Swinging arm failure
- Thread starter TJD1200
- Start date
Me too, I think I would have shit my pants!!!!!
Glad you are ok mate
That was a HUGE failure, how did the bike act with this happening?
John
:-(.......
joe4550
Registered user
i would deffo have a large brown stain after that 1
bumpmuncher
Registered user
Kin ell time for an airhead 
There was a post on Essex bikers about a 1200gs going down on the A12. http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?28682-Thursday-morning-biker-down
There was a post on Essex bikers about a 1200gs going down on the A12. http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?28682-Thursday-morning-biker-down
Fanum
Toubab
wtf....
Yes, serious failure, and yes, you could have come off a LOT worse than you did...glad you walked away
But talk about an over-reaction from some people
My first thought was the same as JB's....that smashed casing shown in his pics.
There's a full video that goes along with that photo that shows what happened though...and for an off road bike, perhaps it shouldnt have happened, but that was (until now) the only one that ( I think) has been reported here......amongst how many 1200's?
I think its important to keep it in perspective....without very close examination of the whole casing, it is obviously impossible to say what happened.....it COULD have been a casting failure, but given its age (and presumes mileage if you are commuting), I would have thought it would have shown up a lot earlier in the bike's life.
It COULD have been a stone from the French drains alongside the A12 that may have been flicked up from your front wheel, or bounced around the rear wheel, or maybe even got fired across from a car in the next lane to you when their wheels hit it......There are long sections of the A12 that have tonnes and tonnes of sea pebbles in a ditch along the side, and when trucks or cars go into them (very common) you get hundreds of metres of carriageway strewn with shiny, rounded, fist sized pebbles
The UJ is clearly another prime suspect.....riding straight , along a smoothish road at sensible speed, there would be a lot less forces acting on the swing arm that it would have experienced in other situations, but if the UJ did let go, particularly at a high speed (only 70 honest) then it could easily have thrashed around enough to shatter the case.....which is designed to support and withstand stresses from other directions entirely.
In short, glad you made it out of the situation undamaged, no idea what caused it but it's a very very rare thing......the first I've heard of in that sort of situation.
Yes, serious failure, and yes, you could have come off a LOT worse than you did...glad you walked away
But talk about an over-reaction from some people
My first thought was the same as JB's....that smashed casing shown in his pics.
There's a full video that goes along with that photo that shows what happened though...and for an off road bike, perhaps it shouldnt have happened, but that was (until now) the only one that ( I think) has been reported here......amongst how many 1200's?
I think its important to keep it in perspective....without very close examination of the whole casing, it is obviously impossible to say what happened.....it COULD have been a casting failure, but given its age (and presumes mileage if you are commuting), I would have thought it would have shown up a lot earlier in the bike's life.
It COULD have been a stone from the French drains alongside the A12 that may have been flicked up from your front wheel, or bounced around the rear wheel, or maybe even got fired across from a car in the next lane to you when their wheels hit it......There are long sections of the A12 that have tonnes and tonnes of sea pebbles in a ditch along the side, and when trucks or cars go into them (very common) you get hundreds of metres of carriageway strewn with shiny, rounded, fist sized pebbles
The UJ is clearly another prime suspect.....riding straight , along a smoothish road at sensible speed, there would be a lot less forces acting on the swing arm that it would have experienced in other situations, but if the UJ did let go, particularly at a high speed (only 70 honest) then it could easily have thrashed around enough to shatter the case.....which is designed to support and withstand stresses from other directions entirely.
In short, glad you made it out of the situation undamaged, no idea what caused it but it's a very very rare thing......the first I've heard of in that sort of situation.
patzx12
Registered user
As a designer and engineer i am not a fan of the single sided swing pivot.
There was nothing wrong with the swingarm concept, after seeing this i think i will scrap the idea of fitting twin turbos.
There was nothing wrong with the swingarm concept, after seeing this i think i will scrap the idea of fitting twin turbos.
flatdog
Registered user
To my expert eye.
UJ looks good, no obvious signs of it thrashing the internals before breaking the casing.
Points toward metal fatigue.
Seriously if this was my bike, I would have the damage examined by an independent and as has been said before, get some professional advise.
The other pic - anyone know the outcome of this episode? or is it too recent.
UJ looks good, no obvious signs of it thrashing the internals before breaking the casing.
Points toward metal fatigue.
Seriously if this was my bike, I would have the damage examined by an independent and as has been said before, get some professional advise.
The other pic - anyone know the outcome of this episode? or is it too recent.
It didn't happen to you, though you know it happened. So you'll be putting your ass on another, then?
As it didn't happen to you, we assume that you are not well mad and will be buying another, probably?
Only you know why you persist in buying the brand. Why not stop, it appears you'd be well mad not to. Though GS TRV's response may explain why you probably will carry on regardless.
(RIP) Bin Ridin
Registered user
Bike Mag Dec: Journo in RSA crashed an R1200GS and broke the swinging arm, no photos though. Odd.
wtf....
Yes, serious failure, and yes, you could have come off a LOT worse than you did...glad you walked away
But talk about an over-reaction from some people
My first thought was the same as JB's....that smashed casing shown in his pics.
There's a full video that goes along with that photo that shows what happened though...and for an off road bike, perhaps it shouldnt have happened, but that was (until now) the only one that ( I think) has been reported here......amongst how many 1200's?
I think its important to keep it in perspective....without very close examination of the whole casing, it is obviously impossible to say what happened.....it COULD have been a casting failure, but given its age (and presumes mileage if you are commuting), I would have thought it would have shown up a lot earlier in the bike's life.
It COULD have been a stone from the French drains alongside the A12 that may have been flicked up from your front wheel, or bounced around the rear wheel, or maybe even got fired across from a car in the next lane to you when their wheels hit it......There are long sections of the A12 that have tonnes and tonnes of sea pebbles in a ditch along the side, and when trucks or cars go into them (very common) you get hundreds of metres of carriageway strewn with shiny, rounded, fist sized pebbles
The UJ is clearly another prime suspect.....riding straight , along a smoothish road at sensible speed, there would be a lot less forces acting on the swing arm that it would have experienced in other situations, but if the UJ did let go, particularly at a high speed (only 70 honest) then it could easily have thrashed around enough to shatter the case.....which is designed to support and withstand stresses from other directions entirely.
In short, glad you made it out of the situation undamaged, no idea what caused it but it's a very very rare thing......the first I've heard of in that sort of situation.
Thanks for the replies...
I didn't think this was a common occurrance. But I thought I would ask.... and share....
I don't know what happened .... other than the obvious outcome..... don't believe a stone/object striking the bike??.... outside lane of 3 lane A12.....?
It's done about 12K miles and believe not to of been off roaded......?
The UJ is fully intact and looking functional..... what is sadly crucial and missing is the main bearing ..........
Nice to be aware of this situation's rarity......... (confidence starting to slightly climb....
).......and yes that was me they are reffering too on essexbikers.... Fame at last!
Regards
Terry
Kin ell time for an airhead
There was a post on Essex bikers about a 1200gs going down on the A12. http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?28682-Thursday-morning-biker-down
That was me....... actually it still is!
Regards
Terry
To answer Fanum, I think a friend of Blue Sweepers had the same failure on an exORS 12GSA a few years ago, so although it is uncommon - it is fairly isolated & pretty rare
skywalker
Guest
Could be down to excessive play in the left pivot bearing which is a needle roller. Twisting forces when cornering etc - causing the tear pattern as in the picture. Looks like its all been generated from the left side so their may also be other factors as well such as a poor casting of the swingarm
Lots of photos of the broken swing arm (and bike) of the one that a journo (of sorts) shoved through a drystone wall.... along with lots of outraged UKGSer type comments when the pick-up truck operator dumps the mangled wreck on its side
Phew
and an S1000RR with PCV and full Akra but no-one on here probably knows what that is
Mark Hooton
Cymarcbikeparts
Pleased you are ok
Pleased you are ok mate.
Pleased you are ok mate.
vibes
now im no engineer but all the adventures have wire wheels that are all out of true and not only run out side to side but oscilate quite bad as well and my mate brand new one does this straight outta cannons . coupled with the free play allowed by bmw on the rear drive bearing id say that paralever /swingarm whatever you wanna call it has to take a bloody lot of un natural constant side forces / vibes . if there was a small flaw or a stone hit it etc then surly this would help in the thing blowing its self to bits . i read somewhere that the main stand bangs against it as you ride along . gonna check mine later . just a thought
now im no engineer but all the adventures have wire wheels that are all out of true and not only run out side to side but oscilate quite bad as well and my mate brand new one does this straight outta cannons . coupled with the free play allowed by bmw on the rear drive bearing id say that paralever /swingarm whatever you wanna call it has to take a bloody lot of un natural constant side forces / vibes . if there was a small flaw or a stone hit it etc then surly this would help in the thing blowing its self to bits . i read somewhere that the main stand bangs against it as you ride along . gonna check mine later . just a thought
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