2011 bmw g 650 gs fork failure - Page 4

Wuwei · 06-23-2011, 11:53 AM

Pure uninformed speculation: do you know that these forks are not made in China? Various Chinese cast boating products have been known to fail.

Benesesso · 06-23-2011, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemieuxmc

Good to hear from you Benesesso!

I thought your analysis and discussion of the earlier BMW fork problem was fascinating. I think that this is a GIGANTIC problem for BMW!

I would sure be pissed off if I just dropped over 8 large on a new bike and suspected that the front wheel might break off at any moment.

Hope they don't kick me out of this WiFi restaurant, but I see empty tables.

The only way I would ride one of these bikes would be after a very good radiographic exam (RT) of the lower end of the axle mount, or possibly a real good ultrasonic exam (UT). RT is deadly on finding casting defects such as porosity, while a GOOD UT guy can usually find them too.

Almost hate to say this, but given the absence of fatigue involvement, a riding "proof test" is what I want--meaning I'd hire someone, explain the situation, and have him give it a real rough workout--and I mean rough.

If the forks survived, I'd ride it--after it passed RT.

Now to give my lowly KLR a pat on the rear end--oops, I mean final drive.

antiquewidow · 06-23-2011, 01:07 PM

Cig after ER - no didnt want one; my husband wanted one real bad though.

It is very very upsetting & depressing when you have worked so extremely hard in achieving something for so long & something like this happens.

I know this may sound ridiculous but I have always wanted to get a bike & my license; but for one reason or another I either never could afford it or my families needs were more important than mine.

Finally this year I decided that this grandma of 4 would achieve what she has always wanted. I quit smoking, got my permit, took my course & got my license. Then I bought my new BEEMER to only have this incident shatter my heart....
Sorry to blah , blah , blah on ya guys....... Will keep checkin in & once again thanks for all the info & support.....

JDLuke · 06-23-2011, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antiquewidow

Sorry to blah , blah , blah on ya guys.......

Nonsense, that's part of why we're all here.

tmotten · 06-23-2011, 03:11 PM

That's bullshit that it's appearing again. I can't really tell if this is the beefier version because of the black paint, but it looks like it. I thought it got fixed.

+1 on the YZ forks. Fair bit of work though.

Hope you heal well and fast and get BM off their arses to really look into this. I'll be posting this everywhere. That's for sure. I get the idea that lots of G650 owners aren't aware of the F650's history.

bomber1965 · 06-23-2011, 03:44 PM

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=393785

sop · 06-23-2011, 04:29 PM

Having done defense work for a major insurance company for many years, I can tell you have an excellent product liabilty case....if you choose to pursue it.

galland1 · 06-23-2011, 04:53 PM

With the previous history of this happening I am surprised she hasn't been contacted by lawyers wanting the case already. Heck, I would even think BMW's lawyers would have contacted them with flowers and a fruitbasket asking how they can make this right.

Wuwei · 06-23-2011, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Having done defense work for a major insurance company for many years, I can tell you have an excellent product liabilty case....if you choose to pursue it.

It might be wise to say no more on this forum until you've spoken to a lawyer about it.

mike · 06-23-2011, 04:59 PM

I dont know much aboot Bmw's, but that kind of failure is hard to fathom. Even on an old bike, with lots of wheelies. Especially on a new bike. I'd be up Bmw's butt with a road map and a flashlight.

antiquewidow · 06-23-2011, 05:36 PM

Once again thanks for all the support & info.... I cant do anything else so I mine as well do some readin on the net.

TFD55 · 06-23-2011, 05:38 PM

Is it just me, or does it look like the failed fork of the G650 is a different design than the "redesigned" beefier fork of the later model F650s? To me it looks like more material was added to the bottom area, where the pinch bolt is, and the gusset above the axle is thinner.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showp...6&postcount=92

Very disturbing. I'm going out to the shop to take a look at mine.

TFD

WayneC1 · 06-23-2011, 05:50 PM

A second metallurgist has looked at the pic's and his response is :-

"It appears to be a one time overload fracture"

lemieuxmc · 06-23-2011, 05:54 PM

"with flowers and a fruitbasket asking how they can make this right, by putting you on a new DR 650 with a lowering kit, or maybe a WR 250 for starters DAMMIT"

I think this is what you should be hearing!

No need to thank me...

bomber1965 · 06-23-2011, 05:58 PM

when in doubt, make it stout.

that's not stout.

06-23-2011, 11:53 AM	#46
Wuwei Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2008 Location: New York Oddometer: 1,108	Pure uninformed speculation: do you know that these forks are not made in China? Various Chinese cast boating products have been known to fail. __________________ For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move. Robert Louis Stevenson

06-23-2011, 01:07 PM	#48
antiquewidow ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jun 2011 Location: UPPER NYS Oddometer: 68	Cig after ER - no didnt want one; my husband wanted one real bad though. It is very very upsetting & depressing when you have worked so extremely hard in achieving something for so long & something like this happens. I know this may sound ridiculous but I have always wanted to get a bike & my license; but for one reason or another I either never could afford it or my families needs were more important than mine. Finally this year I decided that this grandma of 4 would achieve what she has always wanted. I quit smoking, got my permit, took my course & got my license. Then I bought my new BEEMER to only have this incident shatter my heart.... Sorry to blah , blah , blah on ya guys....... Will keep checkin in & once again thanks for all the info & support..... antiquewidow screwed with this post 06-23-2011 at 01:39 PM

06-23-2011, 03:44 PM	#51
bomber1965 Duel Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Rhode Island Oddometer: 2,190	http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=393785 __________________ __________________ "If you can't be a Professional, at least look like one."

06-23-2011, 04:59 PM	#55
mike Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Central Texas Oddometer: 2,679	I dont know much aboot Bmw's, but that kind of failure is hard to fathom. Even on an old bike, with lots of wheelies. Especially on a new bike. I'd be up Bmw's butt with a road map and a flashlight. __________________ 2003 ZRX 1200R

06-23-2011, 05:38 PM	#57
TFD55 Adventurer Joined: Jan 2009 Location: Elkhart Lake, WI Oddometer: 59	Is it just me, or does it look like the failed fork of the G650 is a different design than the "redesigned" beefier fork of the later model F650s? To me it looks like more material was added to the bottom area, where the pinch bolt is, and the gusset above the axle is thinner. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showp...6&postcount=92 Very disturbing. I'm going out to the shop to take a look at mine. TFD __________________ F650GS/Dakar/G650GS Steering Head Bearing Tools Available http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=626265

06-23-2011, 03:11 PM	#50
tmotten Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2006 Location: Australia Oddometer: 2,282	That's bullshit that it's appearing again. I can't really tell if this is the beefier version because of the black paint, but it looks like it. I thought it got fixed. +1 on the YZ forks. Fair bit of work though. Hope you heal well and fast and get BM off their arses to really look into this. I'll be posting this everywhere. That's for sure. I get the idea that lots of G650 owners aren't aware of the F650's history.

06-23-2011, 04:29 PM	#52
sop Adventurer Joined: Jul 2010 Oddometer: 39	Having done defense work for a major insurance company for many years, I can tell you have an excellent product liabilty case....if you choose to pursue it.

06-23-2011, 04:53 PM	#53
galland1 n00b Joined: Jul 2010 Location: S.W., MI Oddometer: 78	With the previous history of this happening I am surprised she hasn't been contacted by lawyers wanting the case already. Heck, I would even think BMW's lawyers would have contacted them with flowers and a fruitbasket asking how they can make this right.

06-23-2011, 05:36 PM	#56
antiquewidow ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jun 2011 Location: UPPER NYS Oddometer: 68	Once again thanks for all the support & info.... I cant do anything else so I mine as well do some readin on the net.

06-23-2011, 05:50 PM	#58
WayneC1 Studly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Oddometer: 781	A second metallurgist has looked at the pic's and his response is :- "It appears to be a one time overload fracture"

06-23-2011, 05:54 PM	#59
lemieuxmc Banned Joined: Mar 2009 Location: East La Jolla... it's just Clairemont!! Oddometer: 3,360	"with flowers and a fruitbasket asking how they can make this right, by putting you on a new DR 650 with a lowering kit, or maybe a WR 250 for starters DAMMIT" I think this is what you should be hearing! No need to thank me...

06-23-2011, 05:58 PM	#60
bomber1965 Duel Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Rhode Island Oddometer: 2,190	when in doubt, make it stout. that's not stout. __________________ __________________ "If you can't be a Professional, at least look like one."

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