[PatM55]

All this talk of Goldwings makes me think of Yamaha’s FJR. I owned four of them between 2003 and 2021 and not once was there any talk of issues with the shaft drive. I don’t even recall it being included in the service schedule, though it must have needed the oil changing. But there are some good explanations here of where BMW differs from other manufacturers so I’m just saying.

I owned an fjr before and it's a rare thing to hear about a driveshaft failure.
I do remember lengthy discussions on multiple fjr forums about the need to lube or not lube the splines. 😄

 

[Fast1]

Customers will start getting letters soon which will have all of your answers so PLEASE read the letters FIRST before calling your local dealer.

Out of curiosity, has anyone received a letter from BMW identifying the issue discussed within this thread about servicing/replacement of the cardan shaft?

@pkpr1998 if you received your letter would you post a copy of it?

.

 

[gary c]

Here is the confirmation the Australian contingent of this forum was (presumably) waiting for:

I had my '21 RT booked in for the drive shaft change (and some other maintenance items) as it is about to hit 60k kilometres (36k miles?)

My local (and only one in the state) BMW Motorrad service department knew about the recall, including spline lube and happily booked my bike in for the 19th. The very knowledgeable department manager said that they now inspect and lube at 20k and 40k and replace at 60k.Earlier if it looks warranted.

Someone above mentioned that they asked BMW Motorrad Australia and the answer was yes, but as far as I am aware this is the first replacement on due mileage down here.

As an icing on the cake, I was offered a nice Option 719 R9T as a loaner for the day. Love it

Just had my 12 months service and they checked my Cardin shaft and gave me the supplementary service plan. So the replacement every 60k is a warranty item. I’m in NSW

 

[garr2]

I’m in Australia and have a 2019 1250RT which I recently booked in for a 90K km service in a couple of weeks time. Having read this thread and being unsure what it meant for me I rang my BMW workshop. I was told that there had been a change to the 1250RT service schedule to include a cardan shaft inspection at the 20K & 40K services and replacement at 60K. The first replacement would be done under warranty (even though my bike is well out of the 3 year warranty period) and that he was guessing that the 2nd (at 120K) would be at the owner’s expense. Apparently there was already a note on my upcoming service booking for the cardan shaft to be replaced under warranty.

Ian

 

[gary c]

In Australia as well. I’m in a slightly different situation whereas my bike is only 12 months old and will have the checks done on it with by ks or time and at the 60k service it will be at customer expense at around $1200. I do have 5 year warranty and could also fall under that. The initial check is to see if rust has formed or if klms have been above 60k

 

[Trilergy]

In Australia as well. I’m in a slightly different situation whereas my bike is only 12 months old and will have the checks done on it with by ks or time and at the 60k service it will be at customer expense at around $1200. I do have 5 year warranty and could also fall under that. The initial check is to see if rust has formed or if klms have been above 60k

Im challenged. My warranty runs out after 3 years. Im 2 years in. Do I upgrade and get the new 5 years warranty? The challenge is the new model won't be out by then so just upgrading to what I already have.
Real 3rd world problems

 

[The_real_hati]

it will be at customer expense at around $1200.

Incorrect. The shaft itself is only $250-ish for the shiftcam bikes. The older models have that kind of price tag for a drive shaft. First hand information from a BMW master tech.

 

[gary c]

Im challenged. My warranty runs out after 3 years. Im 2 years in. Do I upgrade and get the new 5 years warranty? The challenge is the new model won't be out by then so just upgrading to what I already have.
Real 3rd world problems

I got my bike during the 5 year promotion so I’m not sure if you can upgrade

 

[gary c]

Incorrect. The shaft itself is only $250-ish for the shiftcam bikes. The older models have that kind of price tag for a drive shaft. First hand information from a BMW master tech.

Just quoting from the dealership after a phone call today and it did surprise me

 

[The_real_hati]

Just quoting from the dealership after a phone call today and it did surprise me

Maybe it's time to visit another dealership? If you have the luxury that is. We do not, over in W.A.

 

[Trilergy]

I got my bike during the 5 year promotion so I’m not sure if you can upgrade

I thought 5 years was now standard?

 

[gary c]

I thought 5 years was now standard?

Yes it is now but you were quoting 3 wanting to extend to 5 which I’m not sure you can do

 

[MLW]

Today when picking up my 2022 R1250RT after a valve lash check at 34,500 miles, I was advised of a recently released BMW Service Bulletin. This bulletin # 33 04 23 issued 12/12/2023 by BMW NA requires drive shaft replacement every 36,000 miles under warranty or for failure due to defect in materials or workmanship for unlimited miles.

I've have a copy of the service bulletin however I can not distribute. This bulletin also includes many other BMW models besides the R1250RT. Checking the VIN in AIR (Aftermarket Information Research) is required for applicability. Suggest contacting your BWM authorized dealer to determine if your R1250RT or similar variant is impacted.

My 2022 BMW R1250RT is and the drive shaft will be replaced at 36,000 miles under warranty. Told it would take about an hour.

.

GOT MINE REPLACED! BIKE GOING BACK TO HEATED STORAGE TUESDAY!

Also... New BMW / Shrader TPMS sensors (battery replacement did not take), new tires, ECU update and brake lines/system flushed.

Baby will be good to go in the Spring. Unfortunately my new knees (planned for mid-April) won't be ready till July or August.

 

[beemrdon]

In Australia as well. I’m in a slightly different situation whereas my bike is only 12 months old and will have the checks done on it with by ks or time and at the 60k service it will be at customer expense at around $1200. I do have 5 year warranty and could also fall under that. The initial check is to see if rust has formed or if klms have been above 60k

My understanding is that the shaft with a u joint on each end is $200.00 US. I've seen a couple of utube videos on the swap process. It looks pretty easy.
BTW, the dealer is allowed 1 hour shop time (when BMW is footing the bill) to complete the job.
So, to me, this is not a big deal, even if I have to pay for the part and labor but I doubt it will be necessary as I don't have a GS and I don't fiord streams or any of that nonsense.

 

[MLW]

Just got mine replaced! (2014 R1200RT, purchased last year, 54,400 miles now).

Dealer picked Betty up and brought her back to her heated winter storage location for free. Bought new TPMS sensors, new Road 6 GT skins and brake system flush (Winter discounts on parts and service).

Bike running better than ever!

 

[60Aviator]

Got mine replaced at Columbus, GA (Awesome dealer) yesterday. I had lubed it at 12,000 miles so the old one had 36,000 miles on it since then. Tech said it looked fine and his comment was it came off easy. He even said some of them have been difficult to get off. Also, I talked to the service manager about the message procedure at every 12,000 miles and as pkpr1998 said the dealer will also do this too.

 

[beemrdon]

[QUOTE="MLW, post: 2008166, member: 129733"

Essentially - retail customers wind up subsidizing manufacturers and insurance companies.

Modern day American Capitalism at its finest!

Best case scenario is that you get free drive shaft servicing every 12K and a free drive shaft replacement at 36K, hopefully preventing one from having the rear tire lock up at 80 mph and sustaining serious physical injury or death.
[/QUOTE]
If it starts to lock up, pull the ejection button. You are wearing an ejection parachute, right?

 

[Fast1]

If it starts to lock up, pull the ejection button. You are wearing an ejection parachute, right?

Seems you speak from experience.. how did it work out for you?


I watched a friend at age 17 commuting to work on a chain driven motocycle with his jacket bungied to the rear seat. The sleave came loose and locked up the chain at the rear sprocket riding at 65 mph. He was lucky to have survived in rush hour traffic and didn't go down but the rear tire skidded along way until he stopped. All traffic came to a hault while a few drivers got out of their autos to help him push it off to shoulder with the rear tire sliding where he cut the remains of his jacket from the chain/sprocket. I feel that his early years of dirt bike riding with me saved his life that day.

 

[beemrdon]

Got mine replaced at Columbus, GA (Awesome dealer) yesterday. I had lubed it at 12,000 miles so the old one had 36,000 miles on it since then. Tech said it looked fine and his comment was it came off easy. He even said some of them have been difficult to get off. Also, I talked to the service manager about the message procedure at every 12,000 miles and as pkpr1998 said the dealer will also do this too.

It's odd to hear all of the talk online about faulty drive shafts/universal joints. I have driven well over 400,000 miles on BMWs without a drive shaft issue. As a matter of fact, I never did any maintenance to the driveline either. I believe Max BMW lubed the splines as part of a clutch installation on my old K1100 LT but that's it. I don't think they lubed the universal joints, and that is where they are having the problems, I believe.

 

[TPadden]

It's odd to hear all of the talk online about faulty drive shafts/universal joints. I have driven well over 400,000 miles on BMWs without a drive shaft issue...

Yep, if splines fail it's an alignment problem; all the service/ lube in the world wouldn't make much difference.

Tom