BMW F800GS clutch failure

[navek]

Hi Guys

Thought this may be of interest. Spent 4 days exploring trails and ranges around Queenstown had a great time with riding mate Ron. But coincidentally clutch started slipping after a river crossing on the way into Macetown. :angry: Eventually terminated by zip ties to stabilise the clutch cable then early routing to Christchurch Jeff Gray BMW who opened the case to find very little left of the plates. The bike only 5 weeks old has done less than 3000K's. Riding was nothing unusal for offroad and certainly not gnarley trails. So left bike to be repaired with bits to come from Germany 2 wks plus? and flew home while mate headed off on his lonesome bike to ferry and New Plymouth.

This may be of interest? Great support from Jeff Gray but no replacement bike to finish my trip.

[cave weta]

All I can think is - Low oil causing overheated plates? that is very sucky though on a new bike. and especially sucky to ruin your trip. If low oil is to blame, it is obviously a PD error and should be totally rectified with your expenses met in my humble opinion.

[dino3310]

how many klms on it...

[NordieBoy]

how many klms on it...

Not many...


The bike only 5 weeks old has done less than 3000K's.

[junkmanjoe]

how many klms on it...........

:stop drinking...:blink:.........:beer:

[dino3310]

Not many...
:doh:

shite navek, thats a very rare thing to happen on a new donkey espiecally a Bimmer.
a shame it fooked your trip up. hope they sort it at there own exspence

[Crisis management]

About right for a beemer isn't it?


Cave weta is just concerned cause he bought one instead of a real bike............


Seriously, sounds dodgy, yell, scream, froth at the mouth, demand a replacement, that just should not happen to a new bike, it is not your fault, something is wrong with the bike (besides being a BMW).

[CookMySock]

So the clutch wasn't behaving strangely at any time? Clearly it's a warranty issue on such a new bike. Even if it's not, it's an easy thing to fix at home.

Steve

[shafty]

A 2 week delay? Thats ridiculous; They should cannibalise a new bike in my opinion, - look after the Customer!

[thepom]

Sadly there is just about zero support from bmw these days.....not like when robin hampton had the franchise.....he was super customer focused and you would have had a loan bike I,m sure....

[navek]

All I can think is - Low oil causing overheated plates? that is very sucky though on a new bike. and especially sucky to ruin your trip. If low oil is to blame, it is obviously a PD error and should be totally rectified with your expenses met in my humble opinion.

We wait and see what develops. we must meet for a ride sometime when I get the 800 back CW. R U doing the Raglan Mike Britton Ride?

[dino3310]

bugga the britton ride, come on marks KC ride(will be a lot cheaper)

[navek]

bugga the britton ride, come on marks KC ride(will be a lot cheaper)

Luv to Dino but already booked and 10 & 11 is Mohaka. Maybe another time.

[cave weta]

We wait and see what develops. we must meet for a ride sometime when I get the 800 back CW. R U doing the Raglan Mike Britton Ride?
I havent got the money for his rides- I rode those roads on Thursday anyway!

[cave weta]

We wait and see what develops. we must meet for a ride sometime when I get the 800 back CW. R U doing the Raglan Mike Britton Ride?

What is the outcome with your clutch?

[navek]

What is the outcome with your clutch?

Complete replacement by BMW, no explanations. :done: I rode Raglan trails without a hitch two weekends ago. Most problems when I had to stop in mud holes for someone else then getting traction to start again esp uphill, but great time great trails, great people. Hows your 650 GS?

[cave weta]

Complete replacement by BMW, no explanations. :done: I rode Raglan trails without a hitch two weekends ago. Most problems when I had to stop in mud holes for someone else then getting traction to start again esp uphill, but great time great trails, great people. Hows your 650 GS?

Loving it! - I guess second hand beemers get looked after! this one is 15 years old and shows no sign of ever being dropped or even scuffed under the bash plate.

Im fixing that though.... Ive done about 3000 km on it in the last two months.
I took it , two up up Thompsons track near Te aroha. Ive had it down the beach - over sand dunes, through streams and up mountains. Its only 3 grands worth so Im not scared to try stuff on it. On Sunday I head off to the south Island on it for a week.

[LBD]

All I can think is - Low oil causing overheated plates? that is very sucky though on a new bike. and especially sucky to ruin your trip. If low oil is to blame, it is obviously a PD error and should be totally rectified with your expenses met in my humble opinion.

Wouldn't think so because low oil level ould increase friction and reduce slip...IMO

What I would be concerned about now is with a total clutch failure at 3000km....and very little left of the plates is ....where did it go? Obviously it is in the oil, sump, gearbox, engine etc...and while the filter will have stopped some, maybe plus 25 micron size, I suspect the gear box is splash lubed. To my mind, the important questian is... what colatoral damage has ithe clutch failure done to bearings, gears, cams, followers etc?

Because this is a near new bike, I can see a case for a replacement, bike or engine or failing that at least a Bavarian undertaking to double the warranty period as a measure of good faith that this failure is not the start of ongoing related problems....

[CookMySock]

maybe plus 25 micron sizeNo "maybe" about that, I'd say. Thats a shitload of steel and fibre to remove in 3,000kms.

Steve

[cave weta]

Wouldn't think so because low oil level ould increase friction and reduce slip...IMO

....

when the bike is cruising the clutch is closed and no damage is being done - but remember this engine is dry sumped. When you slip the clutch in off road situations with low oil... It will heat the oil- cook the fibre plates and warp the steels. and yes, it all has to go somewhere! I would be insisting on oil changes every 2000km for a while at the very least! - my 10 cents worth...

[navek]

Wouldn't think so because low oil level ould increase friction and reduce slip...IMO

What I would be concerned about now is with a total clutch failure at 3000km....and very little left of the plates is ....where did it go? Obviously it is in the oil, sump, gearbox, engine etc...and while the filter will have stopped some, maybe plus 25 micron size, I suspect the gear box is splash lubed. To my mind, the important questian is... what colatoral damage has ithe clutch failure done to bearings, gears, cams, followers etc?

Because this is a near new bike, I can see a case for a replacement, bike or engine or failing that at least a Bavarian undertaking to double the warranty period as a measure of good faith that this failure is not the start of ongoing related problems....

BMW did a complete oil change and filters and they reassured that the filter will have done the job following such a disaster as was designed to do? Obviously just need to get on and enjoy the bike and deal with any collateral damage if it occurs. Thanks guys for your input.:mellow::done:

[Crisis management]

Navek, it would be worth your while listening to LBD as his speciality is this type of work, my advice would be to PM him and discuss the issue, you may be surprised what you find out.

Glad the bikes going and you're enjoying it.

[Crasherfromwayback]

All I can think is - Low oil causing overheated plates? that is very sucky though on a new bike. and especially sucky to ruin your trip. If low oil is to blame, it is obviously a PD error and should be totally rectified with your expenses met in my humble opinion.

New engines can and often do use quite a bit of oil when bedding in. It's up to the owner to check the oil level.

[OV Lander]

... with bits to come from Germany 2 wks plus? ....

Why is it that what BMW NZ never stock anything in NZ? Every time I request a part (1 exception in 5 years of BMW ownership...last week) it is always ex-Germany?

Was planning to buy a new GSA, and took a machine for a ride... ...but have decided that until BMW sort their **** out in the service bay, I can not justify $30k on their product.

[navek]

Navek, it would be worth your while listening to LBD as his speciality is this type of work, my advice would be to PM him and discuss the issue, you may be surprised what you find out.

Glad the bikes going and you're enjoying it.

Thanks not enough hrs in the day to ride!

[navek]

Why is it that what BMW NZ never stock anything in NZ? Every time I request a part (1 exception in 5 years of BMW ownership...last week) it is always ex-Germany?

Was planning to buy a new GSA, and took a machine for a ride... ...but have decided that until BMW sort their **** out in the service bay, I can not justify $30k on their product.

Unfortunately its difficult to not recognise quality of design and manufacture and we all know that flaws can occur with any product, just bite the bullet and enjoy the great rides the beemer gives and forget the trivialities, lifes too short. It took me a lot of time to evaluate all the options and in the end the beemer was the right one. And still is despite this clutch problem.:yes:

[paturoa]

Is it hydraulic or cable operated? If hydraulic then warranty job for sure.

[sinned]

I couldn't find any clutch issues in the F800 forum. So this failure must have been caused by something other than general use. I would want to be sure the dealer fully investigates to find out why this happened and would expect BMW to want to know as well. When my SV1000 spat its clutch at 600kms Suzuki asked the dealer to pull the motor apart and give it a full inspection - as their position was that this just does not happen to these engines. I guess someone on the assembly line got the rocket.

[Hitcher]

A 2 week delay? Thats ridiculous; They should cannibalise a new bike in my opinion, - look after the Customer!

Two weeks is nothing. You're lucky the claim isn't being dealt to by Aprilia New Zealand.

[OV Lander]

... lifes too short...

Damn straight it's too short! Too short to waste 3 weekends off the road waiting for a F***** cable!

[Eddieb]

Why is it that what BMW NZ never stock anything in NZ? Every time I request a part (1 exception in 5 years of BMW ownership...last week) it is always ex-Germany?

Was planning to buy a new GSA, and took a machine for a ride... ...but have decided that until BMW sort their **** out in the service bay, I can not justify $30k on their product.

Don't buy a KTM then. My screen bolts were ordered 3 weeks ago, they won't even be despatched from Austria till May 10th, KTM factory Handlebar risers and plastic tank guards took 3 weeks from ordering to arrive at my dealer, and then I got 2 right hand guards and no left.

And to top that off, a left hand guard was tracked down and ordered for me by the dealer. It left Auckland on April 22nd and still isn't in Wellington apparently, though that likely isn't KTM's fault.

At least with BMW I can guarantee it will take 10 days for delivery from Munich, never more, never less.

[navek]

Don't buy a KTM then. My screen bolts were ordered 3 weeks ago, they won't even be despatched from Austria till May 10th, KTM factory Handlebar risers and plastic tank guards took 3 weeks from ordering to arrive at my dealer, and then I got 2 right hand guards and no left.

And to top that off, a left hand guard was tracked down and ordered for me by the dealer. It left Auckland on April 22nd and still isn't in Wellington apparently, though that likely isn't KTM's fault.

At least with BMW I can guarantee it will take 10 days for delivery from Munich, never more, never less.

Looks like we have opened up a great big can of worms here! But great to hear of everyones experience of frustrating parts and service problems and it seems that it happens with all the bike brands. :yes: However I have been told that despite the wait or the model BMW can supply parts for any one of its past bikes irrespective of age? Now thats a very big ask.:rockon:

[Eddieb]

... I have been told that despite the wait or the model BMW can supply parts for any one of its past bikes irrespective of age? Now thats a very big ask.:rockon:

I've not had issues sourcing parts for the 2 1981 R80G/S's I've owned. The one time I was told I couldn't get a part (A tiny sidestand bracket of all things) turned out to be a mis understanding by the parts employee, plus there's a huge aftermarket market out there.

[Box'a'bits]

BMW have stated that they will support their bikes for 30 yrs after production. And after that there is still a huge aftermarket (for the airheads at least). I tend to order all parts from overseas from specialist airhead parts dealers, simply because now there is not the levels of expertise amongst the local dealers (and because its usually cheaper). Usually 10 or so days from UK.

[Taz]

I tend to order all parts from overseas .

Don't tell Robert Taylor that :lol:

[bela]

Hi! looks like we had the same problems.....lets tell you my story
I bought last year in may a 09 800gs with 1600kms on it(im a heavy trucks licensed mechanic),i noticed that the free play is not ok,is going out too fast,so i went to the dealership and i complained about it.The guys said ,o everithing is ok,just go and ride it.At 5000 kms was no more room for adjustment so i went back and the dealer installed a new clutch(they under warranty for 7500kms).
After this i noticed rattling noises from the new clutch,the free play still wasnt ok so in week i went back and i complained about it-off course the dealer said nothing wrong just go ahead.So i managed to pull out 25000kms from a slipping clutch and last week i must to replace the clutch.
This time i bought the parts from the dealership and i did the job AND....off course i found out what they f...ed up.I went to the dealership and told them about it-they were surprized but must to admit it so they gave me the money back for what i spent on parts.
The problem was a stupid washer what they installed under the pullrod(on early clutches is required just) from early 2010 the pullrod was redesigned and the washer eliminated but the idiot who did the job missed this thing.....said

And the next one later about my front suspension what was messed up at the 30000km service when they changed the oil in the fork tubes....

[navek]

Hi! looks like we had the same problems.....lets tell you my story
I bought last year in may a 09 800gs with 1600kms on it(im a heavy trucks licensed mechanic),i noticed that the free play is not ok,is going out too fast,so i went to the dealership and i complained about it.The guys said ,o everithing is ok,just go and ride it.At 5000 kms was no more room for adjustment so i went back and the dealer installed a new clutch(they under warranty for 7500kms).
After this i noticed rattling noises from the new clutch,the free play still wasnt ok so in week i went back and i complained about it-off course the dealer said nothing wrong just go ahead.So i managed to pull out 25000kms from a slipping clutch and last week i must to replace the clutch.
This time i bought the parts from the dealership and i did the job AND....off course i found out what they f...ed up.I went to the dealership and told them about it-they were surprized but must to admit it so they gave me the money back for what i spent on parts.
The problem was a stupid washer what they installed under the pullrod(on early clutches is required just) from early 2010 the pullrod was redesigned and the washer eliminated but the idiot who did the job missed this thing.....said

And the next one later about my front suspension what was messed up at the 30000km service when they changed the oil in the fork tubes....

Sorry to hear of your clutch failure almost identical to mine a 2010 model. We were away on a trip and slowly lost clutch adjustment then failure. BMW installed a new clutch and been great bike ever since, and still would not part with it. Pity you had such a bad run. Hope the next story is human error and not design fault. We do have to accept that people make mistakes Ok so long as they recognise them and don't repeat and provide some compensation for you.