2008 BMW R1200 RT Complaints

I WAS RIDING ALONG AT ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING A LACK OF STABILITY AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. IT FELT LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE. AT THE SAME TIME THERE WAS LOUD RUMBLING AND A VIBRATION FELT THROUGHOUT THE BIKE. *TR

THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED 1/4 TANK OF FUEL, BUT THE MOTORCYCLE HAD ACTUALLY RUN OUT OF FUEL ON A VERY BUSY SECTION OF INTERSTATE 95 IN DELAWARE JUST BEFORE THE I 95 / I 295-I 495 SPLIT. I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT HAND TRAVEL LANE AND WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OFF ONTO A WIDENED LEFTHAND SECTION OF BREAKDOWN LANE THAT WAS LED INTO THE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT DELAWARE DOT SALT/SAND BARN. THE SUDDEN DECELERATION WAS COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED, AND I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST JUST AS I WAS MOVING INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE, IN SPITE OF PULLING IN THE CLUTCH TO COAST SO AS NOT TO CONTINUE WITH THE STRONG ENGINE BREAKING THAT RESULTED. HAD TO CALL AAA SERVICES TO GET FUEL ENOUGH TO GET TO A REFUELING STATION. FUEL TANK SENSOR WAS ULTIMATELY REPLACED BY LOCAL BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALER A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, BUT FAILED AGAIN LAST WEEK!!! THIS SENSOR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR BMW, AND CONTINUES TO BE, AS SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS HAVE HAD THEIRS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES EACH. IF I WERE TO RUN OUT OF GAS ON A DANGEROUS HIGHWAY, OR IN A REMOTE LOCATION - IN EITHER EXTREME COLD OR HOT, WITHOUT A WAY TO CONTACT HELP, IT COULD PROVE TO BE DANGEROUS. THE SUDDEN DECELERATION ALONE ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE REAR-ENDED, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. *TR

THE FUEL STRIP INDICATOR HAS NOW FAILED 3 TIMES, TWICE LEAVING ME STRANDED WITH AN EMPTY FUEL TANK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R1200RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVE SHAFT FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST ON TO THE ROAD SHOULDER BUT SUFFERED SCRAPES AND BRUISES WHILE DOING SO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 09-18-13 *BF

FUEL GAUGE FAILED, AGAIN, CAUSING POTENTIAL STALLING IN TRAFFIC CREATING DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

MOTORCYCLE GAS GAUGE SHOWED HALF FULL WHEN IT STOPPED RUNNING, HAD TO CROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC DURING RUSH HOUR TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. BIKE WAS OUT OF GAS....THIS HAS HAPPEN 5 TIMES NOW ( RUNNING OUT OF GAS ).. ONE DAY SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED BECAUSE BMW WILL NOT STEP UP AND RECALL THE FUEL STRIP CAUSING THE PROBLEM.. *TR

A FUEL LEAK DEVELOPED IN THE PLASTIC FUEL PUMP FLANGE AT THE FUEL LINE QUICK DISCONNECT FITTING. I SMELLED A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IN MY GARAGE WHERE MY NATURAL GAS WATER HEATER IS LOCATED. HAVING HEARD OF THIS COMMON PROBLEM ON BMW SPORT TOURING FORUM, I REPAIRED CRACKS IN THAT FLANGE WITH JB WELD AND A $30 CLAMP MADE JUST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AVAILABLE ONLINE. I AM REPORTING THIS NOW TO ADD MY INCIDENT TO YOUR DATABASE ON THIS ISSUE. IF MY GARAGE HAD BEEN SMALLER OR THE LEAK A LITTLE WORSE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. *TR ## VIN FAILED

I DISCOVERED THAT MY FUEL PUMP WAS DEVELOPING CRACKS AROUND THE FUEL LINE FITTING. I DISCOVERED THE CRACKS BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE OCCURRED. I DID NOT SUFFER A FAILURE ONLY BECAUSE I HAD LEARNED OF THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD FROM FRIENDS, ONE OF WHOM HAD HIS LEFT LEG SOAKED WITH GASOLINE AS A RESULT OF GASOLINE SPRAY COMING FROM BENEATH THE LEFT SIDE BODY PANELS. MY FRIEND, A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, ADVISED THAT BMW USED PIPE THREADS IN THE FITTING THAT RESULTED IN OUTWARD FORCE UPON TIGHTENING, AND FAILURE WOULD LIKELY OCCUR ON ALL MODELS. I PURCHASED A "FIX" KIT FOR THIS WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM FROM BEEMER BONEYARD, NAMELY A METAL CLAMP TO PLACE AROUND THE BASE OF THE PLASTIC FUEL PUMP FITTING. I HOPE IT HOLDS THE CRACKS FROM GROWING ANY WORSE. THIS FUEL PUMP SHOULD BE RECALLED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

DISCOVERED SEVERAL CRACKS AT FUEL PUMP OUTLET FLANGE. REPAIRED AT MY OWN COST IN ORDER TO PREVENT POSSIBLE FIRE. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN AND WELL-DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THIS FUEL PUMP. *TR

BIKE DIED ENTERING INTERSECTION. ONLY SPACING AVERTED ACCIDENT. BOUGHT USED LESS THAN ONE WEEK AGO. FUEL GAUGE SHOWED JUST UNDER 1/2 TANK AND 120 MILES TO EMPTY. GAS TANK WAS EMPTY WITHOUT WARNING. GAS GAUGE STRIPS IN TANK FAIL - BMW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE FOR YEARS, ARE YOU? AND, IF "GERMAN ENGINEERING" IS MORE THAN MARKETING, WHY HAVEN'T THEY FIXED IT? *TR