Its not just the GS or BMWs that are affected. It happened to my 2024 S1000XR at 7000 miles (forged wheels). A mate had them fail on his 2022 S1000XR at 12000 miles (cast wheels). I had a set fail on a 2021 Multistrada at 12000 miles. All failures were Chinese manufactured. Easy cheap fix with some SKFs but could well scupper a few holidays. I think i'll be swapping my 1300 bearings out before my next trip regardless.
Front wheel bearing
- Thread starter aloudon
- Start date
Martin GSA UK
Registered user
I checked my 1250GS driveshaft at 35,000 miles, just before it was due to be changed (free of charge) under the BMW scheme. It was all fine. I had cleaned and greased it at around 12,000 miles and the dealer did the same, when they fitted the 'miracle' drain grommet, at c.20,000 miles.
I think they get corporate paranoid about a few failures and just apply a one size fits all solution. I still think the bikes are a quality product though. Some dealers will be better than others, some techs more able than others. But for many years, the trend across all things automotive, has been to replace from a box or bag with the right serial number on it, rather than repair. I'd be willing to bet that a dealership does not require a welder to retain its BMW accreditation. But they will have to have a diversity policy.
A welder would be more use
I have had personal experience with poor quality BMW supplied bearings ,back in 2004 or 2005 I had the rear bevel box on my R11150GS rebuilt before a trip by a BMW specialist using genuine BMW parts supplied by the local main dealer.
Got as far as Austria and the main bevel box bearing and seal failed and it had to be rebuilt at the local BMW dealer to get me home , the Austrian dealers mechanic commented as to whether the bearings were genuine so when I got home I had an engineer I know check the bearing out and he also believed that the large bearing was not genuine so he sent them to a local bearing specialist and when he checked with SKF they stated that it was definitely not a genuine SKF item as the markings were incorrect and quality sub par .
Initially the BMW dealership declined a claim until I told them what SKF said , then they managed to "lose" the bearing that was part of an ongoing warranty claim , eventually BMW UK were involved and paid up but I was told unofficially that an amount of substandard bearings that somehow got into the supply chain .
Wonder where they came from ?
Got as far as Austria and the main bevel box bearing and seal failed and it had to be rebuilt at the local BMW dealer to get me home , the Austrian dealers mechanic commented as to whether the bearings were genuine so when I got home I had an engineer I know check the bearing out and he also believed that the large bearing was not genuine so he sent them to a local bearing specialist and when he checked with SKF they stated that it was definitely not a genuine SKF item as the markings were incorrect and quality sub par .
Initially the BMW dealership declined a claim until I told them what SKF said , then they managed to "lose" the bearing that was part of an ongoing warranty claim , eventually BMW UK were involved and paid up but I was told unofficially that an amount of substandard bearings that somehow got into the supply chain .
Wonder where they came from ?
Funnily enough, i got a MOT advisory on my R1150 GS front wheel bearings so ordered some from Motorworks. I didn’t have a bearing puller so asked the local independent to fit them for me. On checking they were fine and didn’t need changing. That was back in 2006, I still have them in my parts drawer 20 years later and the bike past its MOT last week, no mention of front wheel bearings.
What's a motorrad dealer going to do with a welder? To retain accreditation they need BMW trained techs, L1, L2 and definitely Master level. It doesn't matter if they are women, or non white
I had this problem. It's a very quick fix and I got local bike shop to put a new quality bearing in based on size rather than BMW parts. It was less hassle and money than actually driving to the dealership to get it fixed.
Its ridiculous that a bike was recovered from Spain and a holiday ruined because of this.
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