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BMW K 1600 motorcycles risk rear wheel lock-up

NHTSA campaign 19V692000 · Reported 2019-10-01 · BMW of North America, LLC

critical How serious is it? About this label

Very serious for a motorcycle, because a rear wheel that locks without warning can put you down; BMW sent an interim safety warning letter and has not told riders to stop riding, but ride cautiously and get the repair as soon as parts arrive.

What's wrong, in plain English

Some transmission parts inside these motorcycles may not have been hardened properly when they were made. Soft parts can wear or break, and the bike can drop into two gears at once. If that happens, the rear wheel can lock up while you are riding, which can throw the bike off balance and cause a crash. Dealers will replace the shift forks, the fifth/sixth gear selector sleeve, and the sixth gear wheel free of charge once parts are available.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your motorcycle is included.
2. Watch for BMW's second letter saying the remedy is ready, or call BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 to ask about parts availability.
3. Book your BMW motorcycle dealer to replace the transmission parts — the repair is free.

Affected vehicles (6)

Who to contact

BMW — official BMW recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-525-7417

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Official notice

Component
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Summary
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017-2020 K 1600 GT and 2018-2020 K 1600 GTL and K 1600 B motorcycles. Certain transmission parts may not have been produced to the appropriate hardness level. This could affect the function of the transmission, possibly causing double engagement of two gears and/or the damage of transmission parts.
Safety risk
Double gear engagement or transmission damage can cause the rear wheel to lock up, affecting the vehicle stability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shift forks, the selector sleeve of 5th/6th gear and the gear wheel of 6th gear, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk was mailed November 1, 2019. A second letter will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.