Freebee Driveshaft

[Hartley]

Just seen this on YT.
Looks like a replacement shaft courtesy of BMW.

 

[DJ123]

It's not for all Bikes - those over a certain mileage get it replaced regardless (IIRC 35K miles), those with less miles have an inspection & measurement, only if they don't meet certain requirements will it be replaced - otherwise now.

My Bike got a replacement shaft as it was over the mileage threshold.

 

[Victor c]

Just watched it and it explains the process really well. I had mine replaced at 6000 miles, one year old, as it failed their test.

 

[adventuredon]

Mine got replaced in august last year. 18k on a 2015 plate

 

[Bigcats]

Wow mine was replaced in Nov 22 by BMW so it looks like, if I ever get to that mileage, I will get another one.

 

[leadfarmer]

Mine was fine on my 2016 bike

I pulled it apart myself a couple of years ago and it was like new

 

[Santa-2512]

I got charged to unstick and lube my stuck driveshsft about a month before they did the recall and replace program,
So glad i got rid

 

[GSian]

Mine got replaced at 3500miles on a 2020 GS, FOC

 

[Hartley]

This is a new directive , not the shaft inspection carried out before. Sounds like they’ve effectively put a life on the shaft and will replace it FOC when the shaft hits that mileage.
The vid gives details.

 

[GSian]

This is a new directive , not the shaft inspection carried out before. Sounds like they’ve effectively put a life on the shaft and will replace it FOC when the shaft hits that mileage.
The vid gives details.

So it is, Reassuring. Interestingly, it doesn't apply to the 1300 GS.

 

[leadfarmer]

So it is, Reassuring. Interestingly, it doesn't apply to the 1300 GS.

It’s now part of the standard service schedule on the 1300 to replace the shaft at 80,000 km but it’s not free

 

[GSian]

It’s now part of the standard service schedule on the 1300 to replace the shaft at 80,000 km but it’s not free

It's the FOC I was referring to. I don't fully get why it's not. The fact it's needed and made a change to the service schedule would make you think they've not done anything to the design or makeup of the shaft.

 

[Bigcats]

It's the FOC I was referring to. I don't fully get why it's not. The fact it's needed and made a change to the service schedule would make you think they've not done anything to the design or makeup of the shaft.

I would guess they have gone for the cheapest option

How many bikes make it to 48k compared to having to manufacture a bunch of new shafts??

 

[Hartley]

It's the FOC I was referring to. I don't fully get why it's not. The fact it's needed and made a change to the service schedule would make you think they've not done anything to the design or makeup of the shaft.

I can only assume that with the 1200 and 1250s this was a part that would have been reasonably considered, by an owner, fit for the life of the bike, like a camshaft crank conn rod etc.
Whilst it should be the case with the 1300 by adding it to the service schedule they’ve covered themselves against failure.
What’s also interesting is that on the 1200/1250s its life is 60kms /37k miles and on the 1300 it’s 80kms/50k miles.

I do wonder what would happen now should this part fail now outside of warranty but below the within the mileage life of the shaft.

 

[leadfarmer]

They’ve put the drain plug/valve thing in the swing arm from the start on the 1300, on the 1200/1250 you could always say it was a design fault

 

[GSian]

They’ve put the drain plug/valve thing in the swing arm from the start on the 1300, on the 1200/1250 you could always say it was a design fault

Yeah, but my GSA came from the factory with the drain valve. The build date was after the recall was made. Unless the 1300 is a different design. but then why would it need replacing at 80k km?

 

[leadfarmer]

Why would it need replacing at 80k km?

Indeed

Drive shafts can and do wear out but I wouldn't consider them a consumable

Like shocks and clutches they should really last the life of the bike

To be honest once the bike has done 80,000 km it will almost certainly be out of guarantee, I'd not worry about it until it actually showed signs of needing to be changed

 

[GSian]

Agree fully.

Indeed

Drive shafts can and do wear out but I wouldn't consider them a consumable

Like shocks and clutches they should really last the life of the bike

To be honest once the bike has done 80,000 km it will almost certainly be out of guarantee, I'd not worry about it until it actually showed signs of needing to be changed

 

[MrC99]

To be honest once the bike has done 80,000 km it will almost certainly be out of guarantee, I'd not worry about it until it actually showed signs of needing to be changed

I think there's a possible boiling frog issue here though. If you ride regularly and get used to the feel of a bike then a gradual deterioration of the cardan shaft joints might not highlight an issue until there's a complete failure (not everyone is mechanically sympathetic!). I'll be interested to see the state of the drive shaft joints in mine when it gets done as it'll have done close to 70K miles (ie >110K kms) by the next service and so far I've not experienced any symptoms to make me suspect an issue warranting an immediate check.

 

[Deleted account 250722001]

The more I read these posts, the more I my sprockets and DID Xring chain! .... no buns please!