that a HUGE percentage of people on here (myself included) have checked theirs to find them looser than the recommended 25Nm torque!!!

Only answer at the minute is as already said, make sure you check yours before EVERY ride!!!

 

[Warthog]

I don't own a 12 but I read this and the previous thread regarding these loose bolts.

Unbelievable that this sort of thing happens, particularly on a Beemer. Just when a marque starts to gain my respect as a company that takes what is does seriously, you hear a story like this.

Considering the huge cost of a new 1200, never mind human safety is on the line , I cannot believe that BMW is not issueing a recall for this. If it had been raised in the Long Way Round as a problem, you can be sure the company would have looked into it (yes I know they were on 1150s).

It really pisses me off when a company that harps on about customer service this and corporate ethics that, goes on to ignore such an issue in spite of the potential cost in human lives. Even if the only people to suffer from this were the 20 odd posters on this site, I don't think they can justify sweeping this under the carpet.

You want to believe otherwise, but it still boils down to $$$$s.