BMW’s R1200GS/Adventure ‘formal service campaign’ now a recall

BMW'S ‘service campaign’ for fork failure on R1200GS and GS Adventure models has become a formal recall.

Owners of affected bikes in the UK will be contacted by BMW so it can check them, and where necessary fit new, modified parts.

Affected bikes will be fitted with an additional fork tube bush and bikes showing signs of stanchion damage will be given new, modified parts.

Following concerns over the safety of fork stanchions on R1200GS and GS Adventure models, and an increasingly loud conversation surrounding the issue, containing plenty of anecdotal reports of serious injury as a result of fork failure, last week BMW Motarrad issued its first public, and carefully worded statement on the issue.

BMW told owners that it has initiated a ‘formal service campaign’ – meaning owners were invited to voluntarily bring their bikes back to dealers to get them checked and fixed, if necessary.

Now, in the UK BMW has escalated its response and owners of R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure models made between November 2013 and June 2017 will be contacted and asked to bring their bikes back for inspection and repair, where required.

Here’s the full statement:

As part of a safety recall, BMW Motorrad is checking the fixed fork tubes R 1200 GS and R 1200 GS Adventure motorcycles from the production period November 2013 to June 2017.

All affected bikes will be retrofitted with an additional fixed fork tube bush. If there is already any signs of preliminary damage, the fixed fork tubes will be replaced by modified new parts.

BMW Motorrad has determined during ongoing field observations that the fixed fork tube of the specified models can suffer damage, due to unusual incidents with momentary high stress, without the user noticing. Potential preliminary damage to the fixed fork tube manifests itself through a gap between the pipe and the pressed-in, top seal plugs.

If the fit of the pressed-in seal plug has loosened, the gap may increase through longer, high-stress usage. This may lead to oil leaks and noise. If these signals are not perceived, or are ignored, and further high-stress incidents occur, the plug may become completely loose. Subsequently, critical driving conditions cannot be ruled out.

BMW Motorrad has therefore decided to recall all motorcycles that could be affected to retrofit the fixed fork tube bushes. The owners of these motorcycles will be informed by BMW Motorrad. The safety recall is carried out for free for the customer at approved BMW Motorrad service centres.