My response from BMW Motorrad...
Having read with interest and concern, the various reports on here regarding the failings of the standard 800GS chain, I contacted my local dealers and BMW for their view. I'll post the responses from BMW here as it may help indicate their current thinking on the matter:
My original email to BMW:
From: Me
Sent: 23 March 2010 10:29
To: Customer Service - UK (BMW)
Subject: F800GS Chain Failure Concerns
Importance: High
Dear Sir/Madam,
I recently purchased a 2008 F800GS in a private sale. The bike had done 700 miles when I picked it up and is pristine. I have covered a further 700 miles since picking it up a month ago, and am very pleased with my move from Triumph to BMW having previous ridden a Triumph Tiger 955i. The bike has recently been serviced at Allan Jefferies in Shipley and appears to be in A1 condition.
The reason I am contacting you is due to something I read in the April 2010 edition of Visor Down magazine, where they published an article looking in depth at buying a used F800GS. The review the magazine printed was generally positive, though it did raise a concern regarding the quality of the chain, particularly in 2008 bikes. 11 of the 77 (14%) owners questioned for the article complained of chains either snapping within the first 2000 or needing replacing within the first 3000 miles.
Obviously this has concerned me, as a chain snapping at 70 mph on the motorway could be potentially fatal, so I decided to look into this further. I joined a couple of BMW forums, and found the following thread on the issue of faulty chains posted on the popular site www.ukgsers.com http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195682
The thread lists reports in excess of 38 chain failures, the majority being on F800GS, and many failing in the first few thousand miles. Fortunately no one on the site has been seriously hurt through the chain failure, but as somewhat of a novice rider (with only two years experience under my belt), the reports I have read, on the back of the magazine article, have now caused me to question the safety of my new bike.
I have spoken to my local dealer, Allan Jefferies, who have assured me that it is not their experience that there is a problem with the chain.
In the article in Visor Down magazine, there is a paragraph that states:
"Chains. Some were part of a duff batch and wore very quickly or even broke. A BMW dealer should replace and in the affected frame number range."
I am not sure where this information comes from, but clearly that view has either not been passed onto dealers, or is a view that is not shared by my local dealer.
I would be very grateful if you could please give BMW's view on this issue in order that I can make an informed decision on how to deal with the concerns I have. If there was a 'duff batch' that affect a certain range number, I would appreciate it is you could tell me whether my bike (VIN number provided) falls into that range.
I am sure that you will appreciate how reading something like this about a motorbike that is not only my transport to work, but also will be used for touring with my girlfriend riding pillion, is of great concern and currently is effecting the level of pleasure I gain from being out on the bike. I am checking the chain thoroughly once a week for signs of wear, and ensuring that it is lubed correctly, but having read some the reports on UKGSER, these precautions do not necessarily rule out the possibility of the chain snapping.
Due to the nature of these concerns I would be extremely grateful if you would respond to my query as soon as is possible.
Kind Regards,
Me
The first response from BMW was:
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 25 March 2010 11:52
To:
Subject: Case 1-5856408961
Dear
Thank you for your email dated March 23, 2010. I am sorry to learn of the concerns that you have with the safety of the chain on your BMW F800GS.
BMW Motorrad take great pride in the build quality of all our vehicles and it is always concerning to receive correspondence of this nature. I completely understand your frustration and concern over the future reliability of your vehicle and I would like to apologise that your experiences to date have caused you to feel this way.
Although we are confident in the design and manufacture of our vehicles, we appreciate that due to their electrical and mechanical nature, occasionally components can fail unexpectedly. It is for this reason that we supply all our new vehicles with a comprehensive three year manufacturer's warranty with the option to extend this before it expires. This policy is in place to protect our customers in the event of manufacturing related fault.
Customer's safety is paramount to BMW Motorrad and, if there was a safety related problem with any component on our vehicles, we would have issued a product recall.
I am sorry that you have had cause to write to us under these circumstances and that you feel unsure as to the safety of you bike, however, the precautions that you are taking are what we would suggest can be done.
I have researched this matter on your behalf and began by reviewing the failure reports, customer feedback and part order information that BMW collate in order to determine if a fault is common. I have checked our records and I am unable to locate information which confirms that the defect you have noted is an inherent fault within our vehicle range.
I have noted your comments and concerns for future reference, should it be required.
If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
BMW UK
Customer Service Executive
Ellesfield Avenue
Bracknell RG12 8TA
Tel: 0870 5050 122
Fax: 0540 5050 205
Email: [email protected]
URL: www.bmw.co.uk
Not satisfied with this response I went back to them:
-----Original Message-----
From: Me
Sent: 25 March 2010 12:15
To: BMW UK Customer Support
Subject: SR 1-5856408961
Dear
Thank you for your response.
As I understand it from your email, the information in the Visor Down magazine (April 2010) is therefore incorrect. Are you saying that BMW Dealers are not expected to replace chains for bikes in an affected frame range, as to your knowledge there is no affected frame range?
Can you confirm that my bike should have a 3 year manufacturer's warranty, as my understanding is that my bike only has a two year warranty, which has now expired?
And finally, whilst your research has not located information to confirm the defect noted, clearly there is evidence through the riders themselves that this is a serious and ongoing issue. Can you please advise the best way for this growing evidence to be reported back to BMW in order for the matter to be dealt with effectively.
In the meantime, I assume that if I want piece of mind, I should purchase a new chain and have it fitted through my local dealer at my expense?
Many thanks for taking the time to look into this, and I look forward to your response.
Kind Regards
And this was their response:
Dear
Thank you for your email dated March 25, 2010.
Please accept my apologies for the error in our previous response regarding your bike's warranty coverage. I can confirm that your bike had a two year dealer warranty and not a three year warranty as quoted in our email dated March 25, 2010.
BMW Motorrad collate customer feedback, part orders and failure reports submitted by our approved dealership network to compile detailed information regarding our bike ranges. This information is assessed by BMW Motorrad Germany on a regular basis to determine whether a fault is common or whether any remedial action is required. I can confirm that your feedback has been recorded and will be used internally.
I appreciate that you would like advice from BMW Customer Services regarding the replacement of the chain. As this component has not been highlighted as being a defective part, no remedial action has been issued by BMW Motorrad Germany. Therefore, should you wish to replace this part any associated costs would be your responsibility.
I trust that this information addresses your enquiry, however, should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
BMW Motorrad UK
Customer Service Executive
Ellesfield Avenue
Bracknell RG12 8TA
Tel: 0870 5050160
Fax: 0870 5050205
Mail: [email protected]
URL: www.motorrad.co.uk
So there you have it. Both the local dealer and BMW Motorrad are saying the same thing. They are not aware of an issue, and as of the end of March they were certainly not talking about a recall.
Whilst I understand the logic that thousands of these bikes have been sold, and if the issue is not flagged up with BMW or the dealers then, in their eyes this is not an issue, it does not stop me from being concerned about a motorway malfunction where I may not be able to just simply coast to a safe stop.
Therefore, for my own piece of mind I will be doing what most others seem to have done, and stump up for a new (non-BMW) chain, and have it fitted at my expense.
Other than that, i'm loving the bike.
Hope this helps or at least adds to the mix, and apologies for the length of the posting.
As a matter of interest, if I was to get a new chain fitted with about 1500 miles on the clock, would I also need to replace the sprocket, any any suggestions for the best brand of chain?
Cheers, Ian
following our e-mail to the dealer and BMW customer Services, BMW called SWMBO this morning with the news that they are to issue a recall to replace the chains under warranty. 
