POLL: stator / alternator failure on F800GS/F650GS twins please vote!

It seems there have been many stator failures in the F800GS & F650GS twins due to overheating.
The stator runs in a very confined space with no provisions for air or oil cooling.
BMW has recently released a redesigned flywheel which will likely remedy the problem.
You can read all about it here: www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=706033
Post #399 has pictures of the new and old parts ...
Unfortunately, for those of us that are out of warranty, the new "generator set" is ~$900 USD.

The purpose of this POLL thread is two-fold:

1) Capture failure data vs. mileage (please vote even if you have NOT had a failure)
So as to determine the extent of this problem, and at what mileage failure is likely...

2) To PLEAD WITH ALL USA OWNERS that have experienced a failure to file a complaint with the US Government, regarding the issue esp. if you experiences surging or stalling (I would expect stalling) during the failure incident. (See post #420 of the above thread for details). This may help get resolution for the issue.
File a complaint(s) here: https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

2009 f800gs, No stator failure yet. I only have 8000 miles on the bike.

I really hated to vote in fear that I may jinx myself:eek1

yeah... maybe ...

I'd like to see lots more votes, but at this point ~20% of the bike over 20K miles have experienced a failure.....

Possibly due in part to the nature of such polls. I think you're unlikely to see anything close to true numbers of non-failures. I voted No Failure in over 20K miles, but I suspect most won't either even see this, or bother to look at it if they do, or bother to vote.

I agree...
I want a STICKY
Who do I see about a STICKY ...

Is that anything like a wedgie?

Man................. I hope not... I can put my stock seat back on if I ever want one of those..............

Like that has been said, the numbers of those with out failures will be light.
This group is a bit self selecting,,,focusing on this problem.
Still the number of failures are significant. And with this admittedly small sample, time correlated to usage.

A speculative conclusion 1 in 3 bikes will have this failure in the 20=40k mile bracket
1 in 5 bikes will have this failure in the 40-60k mile bracket


good work!

I don't know about "no failure" replies being light. It looks like around 85% of those that have responded are reporting no failure.

The "no failures" seem to have it. Tipical of the internet. Prior to the poll the guy with the loudest mouth wins. Dave

Of course 54% of those have less than 20,000 miles.

I wish I could vote twice but it won't let me. I've got 2 '09 F800GS and both stators have failed. One at 25K and the other bike's failed at 50K.

Actually the numbers on this Poll aren't that optimistic, if you do the math theres a 36% chance of your stator failing after 20K miles.
but if you take into acount that only the minority of the non faulty stator care to vote, and probably everyone on this forum with a faulty has voted (if they kept the bike)

IIRC, it was Joel's opinion that stator failures would not happen until ~40K miles ...
It takes many miles of cooking to git 'r done ...

Happy riders are of course less likely to vote.
We do have a pretty "young" population of bikes here....
So yeah... I don't think its "fair" to count the < 20K mile user base....

I'm going to open a separate poll for the F800S / ST users when I get time....
The fiche says they have the same generator set and they should have more miles on the bikes....

As I mentioned in the stator thread, I am optimistic that ElectroSport may come to the rescue of those of us out of warranty.

I'm afraid as soon as I vote it'll quit!

It looks like we are up to 14/32 for over 20,000 miles. According to my math that is about a 44% failure rate.

I have just posted a poll over on F800Riders forum for the F800S / F800ST riders to use:

http://f800riders.org/forum/showthr...tor-failure-on-F800S-F800ST-twins-please-vote!

As best I can tell, those bikes share the same original stator & flywheel design, so we'll see if we learn anything from their experiences ... since that design point has been around since 2006 (I think?)

My 2009 F650 GS has about 9500 miles on it. No stator problems at this point. I plan to put some miles on this bike this summer. I hope they are trouble free miles.

If I had to guess, starting with a base of 10K miles you will be fine for the summer.
The numbers here are still evolving, but likely you are not at much risk until at least 30K+ miles.

I would recommend you add some kind of voltage monitor since we have none.
Based on reports from people that have "got the T-shirt" you have ~1 hour of riding time once the stator blows,
assuming you don't stop & restart the bike or use heated gear. Unscrewing the low beam headlight is a help.

There are a number of monitors out there to choose from, here's the one I put on:

http://f800riders.org/forum/showthr...g-Battery-Voltage-Monitor-amp-amp-GPS-adapter