WOW! I panicked a bit when I found 1 loose spoke but that's terrible! Glad you got a great response from Max BMW NH - not surprised, they're good people!
Early this year I bought a 2017 GSA, and it got me. Riding it home I thought something felt wrong in the corners... Got home and 7-9 spokes were completely loose. At least I got new wheels from BMW
Supposedly had mine checked by the dealer last week but after watching your vlog this mornings, my job is to check again before a big adventure ride coming up at the end of this month - great vlog 😁👍
@@AdamChandler86 Unfortunately I have 7 loose on the front and 4 on the rear only after 500 kms since pretensioning by Motorrad (they did not replace the rims), now its negotiation time with BMW and here in Australia is a very long winded affair. Thank god I have the K1600 GT in the garage as my back up or I wouldn't be going to Tasmania on my big ride...
Mine too Adam just after the first 600 mile service I found five loose spokes. I rang my dealer and I felt comfortable to tackle the adjustment myself but I couldn't as I did not realise there was a small grub screw inside the torx head and could not access the drive side spokes without wheel removal. I therefore dropped it off at my dealers who fixed them.
Thanks for posting this. Checked mine today 2018 triple black gsa loose on front and rear. Took to dealer gave me a loan bike an having 2 new wheels fitted to mine. From U.K.
Firstly, nice tools Adam I have full set of motohansa tools too..very handy! The spoked wheels have been junk since the intro of the 1200's...the 1150 were great, had larger Hubs and steel spokes..the 1200 they reduced the hub diameter (therefore longer spokes ) and used stainless spokes which are much softer!..These spikes stretched easily causing up 5mm side runout!.
My R1200GSA went in for it's first service (650 miles) a couple of weeks ago. The dealer scrapped the rim due to a dozen spokes loose. They can tighten 7 only (Their policy) any more = Scrap the rim. BMW have replacement rims on back order. They have a BIG QA problem here.
@@AdamChandler86 now I think about it all spokes at the same (nm) they all should be same length. I got a 2005, didnt check all them but most checked out. Someone told me the spokes should be at a "G" tone!
14 out of 20 on the rear. It’d be easy to get the rim out of round adjusting that many. I bought a small torque wrench specifically for spokes. It wasn’t cheap, but it enables you to do it yourself...but doing 14 wouldn’t be easy. However, if you’re starting with a decent wheel, it makes it very easy to do the maintenance yourself up to the correct torque. I do my KTM 1290 SA to the right torque, it’s easy with the right tool.
Is a known issue on some '17 and '18 bikes. Had my wheels replaced under warranty by my local dealer where I bought the bike ('17 GSA). No problems since (fingers crossed).
Okay I have a 2018 with six thousand miles and this is a constant issue. By the first time I noticed I was 6000 miles from home. I tightened them all but I need to make it home. So I might be in real trouble.
At my wits end with BMW customer services uk with this, 3rd annual service and every time loose spokes despite complaining, the last service they had the cheek to charge me 10min labour to tighten spoke, shocking customer service
As the bike is in warranty let them do whatever they need to do, you get a brand new wheel but a warranty exchange for loose spokes, sounds a bit extreme to me. If the wheels is out of shape as result then fine, otherwise I'd just tighten the spokes up myself. If you're that bothered you could take it to someone who laces wheels for a living, certainly gonna cost less than $3000. Shit, you could probably even get a better rim with beefed up spokes and lacing for that! I guess that's one advantage of cast wheels over spoked.
Like last year, I'll be sending my wheels to Woody's Wheel works because they do amazing work but I'll continue to let BMW replace my wheels while I'm riding if needed. So far the new set is doing okay.
Good to hear. Yeah, Woody is well known in the ADV community. BMW wheels can be like butter off road. I thought you were going to stick to the road on your new GSA? It's probably a waste to upgrade the wheels if you're sticking to the asphalt isn't it?
Well, not upgrading the wheels, but Woody's will True & Re-lace OEM Wheels and they come back much stronger, far straighter than BMW's tolerances and Woody's warranties the wheels for any future damage.
But why are they all coming loose? thats a major safety issue. Ive had British bikes from a '60 BSA '70 Norton and '80 Triumph and never had to tighten a spoke.
For now, there is no open NHTSA investigation into this issue. The only recall is for reflectors on the pannier boxes and the tinted windscreen. Those are far less serious than wheels coming off the hub due to every spoke being loose. Very scary.
This former premium brand decided for a supplier from China. Okay, they will learn in due course...The German supplier did not fit anymore in their profit maximalization scheme...BMW switched from Behr (german) to GLM (chinese) in early (april/may) 2017.
I can't say for sure if they checked them but what matters is they acted quickly to fix it. They picked my motorcycle up for me and had it fixed in 24 hours.
WOW! I panicked a bit when I found 1 loose spoke but that's terrible! Glad you got a great response from Max BMW NH - not surprised, they're good people!
Early this year I bought a 2017 GSA, and it got me. Riding it home I thought something felt wrong in the corners... Got home and 7-9 spokes were completely loose. At least I got new wheels from BMW
Supposedly had mine checked by the dealer last week but after watching your vlog this mornings, my job is to check again before a big adventure ride coming up at the end of this month - great vlog 😁👍
Safe travels! I hope your spokes continue to treat you well. Later built 2018s are less likely to have the issue.
@@AdamChandler86 Unfortunately I have 7 loose on the front and 4 on the rear only after 500 kms since pretensioning by Motorrad (they did not replace the rims), now its negotiation time with BMW and here in Australia is a very long winded affair. Thank god I have the K1600 GT in the garage as my back up or I wouldn't be going to Tasmania on my big ride...
@@AdamChandler86 Oh and I've sub'ed to the channel... :)
What a bummer and I'm sorry to hear that! Thank goodness you checked and possibly saved your skin by finding these before a long trip.
@@AdamChandler86 exactly and I appreciate the vlog, safe riding mate...
Mine too Adam just after the first 600 mile service I found five loose spokes. I rang my dealer and I felt comfortable to tackle the adjustment myself but I couldn't as I did not realise there was a small grub screw inside the torx head and could not access the drive side spokes without wheel removal. I therefore dropped it off at my dealers who fixed them.
I'm glad you're safe. this is a pretty serious safety issue for people who aren't aware.
Don't forget to loosen the locknut inside the spoke torx heads first.
Thanks for posting this. Checked mine today 2018 triple black gsa loose on front and rear. Took to dealer gave me a loan bike an having 2 new wheels fitted to mine. From U.K.
Firstly, nice tools Adam I have full set of motohansa tools too..very handy! The spoked wheels have been junk since the intro of the 1200's...the 1150 were great, had larger Hubs and steel spokes..the 1200 they reduced the hub diameter (therefore longer spokes ) and used stainless spokes which are much softer!..These spikes stretched easily causing up 5mm side runout!.
Only had 1 dud on my '18, grub was loose too.
My R1200GSA went in for it's first service (650 miles) a couple of weeks ago. The dealer scrapped the rim due to a dozen spokes loose. They can tighten 7 only (Their policy) any more = Scrap the rim. BMW have replacement rims on back order. They have a BIG QA problem here.
It was the same here. They said 5-7 BMW makes them replace the wheel.
According to BMW (I got a 2005) the spokes are torqued to the same amount, I dont know the number (NM).
I thought it was 8nm? If you search “JVB Productions Torque” on Google you’ll find the spoke torque PDF
@@AdamChandler86 now I think about it all spokes at the same (nm) they all should be same length. I got a 2005, didnt check all them but most checked out. Someone told me the spokes should be at a "G" tone!
14 out of 20 on the rear. It’d be easy to get the rim out of round adjusting that many. I bought a small torque wrench specifically for spokes. It wasn’t cheap, but it enables you to do it yourself...but doing 14 wouldn’t be easy. However, if you’re starting with a decent wheel, it makes it very easy to do the maintenance yourself up to the correct torque. I do my KTM 1290 SA to the right torque, it’s easy with the right tool.
Is a known issue on some '17 and '18 bikes. Had my wheels replaced under warranty by my local dealer where I bought the bike ('17 GSA). No problems since (fingers crossed).
I checked my 2018 r nine t urban gs 700 miles - 4 spokes loose. ://///
Okay I have a 2018 with six thousand miles and this is a constant issue. By the first time I noticed I was 6000 miles from home. I tightened them all but I need to make it home. So I might be in real trouble.
At my wits end with BMW customer services uk with this, 3rd annual service and every time loose spokes despite complaining, the last service they had the cheek to charge me 10min labour to tighten spoke, shocking customer service
Sorry and wishing you good luck on getting it resolved.
Thanks Adam
Good video going to check my 2017 thank you for the info
As the bike is in warranty let them do whatever they need to do, you get a brand new wheel but a warranty exchange for loose spokes, sounds a bit extreme to me. If the wheels is out of shape as result then fine, otherwise I'd just tighten the spokes up myself. If you're that bothered you could take it to someone who laces wheels for a living, certainly gonna cost less than $3000. Shit, you could probably even get a better rim with beefed up spokes and lacing for that! I guess that's one advantage of cast wheels over spoked.
Like last year, I'll be sending my wheels to Woody's Wheel works because they do amazing work but I'll continue to let BMW replace my wheels while I'm riding if needed. So far the new set is doing okay.
Good to hear. Yeah, Woody is well known in the ADV community. BMW wheels can be like butter off road. I thought you were going to stick to the road on your new GSA? It's probably a waste to upgrade the wheels if you're sticking to the asphalt isn't it?
Well, not upgrading the wheels, but Woody's will True & Re-lace OEM Wheels and they come back much stronger, far straighter than BMW's tolerances and Woody's warranties the wheels for any future damage.
But why are they all coming loose? thats a major safety issue. Ive had British bikes from a '60 BSA '70 Norton and '80 Triumph and never had to tighten a spoke.
WoW Adam thats dreadful, anymore than 3 loose ones in the UK and they are replacing them under warranty.
Heard it’s only on the 18s
Another BMW recall, what happened to their quality control?
For now, there is no open NHTSA investigation into this issue. The only recall is for reflectors on the pannier boxes and the tinted windscreen. Those are far less serious than wheels coming off the hub due to every spoke being loose. Very scary.
This former premium brand decided for a supplier from China. Okay, they will learn in due course...The German supplier did not fit anymore in their profit maximalization scheme...BMW switched from Behr (german) to GLM (chinese) in early (april/may) 2017.
Have they switched back yet?
Pdi my arse
I can't say for sure if they checked them but what matters is they acted quickly to fix it. They picked my motorcycle up for me and had it fixed in 24 hours.