HP2 Enduro Fork Clunk.....! It's here.....!

[Farmer Palmer]

Got new Karoos fitted yesterday after a 2800 mile trip to Arctic Norway and Sweden in June and you guessed it.........!

The front forks are clunking. I think I started noticing this a wee while ago riding up and down my rough farm road but when the bike was on the jack when changing the tyres you could really feel the movement in the stanchions.

What's the definitive cure when the warranty runs out? any advice appreciated.

Thanks FP.

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Forking Hell....!

Plenty of info after using the search button it seems!

 

[Loiq]

I'm just taking mine appart there's something wrong but I'm no sure what...

 

[ovenpaa]

This is one of the reasons I got rid of mine, it is bad enough when forks fail under warranty, but outside of warranty things could get very pricey.

Options seem to be biting the bullet and getting your forks rebuilt by a fork specialist, or moving to WP which would have been my preference as I have used them before.

Other alternative is get a G450X which was the path I took.

 

[Spout]

What's the definitive cure when the warranty runs out? any advice appreciated.

What does your dealer say? Must be first port of call.

This will be interesting

 

[Fanum]

This is one of the reasons I got rid of mine, it is bad enough when forks fail under warranty, but outside of warranty things could get very pricey.

If you get something done under warranty, isn't that work itself then covered from that point?

I thought it was......in which case, as long as they went (and were replaced) inside every two years, you'd have no problems, just perpetually replaced new forks with a new warranty each time

 

[Trippy]

If you get something done under warranty, isn't that work itself then covered from that point?

I thought it was......in which case, as long as they went (and were replaced) inside every two years, you'd have no problems, just perpetually replaced new forks with a new warranty each time

Thats what I would have thought too.

 

[ovenpaa]

I have a feeling replacements are only covered for one year but I could be very wrong.

Bit late now anyway as the HP2 has gone, I am sure the 450 will do all I ask of it, and until the wife's ankle is fixed she will struggle with more than 4 hours on a bike let alone the 12 hour days we used to do so I have no need for a 'big' bike right now

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

This is one of the reasons I got rid of mine, it is bad enough when forks fail under warranty, but outside of warranty things could get very pricey.

Other alternative is get a G450X which was the path I took.

Who says the 450X forks will be any better??

Same 45mm Marzocchi Shiver forks, but built down to a BMW Price

Probably same ones as the HP2/XChallenge ones

I read on AdvRider that the factory manufacturing cost of the HP2 forks was about £120 and the parts retail price is about £1000

So at £120 for a set of new forks, it costs BMW peanuts, so that's why they replace.................after all most owners initially paid BMW about £11000 per bike, so BMW have plenty in the kitty

Total manufacturing cost for a 450X will be no more than £2500 to BMW, I'd guess and they're punting them out at £6k

A HP2/XChallenge fork rebuild by DR Shox is about £500 for all the internals, that would be the way I'd go out of warranty

 

[ovenpaa]

Who says the 450X forks will be any better??

Same 45mm Marzocchi Shiver forks, but built down to a BMW Price

A HP2/XChallenge fork rebuild by DR Shox is about £500 for all the internals, that would be the way I'd go out of warranty

I doubt the 450 forks are much better, the only difference is the 450 weighs 120kgs wet and the HP2 is 195kgs wet so the forces exerted on them should be less. A rebuild by DR Shox or similar is certainly the way to go for the HP2 or maybe bung some Ohlins on for the ultimate bling look.

What put me off was I did 4500 miles last year on the bike and it was used exclusively for road work on 17" wheels and it still needed a whole new front end, not just bushes and seals.

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Forking hell!

What does your dealer say? Must be first port of call.

This will be interesting

The Warranty on my bike lasts untill March 2009, but will the forks?

I've booked my HP2 into my local dealer who usually provide excellent service and they will inspect the bike and see what's what. But is it safe enough to ride in the meantime?

It's the only HP2 Enduro on their books aswell........!

 

[Farmer Palmer]

This is one of the reasons I got rid of mine, it is bad enough when forks fail under warranty, but outside of warranty things could get very pricey.

Options seem to be biting the bullet and getting your forks rebuilt by a fork specialist, or moving to WP which would have been my preference as I have used them before.

Other alternative is get a G450X which was the path I took.

I like my HP2 a lot but I can't wait to see and try the new G450X when it comes out aswell........!

 

[Joe Bar]

If you get something done under warranty, isn't that work itself then covered from that point?

I thought it was......in which case, as long as they went (and were replaced) inside every two years, you'd have no problems, just perpetually replaced new forks with a new warranty each time

Thats what I would have thought too.

No manufacturer offers the sort of perpetual warranty as described above. The warranty on any replaced parts expires at the same time as the new bike warranty expires. The warranty on any parts / accessories purchased is one year from date of purchase.

BMW operate an out of warranty "goodwill policy" but getting them to part with the money can take some persuasion at times. A good relationship with the dealer can help negotiate the system.

 

[scotsmun]

Agreed joe bar that's what my dealer told me when i had mine replaced.

The x challenge forks are crimped so you cannot re valve etc which sucks, i have not looked into the forks on my Hp as if i do change them i will go with something far better.....

 

[dirtydog]

No manufacturer offers the sort of perpetual warranty as described above. The warranty on any replaced parts expires at the same time as the new bike warranty expires. The warranty on any parts / accessories purchased is one year from date of purchase.

BMW operate an out of warranty "goodwill policy" but getting them to part with the money can take some persuasion at times. A good relationship with the dealer can help negotiate the system.

That's exactly what the gaffer of my dealership said.....not feckin good!

On a positive note, he did say that there is a possibility that BMW would pay for the forks to be rectified by an external source? This would then invalidate any BMW warranty, of course!

The real option is for these feckers at BM to recall these bastard forks and replace them with some WP's etc!

Mine is gonna have to go I'm afraid, it's already been back to base 6 times. Latest additions have been new headstock bearings and front wheel bearing (Motarrd rims) It's also gotta go back and have the shaft stripped and checked because there appears to be some excessive play?

I ain't happy...

 

[Spout]

...... there appears to be some excessive play

Off topic I know, sorry. But what a perfect description of the HP

 

[Mav]

That's exactly what the gaffer of my dealership said.....not feckin good!

On a positive note, he did say that there is a possibility that BMW would pay for the forks to be rectified by an external source? This would then invalidate any BMW warranty, of course!

The real option is for these feckers at BM to recall these bastard forks and replace them with some WP's etc!

Mine is gonna have to go I'm afraid, it's already been back to base 6 times. Latest additions have been new headstock bearings and front wheel bearing (Motarrd rims) It's also gotta go back and have the shaft stripped and checked because there appears to be some excessive play?

I ain't happy...

Sorry to hear that chap - can't imagine what you would ride instead

 

[pictsidhe]

Clunkers wanted!

Hi,
I'm actually building up an Elefant for some serious off road abuse, hope you aren't offended! I am putting Husky USD 45s on it and I'd like the bottom feet off BMWs superclunk version... This will get the trail a bit nearer where I want it, hopefully close enough to avoid custom yokes, and also gives me a bigger wheel spindle.
So anyone want to sell me their clunky forks for not much? I only need the bottom alloy feet plus about 8" of stanchion to grip to get them off, so some attention from an angle grinder will save postage and any BMW dealer worrying about someone trying to pull a double replacement... I might also be interested in a wheel spindle and maybe a front hub, diisc, caliper etc if it's cheap, or I'll make mine fit the chunkier spindle I'm expecting to pay real money for

 

[yamoon]

Clunk, Clunk

My HP2 clunked from the first day I brought it home & I purchased it new. I discovered BMW Motorrad knew they had a problem. Go to the web & read BMWNA Bulletin# 31 003 08 (058). My dealer was not aware of this bulletin untill I brought it to his attention. My bike was a different animal after the fix, much more soild feeling, and no clunking. The work was done at no cost to me, but it is not a recall and nothing will be done unless you bring it to the dealers attention. Hope this helps.
Mike

 

[BiG DoM]

Has anyone got a link/copy of the BMW sService Bullitin for this fault? Had it somewhere but cannot find it - they replace internals and is also a triple clamp replacement in some cases.