Mine just broke down...

[JohnnyBoxer]

Time to all reject our bikes, stop riding, and cancel any new bike orders.

Of course not...........but it does throw up some interesting engineering nuances.........

Best buy the definitive Adventure, the 1150..................before prices go into orbit

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Well, whatever problem it has, it certainly won't cure itself .

Just thinking aloud.....Wonder if the bike Kevin Ash was riding locked up ?

A very salient and carefully thought out, couple of points

 

[Nutty]

Well, whatever problem it has, it certainly won't cure itself .

Just thinking aloud.....Wonder if the bike Kevin Ash was riding locked up ?

A very salient and carefully thought out, couple of points

You two are as bad as each other

 

[Roymondo]

Well, whatever problem it has, it certainly won't cure itself .

Just thinking aloud.....Wonder if the bike Kevin Ash was riding locked up ?

According to the evidence at the inquest:

"..Following the accident a thorough investigation was carried out on all aspects of the motorcycle Kevin rode at the time of the incident. The investigation showed that all of the motorcycle’s parts were functioning as they should and there was no evidence found of any kind of mechanical problem or failure which caused or contributed to this accident"

 

[snelly]

It seems as though the problem occurs at low mileage and early in the bikes life. If you have a few miles on the bike don,t panic too much. It seems like it will only affect the Tesco's then wash brigade.

 

[Engineer]

Well I shall certainly carry on riding my 16,500+ mile March 2013 bike almost every day without wetting myself

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

We'll I shall certainly carry on riding my 16,500+ mile March 2013 bike almost every day without wetting myself

Mind that camchain rattle though

 

[Engineer]

Mind that camchain rattle though

It doesn't rattle unlike those old 1150 busses

 

[Packer]

So it's gone from being a "one off, don't worry about it" to being a possible assembly fault and around 6 known failures. I guess that assumes that all the failures are down to the same cause. I wonder how many more have failed where owners aren't members on here or Advrider?

As has been said bikes are dangerous enough without having what I would consider to be dubious design features adding to the risk, in this case a rare fault that will leave the bike uncontrollable in the event of a jammed transmission.

 

[Captain Beaky]

Wow - been away from the computer a few days and doesn't this thread seem to have gone strange places.

Ok first thing - I've lost a lot of confidence in the bike - here is why...
Yeah yeah, I've had 2-strokes seize on me - and that was bad enough, but at least I could disengage the clutch and get the back wheel turning again.
But this failure has no rider intervention that could save a crash - and while loads of people will say " what's the bother - it's an isolated failure" yeah - right, doesn't feel so isolated to me! I feel very connected to it.

Confidence is something that needs to be earned. If it's lost for whatever reason, then it's lost. It doesn't have to be a logical thing. Unlike the rest of this forum, I'm not a riding god, who can ride around (or over) any problem on any bike, I have to work hard at my riding skills, I do not have a fabulous innate ability to be gods gift to riding - so something like this has rattled me, and made me lose confidence.

I work in the aircraft safety world, so understand the statistics. The problem is that every part has a failure rate, however small. When it happens to you, the cold hard statistics provide no comfort ( or confidence )

Second - Interestingly, it isn't an isolated failure. There have been several instances.....
But hey - you keep riding along, I'm sure the next one will happen to someone else - right?

Thirdly - Why write to BMW head office - because I'm not happy that I'll be getting my bike taken apart and then rebuilt not in factory conditions. I didn't pay for that, so something has to give, but the customer service procedure has broken down, so it's to the Managing Director I have to go...

Also, I do want a full technical report on the failure - why did it fail so early in its life? And what fix is being implemented?

This is my take on it - in BMWs defence, the repair was authorised PDQ and the new engine delivered seemingly by Star Trek transporter - it was that quick. Also, I've been offered loan bikes too, but haven't been well enough to ride - shame, cos I fancied a razz on the s1000rr..

Anyway - enough ranting - back to work - anyone about to get on a flight? you know how good the statistics are, there really is very little chance of catastrophic failure. I'm sure you find that very comforting!

Mike.

 

[Engineer]

There are many mechanical failures that could cause a crash, gearbox failure causing lock-up, I am sure that more than one bike has suffered that over the years, collapsing wheel bearings (not that uncommon on past boxers), swinging arm failure (seen pics of that), tyre blow outs........... The list goes on and on, if we to worry about every possible mechanical failure then we shouldn't ride these infernal machines.

 

[Captain Beaky]

Indeed, there are many other failures that can cause a locked back wheel, and they are indeed rare. But funnily enough, I don't find any comfort in that right now.

Hey, your bike nearly killed you, but it's ok, cos it doesn't do that very often at all!
Yeah - makes me feel just great!

To anyone that wonders what the fuss is about - ignorance must be bliss...

As I said, it not a logical thing - it's not about percentages and probabilities, it's about how I feel about it.

I've been riding long enough to know the dangers - yet I still do it ( and will continue).

Yeah, call it being "soft" or "girlie" if you want - but it's severely dented my confidence in the machine at the moment. It will take time to restore it.

 

[snelly]

If the problem turns out to be a bad batch of components, then that's a good thing because they can recall affected bikes. The worry would be if the fault was random. If was production error, that can also be eliminated. But whatever the reasons it should'nt be dismissed as just neurotic owners.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

It doesn't rattle unlike those old 1150 busses

Now come on, those WC's make a right old clatter and you can't fecking deny that

Noisiest Boxer engine I've ever heard, FFS

 

[patzx12]

Well written and thanks for the update - and this single incident reported by you here does concern me.

 

[Deleted account 181015003]

After looking at the images on the link the chain has been rubbing against something I wonder if any problems have been spotted during servicing by the dealers do the valves get checked at the running in service if not it might be a good idea to start taking a look?

 

[autogs]

Now come on, those WC's make a right old clatter and you can't fecking deny that

Noisiest Boxer engine I've ever heard, FFS

tbh i dont often agree with old jonny boy,but on this he is cock on they are far to noisey for a modern engine.

 

[Nutty]

Now come on, those WC's make a right old clatter and you can't fecking deny that

Noisiest Boxer engine I've ever heard, FFS

Maybe BMW are aiming the bike at old deaf people!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

After looking at the images on the link the chain has been rubbing against something I wonder if any problems have been spotted during servicing by the dealers do the valves get checked at the running in service if not it might be a good idea to start taking a look?

My thoughts too, the camchain sideplates have worn through, by abrasion................so much so that the rivets have crumbled and let go

That is a bit scary

Pic from the AdvRider thread http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=951377

 

[Deleted account 181015003]

Not a sudden snap caused by a faulty chain more ground away it must have been making some strange noises before failing