The 2013 BMW R1200GS seems to have more teething troubles than W.C. Fields' nemesis, Baby Leroy. The new Adventure Tourer is now facing a third recall—but this one affects the Telelever front suspension, and seems more serious than previous concerns. Deliveries to clients have been halted, according to Autoevolution.
The first recall involved 31 bikes, which had a transmission oil pressure problem. If the oil pressure exceeded specified limits it could lead to the output shaft sealing ring to leak. In that eventuality, oil could end up covering the rear tire, "posing a threat to rider safety."
That's an understatement. Having undergone a similar failure on a Moto Guzzi Breva 1100, the picture of my bike surrounded by a 3-foot puddle of oil around the back wheel, after a 90 mph stretch, 900 miles from home, was worth way more than a thousand words.
BMW did not report any incidents caused by this problem and contacted customers to have their bikes serviced. An oil restrictor will be installed to reduce the pressure and eliminate the leak hazard. Future customers are advised to check with dealers if the transmission issue has been addressed, prior to having their bikes delivered. Indeed.
The other recall involved 33 bikes which were recalled to their nearest dealerships to have the ASC software upgraded. The Automatic Stability Control (ASC) system is a traction/ power deployment control software which regulates the bike behavior according to the presets selected by the rider.
However, in some cases, the Enduro-Pro mode did not reactivate upon rider recall, with the ASC warning lamp no longer illuminated. In such eventuality, riders might not have been aware that the system was down and could crash if maneuvers inconsistent with the selected riding mode were made. Remember this is a bike designed for adventure touring. Who knows where you might be?
Again, no incidents were reported, but riders were encouraged to contact their dealer.––Paul Duchene
