BMW Recalls 2004-2010 K1200 and K1300 Motorcycles for Bearing Problem

BMW is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 K1200 and K1300 motorcycles.

The bearings could be subject to corrosion. This could lead to reduced movement of the link lever.

The number of units has not been specified.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

BMW Recalls 2007-2010 F650GS Motorcycles for Brake Problem

BMW is recalling certain 2007 through 2010 F 650 GS motorcycles manufactured from November 2006 through January 2010.

A washer may interfere with the front disc brake fasteners' torque. As a result, over time, a fastener or multiple fasteners could become loose, allowing the brake disc to become loose.

1835 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

BMW launch K 1600 GT and K 1600 GTL at INTERMOT

BMW have launched not one but two new models powered by their new in-line six cylinder 1600cc engine at the German motorcycle show at INTERMOT Cologne this week.

The K 1600 GT is described as the "the new benchmark for dynamic, cross-continent touring", whilst the K 1600 GTL is described as "the pinnacle of luxury, long-distance motorcycle touring". You can find out more about these two luxury BMW motorcycles on www.inter-bike.co.uk.

Ride safe.

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://bestmotorstyle2011.blogspot.com//
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

BMW Recalls 2005-2009 R1200RT Police Bike for Faulty Signaling Device Bracket

BMW is recalling certain 2005 through 2009 R 1200 RT police motorcycles manufactured from April 2005 through September 2009.

The bracket which supports the audible signaling device can break, possibly allowing the signaling device to fall from the vehicle and into the roadway.

1900 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

UNIQUE BLOWN BMW FOR SALE

In 1958, Walter Zeller ordered a very special BMW from the factory, to be built entirely to his specification and to suit his riding style.  As Zeller had been the principal Works racing rider for many years, gaining several German championships and 2nd in the World Championship in 1956, BMW management granted him this solitary exception to their rule of 'no custom orders'.  That the factory presented the finished product as a gift for his services to BMW is the stuff of legend; the ultimate BMW trophy.

The machine is a mélange of interesting parts; a 600cc ohc Kompressor motor from Max Klankermeier's '49 sidecar racer (blowers were still allowed in German national championship races after '48), housed in a special Rennsport-based swingarm frame, utilizing telescopic forks from the 1951 Works development racer, instead of the Earles type on the racers and contemporary BMW roadsters.  The forks are a very interesting choice; did Zeller feel that his racing BMWs  handled poorly with their Earles forks?  If Zeller 'voted with his feet', the answer is yes, he preferred a standard telescopic fork to the Earles item.  Quite a statement for a Works rider to make, actually!  To quote Josef Achatz (the foreman of the build team for this bike), "Walter preferred telescopics".

Lighting was added to the front and rear, again interesting choices, for while the headlamp is as per the roadsters, but with a tachometer replacing the speedo, the taillamp is a seriously prewar item, as used on mid-30s machines; the Bosch equivalent of the ubiquitous MT110 Lucas taillamp, used on just about every British bike in the 30s and through WW2.

The tank is as per the Works machines, as is the seat, while the exhaust is the fishtail type as used on the R51 and other models pre- and post-war.  It would have squelched the power of the blown engine, if any baffles were fitted, which is an open question; why have a supercharged engine with a power-strangling muffler? But, the original TUV specification papers state the sound output as 73db; terribly quiet for a racing bike.  Top speed is quoted at 112mph (180kph), which is certainly down on any of the supercharged racers, which were at least 30mph faster through the speed traps.  Weight is quoted in the TUV document at 388lbs (176kg), but Zeller had the machine weighed at a steel factory (St. Anna-Huette; Zeller's family business), which quoted 317lbs.  This is very close to the '39 TT-winning bike of Georg Meier, which was 30lbs lighter than the competition.

Zeller kept the machine for many years, and used it occasionally on the road.  As there is no kickstarter, he bump-started the bike; in this, his racing years gave him expertise.  According to news reports, it took him 'ten or a dozen starts' to sort out the right combination of throttle, magneto, and air levers - after this, his technique was flawless.  Once the bike was warm, the plugs would be changed to a harder grade... it's clear this one-off BMW required a bit more forethought to ride than the typical 'no fuss' flat twin.  As there was no room for a generator, the lights are total-loss, making this strictly a daytime ride.

Contrary again to the TUV papers, Zeller reported the bike would acclerate from 0 to 100kph in under 5 seconds, and that 200kph (124mph) was 'no problem'.  In 1958, there was only one other road-going machine capable of such speeds, and the Vincent Black Shadow had double the engine capacity, was 140lbs heavier, and had been out of production for 3 years!  Zeller must have cut quite a romantic figure on the Alpine roads he favored (Queralpenstrasse and others), passing literally everything on wheels, drawing a large crowd whenever he stopped, then bump-starting away, leaving only a fantastic noise, and a slight haze from the 2% oil mix lubricating the supercharger.

Alas, times were difficult for Zeller's family business in 1963. He had been pressed by a persistent pesterer, a schoolteacher no less, to sell the machine.  Norbert Reisbeck phoned Zeller every month for over a year, asking again and again if he could buy the magical BMW.  In what must have been a black month, Zeller caved in, and sold the machine for 7,000DM in 1963.

After the death of Reisbeck, a new owner began to advertise the machine for 3million euros a couple of years ago.   As a reality check, the ex-Georg Meier '39 TT winning BMW Rennsport sold for around £250,000 six years ago, according to rumor, so a machine with no racing history but an intriguing story should surely sell for far less.  The price dropped to only 1M euros this year (via an ad in Motor Klassik last April), and the bike is currently still available  Any takers?

(The source of photos 2-6 are from an article on this machine by Ernst Leverkus in The Classic Motorcycle, April 1986)

BMW Recalls 2005-2007 R1200GS Adventure Motorcycles for Fuel Tank Bolt Problem

BMW is recalling certain 2005 through 2007 R1200GS Adventure motorcycles manufactured from December 7, 2005 through September 26, 2007.

The fuel tank front attachment bolts can work loose allowing the bolts to come into contact with the fork leg if the handlebar is turned a significant amount.

The number of units affected has not been announced.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

BAVARIAN ROAD TEST #4: '29 BMW R16

This one is my host's favorite, a 1929 BMW R16, 750cc ohv, the top of the BMW range in the Vintage era, with a pressed-steel 'Star' frame and leaf-sprung forks, three-speed gearbox with hand shift, and a rear brake which squeezes the drive shaft!   This one 'starts easily and rides with never a problem'.  With such a warm recommendation, would it be possible that I don't like the machine?

I've owned BMWs of this vintage, which whined and graunched and bounced around like kangaroos, and were generally horrid.  A bad restoration can really turn you off a marque or era entirely.  But, this machine has been fettled to the highest standards by a demanding owner, who expects his machinery to run as it did when new, and in fact, rides them as if they were.  No pussyfooting around, he winds it on to see what they will do and how they will perform.

In other words, no points lost for full-throttle work by a journalist, as long as I don't throw the plot in a ditch; that would be simply poor form, and likely end my access to some of the most interesting motorcycles on the planet!  So, a hot ride, with conscious care, is the order of the day.   No GPS required either, I'd be following the owner in his 1952 Hotchkiss Gregoire 2-door coupe, with an aluminum body and flat-four 2.3ltr engine.  Never heard of it?  No worry, this example is probably unique, one of 7 made with a Chapron body that year, fast and lovely.

Starting the beast was simple as all BMWs are, flood it a little, knock back the ignition timing a touch, wind the choke closed, and kick it over; the magneto is strong and the bike starts instantly, surprisingly loud in fact, not mechanically (although there is a whir from the gear-driven chest), but from the exhaust - definitely not your brother's BMW, it's rorty with a flat bark from the twin fishtails at the back.  It doesn't take long for the engine to warm up and the choke to become redundant, and the bike has a roll-on center stand with no fiddly rear stand to look after.

So, when it's revving freely, roll it off the stand, hand-shift on the right from neutral to 1st with a very slight clunk, and move on out.  The hillsides in this area are green as jealousy from weeks of spring rain; today is the first of full sun, and motorcyclist sprout like daisies everywhere.  The power band is soft with plenty of torque, and winding the motor out in first and second definitely gets one to 60mph briskly - this isn't a measly 500cc ohv, the extra 50% capacity makes a clear difference in rideability in modern conditions.  The owner has "become a bit of a snob, as the 750cc has spoiled me for the smaller capacity BMWs"  No points lost there either.

Shifting through the box takes a bit of practice to match revs to road speed, and double-declutching helps when downshifting to retard speed.  The front brake is quite good, but the heel-operated cardan shaft brake at the back is anemic.  I got the hang of upshifting quick enough, but both up and down gear changes required a full beat more than I'm used to...patience, grasshopper.  My host says "keep it in third (top) gear, it's all you need", which is true, but the bike lugs a bit at a village pace, and I like the challenge of rowing through the gears.  Besides, acceleration out of second gear is very satisfying!

Gearbox noise in the intermediates isn't noticeable, perhaps because of the rorty exhaust, or maybe because this bike has been sorted completely.  It has the quietest Vintage BMW gearbox I've experience; my R63 whined so badly I was convinced it would explode!

As for power, some full-throttle top gear work going slightly uphill yielded 145kph on the speedo, which corrected means 138kph actual, which is near enough 85mph.  More is possible in the right conditions, so let's say best case scenario 90mph, which is really going some on an 80 year old machine.  The handling was impeccable, and even at 80mph the bike felt rock solid.  It's spoiled by the smooth German roads, and I might have a different opinion of the undamped leaf-sprung front forks over lousy Cali roads.  But cranked over and on the gas, the bike went where it was told with absolutely no drama.  Shifting left/right/left on some fast s-turns revealed a hint of flywheel torque reaction on right-handers, which meant a barely perceptible push to crank it over on that side.  But the wide handlebars made for graceful changes of lean, and an ergonomic riding position to boot.

Aesthetically, these late Vintage BMWs are Deco perfection, with their modernist industrial steel chassis mated to an engine with clear aero heritage.  The hand-painted pinstriping over basic black emphasizes the line and curves, echoing engine-cover ovals and frame-press indents.  They hadn't yet sorted out integrating the ancillaries like magneto/generator/carb, which sit atop the smooth engine lines and remind one that this is in fact a 'machine with other mechanical bits bolted on which do important things'.  In German, that's one word.

If I were in the market for a totally rideable prewar bike, a BMW like this would be at the top of my list.  I could have ridden all day without fatigue or worry about mechanical disaster, at a rapid if not racing clip.  The very definition of a sport-tourer, meant to be hustled along through beautiful countryside, just like today.  Perfect.

BMW Recalls 2007-2009 K1200 and R1200 Series Motorcycles for Brake Line Problem

BMW is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2009 R1200 and K1200 series motorcycles manufactured from August 2006 through May 2009.

Due to the current routing of the front brake lines, it is possible that during riding, and therefore associated vibration, the brake lines could be under strain. If the vibration/strain is significant, the brake line could split and start to develop a leak.

15532 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

BMW Recalls 2008-2009 F650GS and F800GS Motorcycles for Drive Chain Problem

BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2009 F650GS and F800GS motorcycles manufactured from September 27, 2007 through March 30, 2009.

The drive chains may not have been produced to specification. As a result, over time the drive chain could break.

The number of units affected has not been announced.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

BMW Recalls 2007-2008 G650X, G650X Country, and G650X Moto Motorcycles for Roll Gear Pin Mounting Attachment Failure

BMW is recalling certain model year 2007 and 2008 G650X Country, G650X Challenge, and G650X Moto motorcycles manufactured from November 29, 2006 through May 19, 2008.

Over time, the roll gear pin's mounting attachment could break. If this occurs, it would be possible for fragments of the attachment to become trapped between the drive chain and the rear sprocket.

The number of units affected has not been announced.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Curtis

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Curtis with his 2004 BMW R1150RT Trike. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

BMW Recalls 2008-2010 F650GS and F800GS Motorcycles to Correct Stalling Condition

BMW is recalling model year 2008, 2009, and 2010 F650GS and F800GS motorcycles manufactured between January 2008 and December 2009.

During engine operation, a vacuum is created in order to draw fresh air into the canister. This air then mixes with the fuel vapors captured by the canister, and is subsequently combusted. Due to the routing of the ventilation hose, water near the end of the hose could be drawn into the charcoal canister.

4498 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

BMW Recalls 2009-2010 K1300GT and K1300S Motorcycles for Throttle Body Problem

BMW is recalling certain model year 2009 and 2010 K1300GT and K1300S motorcycles manufactured between September 11, 2008 and November 19, 2009.

Poor fuel quality may lead to small deposits within the throttle bodies. During engine operation in a low RPM range, typically near idle speed (when coming to a stop) air flow could be sufficiently restricted and engine stalling could occur.

2019 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

BMW SALE AT THE BMW MUSEUM

In what must be regarded as a marketing coup, Bonham's auction house held a sale (11/28/09) of the Willy Neutkens BMW collection at the actual BMW factory Museum in Munich (see my post on the new Museum here).

Neutkins was well-known in BMW circles as a focussed and dedicated collector, to the point of earning a place in the Guinnesss Book of Records as the holder of the largest private single-make collection of motorcycles in the world. He had an example of just about every production Bavarian flat-twin, from the earliest R32 to the end of the 'air-head' era, and developed a special relationship with the Factory over the years, using their archives and expertise to assure his restorations were accurate to the nut.

That doesn't mean the machines were 100% original, and a few examples of his collection had mis-matched frames and engines (eg, I heard from one collector of an R12 frame/R17 engine combo, etc), but for the most part it seemed his bikes were solid, and what a shopping experience it must have been for bidders! Pre-war BMWs especially are difficult to source nowadays, and an accurate restoration even more so. The combination created an air of excitement around the world for flat-twin enthusiasts, and the bidding reflected such.

The auction was a total sell-out, with BMW itself (Welt und Classiche - now combined under the direction of Karl Baumer) out-bidding my friend Yves on the ex-Works ISDT '53 R67/2 (seen below), which ranks among collectors as one of the most desireable 'street' BMWs.

Here's the Bonham's summary:
A clear highlight of the sale was the 1924 BMW 493cc R32 (Lot 40) which was at the heart of a five way bidding battle between three continents, eventually realising Euro 109,250 against a pre-sale estimate of Euro 33,000 – 45,000.

Bids also came from the BMW Museum, host of today’s sale, which secured the Ex-Works ISDT 1953 BMW 594cc R67/2 – Lot 76 - for Euro 26,450 (estimate Euro 19,000 - 22,000). This historic competition machine beautifully complements the other motorcycles in their own impressive collection.

One of the sale’s most emotional and charming purchases involved a lady bidder who secured the 1982 BMW 649cc R65LS (Lot 23) for Euro 2,530. Having bought the motorcycle when it was new – proceeding to cover an incredible 170,000km over 14 years on Continental tours – she was delighted to be reunited with it so many years later.

In all, over 320 customers had registered to bid, making this one of the most successful sales for the Bonhams motorcycle department.

Malcolm Barber, Bonhams CEO and auctioneer on the day commented, “The BMW archivists, directors and management team at the Museum worked closely with our company following instructions from the Neutkens family to market and offer their collection for sale. The combined strengths of our respective companies ensured full marketing, an informative catalogue and a perfect setting to obtain this fabulous result.”

Fred Jakobs, BMW’s Archivist for motorcycles at the museum commented, “I was delighted with the outcome of today’s sale, it was a pleasure for my company to work closely with Bonhams, they presented a first class auction. We too were delighted to have acquired the Ex-Works, ISDT, 1953 BMW R67/2BMW for our collection. It has come home and will be on display here at the museum next year it is the grandfather of our Enduro bikes”.

Many thanks to Yves J. Hayat for the photos!

BMW Recalls 2009 K1300GT and K1300S Motorcycles for Handlebar Switch Failures

BMW is recalling certain model year 2009 K1300GT and K1300S motorcycles.

The switches on the handlebars for both the direction indicator and the emergency engine off/engine-start functions may fail.

The number of units has not been announced.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

BMW Recalls 2006-2008 R1200GS Motorcycles for Fuel Pump Problem

BMW is recalling certain 2006-2008 R1200GS motorcycles.

The sealing of the fuel pump control unit housing might be insufficient and water could intrude into the control unit housing creating a humid atmosphere. Under such conditions, the fuel pump could corrode and then fail.

The number of units has not been announced.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

BMW Recalls 2007-2009 R1200RT Motorcycles for Brake Leak

BMW is recalling certain 2007-2009 R1200RT motorcycles.

Due to routing and assembly tolerances of the front brake lines, it is possible for the lines to be under strain. In combination with vibration during riding, the brake lines could develop a leak. The level of fluid in the front brake fluid reservoir could drop rendering the front brakes inoperative.

The number of units affected has not been announced.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

BMW Recalls 2009 K1300GT and K1300S Motorcycles for Brake Problem

BMW is recalling certain 2009 K1300GT and K1300S motorcycles manufactured between October 1, 2008 and May 1, 2009.

In certain riding conditions involving increased vibration, the brake fluid in the front reservoir can foam.

The number of units has not been announced.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

New BMW S 1000 RR video

Great video of the new production BMW S 1000 RR!

Enjoy.

Ride safe.


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://bestmotorstyle2011.blogspot.com//
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

BMW Recalls 2008 R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure for Electrical System Problem

BMW has issued a recall of certain 2008 R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure motorcycles.

In certain situations, such as high generator speeds combined with large demands for electrical current, spurious signals could emerge within the motorcycle's electrical system. If this were to occur, it could affect the pressure sensor signals of the anti-lock brake system (ABS) control unit. If this happened, the ABS could switch off; However, in such a situation, a warning lamp would illuminate. Normal braking would still be available to slow and stop the motorcycle.

BMW has not announced the number of units in the recall.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.