1999 BMW BMW Motorcycle Transmission and drivetrain Problems

“Rear drive bearing failure, second one in 13,000 miles. Rear drive was noticably loud. Harmonic growling noise. I dissasembled it and the large ball bearing is pitted. This time I caught it before catastophic failure. I purchased a used rear drive and will rebuild my old one so I can carry a spare. (pretty sad when a Bmw pilot has to carry a spare rear drive).”

“I had two bearing failures in the final drive of my Bmw k1200lt motorcycle. Both of these bearing failures could have LED to a rupture of the seal which would have let the final drive lube flow out of the final drive onto the rear brake and rear tire which would have made the rear tire loose traction and the rear brake inoperative. These failures caused a complete final drive rebuild and replacement of all bearings and seals in the final drive at a cost exceeding $800.00 each.”

“The final drive failed due to the large crown gear ball bearing breaking apart leaving me on the roadside,this happens to alot of Bmw k 1200 lt motorcycles owners as Bmw used inferior components and poor designing methods for this heavy 860 pound motorcycle,it uses the same type of final that is used for the lighter motorcycles on this heavier one.”

“Possible design flaw of motorcycle experinced failure on two occasions to gear lever which was caused by a small stone that bounced up on top of a flat portion of the exhaust system located under the engine clutch lever arm and wedged between the engine clutch arm and exhaust preventing the clutch arm from returning to the engaged position resulting in failure.”