09-17-2015, 03:32 PM
(09-17-2015, 04:44 AM)AzBob_imp Wrote:(09-09-2015, 07:39 AM)Riko_imp Wrote:(09-09-2015, 07:05 AM)AzBob_imp Wrote:(09-09-2015, 05:26 AM)Beemer Guy_imp Wrote: My personal, unscientific theory is that the final drives are fine if you are a skinny German guy riding to Austria. But if you are a typical (large) American with a three week supply of clothes in your side bags and tail bag with a 6 liter tank bag and camping gear strapped to the rear seat, all of that weight goes beyond the design specs and the drives go TU.
Me personally, I've never had an issue with the BMW FD units, but then I weigh less than a hummingbird and rarely carry a bunch of stuff, and I've usually flipped the bikes before they got too many miles on them anyway.
Ah, I was going to post something, but I misread your comment. I agree that the shaft drives are probably more fragile than chains, however, they offer some advantages: they're sealed against weather and their maintenance interval is a lot higher. BMW has shaft drive on their K1600 which is a 700+lbs bike with 125+lbs/ft torque. I haven't heard much, if any, on shaft drive failures on that bike.
Ah, I was going to post something, but I misread your comment. I agree that the shaft drives are probably more fragile than chains, however, they offer some advantages: they're sealed against weather and their maintenance interval is a lot higher. BMW has shaft drive on their K1600 which is a 700+lbs bike with 125+lbs/ft torque. I haven't heard much, if any, on shaft drive failures on that bike.
true but you should search "the net" about all the other issues this bike is (in)famous for....
a google search with the word combination of the designation name of BMW's flagship, with the words problem or issue delivers a bit too much results
I've been on the K1600 forum since the bike came out. The major problems are/were: clunky transmission (no fix and never acknowledged, however, 2014+ bikes have much better transmissions according to owners), handlebar switches which was addressed, and the weird pull left some bikes exhibit. IMO, there aren't really that many problems at all with the bike. I test rode a 2012, clunky transmission and all, and thought it was fine. Not the best tranny I ever rode, but not the worst, either.
I've been on the K1600 forum since the bike came out. The major problems are/were: clunky transmission (no fix and never acknowledged, however, 2014+ bikes have much better transmissions according to owners), handlebar switches which was addressed, and the weird pull left some bikes exhibit. IMO, there aren't really that many problems at all with the bike. I test rode a 2012, clunky transmission and all, and thought it was fine. Not the best tranny I ever rode, but not the worst, either. Waterpump....?
Read several times about multiple leaks/replacements of that part.
And not reading about 1 replacement per user but multiple replacements.
And the switchgear still fails on the newer bikes.