2011 bmw g 650 gs fork failure - Page 16

lemieuxmc · 07-05-2011, 02:55 PM

"an overload fracture does not refer solely to the use of the product, rather the actual strength of the product compared to it's load. A faulty design or manufacture can be overloaded in normal intended use."

Ding, Ding, Ding... we have a winner!

And now you understand why I am so vocal on this topic.

The owners of the bikes in question may be obligated to remain silent on the subject, but the collective memory of Advrider is unstoppable.

Now if I happen to notice a black 740i with two guys in black suits and shades parked in front of my house...

!

Unca Fud · 07-05-2011, 02:55 PM

Looks to this MechEngr as a very brittle fracture, with a crack possibly initiating at a defect.

The raw aluminum castings are most certainly heat treated by heating to a certain temp (like ~800 degF or more,) quench in cold water, and then reheat to ~300 degF to age harden.

Brittle fractures can be caused by over aging in the heat treat process. BTDT.

Get a metallurgist involved.

Benesesso · 07-05-2011, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwayne

Don't touch them, don't clean them, protect them from further damage, but I'm not a metallurgist.

Well I am, and agree with you. I should have advised this in my first post.

Benesesso · 07-05-2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unca Fud

Looks to this MechEngr as a very brittle fracture, with a crack possibly initiating at a defect.

The raw aluminum castings are most certainly heat treated by heating to a certain temp (like ~800 degF or more,) quench in cold water, and then reheat to ~300 degF to age harden.

Brittle fractures can be caused by over aging in the heat treat process. BTDT.

Get a metallurgist involved.

Keep in mind that most cast alum. alloys are rather brittle even when heat treated correctly. That said, brittle metals can perform very well under stress--consider the very brittle cast iron engine blocks that survive millions of power strokes /stress cycles w/o failing.

What they lack is the ability to deform w/o breaking under overloads. No overloads, no casting defects, etc., no problems.

llamapacker · 07-05-2011, 06:03 PM

I could weld that right up with TIG, probably last forever. But this thread is not about that.

She really liked the bike! Now we all dislike big bad BMW, but she did really like the bike. How about pay her and give her a new bike, but let one of BMW's gear heads ride it for 100 miles first.

If she doesn't trust the bike, let BMW install some nice WR forks, we all know they work!

k7 · 07-06-2011, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antiquewidow

I have posted this thread to make others aware of what has happened to me. To others to check their forks. To try & figure out how this incident could of happened.

The way I look at past cases is if previous OP were paid off by BMW to be silenced. Then who is the quilty one (The OP or BMW)
If I had nothing to hide I know I wouldnt be wasting my money on shutting up someone no matter what they have said.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion & story and if the negatism & comments toward a product werent true, then why would a company try to shut someone up & waste their money.

We've all seen similar instances where people's silence was bought off. I commend the job that you're doing and hope that BMW does the right thing by you too. Clearly, you're a victim here and I'm so sorry that it occured - you deserve much, much better.

SocalRob · 07-06-2011, 09:03 AM

It would be interesting to contact Beemer Boneyard and find out if wrecked bikes come in with broken or bent forks. I would hope forks fail by bending myself. Seems a bad product design to have them fail by breaking.

slide · 07-06-2011, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SocalRob

Seems a bad product design to have them fail by breaking.

Yeah. I'd say you have a point there.

antiquewidow · 07-06-2011, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SocalRob

It would be interesting to contact Beemer Boneyard and find out if wrecked bikes come in with broken or bent forks. I would hope forks fail by bending myself. Seems a bad product design to have them fail by breaking.

Are you volunteering to contact the Beemer Boneyard?

viverrid · 07-06-2011, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick G

Note to the OP, I only mentioned the wheelie aspect as I am certain you will be asked during the investigation....

It doesn't f*cking matter one damned bit, you should be able to wheelie that bike up and down all day long without a critical part suffering a brittle failure like that. There is no way that a new rider doing an unintentional wheelie should be able to break a part like that, even if the rider did wheelie. You could say "yeah, I did ten wheelies in a row" and it is STILL a defective part.

See-Double-You · 07-06-2011, 05:49 PM

Point of order: the F/G 650GS isn't exactly a wheelie monster.

Rte2Rider · 07-06-2011, 06:39 PM

For Dwayne.... thanks very much for your thoughts regarding options for upgraded forks.

spafxer · 07-06-2011, 09:23 PM

I was in the local shop today and looked at a 650GS front fork. It does look like a re design after the last fork snappage re design...

The manufacture process reminds me of what I saw when Snooker snapped his swingarm on gentle whoops in last years LA Barstow, Vegas..

German engineering needs a bit of up grading... IMHO

lemieuxmc · 07-06-2011, 10:52 PM

WOW!

What a POS!

SocalRob · 07-07-2011, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antiquewidow

Are you volunteering to contact the Beemer Boneyard?

No, but it might be a path for you/your attorney to explore.

07-05-2011, 06:03 PM	#230
llamapacker Studly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Doyline, Louisiana Oddometer: 865	I could weld that right up with TIG, probably last forever. But this thread is not about that. She really liked the bike! Now we all dislike big bad BMW, but she did really like the bike. How about pay her and give her a new bike, but let one of BMW's gear heads ride it for 100 miles first. If she doesn't trust the bike, let BMW install some nice WR forks, we all know they work! __________________ 2013 HyperStrada 2012 Super Tenere 09 Monster 696 (wife's bike)

07-06-2011, 09:03 AM	#232
SocalRob Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2006 Location: Los Angeles @ base of Angeles Crest Hwy Oddometer: 9,313	It would be interesting to contact Beemer Boneyard and find out if wrecked bikes come in with broken or bent forks. I would hope forks fail by bending myself. Seems a bad product design to have them fail by breaking. __________________ Rob '07 White (the coolest color) GSA rider '13 Husky Strada & '05 Honda 400XR

07-06-2011, 05:49 PM	#236
See-Double-You Beastly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Anchorage, AK Oddometer: 1,641	Point of order: the F/G 650GS isn't exactly a wheelie monster. __________________ CW " Suggest you stick with failure analysis of Pork Chops " - -Benesesso

07-06-2011, 09:23 PM	#238
spafxer Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2007 Oddometer: 2,326	If it's not the front, maybe it's the rear. I was in the local shop today and looked at a 650GS front fork. It does look like a re design after the last fork snappage re design... The manufacture process reminds me of what I saw when Snooker snapped his swingarm on gentle whoops in last years LA Barstow, Vegas.. German engineering needs a bit of up grading... IMHO __________________ People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent. -- Bob Dylan

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07-05-2011, 02:55 PM	#226
lemieuxmc Banned Joined: Mar 2009 Location: East La Jolla... it's just Clairemont!! Oddometer: 3,360	"an overload fracture does not refer solely to the use of the product, rather the actual strength of the product compared to it's load. A faulty design or manufacture can be overloaded in normal intended use." Ding, Ding, Ding... we have a winner! And now you understand why I am so vocal on this topic. The owners of the bikes in question may be obligated to remain silent on the subject, but the collective memory of Advrider is unstoppable. Now if I happen to notice a black 740i with two guys in black suits and shades parked in front of my house... !

07-05-2011, 02:55 PM	#227
Unca Fud nrpetersen Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Minnetonka MN Oddometer: 229	Looks to this MechEngr as a very brittle fracture, with a crack possibly initiating at a defect. The raw aluminum castings are most certainly heat treated by heating to a certain temp (like ~800 degF or more,) quench in cold water, and then reheat to ~300 degF to age harden. Brittle fractures can be caused by over aging in the heat treat process. BTDT. Get a metallurgist involved.

07-06-2011, 06:39 PM	#237
Rte2Rider Adventurer Joined: Jun 2011 Oddometer: 22	For Dwayne.... thanks very much for your thoughts regarding options for upgraded forks.

07-06-2011, 10:52 PM	#239
lemieuxmc Banned Joined: Mar 2009 Location: East La Jolla... it's just Clairemont!! Oddometer: 3,360	WOW! What a POS!