Final drive

[Bendy toy]

Mine was toast at 50K miles.

 

[Santa-2512]

180ml is the figure being quoted by BMW technical when i contacted them about my FD

 

[Bendy toy]

180ml is the figure being quoted by BMW technical when i contacted them about my FD

Indeed it is. However when these drives were first made, BMW specified 220ml. Why is it now 20% less? A few drives leaked though breathers or seals so BMW gradually dropped the oil levels. No oil. No leaks. These "failed" FDs were never repaired being simply swapped out under warranty which runs to 30,000 miles. If its internally knackered at 35,000 its not their problem.

Look on here and you will see the issues. Patzx12 The-inside-of-my-FD http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/166875-The-inside-of-my-FD
Check out his pinion nose bearing at just 18,000 miles. Lubrication was clearly marginal yet there were no external symptoms.

Mine is run with 200ml at oil changes. As oil draining is never 100%, the actual amount inside is probably closer to 220ml.

 

[lmg]

Is the reason why BMW dropped from 220ml to 180ml because the FD does not have a "breather"? I note on my other shaft drive bikes, they all have breathers on the FD and ive not heard of any non-BMW FDs failing. Just curious.

 

[UturnTony]

Is the reason why BMW dropped from 220ml to 180ml because the FD does not have a "breather"? I note on my other shaft drive bikes, they all have breathers on the FD and ive not heard of any non-BMW FDs failing. Just curious.

The TC FD has a breather.

 

[Bendy toy]

The R1200 final drive is flakey. end of. Quite why BMW chose to redesign the 1150 back end is anyone's guess. Maybe they saved a few grams but I doubt it. TBH they could have put the front swing arm on a diet. It's a solid casting enormously heavy for what it does.

 

[NZRalphy]

Bendy!!!

Mate they saved about 30kg moving from the 1150 to the 1200 so everything was lightened!

BFH if someone gave me a bastard file and said file off 30kg I know I'd struggle!

 

[Bendy toy]

I know - it’s a big weight saving but they went OTT on the final drive. Design is weak.
Front swing arm is solid metal. It could have been steel tubes and saved a bunch of weight. Use that weight somewhere it needs to be.
Front beak frame is metal tubes when the whole lot could have been plastic.
The plastic under pillion seat is really heavy what for? The GSA then duplicates that with an afterthought stainless steel frame. One or other but not both.
The list goes on.