Thrown off at speed - Update

[Triple]

Just thought I'd start a new one so you know the outcome.

BMW have said they won't take responsibility for a bike that is fitted with non BMW panniers. His bike was fitted with Givi panniers. He has had the panniers on the bike since soon after he bought it and now has about 7500 miles on the bike. Never before has anything like this happened.

His dealer (BMW main dealer) had previously quoted him for fitting Givi panniers. In my opinion if they won't take any responsibility for a possible bike fault that causes a crash because it has aftermarket bags then they shouldn't quote for fitting it.

He is going to get the bike repaired. Have it fitted with BMW panniers and when it happens again he will likely take them to court.

BMW also said that the pinch bolts being loose will not cause instability. I find that hard to believe but that is their line.

All in I am very surprised at their stance as I had thought their customer care was supposed to be by far the best.

He says thanks for your thoughts and ideas on it. He hasn't got much choice now but he's going to ride it until either he gets his confidence back with it or it throws him off again, although if he gets thrown off on UK roads I doubt he will be as lucky as on a French Autoroute.

In the meantime he's off for a beer

 

[Emoto]

So they are saying that the Givi bags caused the accident? If so, what sort of technical data are they using to suport such an assertion?

The Givi people might like to hear about this...

 

[Greg Masters]

No, what they are saying is that they test the bike's stability with BMW panniers etc and will stand by those. But if you fit something that BMW has neither tested nor recommends, then you're on your own.

Greg

 

[Fanum]

I get some serious bar wobbles at speed with certain weightings and kit combinaions with my Vernatechs on....it can come on a bit quickly and in particular with a side wind......not a full tank slapper but certainly enough for me to ease of from time to time.

This is at speeds that exceed what the BWM panniers are rated for anyway, and it's a long reported common problem, on all sorts of bikes.

 

[Keith Chapman]

No, what they are saying is that they test the bike's stability with BMW panniers etc and will stand by those. But if you fit something that BMW has neither tested nor recommends, then you're on your own.

Greg

Didnt the Met police have a similar problem a few years ago. Some motorcycle police had a few single vehicle accidents, and the cause was put down to the after market kit bolted on the bikes. like radios etc. BWM said, "not our fault,"

 

[nud1e]

Do NOT exceed 130kph

R80GS owners handbook states that when using luggage you should not exceed 130 kph / 80 mph.
Is there anything similar in the 1200 handbook?

By the way, some years ago, a guy I know bpught a new R100RT. He had had several accidents while a courier, permanently damaging one leg and wants some added protection.
He rode it from new and found the handling odd on occasions. It was tested by the dealer and at rallies by some other BM riders. None found a problem.
He crashed and totaled the bike around a telephone pole on a Mad Sunday on the IOM. He was hospitalised with more leg injury - his pillon suffered some minor injuries after been throw about 60 feet over a hedge and into field, where he remained unconscious and undiscovered until some friends arrived and enquired of his condition from the emergeny crews.
The bike was insured TPFT only and the dealer offered to break the bike and recover any useable parts to reduce the outstanding HP.
It was at this point that they discovered that the bike had been fitted with mismatched rear shocks and the rider was advised that this may have affected the handling.
He got legal representation and got a generous out of court settlement, a new bike and a gagging order.
The gag slipped when drink was taken.

 

[TerryM]

Re: Do NOT exceed 130kph(Owners Manual)

R80GS owners handbook states that when using luggage you should not exceed 130 kph / 80 mph.
Is there anything similar in the 1200 handbook?

By the way, some years ago, a guy I know bpught a new R100RT. He had had several accidents while a courier, permanently damaging one leg and wants some added protection.
He rode it from new and found the handling odd on occasions. It was tested by the dealer and at rallies by some other BM riders. None found a problem.
He crashed and totaled the bike around a telephone pole on a Mad Sunday on the IOM. He was hospitalised with more leg injury - his pillon suffered some minor injuries after been throw about 60 feet over a hedge and into field, where he remained unconscious and undiscovered until some friends arrived and enquired of his condition from the emergeny crews.
The bike was insured TPFT only and the dealer offered to break the bike and recover any useable parts to reduce the outstanding HP.
It was at this point that they discovered that the bike had been fitted with mismatched rear shocks and the rider was advised that this may have affected the handling.
He got legal representation and got a generous out of court settlement, a new bike and a gagging order.
The gag slipped when drink was taken.

The manual has the "advisory" limit of 130kph.

It does not give a safety warning to the effect that exceeding the limit may result in instability or be otherwise hazardous.

To demonstrate fault on the part of BMW unless a component(or operating recommendation) of their supply was likely to be wholly or partially the cause of an accident would be difficult.

 

[JayGee]

Loose pinch bolts

I find it difficult to believe that loose pinch bolts will not lead to instability. It looks to me that if they were very loose the wishbone could slip on the forks which would be a big problem.