BMW R 1250 RT Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

BMW Motorrad had a safety check on the driveshafts/ u joints for R1200 and R 1250 GS and RT motos. I had mine checked at D2 Powersports in Q3 or Q4, 2023 and it passed. No paperwork was given. On 3/28/24 the driveshaft / U joint failed on NC 178 south of Rosman, NC. Had this locked up in a corner it could have cause a wreck. The R1250RT was towed to D2 Powersports 10 hours later. D2 submitted a request for warranty repair or some financial help to BMW Motorrad. Request denied. I paid the entire $2677.96. BMW has SIB 33 04 23 out for K5X driveshaft maintenance schedule change published 12/12/23 and includes K52 R1250RT. My question, which BMW will not answer: Why was my 2020 R1250 RT (K52) denied? This is a very dangerous situation.

AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE DEALER TO FIX THE LEAKING HAYES CALIPERS ON MY 2020 BMW R1250RT MOTORCYCLE THERE WAS A RECALL AND I DID RECEIVE A SECOND SET OF HAYES CALIPERS BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. IN A MATTER OF DAYS THE REPLACEMENT RECALLED HAYES CALIPERS WERE ALSO LEAKING BMW SENT OUT TWO ENGINEERS TO REMOVE AND INSPECT MY SECOND SET THAT WERE THEN SENT BACK TO GERMANY AND A THIRD SET OF HAYES CALIPERS WERE INSTALLED ON MY BIKE. AFTER A FEW DAYS AGAIN THEY WERE LEAKING ALSO, NOW I'LL NEED MY FOURTH SET OF CALIPERS ON MY BIKE THAT I'VE OWNED FOR 7 MONTHS AND TWO OF THOSE MONTHS IT HAS BEEN PARKED BECAUSE OF THIS ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE AS IT IS NOW. SEE MY LAST THREE VIDEOS FROM THE THIRD SET OF LEAKING HAYES CALIPERS. #1 HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=LQVFHTKUCNW #2 HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=IGQORON2CAE #3 HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=6O4_PQQ5G_Y BMW HAS BEEN REMOVING DEFECTIVE BRAKE PARTS AND REPLACING THEM WITH NEW DEFECTIVE BRAKE PARTS. STEVE

SINCE DAY ONE THIS BIKE HAS HAD LEAKING FRONT BRAKES. TODAY, I GO OUT IN MY GARAGE AND SEE MY BRAKES ARE LEAKING AGAIN FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME. THIS IS BEYOND A DEALERSHIP FIX. BOTH DEALERS I'VE TAKEN THE BIKE TO (IRON HORSE BMW IN TUCSON, GOAZ IN PEORIA) HAVE BEEN GREAT IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. THE PROBLEM REMAINS. I HAVE SPENT WAY TOO MANY HOURS SCHEDULING MY TIME AND THEN HANGING OUT AT THE DEALERSHIP WHILE THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT. THIS IS FROM THE ARIZONA LEMON LAW: "THE SAME NONCONFORMITY HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO REPAIR FOUR OR MORE TIMES BY THE MANUFACTURER, ITS AGENTS OR AUTHORIZED DEALERS BUT THE NONCONFORMITY CONTINUES TO EXIST". I'M NOT SURE HOW TO PROCEED SINCE --- #1 PRIOR TO PURCHASE WAS TOLD THE 2020'S DIDN'T LEAK = LEAKING AFTER FIRST RIDE HOME. #2 I'VE HAD THE REBUILD KIT INSTALLED (600 MILES) = STILL LEAKING. #3 REPLACED THE CALIPERS (6000 MILES) = STILL LEAKING. #4 TOLD THE FLUID LEAKING WAS JUST "RESIDUAL" UNDER THE BLEEDER CAPS (6250 MILES) = STILL LEAKING (EVEN AFTER RETURNING HOME, DAYS LATER, STILL LEAKING). SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS BELOW. I'VE PAID A PREMIUM PRICE TO PURCHASE A BMW MOTORCYCLE, WHICH HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. I'VE OWNED JAPANESE BIKES FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY CONTINUING ISSUES. BEYOND FRUSTRATED. I WOULD LIKE THIS PROBLEM FIXED OR A NEW REPLACEMENT MOTORCYCLE THAT DOES NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. THIS BIKE IS A LEMON. SEE ATTACHED VIDEO. THANK YOU, HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=2H3HTJT6NM4

TWO VIDEOS OF MY LEAKING BRAKES AFTER GETTING THEM REPLACED FROM THE RECALL. STILL A PROBLEM AS THEIR FIX IS LEAKING LIKE THE ORIGINAL. TWO VIDEOS: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=2H3HTJT6NM4 HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=INYT6SPUYYA

TOOK DELIVERY OF A NEW MOTORCYCLE ON SATURDAY. UPON RETURNING HOME WITH THE NEW BIKE, 160 MILE TRIP HOME, I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING OUT OF BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS. FLUID WAS SPLATTERED ALL OVER THE RIM AND TIRE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE 2019'S OF THE BMW R1250RT. I WAS LED TO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED FOR THE 2020 BIKES, BUT CLEARLY THIS IS NOT THE CASE GIVEN MY EXPERIENCE RELAYED IN THIS REPORT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN FINE WITH TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, BUT AS OF YET, WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL BE RESOLVED AND/OR IF THERE WILL BE ANY SORT OF COMPENSATION FOR THE TROUBLE OF RIDING BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALERSHIP (330 MILES ROUND TRIP). THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS ONGOING PROBLEM THAT BMW KNOWS ABOUT AND THEY JUST REPLACE BAD BRAKES WITH THE SAME BAD PARTS.

I WENT TO TEST DRIVE A NEW 2020 BMW R1250 RT MOTORCYCLE AND THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED IT BEFORE THE TEST DRIVE. DURING THE TEST DRIVE, THE BRAKES STARTED LEAKING AND I NOTICED A PERFORMANCE DROP IN THE ABILITY TO BRAKE. UPON DIGGING INTO THE SITUATION THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM BMW. THAT STATED THE BRAKES ARE KNOWN TO HAVE ISSUES AND THEY SHOULD BE INSPECTED FOR LEAKS BEFORE BEING SOLD TO A CUSTOMER OR TEST-DRIVEN. BMW HAS RELEASED A NEW PART NUMBER THAT WILL FIX THE CRITICAL DESIGN FLAW THAT IS IN THE BRAKES. THIS PART HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET. BMW NEEDS TO PUT A STOP-SALE ON ALL BIKES BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE THE BIKE DOES NOT HAVE THE ISSUE INITIALLY DOES NOT MEAN IT WON'T HAVE THE ISSUE SOON AFTER INSPECTION. RIDE NOW A LARGE MOTORCYCLE RETAILER NATIONALLY HAS STOPPED SELLING ALL BMW BIKES BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT BMW IS REQUIRING. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED AND BMW NEEDS TO STOP SELLING THE BIKE IMMEDIATELY UNTIL THE NEW BRAKES ARE REPLACED ON ALL MODELS. SIMPLY LOOKING AT THE BIKE INITIALLY AND SEEING THAT IT IS NOT LEAKING DOES NOT MEAN IT WON'T LEAK IN A FEW DAYS AND AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BREAKING.

When I purchased the motorcycle as a demo the front fender was loose from the fittings/placement. I repaired it and reported it to the BMW dealer. In the years that I have owned this motorcycle I have had to repair the same issue at least three times. I believe the dealer has also repaired it at least once after my complaint. Please see pictures attached. This is a serious safety issue as the Fender may come loose and interfere with the rotation of the front tire, resulting in an accident, or worse, injury.

Hill Start Control malfunction this feature Hold the bike when it comes to a stop uphill or downhill of 5' degree gradient or more for max 2.5 minute, when auto mode on the brake will automatically hold the bike when it comes to a stop on a gradient and release when cultch lever release bike take off, when hill hold suddenly release without warning the bike roll backward or forward depending on the situation cause crash because your hand or foot are not on the brake you rely on HSC. My 2019 BMW R1250RT HSC stop working at 15000 miles at that time intermittently once or twice a month as time goes on it getting more frequently now happen every time at any gradient and random time will release the brake suddenly from 2,3,5,10,15,20,25 seconds very annoying and scary when I'm on a uphill, at 30000 miles I bring my bike in for repair for the first time, dealer program it works for two week and stop working, second time program again I could not make it home HSC not working, 3rd time they bleed the brake system and told me the bike works as design no fault in abs system because I had the auto HSC on cause this complaint. The fact is HSC not working with auto mode turn on or off, when I pickup my bike the manager rode test and verified HSC not working in both mode, the next day dealer call me they going to order the ABS module it took two months. Fourth repair 10/13/21 replace the ABS module/pump I pickup the bike did not make it home HSC not working. I almost crash/drop my bike many times, No warring light on dash, I ride my bike seven days a week now 42000 miles on the odometer.

Purchased 2019 BMW R1250RT on August 1, 2019. Noticed brake fluid leaking from day one but really didn't think anything of it at first. Fast forward to December 2020 and was doing a routine search on another vehicle and I thought I should check for recalls on my bike. Thats when I found Recall Campaign No: 20V-476. Bike has been sitting in garage ever since with 920 miles on it. I paid over 27,000.00 grand total. I took the bike to the dealer yesterday and asked about repairs and owner told me BMW are replacing brake rotors with Brembo brakes. Ok, great do it! Owner states that they are not available. I asked him if he and BMW were going to buy my bike back given that I cant ride it or sell it. He stated that I would have to take it up with BMW Corporation. I finally decided to just sell it to him at $17000.00. So now I am going after BMW for the other $10,000.00.

EXISTING NHTSA RECALL NUMBER IS 20V476 RECALL WAS STARTED AUG 2020. BMW ISSUED STOP SALE ON MY MODEL AND RELATED MODELS. FOUND OUT DURING SERVICE OCT 2020 THAT MY BIKE WAS AFFECTED. BMW TODAY MARCH 4TH 2021 TOLD ME THEY DON'T HAVE A DATE FOR REPLACEMENT BRAKE PARTS. I CANNOT TRADE OR SELL THIS BIKE WITH THIS RECALL AND BMW HAS NO REMEDY. BMW HAS HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME TO FIX THIS RECALL PERMANENTLY AND AS SUCH I THINK THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO BUY BACK CUSTOMER'S MOTORCYCLES. EXISTING NHTSA RECALL NUMBER IS 20V476

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 BMW R 1250 RT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V476000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GO AZ MOTORCYCLES (15500 N HAYDEN RD, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260; (480)609-1800) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

LEAKING BREAK CALIPERS AFTER 618 MILES. THE ISSUE WAS DISCOVERED DURING MY INITIAL 600 MILE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. BMW IS SELLING THESE BIKES WITH KNOW BREAK ISSUE THAT AFFECTS THE R1250RT AND R1250GS MODELS. BMW HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT HAS NOT SELLING THESE BIKE OR ISSUED A RECALL. NEW REPLACEMENT CALIPERS HAVE BEEN ORDER FOR 30 DAY NOW. NEW CALIPERS WILL HAVE DIFFERENT PART NUMBER DUE TO THE ORIGINAL PART HAVING A FAULTING DESIGN AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE IN EARLY MARCH 2020. I LEFT THE MOTORCYCLE ON ITS CENTER AT MY RELATIVE'S RESIDENCE, IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. TWO AND A HALF WEEKS LATER I RETURNED TO MY RELATIVE'S RESIDENCE TO RETRIEVE IT AND NOTICED AN ACCUMULATION OF BRAKE FLUID ON THE FRONT WHEEL, AT THE 6 O'CLOCK POSITION. I CLEANED THE FLUID AND INSPECTED THE BRAKE CALIPER. I DID NOT THINK OF TAKING PHOTOS OF MY FINDINGS AT THE TIME. I RETURNED HOME WITH THE MOTORCYCLE. ON 3-27-2020 I RODE THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE BMW MOTORCYCLES OF CONCORD, CA. THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS AND CONFIRMED BOTH CALIPERS HAD EVIDENCE OF FLUID LEAKAGE. I WAS TOLD BY BECKY, A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, BMW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT DOESN'T HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT THIS MOMENT. FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS, IT IS IMPERATIVE THE POWERS THAT BE, WHETHER BMW OR NHTSA, LAUNCH AN OFFICIAL RECALL FOR THIS POTENTIAL GRAVE DEFECT.

IN JANUARY 2020, I WAS ADDING SOME ACCESSORIES TO MY BIKE IN THE GARAGE AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON THE BOTTOMS OF THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE BRAKE MOUNTING BRACKETS AT THE END OF THE FORKS WERE STAINED FROM LEAKING FLUID. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER, EUROCYCLES OF SONOMA. THEY HAD ME BRING IN THE BIKE ON FEBRUARY 8TH. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE TECH, THEY TOOK THE CALIPERS APART AND REPLACED SEALS AND PISTONS FOLLOWED BY PRESSURE TESTING. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE FRONT CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THE REPLACEMENTS WOULD ARRIVE IN THE 9TH WEEK OF 2020. I JUST FOLLOWED UP(3-4-20) WITH THE SERVICE DEPT AND THEY ARE STILL ON BACK ORDER WITH A NEW ETA OF THE 2ND WEEK OF MARCH. ON THE BMW RIDERS FORUMS, MANY 2019 R SERIES OWNERS ARE REPORTING LEAKING BRAKES.