The beginning of the end of a final drive (07' GS)? (Pic)

So I noticed this while cleaning the bike today prior to doing some maintenance.

Specs on the 2007 GS:

1. 6500 Miles
2. Still under 3 year warranty
3. Never abused 95% highway, 5% your occasional groomed fire road
4. Stock shocks
5. Stock Tourances
6. HT Panniers loaded with basic tools
7. Always garaged
8. Me 5'10" / 170 lbs

I know there are posts out there talking about final drive failures. I figured why not start my own and get some personal feedback. Anyone else with 2007 GS final drive issues? If so how, why, and at what were your riding conditions?

It may just be a paint blemish on the surface ( best case scenario )... but... if it is an indication of metal fatigue at that section I wouldn't even think about driving it again until I have BMW take a serious look at it. If that were to fail across that profile while driving you would easily be going for a visit to the hospital.. or worse.

Get it checked out and let us know what comes of it.

OK Grasshopper what did you learn? NEVER wash an Adventure bike!

Just kidding..sorry to see this..hopefully only a paint blem...let us know...sounds like my bike but with TKCs and 90% dirt..

*****

I was thinking the same thing about the paint blemish but it looks more like metal fatigue. My fingernail sticks stops when I run it through. I almost always inspect the final drive before I go out on a ride. This is definitely an issue I will bring up to the dealer.

*****

Tell me about it, I shouldn't have washed the beast and gone about my merry way ! (Famous last words!)

Sounds like sig line.

You'll find out, soon enough.

I heard that paint problems could cause FINAL DRIVE FAILURE.

Is that true?

Delaware ya gotta either get off the weed or get really blasted and take a nap!

Saw your other posts...good humor..your obsession I mean..

Get off the weed? NFW

I don't think that's metal fatigue. If not a paint blemish then a casting flaw but it's in the wrong location to be stress related. Are you saying it just showed up? It wasn't there and now it is?

Never saw or heard about THAT before.




Bones

+1. If it was across the top I would be more worried, but it is in a strange location to be any kind of metal fatigue.

*****

Yes it did just show up after a two hour bike ride here in Northern Cali. I ended up washing it two days later to get the bugs off and that's when I realized the issue and that's when I spotted the "blemish". GS is always garaged when not in use. Anybody else out there have final drive "blemish" issues?

I can see the jokes coming a mile away.......:eek1

Crappola, I should have made the poll expire at a later date. Moderator Gods I pray to thee to change the poll to end, let's say mid January 2009?

I bet there was a bubble under the paint that collapsed. I have found spots like this on my bikes over the years but maybe not as visible as yours. Have your dealer look it over.

That's not indicitve of the final drive failures that you hear about.

But that is something I would keep a damn close eye on.

Might just be paint.

Then again it may be the casting, which would really suck in a sucky suck way.

It's still under warranty I would do some big time, stoppies, stress it really good now

Spend the next several days doing hole shots and wheelies. Then have it checked and ask for a new clutch while you're at it.

Taken from UKGSER.Final drive collapsed at speed-rider OK.
If you have the beginnings of a similar failure,be grateful that you noticed it.