7 recalls covering model years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
Under certain engine and riding conditions, a shaft inside the gearbox of these BMW motorcycles can be damaged or break. If that happens, the rear wheel can lock up and stop turning while you are riding, which can throw the bike out of control. There is no part to replace here — dealers correct the problem by reprogramming the motorcycle's engine control computer, at no charge to you.
The sticker on the motorcycle frame that lists the correct tire pressures may not stay stuck on and can peel away. That label is what you check when you top up your tires, so without it you may not have the right numbers on hand and could end up putting in too much or too little air. Tire pressure affects how the motorcycle handles, steers and grips the road, so the wrong setting matters.
The front brake calipers on these motorcycles — the parts that squeeze the brake pads against the wheel — can leak brake fluid while the bike is parked. Over time that leak lowers the fluid level in the reservoir, and low fluid can weaken your front braking. Because these bikes don't meet the federal motorcycle brake standard, dealers will inspect the front calipers and replace them with an improved version at no cost.
The cap on the brake fluid reservoir is supposed to state clearly which type of brake fluid the bike takes and how to fill it. On these motorcycles that labeling is missing or unclear, which does not meet the federal rule for motorcycle brakes. Without it, someone servicing the bike could use the wrong fluid or fill it the wrong way, which could hurt braking performance. A dealer will replace the reservoir cap free of charge.
This recall covers accessory brake fluid reservoir covers sold for certain BMW R 1250 and RnineT motorcycles, listed by part number. The cover does not clearly state which brake fluid to use or how to fill the reservoir, so it fails the federal rule for motorcycle brakes. Anyone topping up the fluid could use the wrong kind or do it incorrectly, which could weaken braking. BMW dealers will replace the cap free of charge.
On certain 2020 BMW R1250GS and R1250RT motorcycles, the pivot pin that holds the final drive to the swing arm may be damaged. Those are the parts that connect the rear wheel to the rest of the bike. If the pin is damaged, that connection can work loose. A loose rear end makes the motorcycle less stable and harder to control. Dealers will install a new pivot pin at no charge. BMW says these bikes were not yet with owners.
On these BMW motorcycles the brake light can flash instead of staying lit when you brake hard in an emergency. U.S. rules require a steady brake light, so the bike does not meet the federal lighting standard. A flashing light may confuse drivers behind you, who might not realize you are slowing down quickly. Nothing is wrong with the brakes themselves. The dealer reloads the software that controls the emergency stop signal, which fixes how the light behaves.
Complaints owners have filed with NHTSA about the BMW R 1250 GS. These are unverified reports; better-selling years collect more.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: