BMW driveshaft recall

[SwampNut]

We've all known there was a problem for what...years?

 

https://www.advrider.com/bmw-will-replace-r1200-r1250-driveshafts/

 

[Zero Knievel]

Nothing new.  Got my letter today with a new maintenance schedule.  A big issue is people need to check them out every couple of years…add lube if needed…see if it is sticking or binding.  Not rushing in to get the free replacement.  I’ve got time.

[XXitanium]

My friend gave it a like. He hasn't fixed his, just putting miles on his spider.

[superhawk996]

12 hours ago, Zero Knievel said:

I’ve got time.

Worst case scen

[tomek]

Superior German Engineering. 

 

Never heard of driveshaft being replacement item. Lol. 

 

Replacement of the driveshaft every 36,000 miles (60,000 km) (Driveshaft mileage not vehicle milage).

[Zero Knievel]

13 minutes ago, tomek said:

Superior German Engineering. 

 

Never heard of driveshaft being replacement item. Lol. 

 

Replacement of the driveshaft every 36,000 miles (60,000 km) (Driveshaft mileage not vehicle milage).

 

The issue is that the universal joints ARE NOT serviceable.  That's the part that inevitably will fail.  They could engineer them to be a 100,000 mile item, or find a way to make them serviceable and still fit....  Thing is, this is nothing new.  The driveshaft is a component that BMW owners accept will eventually fail and needs to be watched.

[XXitanium]

....also refered to as consumables like spark plugs and tires.

[blackhawkxx]

18 hours ago, Zero Knievel said:

The driveshaft is a component that BMW owners accept will eventually fail and needs to be watched.

Never had to do that on the Blackbird.  😉

[Zero Knievel]

6 minutes ago, blackhawkxx said:

Never had to do that on the Blackbird.  😉

No…just sprocket and chains.  To be fair, I don’t think anyone can presume the drive linkage is zero maintenance, but if a driveshaft needs replacing or proactive maintenance, the owner should know about it as catastrophic failure is going to do a lot of damage.  At least with a chain, it is easy to inspect.  I think belt drive is probably the best for low maintenance.  Yeah, they wear out, but just have a replacement handy on long trips, and it’s a field repair.  Shaft failure is very bad.  Chain failure…well, it depends on how it fails how bad it will be to fix.

[tomek]

On 12/6/2024 at 9:42 AM, Zero Knievel said:

 

The issue is that the universal joints ARE NOT serviceable.  That's the part that inevitably will fail. Yea, at 100000000000 miles in case of non BMW. They could engineer them to be a 100,000 mile 

Well, then they should. Idea of replacing driveshaft at 30 k miles in 2024 is, frankly, ridiculous. And, oops, with taxes 800 bucks not including labour. Probably another 3-400 bucks. Fuck that shit. Every 30 k miles. 

 

 Only those high on BMW Cool Aid would defend retarded design like that. Like Zero. 

For the rest of us- we prefer motorcycles design by engineers who have a clue. 

 

 

 

Edited December 7, 2024 by tomek

[XXitanium]

Now do the hypoid on the rear axle...

[Zero Knievel]

10 hours ago, tomek said:

Well, then they should. Idea of replacing driveshaft at 30 k miles in 2024 is, frankly, ridiculous. And, oops, with taxes 800 bucks not including labour. Probably another 3-400 bucks. Fuck that shit. Every 30 k miles. 

 

Only those high on BMW Cool Aid would defend retarded design like that. Like Zero. 

For the rest of us- we prefer motorcycles design by engineers who have a clue. 

 

Well, ignoring your utterly childish response, since it’s the u-joints that fail, you are correct that they could be better engineered, and indeed it was complaints to government agencies in several countries that put pressure on BMW to add the shaft to the maintenance schedule and offer a free replacement (needed or not) at 36K at no charge.

 

I know vehicles that have never had u-joint issues.  I know some u-joints require(d) regular lube to ensure durability.

 

Rear Sprocket - $180

Front Sprocket - $84

Chain DID - $120 (varies by seller)

20-30K if well-maintained

 

So, $380-$400 every time you replace a worn chain on the XX.

Replacement shafts can be had cheaper than direct from BMW.  I suspect the cost of free replacement will push BMW to either make them more serviceable or improve their longevity.  As far as general inspection and installation, if you wrench your own bike, replacement is easy-peasy and doesn’t need a technician’s tools or skill to do.  To “test” BMW does have a computer gizmo that detects vibration in the shaft, and if it exceeds tolerance, or you’re close enough or over the free replacement limit, they just go ahead and replace it under warranty.

 

Keep in mind the value of NOT having to clean and lube your chain every 300 miles or the cost to buying and installing an automated chain oiler.

[blackhawkxx]

1 hour ago, Zero Knievel said:

I know some u-joints require(d) regular lube to ensure durability.

 

You need to talk to some Gold Wing owners.

[fizzy]

Haven't seen a fully enclosed drive chain on a motorcycle in quite a while. Looks aside, it fulfills the ethos of the all important KISS principal perfectly. Bit of a mystery. 

 

 

[XXitanium]

3 hours ago, Zero Knievel said:

 you are correct that they could be better engineered, 

 

[poida]

 bmw have only been making drive shafts for motorcycles since 1923.they need to ask the japanese manufacturers how to make them reliable in the modern world .

at least with drive chains i can monitor what it going on with the drive line rather than have a drive shaft fail in the middle of nowhere

[The Krypt Keeper]

4 hours ago, Zero Knievel said:

 

 

Rear Sprocket - $180

Front Sprocket - $84

Chain DID - $120 (varies by seller)

20-30K if well-maintained

 

 

Who pays 180 for a rear and 84 for a front sprocket? 

Did they use chain lube when you purchased them? 

 

[tomek]

5 hours ago, Zero Knievel said:

Well, ignoring your utterly childish response, since it’s the u-joints that fail, you are correct that they could be better engineered, and indeed it was complaints to government agencies in several countries that put pressure on BMW to add the shaft to the maintenance schedule and offer a free replacement (needed or not) at 36K at no charge.

 

I know vehicles that have never had u-joint issues.  I know some u-joints require(d) regular lube to ensure durability.

 

Rear Sprocket - $180

Front Sprocket - $84

Chain DID - $120 (varies by seller)

20-30K if well-maintained

 

So, $380-$400 every time you replace a worn chain on the XX.

Replacement shafts can be had cheaper than direct from BMW.  I suspect the cost of free replacement will push BMW to either make them more serviceable or improve their longevity.  As far as general inspection and installation, if you wrench your own bike, replacement is easy-peasy and doesn’t need a technician’s tools or skill to do.  To “test” BMW does have a computer gizmo that detects vibration in the shaft, and if it exceeds tolerance, or you’re close enough or over the free replacement limit, they just go ahead and replace it under warranty.

 

Keep in mind the value of NOT having to clean and lube your chain every 300 miles or the cost to buying and installing an automated chain oiler.

Yes. Because BMW is the only shaft drive on the market, so it needs to be compared to chain drive bikes. 😂 

 

My VFR1200f is shaft driven. And dozens of other bikes. 

 BTW, 85k miles on Viffer without shaft issues. 

 

 Also, rear sprocket 180 bucks? Front 84?  😂 What medication you forgot to take this morning? 

[Zero Knievel]

18 hours ago, The Krypt Keeper said:

Who pays 180 for a rear and 84 for a front sprocket? 

Did they use chain lube when you purchased them? 

Honda OEM.  I was never happy with the quality of aftermarket brands.

[blackhawkxx]

I don't know when you priced things but here's the first one I pulled up and without being on sale 1999 XX.  I was just curious.

https://www.hondaparts-direct.com/oempartfinder#/Honda_Powersports/CBR1100XXA_(99)_MOTORCYCLE%2c_JPN%2c_VIN%23_JH2SC350-XM200001_TO_JH2SC350-XM201515/SWINGARM/ae2580a1-eec4-4c05-85b5-4562233066c4/8f20b9f6-f31f-4874-b74c-b83336c5868d/y 

 

 

Rear sprocket. 

41201-MAT-A00

SPROCKET, FINAL DRIVEN (45T)

Price: $96.00

 

 

 

 

  

[superhawk996]

BMW, the ultimate driving machine.....only 30k at a time.

 

I wonder if they use shitty materials or just didn't do the math on the angles and that's what makes them wear out.

[Zero Knievel]

1 hour ago, superhawk996 said:

BMW, the ultimate driving machine.....only 30k at a time.

 

I wonder if they use shitty materials or just didn't do the math on the angles and that's what makes them wear out.

 

Maybe they anticipate owners "trading up" every few years and didn't engineer the shaft joints to last indefinitely.  It could be they would need to go larger, but then they have to completely redesign the swingarm to handle its size through the range of motion.

[superhawk996]

19 minutes ago, Zero Knievel said:

didn't engineer the shaft joints to last indefinitely

None will, but almost all will last way longer than 30k.  A properly maintained quality U-joint operating at a low angle can go a million miles.

[Zero Knievel]

1 hour ago, superhawk996 said:

None will, but almost all will last way longer than 30k.  A properly maintained quality U-joint operating at a low angle can go a million miles.

 

If you've seen the driveshaft, the u-joints are quite small.  They may be as large as the swingarm can accommodate, but I'm surprised they aren't beefier than currently designed.

[XXitanium]

https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/bmw-r1150rt-vs-st1300.66061/

 

Off-topic discussion.