R1200GS Drive Shaft U-Joint Failure @ 58K Miles

[hb7]

Single sided shaft drive swing arms look sexy, but still not as reliable the conventional twin arm shaft drive designs.
Single sided swing arms go in the novelty bin.....*except for the Wing and possibly the Stelvio.
The Wing really needs one, otherwise rear tire changing would be too much of an ordeal.
Ducati uses single sided swing arms to sell bikes to the "ricky racer market", but uses the twin arm for racing.
The Stelvio uses a serious looking clam shell 3 bearing design which looks like they made a very serious effort when compared to all the BMW 2 bearings design editions, *even with the "new improved" final drive vent for 2012.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...pyTX2ObBHwqIjw

[pixellman]

This is what happened to me after 80K Km -2007 1200 GSA
Front u-joint

[hb7]

We know you drink the Koolaid, Jim. We discuss these things because we are very interested in bikes and not to personally annoy you.
Catastrophic failure of the drive shaft is something that could be very hazardous at speed.

The pictures don't lie.....

Above is Pixxellman's perfect drivshaft example as you put it, with 50K miles.

Also this lucky guy.... who looks like he avoided hospital, though I wonder how.....

[diabolik37]

Originally Posted by hb7

We know you drink the Koolaid, Jim. We discuss these things because we are very interested in bikes and not to personally annoy you.
Catastrophic failure of the drive shaft is something that could be very hazardous at speed.

The pictures don't lie.....

Above is Pixxellman's perfect drivshaft example as you put it, with 50K miles.

Also this lucky guy.... who looks like he avoided hospital, though I wonder how.....

Not taking anybody's side in this (as I just replaced my u-joint in my tailshaft ) but in this picture the tailshaft is still attached to the FD (just above the number 5). This looks more to me as an accident where the bike got hit and or the actual Paralever failed. Without seeing the other half end of the shaft, this picture tells me nothing...
It's still a very interesting picture anyway...

[CheckerdD]

As long as we are are reviving a 4 year old thread, my drive shaft went at about 60k miles. I was turning the tire to check the air and noticed a fair amount of resistance. One of the U joints was starting to go. At some pint down the road it would have failed catastrophically. So if your worried about your driveshaft, spin the wheel. if it's much harder to turn than before, that is your warning of impending failure. Dave

(I was referring to my 2005 R1200GS. It has been over some rough off road - passes in Colorado, etc. But it's mostly a bike for long distance travel. I did try a jump on a trail the day before I noticed the joints were failing. But I rode 150 miles home after).

[Wallowa]

Originally Posted by CheckerdD

As long as we are are reviving a 4 year old thread, my drive shaft went at about 60k miles. I was turning the tire to check the air and noticed a fair amount of resistance. One of the U joints was starting to go. At some pint down the road it would have failed catastrophically. So if your worried about your driveshaft, spin the wheel. if it's much harder to turn than before, that is your warning of impending failure. Dave

You list a R1200GS..what year? Mostly pavement or off road? Please post what you find when you take it apart. Assuming it wasn't the RT.

Thanks.

[AndyM]

Originally Posted by CheckerdD

As long as we are are reviving a 4 year old thread, my drive shaft went at about 60k miles. I was turning the tire to check the air and noticed a fair amount of resistance. One of the U joints was starting to go. At some pint down the road it would have failed catastrophically. So if your worried about your driveshaft, spin the wheel. if it's much harder to turn than before, that is your warning of impending failure. Dave

That's how I detected that my drive shaft was failing. Spinning the rear wheel it would get tight and loose. I replaced it before it hurt anything else. 09 GSA with 70k mostly road miles.

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by diabolik37

Not taking anybody's side in this (as I just replaced my u-joint in my tailshaft ) but in this picture the tailshaft is still attached to the FD (just above the number 5). This looks more to me as an accident where the bike got hit and or the actual Paralever failed. Without seeing the other half end of the shaft, this picture tells me nothing...
It's still a very interesting picture anyway...

Nah, logic never trumps a dramatic photo. We need another flaming FD too!

Jim

[Snarky]

Originally Posted by ShaftEd

fortunately, I bought the extended warranty at time of bike purchase (Don't ride a late model BMW without it!).

I have a feeling that this is the best farkle money can buy. I'm sometimes suspicious that all the stories on this site are fabricated by BMW to sell warranties. Alas, they are not, I almost forgot about the warranty until the saleslady mentioned it then I was like "oh fuck yeah." lol, I hope it never pays for itself.

[marty hill]

Originally Posted by Snarky

I'm sometimes suspicious that all the stories on this site are fabricated by BMW to sell warranties. .

Since BMW doesn't sell warranties, why would they do that?

[Spout]

My rear uj failed at 45000 miles. 80mph - certainly woke me up!

There was about half a second of rumble through the pegs to warn me, followed by a grunching noise, and then locked rear wheel.

HP2 BTW

[tommyvdv]

Originally Posted by Spout

My rear uj failed at 45000 miles. 80mph - certainly woke me up!

There was about half a second of rumble through the pegs to warn me, followed by a grunching noise, and then locked rear wheel.

HP2 BTW…

can't see the pics

[tommyvdv]

checked up on my drive shaft after having "my guy" put new bearings on it.
Seems it's heading back to it's "bad" state again, rapidly.

I noticed the vibrations in the pegs were a lot less after the new bearings were put in. This is getting worse every km. Not to a point that my feet sleep, not to a point that it might lock up at any moment. But still…

Also noticed that the seals of the lever don't fit snuggly. Water, dust, etc getting in there does not seem like a good idea wear-wise. Got the comment of "that same guy" after a routine maintenance that he found water and soap in there shortly after i cleaned it. New seals might be a good idea to minimize wear on a/the new/current shaft.

Going on a 5k km trip next month, hoping to put in a new shaft before then.

The bike had 35k, now has 65+ (km's). So it drove 60k with the old bearings. Only 5k with the new and it looks like it'll be back to the 60k state within another 5k.
Almost could not turn my wheel around with both hands back then.

Anyone else having (good) experiences with these so called drive shaft revision kits?

[hb7]

They can spend $10-20 more on larger bearings and UJs. It's 2012, we have this technical ability and a ~$20k bike should be at least this good as opposed to the marginal safety factor illustrated by this thread.

[Desert Skies]

I don't think it is the size of the UJ is the issue rather it is the lack of serviceability. I've not seen any pictures of busted crosses that didn't look like it had gotten hot from lack of lubrication. Both of the the both joints in my shaft had at least one dry cap when I took them out.

The joints I put back in my shaft were rated at 383 ft lbs torque.