Yes, the 12GS has a much improved FD (with the hole in the middle) compared to the 11xx model. [TaSK]
Besides looseness of the wheel, vibration, and shavings in the final drive fluid, what other signs are there. The service manager, who is very knowledgeable, guesses that the oil overheats and doesn't do it's job. I have touched the final drive many times after a ride and the case has never seemed hot.
The loss of energy in a 90° turn is about 3-5% of the effect passing through. That is, if you run your bike at about 200 km/h about 100 HP passes through the FD. 100HP is about 80 KW. So, at full power, you can expect a few KW (let us say 5) of heat to be generated down there. 5KW will boil 180 ml of oil in seconds. However, this is the full-power situation. Regardless of hard you ride your bike, the full-power situation is a few seconds at the time. Furthermore, the heat occur on the surface of the shafts. They have good cooling. One end connect to the hub of the wheel, the other to the shaft that passes up though the swing arm, all bearings are attached tot eh housing. Finally, quite some air passes by and keeps the house cool. I have tried it. After a 10 km run in 180 km/h (my 1150 didn't go faster), the FD was hot to touch but not at all boiling. I could touch it, but not let my hand rest on it. Obviously, reducing the volume from 220 to 180 (on the 12GS) didn't help on cooling. But when we talk 5KW, volumes that small without external cooling can hardly play any significant role in any case. [TaSK]
I dunno about that.. it seems to me a lot of the "FD failures" posted here are nothing more than a leaky seal from the middle hole. Was the hole form over function? One thing's certain, BMW got rid of the hole on the K1600. It remains to be seen when the watercooled boxer comes out if the FD has the hole or they do away with it. I'd be in favor of one less seal to leak, and many fewer of the sky is falling / my FD is leaking threads
I know, I know this has been discussed ad naseum but while a seal leak may lead to bearing/race failure if enough lube is lost and then a true "FD failure" might occur, a seal leak alone does not constitute a FD failure....yes, many have reported seal leaks but many have reported "stop right there" FD failures within the FD without seal leaks. Nothing will ever be gained by our endless posted speculations about 180 vs 220 ml or sub-standard bearings or incorrect lash/set-up or wrong lube [whatever in the hell that is] or overloaded [?] and mistreated bikes [that must be a joke] being the cause of the true FD failures. ONLY BMW can answer why FDs have failed over the years and continue to fail....but guess what boys and girls...BMW refuses to divulge the extent of the problem or the cause of the problem . True story. I had a call yesterday from BMW NA Customer Service, they called me! An inmate had forewarded a PM email I sent him to BMW Motorrad. Motorrad in turn kick the letter to BMW NA. I had a great chat with the Customer Service Rep and asked him if BMW had ever released any information concerning the FD failure or if they were ever likely to do so....No nothing had been released and nothing could be expected. Why I asked. He said he honestly did not know and in essence that was above his pay grade. Oh yes, I asked if he owned a BMW...no, he owned two Yamahas. Hence, why I call BMW the "Black Hole of Information"; it goes in but never comes out. What waste of time...if we had the data we could make informed decisions. But then we might not buy BMWs. I would never again buy any BMW product, not because I don't love the performance of my '07 GSA but I do not trust the company and by extension the reliability of their bikes.
I'm with jim, ride it... But on the other hand, caveat emptor. Seems to me that if you are just finding out about these issues now, i would guess you did very little research before buying the bike.
Worried? I just returned from my second fun ride in europe. First time I visited 12 countries in 8 weeks and rode 8k miles at age 70. This time 9 countries in 5 weeks and 4k miles at age 76. Both were solo rides. If I were you I'd probably ride the new GS and forget about the worries! PS, I hope to do it again in the future. Both times I rode my GS.
Glad to hear this. I wish more that ride there bikes would post up and maybe the others would stop being so worried about things that might or might not happen. These are very good bikes. I feel there are more that don`t have problems that do. That being said, I did have to work on mine, at 128,000 miles. My bike is rode hard and has been a lot of places it probably should not have been. When I did have to work on it, I felt it coming and worked on it at home. It has been the most fun bike I have ever owed and would not want any other. I have been riding for over 40 years and ride about 35/40,000 miles a year. With this much on the go, I feel any bike is going to need to be worked on every now and then.
I have just been roaming around the web and found this explanation of the mechanics, with diagrams, of the FD in a thread on engine braking. It would seem that there is a consensus that the design is problematic and that all the variants of acceptable riding practice have little or minimal effect on FD wear. Another recurring theme, as expressed in the citation and other responses, is technician failure to properly shim the final drive bearings when initially repaired the first time. http://davedragon.rilysi.com/2008/12/bmw-final-drives.html
I have owned 4 1200 gs's and 6 oilheads for over 100,000 miles. One seal leak fixed under warrenty. Otherwise no problems. With 5,000 miles plus on my 2012 Triple Black, it is the best bike I have ever owned.
I'm just going to ad my .02 to this thread here. 2009 GSA, 18,500 miles, kept up on all maintenance, suspected FD starting to fail. I've got a slow oscillation in the handlebars that increases with speed and play in the rear wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock. I've got an appointment on the 3rd of July to confirm. Thankfully still under warranty. Love the bike but slightly pissed off at the moment.
Unfortunately not all BMW riders are swimming in cash. If they have an expensive issue it is over-at least for the season.
How nice, he reprinted my article as an explanation of why his R1200 FD failed twice, when it is a totally different design. Thanks for the link; I think I'll report it.
Anton, Is there an article comparable to your R1150 FD article that explains weaknesses in the R12 FDs? Your 1150 article was excellent and photos greats. Thanks...
Tom Lowdermilk the host of sidestandup.com just turned 200k on his 1200RT... if it'll stand up to his maintenance schedule (hahaha) and riding style... I'M GOOD Sorry Tom just had to use you as an example.