Bmw BMW MOTORCYCLE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
41 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
40,810 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 to 2001 model years. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 41 complaints (14.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 19.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 6 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 |
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 6; Power Train: 5; Power Train:Driveline: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Electrical System: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 16 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 12 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 4 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
1995: 4; 1996: 1; 2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 9; 2004: 6; 2005: 4; 2007: 5; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 480348 · 1995-02-06 (February 6, 1995)
NOISY BRAKES CAUSE VEHICLE TO PULL WHEN APPLIED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141124 · 2005-10-28 (October 28, 2005)
THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT WHICH DUPLICATES VOQ #101404137 MY 1997 BMW F650 MORTORCYCLE SLIPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR. IT DID THIS WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A PRIVATE CITIZEN AND TOOK IT TO FRANK'S BMW MOTORCYCLES IN ESSEX JCT VT FOR SERVICE. LESTER PELKEY (OWNER) SAID IT WAS OPERATOR ERROR WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HE SAID IT DIDN'T DO IT FOR HIM. I CAN DOWN SHIFT INTO FIRST, LET THE BIKE RUN IN 1ST UP TO A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, STOP, AND SOMETIMES IT SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL, AND SOMETIMES IT WAITS UNTIL I'VE STARTED UP AGA…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141124 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028413 · 2003-07-16 (July 16, 2003)
TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE FAILED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 27,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039023 · 2003-09-16 (September 16, 2003)
ELECTRICAL COMPONENT (HALL IGNITIONS SENSOR ASSEMBLY) FAILURE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10350626 · 2010-08-19 (August 19, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW F-650 (NA). WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WITHIN SECONDS, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER REP ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN AFTERMARKET BATTERY AND THE WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 3/7/11 *…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10350626 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 761770 · 2002-05-10 (May 10, 2002)
ALUMUMIN FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED SPIDER CRACKS ON BOTTOM OF TANK AND LEAKS. VARIOUS BMW DEALERS HAVE TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW ALUMUMINUN TANKS, BUT THE BIKE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 761770 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 502892 · 1996-03-23 (March 23, 1996)
FUEL PUMP FAILED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10542418 · 2013-09-07 (September 7, 2013)
STRUCK A LARGE POT HOLE ON A CITY STREET. AS EXPECTED THE FRONT SUSPENSION COMPRESSED BUT THE FRONT FENDER (TRAILING SECTION) CAUGHT IN THE ENGINE COWLING AS THE SUSPENSION DECOMPRESSED. THIS MAKES THE STEERING RESTRICTED TO MOVEMENTS OF ABOUT +/- 10 DEGREES WITH SIGNIFICANT FRICTION IN THE STEERING OVER THIS RANGE. THIS MAKES THE BIKE VERY UNSTABLE ON TURNS! THE REPAIR IS TO STOP AND REMOVE THE FRONT TRAILING FENDER FROM THE COWLING BY REMOVING THE BOLTS HOLDING IT TO THE FRONT FORK AND THEN REATTACHING FENDER IN THE CORRECT POSITION. TYP…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10542418 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1988 | 0 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
1988: 0; 1992: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0