2000 BMW K1200LT Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe rear final drive failures, usually bearing or seal problems, sometimes preceded by noise, vibration or a wobble. Many of these failures leak gear oil onto the rear tire and brake, which owners say reduced braking or left the rear brake ineffective. Where mileage is given, reports span roughly 5,600 to 98,500 miles, and some owners say a repair was followed by another failure.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Rear final drive bearing or seal failure

   • 42 complaints (82%)
   • median 38,561 mi at 6.2 yrs old (38 state mileage)
   • filed 2002–2015

   Owners describe rear final drive units failing, often described as a bearing or seal failure, with noise, grinding, vibration or a wobble before the bike stops. Several bikes were stopped or towed, and some owners report the repair recurred or a second bearing or seal failed later. According to complaints, dealers found a bearing or the differential had failed, and in some cases replaced the final drive, bearings or seals. Where mileage is given, these reports range from about 13,000 to 78,500 miles, and many describe the failure happening while riding on the highway.

   What to check: Ask for service records of any final drive, bearing or seal work, and check the rear wheel, tire and brake for oil.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The final drive on the motorcycle failed. It was sudden, started with a vibration coming from the rear end, and the tire then had a slight wobble . The fluid must have leaked onto the sensors on the rear brakes as the ABS light began to flash. I pulled the bike over and noticed fluid dripping from the final drive. I got the bike off of the freeway and had to trailer it home.”

   NHTSA complaint #10472881, filed 2012-08, 37,550 miles

   “Rear differential failures on Bmw K1200LT motorcycles. I had a rear drive seal fail causing excess oil on rear rim of motorcycle. The seals are failing due to internal bearing failures. I am very concerned of my safety on this motorcycle due to this issue and Bmw is doing nothing about it!!! We need your help.”

   NHTSA complaint #10037168, filed 2003-09, 13,112 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Gear oil leaking onto rear brake or tire

   • 22 complaints (43%)
   • median 37,550 mi at 5.9 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • filed 2002–2015

   Owners describe gear oil from the final drive reaching the rear brake caliper, brake pads or disc, and the rear tire. Owners say this reduced braking or left the rear brake ineffective, and in one report the rear wheel slid and the rider briefly lost control. According to complaints, a dealer replaced the final drive along with oil-soaked brake pads in one case, and in another the ABS light flashed after fluid reached the sensors. Where mileage is given, these reports range from about 13,000 to 78,500 miles, and several describe oil appearing after a seal or bearing began to fail while riding.

   What to check: Check the rear wheel, tire, brake caliper and pads for gear oil, and ask whether any rear brake pads were replaced after a leak.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “(1) no problems until approximately 20 miles from final failure began hearing a slightly different tone to the noise of the motorcycle. If you were not extremely familiar with the motorcycle you would not even notice it. Noticed a slight roughness on deceleration about 10 miles from failure. (2) final drive failed. I was stranded about 250 miles from nearest dealer and spent many hours and $425 getting towed back. I feel very fortunate as this failure spilled lubricant on the rear tire and brakes of the motorcycle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10090737, filed 2004-09, 36,000 miles

   “I purchased my K1200LT last monday (24 july 2006) from a resident in ohio. Drove the bike home to georgia. I felt a slight vibration over the last 100 miles or so. I thought it might be the road. T he next day I took the bike out, vibration and a rubbing sound was coming from the rear end. When I got the bike home I notice oil leaking from what I thought was the rear brake. Took bike to Bmw they said it was final drive failure. Bike is still in the shop. I only owned the bike for two days and already a major problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10164170, filed 2006-08, 35,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Rear wheel wobble, vibration or lock-up

   • 17 complaints (33%)
   • median 35,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • filed 2003–2015

   Owners describe the rear of the motorcycle wobbling or vibrating, sometimes as if a tire were flat. In one report the rear wheel locked at highway speed in rain and the bike slid sideways before the wheel released. In another, the rider checked the wheels and tires, found no fault, and later found fluid dripping from the final drive. Where mileage is given, these reports range from about 14,500 to 57,800 miles, and riders often noticed a rhythmic vibration or wobble first.

   What to check: During a test drive at highway speed, check for rear vibration or wobble, and ask for records of any final drive inspection or repair.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “(1) we were in a very desolate section of southern idaho, with no cell phone service, when our rear drive failed on our motorcycle. We had been cruising at about 65-70 when we noticed that there was a very pronounced rhythmic sensation, not unlike expansion strips cause, but the road was smooth! This was just a few miles before it got really shaky and noisy. Just as a side note, I did notice something was not right when we started out that morning, but could not put a finger on the problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10137034, filed 2005-09, 42,780 miles

   “I felt a vibration and then the I felt a wobble at the rear wheel the rear drive bearing on my 2000 Bmw K1200LT motorcycle at 14500 miles the bike was disabled and had to be towed”

   NHTSA complaint #10091019, filed 2004-09, 14,500 miles

Buying note. Buyers considering this model year may want to ask for the service history of the final drive, bearings and seals, and to check the rear tire and brake for oil. A test drive at highway speed can help show whether the rear end runs smoothly, since many reports describe vibration or wobble.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 32 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.